Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 10:36:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joe Hunter <hunterjoe45@yahoo.com>
Subject: Baseball Diamond Tails - 6J&K

All the usual disclaimers apply:

+This story is a work of fiction.  If you think it is real, you have a very
active imagination.

+Do not read this story if you live in an area where it is illegal to do
so.

+Scenes of sexual activity between an adult male and young boys are
represented.  Do not read further if this offends you.

+Please do not imitate the actions portrayed herein - the author cannot
accept responsibility for any actions promoted by this story.

If you would like to get in touch, please e-mail me at:

			hunterjoe45@yahoo.com

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Support Nifty!   Joe

____________________________

BASEBALL DIAMOND TAILS - 6J&K
(copyright 2012, Joe Hunter)

::::::::::::::::::::
 Shortstop:  Part J
::::::::::::::::::::

There was still no sign of Shane at one o'clock and I decided he was
probably not coming.  I went downstairs, took the equipment bags out of the
Blazer and stayed in the dim coolness of the garage, out of the hot mid-day
sun.  I was puttering around with a few chores when I heard the sound of a
bicycle coming up the driveway.  My heart leapt as I looked up.  It was
Shane.

He had on his cowboy hat and a pair very tight jeans that were a little
short for him.  His upper body was bare and he wore no shoes.  The summer
sunshine poured down on him as he peddled up the short slope from the
street smiling happily.

"Hi, Coach!"

I helped him wheel his bike into the back of the garage where we were out
of sight from the street and took the boy into my arms.  He hugged,
pressing his naked chest against me.  I could feel the rapid beating of his
heart.  My hands stroked over his lean tapering back and cupped his butt
squeezing the firm curved mounds under the skintight denim.  He was wearing
nothing underneath.

"Shane..." I whispered.

The boy's arms tightened around my waist and he lifted his face to mine to
be kissed.  I felt him tremble as our lips touched.  He ground his hips
against my knee.

"Coach..." He whispered when our mouths parted, "Coach, can we go to the
secret place today?"

"Right now," I told him.

I picked him up and carried him to the Blazer, opening the passenger door
with one hand and placing him in the seat.  I raced upstairs for the keys,
packed sandwiches, a can of Coke and a bottle of tanning lotion in a small
bag and went downstairs locking the apartment behind me.

I gave Shane the bag and backed the Blazer into the street.  "I had lunch
already," he told me when he looked inside.

"That's okay.  Save it for when you get hungry later."

As we drove off Shane took the bottle of tanning lotion out and smiled.  "I
really wanna' work on my tan today, Coach."

He seemed very content as we rode along and as soon as we were outside town
he moved over close to me, unbuttoned the tight waist of his jeans and
pulled down the fly.  Then he drew his legs up and curled them onto the
seat.  With a little sigh he leaned against me so I could put my arm around
his slender shoulders and still reach the gear shift.  I stroked his bare
chest and smooth warm tummy.

"I like being with you a lot, Coach," Shane told me after a while.

"I love being with you, son," I told him, caressing his flank.

The boy nestled closer and rubbed his hand on my crotch, feeling the bulge
in my pants.  His own slender erection was straining up through the open
fly of his jeans.

"I wish we were there already."

"I know."  Reaching down I rubbed his quivering rod, feeling the hard
thickness throb beneath my fingers.  Shane caught his breath and his butt
tightened as he gave a tiny little moan.

I put the transfer case into four-wheel drive and we began the long climb
on unpaved road into the mountains.  Shane sat up to look at the view.

"It's so beautiful, Coach.  I don't ever get tired of it."

Yeah, I know just what you mean.  I never get tired of it either."  But the
view I was admiring was the boy's stunning young body, glistening in the
light.

Up on top, as we drove slowly along the fire road through the meadows and
pine forests, Shane curled his legs back on the seat, leaned against me and
stroked his hand on my thigh.

"Coach, you like it when I ask questions, don't you?"

"Very much, son."  I caressed the silky skin of his taut waist.

"Can I ask you one now?"

"Of course," I told him gently.

He hesitated a moment, and then -- "When we...  When we like do it, an' you
like put your fingers in me...  Are we... are we like fucking?"  He glanced
up to see if I was angry.

I caressed him and hugged his shoulders.  "In a way."

"Is that what my brothers are always talkin' about?"

"I think they may be talking about something that's like that," I told him.
"Instead of fingers, you use..."

"I know."  He pushed on the bulge of my erection.  "You use this, right?"

I nodded.  "Yup."  My palm slid across his smooth chest, feeling the
rounded swell of muscle.

"Can we do that, Coach?"  Shane looked up anxiously.  "Please.  I wanna'.
Please show me, Coach."

I hugged his shoulders.  "Are you sure?"  My voice was a husky whisper and
I could hardly speak.

He nodded and hugged back fiercely.  "I really, really want to."

"Okay...  Yeah..."  I was trembling and the boy was, too.  I could feel his
eagerness.  Shane twisted around, putting his head on my lap, and my palm
roved over his sweet body while he lay half naked on the seat.  The boy's
skin was so warm and silky.  I stroked his firm shoulders, hard ridged
tummy and lean waist.  Then my fingers pushed down to find his rigid boy
stick.

The tight fit of the jeans made it awkward to reach even with the fly open
and Shane fumbled at the waistband pulling it down.  He had to squirm to
peel the denim off his mounded butt but finally managed to get everything
below his knees.  Eagerly he pulled my hand back onto his quivering shaft.

"Do me, Coach," he pleaded.  "I wanna'."

I rubbed and he twisted moaning beneath me, the muscles of his strong lithe
body tensing in sharp definition as he writhed in pleasure.  And then he
was arching himself over the center seat divider, his throbbing shaft
pulsing rapidly under my fingers.

"Uhhhhhhhhh...  Oh...  Oh, Coach!"

Shane's straining boyhood contracted powerfully.  Tiny droplets of fluid
flew from the tip.

"Uhhhhhhh...  Don't stop!" Shane moaned.  "Oh..."

I kept rubbing and stroking the boy as we came across the ridge line,
keeping him on the edge of ecstasy until we reached the stream and had
4-wheeled over to the rocky outcropping at the far end of the meadow where
we were completely hidden.

Shane was stretched over the seats, his body twisting and knees pulled up.
I stroked his smooth hard tummy.

"We're here," I whispered.

"Oh Coach, hurry," he moaned.

I got out and went around to open the passenger door.  Shane's legs were
all tangled in his jeans.  I held the thick denim while his perfectly
formed legs pulled free and then helped him out of the seat, lifting the
naked boy into the warm sunshine.  Shane was trembling with passion.  He
wrapped his arms around my neck and kissed me.

"Coach..."

I put him down and he helped take out the big air mattress.  We hooked up
the electric pump and while the mat was inflating I stripped off my clothes
and held the boy against my bare skin, spreading tanning oil all over his
body.  Shane lifted his arms and stretched in ecstasy as I put the lotion
on his hard defined silkiness.

"Ohhhhhhhhhh..." He moaned softly.  "Coach, hurry!"

When I was finished the boy's beautiful form glistened with oil, a living
sculpture glowing with light.  I turned off the pump, sealed the air vent,
and swept Shane into my arms, laying him gently on the mat.  I stretched
out next to him and pulled him against my chest with one arm while with the
other I caressed the satin of his firm rounded thighs.  I kissed the boy
and thrust my hand between his slender legs, pulling the knees up and
pushing my hand into the crease between his mounded butt cheeks.

Shane's mouth opened beneath mine and I slid my tongue in deep as he pulled
his legs up further and spread his thighs.  My exploring fingers found his
tight opening and pushed into the ring.  I felt his butt contract
involuntarily as I pushed, and then he relaxed letting my finger penetrate
into his moist heat.  The boy shuddered and writhed against me, arms
hugging my chest.

I twisted my finger in the boy, probing until I found the nub at the base
of his hard rod and moved my fingertips over it, pressing and rubbing.  The
boy groaned with pleasure and when I slipped a second finger into him Shane
pulled one leg higher on my hip and pushed down against my thrusting
fingers trying to force them deeper.

When I was sure he was relaxed and open, I withdrew my fingers slowly.
Then I let my tongue slide out of his mouth and our lips parted.  I rolled
Shane onto his back and positioned myself between his legs.

The boy stretched his slender arms back behind his head and closed his
eyes.  "Do it, Coach!"  He whispered pleadingly.  "Show me!  Hurry!"

I looked down at the smooth slender form in front of me, the boy's upper
body stretched out, lean ridged belly glistening with oil and his muscular
legs pulled up, thighs stretched apart exposing his open ring.  He was so
rigidly hard his thickened spike was quivering as his body trembled with
eagerness.

"Hurry, Coach!"  He whispered again.  "Do me!"

I longed to be in him so much that my rigid man rod was throbbing
painfully.  I squirted oil on my engorged shaft and then leaned over to
kiss the boy.  Carefully I positioned Shane's legs around my chest and
guided my straining tip to his tight little opening.  When I pushed gently
my blunt head stretched the ring.

Shane closed his eyes and his head went back as he groaned softly.  His
legs tightened around my chest.

"Let it go in, Shane," I whispered to the boy.  "We'll go slow.  Push down
exactly like you're taking a shit."

I felt the boy strain and his opening loosened.  "That's right," I
whispered.  "Push real hard.  Feel it open."

The boy's head went back further, I could tell he was bearing down and the
tight ring eased.  I thrust and my hard rod slid half its length up into
his body.  His small hot cavity gripped the head of my shaft and Shane gave
a soft cry of pain and delight.  His arms came around my chest and then I
felt his ring contract in a fluttering spasm.

With a low shuddering moan the boy gripped me.  I felt him strain again,
hugging with his legs and arms, and with another thrust of my hips I slid
the rest of the way into Shane's tender body, the tip of my rigid pole
stretched up into his hot moist sweetness.

The boy shuddered and squirmed, trying to impale himself completely.

"Fucking," he groaned.  "Fucking me...  Do it, Coach.  Harder.  Don't stop.
Ooooooooooooooo..."

I felt a warm wetness against my groin and I knew the boy had let go of his
bladder.  I twisted my hips to move inside him while he moaned with
pleasure, and then I began to slide my shaft very slowly in and out through
his tight opening.

"Oooooo...  Oooooo...  Ooooo... "

The boy groaned with ecstasy, moving his hips with mine.  Each time I
withdrew he writhed a little, and then as I thrust back his thighs strained
apart and he hugged, lifting against me trying to deepen my penetration.
His legs twitched around my waist as his feet twisted.

As Shane's hot tight chute relaxed I increased the length and speed of my
stroke.  I felt it when he regained his own erection.  His hard little
shaft pushed on my belly as he tried to rub it against me.

The boy's passion roused me powerfully.  As he moaned and twisted on my
impaling shaft I felt a huge tide build in my loins.  The tight walls of
his cavity pressing on my sliding rod took me to the edge.  I tried to hold
back as long as I could but pre-come was pouring from my tip and I thrust
harder.  Shane gripped as tight as he could, his body sliding over mine as
he twisted beneath me.

Overcome with passion I cried out and thrust deep into the boy, locking my
groin against his stretched opening.  Shane writhed and moaned.  I felt
every muscle in his lean little body tense.  Then with a huge contraction I
exploded into him coming over and over, filling his hot cavity with semen.
Shane bucked and twisted as he felt me pulse inside him.  His ankles
pressed on my back and with a long shuddering cry he strained to pull me
deeper.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

As my contractions eased I sank down on Shane's slender body as he
continued to move beneath me hugging tight and covering my chest and neck
with kisses.

"More," he pleaded.  "Coach, more.  Don't stop."

His hips twisted as he tried to move me inside himself but I was already
beginning to soften.

"Nooooooooooo," he moaned as the fullness inside him decreased and I
slipped out.  His hands moved frantically over my body.

I moved quickly to one side to keep my weight off him.  Stretching out by
the boy I put my left hand under his upraised thigh and I slid two fingers
into his gaping hole, finding his nub and pressing it, massaging with my
fingertips.  Shane groaned softly.  He threw his slender arms back over his
head and arched his body.  With my other hand I took his straining penis
and rubbed the slender throbbing shaft.  The boy writhed and then tensed as
my fingers thrust up and twisted inside him.  He gave a little whimpering
cry, and then his hard little shaft pulsed and contracted.  Tiny arcs of
milky liquid shot from the tip.  His head strained back.  I rubbed harder
and his quivering shaft sot again.

When the pulsing stopped I slowed my stroking rhythm and Shane sprawled
back against the mattress, knees sagging apart.  I stroked slowly and my
fingers slowly eased out of his gaping ring.

"Nooooooo..." He moaned softly.  He reached down to try to hold me inside.

"Just for a minute," I promised.

I rolled the boy toward me so I could lie on my side and hold him.  He
nestled sweetly against me and put his slender arms around my chest.  I
held his firm rounded shoulders with one arm.  With the other I pulled his
leg up over my hip caressing the velvety smoothness of his muscled thigh,
my palm sliding back onto his butt crease so I could slip a finger up into
his open ring.  As he felt the tip enter smoothly into his body, Shane
sighed, offered his mouth for a kiss and then rested his head against my
chest as I caressed his tapering back and rounded shoulders.

"Don't take it out, Coach," he whispered softly.

"I won't."

"Move it inside me."

Very slowly and gently I twisted the tip of my finger in his moist heat.  I
brushed over his nub, massaging tenderly and the boy squirmed, hugging
against me.

"Coach, it's so good," he whispered.

I kissed his tangled thick hair and caressed him some more.

"I wanna' do it again," Shane pleaded.

"I know," I told him.  "I have to rest first."

"Yeah," the boy said softly.  I twisted my finger inside him and he pulled
his leg higher on my hip.

At last my member began to stir again.  I withdrew my probing finger
gently.

"Oooo," Shane whispered softly.  He had been resting with his eyes closed
as I held him.  Now his eyes opened.  "Coach..." He begged.

"Wait..."

I got to my feet and picked the boy up in my arms.  He put his arms around
my neck and I carried him to the end of the rocky outcropping where a flat
ledge had been warmed by the sun.  Sliding up onto the smooth rock I leaned
back with Shane in my arms.  I got the boy placed comfortably on my lap and
then slid my hand down between his silky thighs and took his hard little
shaft in my fingers, rubbing it lovingly.  Shane sighed.  He rested his
cheek against my shoulder and looked out at the mountains.

"Coach, it's so beautiful," he said dreamily.

I nodded and kissed him.  "One of the best parts of the world."

He snuggled closer.  "When can we go there?"

"Very soon.  My vacation starts in just another week or so.  We'll go
then."

"Can we go for a long time?"

"For sure," I promised.  "It'll be like having our own world for a while."

I held him, stroking and caressing the smooth slender body, his oiled skin
gleaming in the sunlight, the developing muscles outlined in complex planes
and rounded swellings.  My heart swelled with love for the boy and all his
promise of youth and perfect beauty.

"Oh, Shane," I whispered as I kissed him and pressed him close.

He looked up at me.  "Coach, I wanna' be with you all the time.  Please.
My brother says I can."

"Yes, son.  You can," I whispered.  "We're gonna' fix it like that."

The boy trembled and hugged tight around my neck.  Then his small warm hand
stroked over my shoulder and down my arm.  He brushed the back of his
fingers over the ridges of my hard stomach and pushed down into my groin
feeling my stiffening penis.  Rubbed slowly he brought me rigidly erect.

"Coach, do it more," he begged.  "Please.  I wanna'..."

I lifted him so he sat facing me astride my lap and then pulled him up
gently and held him over my groin.

"Reach down, Shane," I told him.  "Reach down and guide it so I can slide
you onto it."

The boy put his hand on my engorged rod and held it against his little
opening.  Very slowly I dropped him down until the tip was stretching the
ring and Shane gasped, closing his eyes.  I dropped him a little more and
felt my head slide in.  The boy shuddered and groaned softly.

"In me, in me," he moaned.  "Ooooo...  Coach..."

His head arched back, body tensing as I slowly impaled him on my hard
shaft.  He uttered a long, shuddering moan of pleasure, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh"
and then his firm rounded butt cheeks pressed into my groin and he was
sitting down, completely filled by my engorged member.  Shane's body
trembled and he squirmed to push down further.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

"Does it hurt?"  I asked anxiously.

"Mmmmm," he sighed.  "Like a good hurt...  Like...  Uhhh...  It feels so
big..."

I stroked his shoulders and slid my palms down his silky chest and sides.
The boy twisted on my thrusting rod, moaning softly.  I took his softened
boy stick, began to rub and it stirred, lifting into rigidity.

"Coach, don't stop, don't stop," Shane begged.  "It feels so good..."

He sat with his slim legs tucked up under his firm thighs, leaning back
with my arm supporting his chest, eyes closed, head arched back and his
arms hanging loosely.

I rubbed his shaft harder while he squirmed around the rigid spike
thrusting up into his body and I felt him go all loose when he bore down
and strained his legs apart.

"Ohhhhhhh, harder, harder," he begged.

Shane's lean body tensed as he arched back against my encircling arm, all
his young muscles standing out as if his skin had been peeled from his
body.  I pumped his hard little rod, letting the knuckles of my fingers
brush the tip.  The boy arched and squirmed, head thrown back and he gave a
soft high-pitched cry.  His stiff rod pulsed rapidly in hard jerking throbs
and milky droplets flew from the tip with more rolling down over my
fingers.

"Ooooo...  Coach, Coach, Coach," the boy moaned softly.  "Uhhhhhhhhh..."

Pulse after pulse...  He jerked again, heaving in ecstasy, and then I
gradually slowed my stroking rhythm as his body relaxed and he slumped
against my arm.

I pulled him toward me and Shane pressed against my chest hugging tight,
the smooth skin of his firm young body sliding over mine.  I trembled and
squeezed my butt hard, swelling my up thrust rod in the boy's hot cavity
and he moaned softly again.  By leaning forward Shane had pulled his chute
to a different angle and I was gradually sliding out.  The boy felt it and
struggled to hold me in, hugging tight and refusing to let me withdraw.

"Noooooooo," the boy moaned.  "I want it in me."

"Be patient, son," I whispered to him, stroking his firm lean back.  "Be
patient.  We'll do it more.  Take a little rest now.  Trust me."

"I trust you, Coach," he whispered.

I held him and caressed until the rapid beating of his heart slowed, the
trembling stopped and he lay dreaming in my arms under the warm sun.  The
rock I was sitting on was getting uncomfortable so, slipping out of the
boy, I got up stiffly and held Shane like a baby for a little while,
massaging the taut mounds of his butt for a little while before setting him
down on his feet.  The boy leaned against me, slender arms wrapped around
my waist.

"Okay?"  I asked softly.

He nodded.

"Does it hurt?"

He stirred uncertainly.  "It feels empty."

I nodded and stroked his tangled hair.  "Yeah.  Come on," I whispered.

I started to lead him back to the Blazer but the prickly grasses and sharp
stones hurt his feet.  "Carry me, Coach," he pleaded, so I picked him up
and brought him to the Blazer while he hung onto my neck.

"There you go," I told him.  "Now let's get your hat."

We got his cowboy hat, he put it on and then I carried him down to the
stream, placing him on his feet in the soft grass by the running water and
we walked slowly along the bank.  I watched as the boy happily dappled his
toes in the icy brook, naked except for his hat.  He gleamed in the
sunshine, a glorious being, his lean developing body hard and firm with
muscle.  When I tickled him gently his delighted laughter was like silvery
music and he cuddled against me wanting to be held and petted.

At last we stood under the trees at the very end of the meadow looking at
the great sweep of ridges building to high peaks in the west.

"Look!"  I told Shane.  "The deer!"

On the other side of a ridge beyond us I could just see the moving animals.

Shane stared where I was pointing.  "I see them!  Coach, you think those
are the ones we saw with Sean?"

"Good chance of it."

Shane put his arm around me and I stroked his smooth firm shoulders.
Looking down I saw that the boy's hard penis was jutting straight out from
his body.

"I really like Sean a lot," he told me in a dreamy voice.

"Yup.  And Sean really likes you.  Do you wish he was here?"

Shane shook his head.  "Today I just want it to be me and you."

I hugged him.  "That's right.  This is your time."

The boy stared out at the vista before us thoughtfully.  "Coach...  My
brothers... like, when they...  I mean, how come when they talk about that
stuff... like what you showed me...  They make it sound like it's dirty or
funny or something?"  He looked up at me.  His eyes, shaded by his cowboy
hat, were wide and questioning.  "It's not.  It's nice."

I regarded him solemnly.  "They do that because they've never done it with
someone special.  Or, they've never done it at all."

"I like it with you, Coach," Shane whispered.

I hugged him again and told him softly, "I like it with you, son."

We walked back upstream together, going slowly so Shane would not hurt his
feet.  When we reached the spot below our campsite I picked the boy up to
carry him.  Shane wound his arms around my neck.  "Do me again, Coach."

"Okay."

"This time don't stop," Shane begged.

I took him back to the air mattress and set him on it gently.  Taking his
cowboy hat, I put it safely in the car and when I went back the boy was
lying on his back on the soft mattress, eyes closed, stroking himself.  As
I got down beside him he stretched his arms over his head and pulled his
knees up, spreading his thighs.

I took the bottle of Hawaiian Tropic and smeared the clear oily liquid in
his butt crease all around the dimpled opening.  There were dried streaks
of semen around Shane's opening but his ring was not bruised.  I pushed
slippery lotion into him with my fingers and Shane gave a little gasp of
pleasure.

"Hurt?"  I asked softly.

He shook his head.

The sight of the young boy's tender body stretched open before me had
brought me erect.  I rubbed oily lotion on my hard member and put the
bottle away.  Then I gently straightened Shane's legs and rolled him onto
his side.

The boy's eyes opened and he moaned softly.  "Nooooo... Fuck me, coach.
Don't wait."

"Trust me," I whispered.

I lay on my side behind him and pulled his body to mine, pushing my
throbbing erection into his jutting butt.  As Shane felt the slippery head
of my shaft pressing up into the crease between his buttocks he pushed back
eagerly.  I positioned the tip on his ring and felt the head slide in.
Shane gasped, his lean body quivering.  I held my arm around his chest and
kissed his shoulder.

"Hurt?"  I asked softly.

He nodded.  "A little," he whispered.  "Wait, Coach."

I held myself very still while the boy shifted slightly to adjust himself.
He took a breath and then I felt his hard body tense as he bore down and
pushed against me.  I thrust gently and let my oiled shaft slide deep into
Shane's body, his tight heat engulfing it as his rounded butt sank down
against my groin.

"Uh, ah, uhhhhhhhh...  Fucking me," the boy gasped.  "Fucking
me... Ooooooooo..."

Pressing a foot on my shin he strained to get his leg up and open his
thighs.  His head arched back against my shoulder, every muscle in his body
standing out as he strained to open himself to my impaling member.  I
reached across his hip to take the rigid boy stick jutting out of his groin
and began to rub firmly.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh..." The boy groaned.  His hard little shaft pulsed,
throbbing rapidly.  Shane twisted the foot of his upraised leg and his arms
stretched behind his head as he arched himself.  He gave a gasping little
cry and his slender rod jerked beneath my fingers, an arc of glittering
droplets shooting from the tip.

"Coach," the boy gasped.  "Oh, Ohhhhhhh...  Don't stop!  Don't stop!"

I continued to rub, slowing my rhythm for a while as I began to move my
hips, twisting my engorged member in his body and sliding it in and out.
The boy writhed and moaned.  I slid my palm over his chest and down onto
the silky smoothness of his lean belly.  The muscles of his tummy were like
ridged boards.  The boy moaned again as I stroked him while I held his
straining rod and slid in and out slowly in his hot sweetness.

"Don't stop, Coach," the boy whispered, "Don't stop."

I moved my encircling arm back around his slender chest and with my other
hand rubbed his hard four inches.  Droplets of moisture glistened at its
tip.  The boy writhed against me, twisting on my impaling rod.  Each time I
thrust, he pressed his butt against my groin, trying to drive me in
further.  He groaned and moved his leg onto the top of mine, trying to
press down and then suddenly lifted it up again, the foot twisting as his
arms extended and stretched.

"Uhhhhhhhhhh..."

A tremor shot through the boy's body.  His straining rod throbbed, slippery
droplets rolling off the tip.

Thrusting my hips, I slid my rock hard member in and out of Shane's body,
each time squeezing my butt to swell the shaft and stretch it up to its
deepest penetration.  The boy groaned, striving to meet me, pushing back on
the impaling spike, his body quivering.  From time to time his rigid little
branch pulsed and throbbed as his body jerked.

I don't know how long we continued.  Time stopped and there was only the
rhythmic ecstasy of moving within the boy's hot sweetness, feeling his
smooth hard body twisting against my own.  Shane passed into a trance of
physical passion.  Eyes closed and limbs jerking he had spasm after spasm
as I kept moving in him.  Finally as I tired I began thrusting faster,
pumping my shaft through Shane's tight ring, driving to my climax.  The boy
felt my urgency and strained, pushing against me.  I slid my fingers as
fast as I could on his rigid branch and Shane writhed beneath the arm I
held around his chest.

"Harder," he begged.  "Harder... Fucking me... Uhhh...  Uhhh..."

His legs jerked and then he lifted a foot twisting it as his entire body
tensed and arched.  I thrust faster, squeezing to hold off, and the boy's
head pulled back he gave a long shuddering cry of passion.  As I felt his
rod pulse again I thrust, locking my groin against his rounded butt,
stretching my tip up into his tight heat.  Fluid gushed from the slit.  I
felt myself going...

"Shane, Shane," I gasped.

The boy shuddered, jerking and I exploded into him, coming over and over as
his legs thrashed and he arched, convulsing in ecstasy.

As our contractions ceased Shane slumped back against me.  I supported his
head with one arm, holding him around his delicate waist with the other.  I
kissed his cheek and his tangled blonde hair.  Then I covered his firm
rounded shoulder with kisses.

"Shane," I whispered.

I kept myself thrust deep inside him and held his limp body tight while I
caressed and stroked, heart overflowing with love for the boy, my palm
circling over his satin flanks and the smooth lean muscle of his chest and
tummy.

As my spent rod gradually softened within him Shane stirred and sighed.  I
withdrew slowly and then rolled his unresisting body until he faced me and
I could take the exhausted boy into my arms.  He snuggled close and pulled
a knee up onto my hip.

I stroked and caressed his back and then massaged his firm mounded butt
tenderly.

"Coach, I wanna' do it more," the boy whispered.

"I know," I told him tenderly.  "Me, too."

"Don't leave me, Coach," Shane pleaded.  "Let me stay with you."

"I will," I promised.

I held him, caressing until he gradually went to sleep, dozing under the
warm sun as I embraced him protectively.  I kept still, listening to his
soft little breaths and feeling the beat of his heart.  Around us were only
light, space and the faint murmur of water in the stream.  I watched the
sun go down in the sky.

At last I kissed him gently.  "Shane," I whispered.  The boy stirred and
his eyelids fluttered.  I kissed him again and he turned his face up to me
with a sweet smile.  He lifted up and I kissed him deeply, sliding my
tongue into his mouth, hugging him tight and stroking his silky butt and
firm rounded thighs.

At last our lips parted.  Shane buried his head in my shoulder and slid a
warm little hand down my side to thrust it between us.  I felt his
exploring fingers move over me and take my member into his hand.  It
stiffened into rigidity as he rubbed it.  His own hard little penis was
pushing against my belly.

"Coach, you can do me again if you want," he whispered softly.

"I want to, son," I told him.  "But we have to go now."

"Nooooooo," Shane moaned.  "Do me again, Coach.  Just once more."

"I will later.  But now we have to go."

"Promise!"  The boy told me, holding me firmly and rubbing.

"I promise."  I began tickling him, sliding my fingertips over his ribs.

Shane giggled happily and tried to curl into a ball.

"Come on, now," I told him, "Help me clean up."

Shane sat on the air met holding his knees.  "I hate it when we have to go,
Coach," he said wistfully.

"Me too."  I opened the valve on the mattress and air hissed out.  "Let's
get this thing deflated."

Shane grinned and bounced up and down on the mat.  As the air came out he
crawled all over it, flattening it down.  At last we were able to roll it
up and put it in the Blazer.

I got dressed and Shane reluctantly pulled on his tight jeans.  He looked
back at our warm sunny alcove.

"I really like this place, Coach."

I hugged his bare shoulders and stroked his hair.  "It's our very special
place.  Shane, you know how I said you and your friends were linked
together in a certain way?"

The boy looked up at me and nodded.

"Well, you and I are linked together now, too.  Nothing can ever break it."

"I know, Coach," he said softly.  His eyes glowed with love.  Suddenly he
hugged me tight.  I kissed his mop of tangled hair and caressed him
tenderly.

We got into the Blazer and Shane moved over to lean against me.  I put an
arm around his shoulders.  Each time I had to shift he would giggle and
lean forward so I could reach the gear lever.  As we drove back along the
fire road he sighed and held my arm.  I squeezed his slender shoulders
gently.

"This is the most fun," he said dreamily.

I smiled at him and leaned over to kiss him.

On the way home I stopped off and got some steaks.  We went to my apartment
to cook them on my little grill and then I called his brother and arranged
for Shane to spend the night with me.  I kept all my promises to him that
evening.

::::::::::::::::::::
 Shortstop:  Part K
::::::::::::::::::::

The next morning I awoke with Shane curled against me in the big bed.  I
kissed him to wake him up and we had breakfast together.  I dropped him off
with his bike at his brother's trailer on my way to work.

"I'll see you at practice this afternoon," I said to him.  "Tell Sean I
want to hear all about his party."

"I will, Coach," Shane said smiling at me.

I tousled his hair and looked at him fondly.  "Be very gentle with Sean.
Remember, he's younger, and he loves you."

"I will, Coach," Shane promised solemnly.  "He's my responsibility."

"That's right," I said.

After work that day I got to the practice field a little early and already
had the batting helmets and catching equipment out when the team started to
arrive.  Shane and Sean came together in the back of the pickup with
Shane's sister-in-law driving.  She waved to me as the boys came running
over excitedly.  As usual they were both dressed only in their yellow
shorts and Nikes.

"Coach, Coach," Sean yelled happily as he came running up.  He stood in
front of me bouncing a little in his eagerness.

Hi Seany," I told him, smiling at him.  "Did you have fun at your party?"

"It was awesome, Coach!  We went to the skating rink and had pizzas and I
skated all day.  I almost won the limbo contest!"

"How 'bout the present?  did your friend like it?"

"Oh yeah, Coach.  He thought it was cool," Sean said.  "He liked it a lot."

"Sounds like it worked out just right," I said.

Shane stood behind Sean with his hand on the younger boy's shoulder smiling
fondly at him.  "Sean and I went rock hunting today, Coach," he said.  "And
we practiced with the whiffle ball."

"And we did all our exercises twice," Sean told me proudly.  "I'm getting
stronger, Coach.  I can do 10 chin-ups and Shane only has to help me a
little on the last ones."

"That's very good!" I said, giving his shoulder a pat.  "Shane's a good
teacher."

"I'm staying over with him tonight," Sean said, looking up at his friend
and smiling.  "We're gonna' work on my model."

"I think that's a very good idea," I told them.

The boys went off to get warmed up and as I got my clipboard I saw my first
baseman drive-up with his mother.  He got out of the car and ran over to
me.

"Sorry to be late, Coach," he told me apologetically.

"You're not late," I assured him.  I gave him a quick hug around his
shoulders.  He was wearing a T-shirt with his yellow shorts and Nikes.  "We
haven't started yet," I told him.  "You're right on time.  I knew you'd get
here."

He smiled up at me.  "Coach, I really had a nice time at your house.
Thanks a lot."

"I'm very glad."

He glanced around for a moment, and then turned his face up to mine again.
"Coach, would it... I mean... could I come see you sometimes... like, by
myself.  You know, without the others."

"'Course you can.  You come whenever you want.  I'd like that."  I stroked
his thick hair.

He smiled gratefully.  "Thanks, Coach."

"Why don't you get warmed up with Shane and Sean."

He touched my hand, pressed it and then trotted over to his friends.  I saw
the other two greet him eagerly.  Shane stood next to him with a hand on
his shoulder and Sean bounced up and down talking.  I was sure he was
telling his friend all about the party.  I noticed that, as soon as his
mother had left, my first baseman took off his shirt.

I did some quick drills with my team to get them loose and then we did a
round of Home Run Derby.  I had brought a giant chocolate bar surprise for
the boy with the most long hits and Shane won, which delighted Sean and the
first baseman because he shared it with them.  I then had a contest for the
pitchers called "Strike Out the Coach."  The rest of the team acted as
umpires.  They liked this and there was a lot of laughter and shouting.  Of
course none of the boys could get me out, including Shane, but I
deliberately let the youngest pitcher, one of the 11-year-olds, strike me
out so there could be a winner.

"Here he is!"  I said, holding the young boy up triumphantly.  "The
fastball ace!"

All the boys cheered, but Shane smiled and gave me a knowing look.  "Coach,
you planned it that way."

"Ha!"  I said, giving my young pitcher his candy bar.  "You just wish you
had this kid's great arm!"

I reached over and gave Shane a hug.  "Don't give me away!"  I whispered to
him and ruffled his hair.  Shane giggled.

I gathered the team together and talked to them, telling them about the
same thing I had told them once before.

"You all know this team we're gonna' play tomorrow.  We played them twice
before.  And you know what I told you then.  Yes, they have all
12-year-olds, but it's not so much size and strength that counts in this
game.  It's heart and courage.  And you guys have all of that.  I'm so
proud of all of you.  I just..."

I had to pause a moment and brush my eyes.

"I just want to say that I hope you win tomorrow.  But win or lose - to me,
you guys are already the champions.  Every one of you.  No team has done
more this season than you have.  No team could have done more.  You're the
best team I've ever coached.  Good luck tomorrow, and don't forget, we're
having a team party afterwards!  So play well, do your best and I'll see
you then."

The boys went off smiling and happy.  I hope I never, ever, see a boy leave
practice any other way - especially a last practice.  Shane, Sean and my
first baseman helped pack all the equipment into the bags and we put them
in the Blazer.  The first baseman pulled his shirt on just-in-time before
his mother came to get him.  Shane and Sean hopped into the back of their
pickup truck and waved as they left.

"Have fun!"  I yelled and waved back.

The field was deserted except for me and the Blazer.  I stood and looked at
the old backstop and the dusty infield whose dirt was turning red in the
slanting rays of the evening sun.  I thought of all the wonderful times we
had had there that summer and all the laughing, happy young boys who had
shared those times with me.

Another season almost gone, I thought.  They go so fast!  All too soon
those boys would grow up and be gone forever; their happy laughter and
graceful flashing forms only a memory.  Soon, all too soon, snow would
cover the field and it would wait hopefully for the spring, dreaming in the
dark of seasons come and gone.

I sighed and went to the car.  The All-Star selection meeting was that
night and I needed to get ready for it.  I went and had a solitary snack at
a fast food place, and then drove to the school where the coaches and our
league president were meeting in one of the classrooms.

After the usual greetings we got down to business.

"You all know the rules," the president told us.  "You can nominate up to
four boys from your team.  All selections must be unanimous and there has
to be at least one boy from every team in the final All-Star list."

The coach who had the all 12-year-old team put up his hand.  "What if you
have more than four boys on your team that you think should be All-Stars?
I know I have more than that."

I bit my tongue to keep myself quiet.  I was sure that coach probably
thought only his kids should be All-Stars.

I disliked and distrusted All-Star teams.  The League had them because we
participated in post-season tournaments, and the kids and parents enjoyed
that, but I had never liked the selection process.  There was always a lot
of politics and I'd seen more than one boy hurt.

Fortunately in our league, we restricted All-Star selections to the older
age groups.  Eight and under T Ball and the 9 and 10-year-old coach pitch
players did not have an All-Star team.  I would have preferred it if there
were no 11 and 12-year-old All-Stars either, but mine was a lone opinion so
I had to accept it.  I always tried to keep things as reasonable as I
could.

The president soothed the coach with some answer about reviewing all the
teams for deserving boys once the initial selections were made and then we
started.  I put in my nominations: Shane, my first baseman, my aggressive
red haired third baseman, and Sean.  The first three were all 12-year-olds.
Sean of course was only 11.

Coming up with this list had been tough for me, but then I had a difficult
time with All-Star nominations every year.  In some ways I was no better
than the coach with all his 12-year-olds.  I always thought that every kid
on my team should be an All-Star.  It was as I had told them; I honestly
believed that every player I had was great.  But I had to be realistic.
There was no denying that some boys were more talented than others, so I
had to make choices.

Another complicating factor was that no one ever quit my team.  Most of the
other coaches could count on losing a few players over the season.  Not me.
Often I had kids trying to transfer onto my team.  That year I had six
11-year-olds and seven 12-year-olds.  Choosing only four from the group was
tough.  Picking an 11-year-old as one of those four, instead of another
12-year-old like my centerfielder or one of my pitchers, was controversial.

The problem was that if Shane and the first baseman were picked, and Sean
was not, I was pretty sure that the first two boys would not want to be on
the team.  They were that close to each other.  Also, I thought Sean
deserved it.  Throughout the season he had consistently shown guts,
determination and desire to improve – more even than the other possible
candidates – and I thought it should be recognized.  So, I put in his
name.

"I don't know about selecting an 11-year-old," one coach said.  "It sets a
bad precedent.  There are plenty of 12-year-olds who deserve to go."

"We've done it before," another said.

"Yeah, but those were exceptionally good players, and they looked like they
were 12 anyway.  This guy's just a little fellow."

"He's a key player in that double-play combination," I pointed out.
"That's the thing."

"We've got 12-year-olds that play second just as well," the man sitting
next to me said.  "You're other two boys could learn to work with them."

I sighed.  I could see it just was not going to work.  "Why not try this,"
I suggested.  "I'll withdraw Sean's name.  In his place I'll give you two
others."  I named my centerfielder and one of my 12-year-old pitchers.
"You can take those two as alternates," I told them.  "If the other two
boys don't want to be on the team without Sean, then the two alternates can
take their place."

There was silence while they all looked at me.  "The three of them are that
close?"  My friend the schoolteacher asked.

I nodded.  "I think so.  I'll let them choose for themselves."

That was the plan we agreed on.  My nominations were accepted with two
alternates.

My friend and I had a steak dinner afterward as we had planned and we
reminisced about the season, reliving its high points.  Finally he asked,
"When are you going to tell them?"

"Tomorrow, after the Championship game."

"Let me know what they say," he said.  "I'd be interested in knowing.  You
think they're going to refuse, don't you."

I nodded.

"No kid refuses being an All-Star."

"Well, I'll find out tomorrow."

"I hope you guys win," he told me.  "That other team doesn't deserve the
championship."

I shook my head.  "You're wrong.  If those boys win, then they deserve the
trophy.  Whatever happens, happens.  It's not the kids' fault that the
situation is what it is."

"Well, that's true I guess," he said grudgingly.  "I still hope you win."

"We're gonna' try!"

The Championship game Tuesday evening turned out to be something of an
anti-climax to the season.  My first hint of how it would go came when the
father of one of my players stormed up during warm-ups full of indignation.

"Coach, the other team just got here.  They only brought 10 players.  I
know there are other boys on their team!"

The implications were obvious.  With 10 players the other coach would only
have to substitute at one position.  "I bet the 10th kid is his other good
pitcher," I said, shaking my head.

The man nodded angrily.  "Isn't there some sort of protest we can make?"

I held up my hand.  "No," I told him.  "That would just make things worse.
It's bad enough as it is.  And we don't want to hurt any of the kids.  Let
them play.  In the long run, it doesn't matter."

"But..." He started to say.

I put my hand on his arm.  "Believe me," I told him.  "I know.  It really
won't matter.  You'll see.  A year from now, even a month from now, the
kids won't even be thinking about it.  It will be of no importance at all."

He nodded reluctantly.  "I suppose you're right."

"I am," I assured him.  "I've seen it all before.  Tell the other parents
the same thing, will you?"

"All right, Coach," He hesitated and then took my hand.  "You know, I'm
glad my son is playing for you."

"Thanks," I smiled.  "I'm glad, too.  He's a great kid.  You should be very
proud of him."

So, there it was, I thought.  Anything to win.  The other coach was so
desperately anxious for the championship he had forced some of his players
to stay home.  I had no doubt that was what he had done.  I shook my head.
I felt badly for the boys who would not get to play.  They would be the
real losers.

I gathered my boys into the dugout and gave them the lineup.  "Okay, guys,"
I told them smiling.  "This team thinks it's unbeatable.  Let's teach `em
that anyone can lose!  Go out and kick some butt!"

They all cheered happily.

There's not too much to be said for that game.  My boys played well, but
the odds were stacked against them.  It just is not possible for a team
with 11-year-old players to compete in a fair way with a team of all good
12-year-old players.  It would've been tough enough even if we had not had
to substitute.  But I had 13 boys and they all had to play, even the least
experienced.  The result was inevitable.

At least we kept it close.  My boys played their hearts out.  Both Shane
and my centerfielder homered.  My speedy first baseman drag bunted his way
on base in one at-bat and doubled in another, driving in two runs.  My
aggressive little third baseman got hit by a pitch and I had to race onto
the infield to keep him from charging the mound.

"I'm gonna' kill that kid, Coach," he snarled as I picked him up and held
him.

"Wait till after the game," I told him.  "Then I'll look the other way."

The next time he came up to bat I think he deliberately tried the shotgun
that pitcher.  At any rate, he hit a line drive up the middle that went
whistling right by the kid's head.

My younger players all did well.  They got some hits and make very few
mistakes in the field.  Sean played a wonderful game.  He got two singles
and he, Shane and my first baseman made play after play in the infield
including their last double play of the season, a beautiful 4-6-3 that Sean
started with a perfect scoop of a hot ground ball.  For the final time that
summer the people in the bleachers rose, applauding them and the boys all
stood together smiling.  Then Shane and the first baseman pushed Sean in
front of them and made him tip his hat.  The crowd loved it and cheered
even louder.

We got runs, but the other team got more.  They had more strong hitters
than we did.  Our pitchers were just as good as theirs, but they're
stronger lineup was too big an advantage.

Because they had the better record during the regular season they were the
home team, so when we came to bat in the top of the sixth inning down by
three runs it was our last chance.

My boys did their best.  I was never prouder of them.  The weakest hitter
on our team, an 11-year-old I had been patiently working with all season,
got a nice hit by slapping the ball past the shortstop.  Then our next
batter hit a very hard shot to the right side that sent my little
11-year-old runner to second.  The opposing first baseman made beautiful
stop on the ball and tossed to the pitcher covering first to get my batter
by a step, but we had a runner in scoring position with only one out.

"Tough luck," I told our batter as he came to me shaking his head.  "You
really hit that hard.  They made a good play."  I gave him a little pat.

My next hitter sent a towering fly ball to right field.  I signaled our
young runner to hold and then sent him as soon as the ball was caught.  He
scurried over to third, his face glowing with excitement.  It was one of
his very few times on base.

"There's two outs.  Run on anything," I told him.  He nodded eagerly.

My first baseman came up looking confident, but I was sure he was nervous.
I signaled him to hit away, once again praying he would not make the last
out.

Let him get my approval one more time, I asked.

It must've worked because he hit a beautiful line drive into the gap of
left-center.  It rolled to the wall and his speed saved him as he went for
a double.  The hit scored my little runner on third base.  He ran for home
holding his batting helmet on his head with one hand and slid into the
plate even though there was no play.  He came running up the baseline to me
wild with excitement.

I swung him up and hugged him.  "Way to go, Tiger!"  I told him.  "That was
a beautiful job."  After I put him back down he trotted into the dugout
beaming.  The boys inside greeted him with a cheer.

Over on second my first baseman was dusting himself off and looking over to
see if I was noticing him.  I gave him the high sign and he smiled happily.

Shane was up next.  Okay, I thought.  A home run would be nice now.  I
signaled him to hit away and he gave me a quick nod.  I'm sure he was
nervous, but he stood in confidently.

He got his hit and it nearly was a homer, deep into the left-field corner
just missing the big blow by a few feet.  The ball bounced over the fence
for a ground rule double.  My first baseman slapped my palm as he came past
third to score and we were only one run down.

The next batter was Sean.  I went over to talk with him.  He smiled at me
nervously as I knelt on one knee next to him.

"I know, Coach," he said, looking solemn.  "Take a good level swing.  And
do my best."

"That's right," I told him fondly, patting his butt.  "Go up there and belt
one, Sean.  Don't be afraid to take a shot.  And remember.  Win or lose..."

"You love me," the boy said, giving me his sweet little smile.

"You know I do, Sean."  I patted his butt again.

The boy pushed his helmet firmly onto his head and went to the plate.  All
his teammates were yelling encouragement to him from the dugout, and I
heard Shane call to him from out at second base.  The stands were full of
cheering and clapping.

It was a fine at bat.  The big 12-year-old pitcher threw hard and little
Sean stood right up to him.  He worked the count to 3-2 and then fouled off
a big shot into the parking lot by right field.

I clapped my hands.  "That'a boy, Sean!"  I yelled.  "Give it a ride,
buddy!  Next one's yours!"

He gave me a little nod and stepped back in.  The pitch came and Sean
uncoiled with a beautiful swing.  He hit a very hard ground ball that I was
sure would be through the left side.  The shortstop made a desperate lunge
as it shot by his glove.

It was their third baseman who saved them.  The boy was crossing behind the
shortstop, backing him up, and somehow he got to the ball.  It was a
major-league play, just as nice as any of Shane's best.  Bent over and
fully extended the boy managed to get the ball in the tip of his glove.  He
had to take three more running steps to keep from falling.  When he made
the throw to first he was still off-balance, so the ball had to be
propelled with just arm strength.

I suspect that luck was a factor, too.  The throw came in online, which was
probably an accident.  Also Sean's legs were not as long as a 12-year-old's
so he did not have all the speed a bigger boy would've had.  The ball beat
him by step.  The umpire called the out and our season was over.

The other team's players threw their gloves in the air, jumping and
celebrating.  They had the Championship and an undefeated season.  I walked
out onto the field to meet my little second baseman who was coming toward
me with tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Coach," he told me miserably.

"Sorry for what, Sean?"  I told him.  I picked him up and hugged him tight.
"You were great.  That was a terrific at-bat.  You never gave up and when
you hit the ball it was a good hit.  That boy had to make a sensational
play to get you out.  There's nothing to be ashamed of.  You did your very
best and so did he.  That's what baseball's all about, son."

I put him down on his feet and knelt beside him with my arm around him.

"Now here's what I want you to do.  You go find that boy right now.  It's
their third baseman.  You go shake his hand and congratulate him on a great
play.  Because it was.  And that's the right thing to do.  That's true
sportsmanship.  Okay?"

He brushed his eyes and nodded.

"That's my boy," I told him fondly.  "And remember, Sean.  I love you."  I
gave him another quick hug.  "Now go find him, son."

Shane had come up while we were talking and I watched as the two of them
went across the field to a boy on the other team.  Sean and Shane both
shook his hand I saw them all talk for a bit.

I went to find the other coach.  "Nice game," I told him.  "Congratulations
on a fine season.  Your boys really looked good.  That was a great play
your third baseman just made."

"Thanks," he said.  "My kids are supposed to know how to make good plays."

I smiled.  "Well, it sure was a good one.  Congratulations again."

I shook his hand and then went to get my team organized.  We lined up at
third-base ready to do the team handshake but only a few boys from the
other team lined up on their side.  We went ahead and shook anyway.  I
shook hands with all of them.  One was the third baseman.

"That was a beautiful play you made," I told him.

"Thanks, Coach."  He smiled shyly.  "I was lucky to make the stop and even
luckier on the throw.  I'm still not sure how I did that."

I chuckled and patted his shoulder.  "I know just what you mean.  But it
was a beautiful play anyway.  Nice job.  And congratulations on your
championship."

He smiled ruefully.  "I guess it's okay."  Then he asked, "Coach, are you
ever gonna' take a team in the 13 and 14 league?"

I looked at him regretfully.  "Not right now.  Maybe someday.  No worry
though.  There lots of excellent coaches in that league.  Whoever you get
will be a real good one."

He looked at me sadly and then said, "I would've liked to have been on your
team, Coach."

"Thank you, son," I told him softly.  "That's a very nice thing for you to
say.  I won't forget it."

I went to find Shane and told him, "Let's get the guys together in the
dugout."

When Shane and the first baseman got everybody rounded up I leaned back
against the wire screen of the dugout and smiled at them.

"You guys may not realize it," I told them, "But you were the winners here
tonight.  Yeah, the other team got one more run than you did.  But look
what they had to do.  You all know as well as I do what they had to do.  In
every other way you guys were the winners.  In heart, courage,
sportsmanship...  In all the important things, you were the best."

I paused and looked into the face of each boy.  "I've been around this game
for a while.  Lemme' tell you something.  You think this game is important
now.  In a month you won't remember the score--

I paused again and then went on, "Lemme' tell ya' what you will remember.
You'll remember that good hit you got!  Or that real nice play you made!
You'll remember your friends, and what a good time you all had.  You'll
remember how hard you practiced, and how much you improved, and all the new
things you learned.  And you'll remember how great it felt to play baseball
on a team with your friends.  You'll remember the good things.  The
important things!  Perseverance, courage, teamwork, faith in your selves
and your friends...

I smiled at them.  "And, hopefully, if I've done this right, these words
I'm giving you right now will stay with you, too.  You may not understand
everything I'm telling you right now, but someday you will.  I hope so
anyway."

I looked at them all one more time.  Oh, how I wished I could keep every
one of them and coach them forever!  But already they were changing and
slipping away from me.  Our moment together was nearly gone.

"This is the very last time I'll be able to talk to you like this," I told
them.  "In just a few minutes we'll go and have our team party.  We'll eat
pizza, have a good time - I'll have some awards for you..."

There were lots of happy smiles at this.

"Then our season will be over," I continued.  "Some of you, most of you,
I'll see again in other places.  All you 11-year-olds, I'll see again next
year, I hope.  But we'll never be all together like this, as a team, again.
I want to say something to you before we go.  Something that's private.
It's not for your parents or your brothers and sisters or your friends.
It's just between me, your coach, and you, my players...

"I've never been so proud of any team I've ever coached as I am of you.
You're all champions; every single one of you.  I will remember you all my
life.  I will never forget any of you.  Thank you for giving me the
greatest season any coach ever had.  I want to shake the hand of every boy
in this dugout as you leave."

It was a solemn moment.  I went and stood by the door and the boys filed
past one by one shaking hands.  I had a little private word for each of
them.  At last there were just three boys left.  My special three.  Shane,
Sean and the first baseman.

"I guess I don't have to tell you how I feel about you guys," I told them.
"If this team had a heart and soul you were it.  The only thing I can do is
thank you for all the wonderful things you've done and tell you again that
I love each one of you."  I put my fist out and the boys put theirs on top
of it.

"Last time I told you that my fist didn't belong in there with yours," I
said, "But this time I think it does.  I'm so proud of each one of you
tonight.  I think you're the most wonderful boys in the world."

I looked at Shane and the first baseman.  "There's something you have to
know.  I nominated all three of you for the All-Star team last night.  They
took both of you, but not Sean because he's only 11.  Do you want to
accept?"

Shane never hesitated.  "Not without Sean."

I looked at the first baseman.  "Not without Sean and Shane."

I nodded.  "I told them you'd say that."  I thought for a moment, and then
said, "What I'll do is this.  I'm gonna' announce tonight that you made the
All-Star team.  I want you guys to have the recognition at least.  But I'll
say that you can't participate because you're going off on vacation.  And
that's true, by the way, you are."

"We are?"  The first baseman said in surprise.

"Yes," I said smiling.  "Remember our bet?  The steak dinner I promised?
Well you're getting it.  But the dinner won't be here."

Shane had started to grin delightedly.  "Where, Coach?"

"Oh, I thought Denver might be a good place," I told him.  "They have some
good restaurants there.  In fact I think there's a nice one at Coors
Field."

Sean was bouncing up and down in excitement.  "Coach, Coors Field is where
the Rockies play!"

"Yeah, well, I thought we might take in a game while we were there.  In
fact, I already have the tickets."

Shane and the first baseman looked at each other and grinned.  They slapped
each other's palms.  Then they both slapped Sean's.

"Oh, and another thing...  I've heard they have a few water parks there,
too.  I thought we might drop in on one of those for a day."

Sean uttered a squeak of delight.  He threw himself at me and hugged tight.

"Coach, I've always wanted to go to a water park!  Now I know why you
taught me to swim."

Shane and the first baseman were grinning from ear to ear.

"We're flying to Denver Saturday morning," I told them, "So get your stuff
packed and be ready."

"We're flying?"  All three boys said simultaneously.  Sean had started to
let go of me and now hugged again, squirming with excitement.

"Sure, flying," I said.  "Who wants that long drive?  This way we'll have
more time to do things."

I put Sean on his feet.  "We're gonna' have fun, guys," I told them fondly.
I ruffled my first baseman's hair and then gave Shane a quick hug.  "Do me
a favor and keep quiet about this with the rest of the team.  I don't want
them thinking that I like you three better than the rest - but you guys
know I do."

"Okay, Coach," they all promised, grinning happily up at me.

For the very last time, all three of us packed up the equipment and took it
to the Blazer.  I went around the field, checking the dugouts, closing the
snack stand and turning off the lights.  I tried not to think about how
long it would be before I would do it again.  Then, in a caravan of cars
containing happy boys and parents we headed for the pizza place.

It was a very successful party.  Anyone who saw it would've thought we were
celebrating a victory.  And, of course, as I had told the kids, we were
celebrating a victory.  More than one, in fact.  A whole season of
victories.

After the boys had gorged themselves on pizza I gave out the awards.  Every
boy got a nice trophy for being on the team and as each boy came up I
mentioned some good play or exciting hit that he had made.  Then, there
were some special awards.  I had a new aluminum bat as the prize for the
best slugging performance.  It went to my tall centerfielder who had worked
so hard all season.  Shane's batting average was better and he had more
home runs, but I had another award planned for him.

The award for best fielder went to my first baseman.  His eyes were shining
with pride when I gave him a beautiful new first baseman's glove.

"Thanks, Coach,"

I gave his slender shoulders a hug.

Three prizes were left on the table in front of me, all engraved plaques.

"The next award is for the top rookie this season," I said.

Of course it went to Sean.  The young boy was bouncing with excitement when
I gave it to him with everyone clapping and cheering.  He ran back to his
table where Shane and Shane's brother and his wife were sitting so he could
show it to them.

"Next is an award that means a lot to me as a coach," I said.  "It's for
the boy who has improved the most over the season.  It was a very hard
choice this year because every single one of our boys worked so hard and
did so well.  But we have one boy was really pulled himself up.  This
evening he showed just how much by getting a clutch hit and scoring a run."

I called the name of my little player who had been our weakest hitter all
year but had done so well in his last at-bat.  The boy came up shyly to get
his plaque.  Everyone clapped for him.  As I gave him the award he looked
up at me with his soft brown eyes and said, "Thanks, Coach."

I knelt down in front of him.  "Thank you, for working so hard.  Promise
you'll be back with me next year?"

He gave me a sweet smile.  "I promise."

He went back to his table clutching the plaque as if it were the most
precious thing in the world, proudly showing it to his dad.  It had been a
nice night for the little guy and I was happy for him.

Now it was time for the last award - the MVP.

"Before I present this award," I said, "I want to recognize all the fine
players on this team.  I'm pleased to announce that five of them have been
chosen for All-Stars."  I announced the five boy; Shane, the first baseman,
our centerfielder, my best pitcher, and the feisty redheaded third baseman.
I made them all stand up so they could be recognized.

When the applause died down I said, "We had seven 12-year-olds on the team
this season and I'd like them all to come up and join me now."

I shook hands with each boy as he came up, saying a little word to each.
When they were all lined up I told my audience, "These are the veterans who
led our team through the season.  You've all seen them play.  You all know
how terrific they are.  Every one of them is a champion.  They all deserve
your recognition and applause."

The whole restaurant broke out in cheering and applause.  Everyone was
clapping, even the people who were not part of our party.  The boys stood
looking happy and proud.

I picked up the MVP plaque.  "One of these boys was always there for us
this season," I said.  "He was there in practice and in games, encouraging
and cheering his teammates.  When we needed a big play in the field, he was
there.  When the chips were down and we had to have the big hit, he was
there.  He's the kind of player every great team has to have to go to the
playoffs and compete for a championship.  He's the kind of player every
coach dreams of coaching.  I'm proud to be his coach.  And I'm very proud
of him.  He truly deserves to be named Most Valuable Player."

I smiled then and said, "Congratulations, Shane.  Come get this award."

I do not believe I have ever seen a boy so proud and happy then Shane was
at that moment.  His face was radiant when he came to me for his plaque.
Everyone was standing and applauding.  As I handed the award to him and he
said, "Thanks, Coach," he looked at me in a way I will never forget.

I leaned over and whispered, "I love you, son.  And I'm so proud of you."

The boy put an arm around me and hugged as I patted his shoulders.  The
applause kept going on.

"As you all know," I shouted over the noise, "Shane was part of the best
double-play combination we've seen in this league.  I'd like you to
recognize them one last time.  Come up here, Sean."

The younger boy came scampering up, his face beaming.  I beckoned to my
first baseman and he came over looking so proud and happy that my heart
went out to him.  Shane stood between them, put his arms around both and
they wrapped their arms around his waist.  All three stood there smiling as
the crowd of parents, family members and teammates cheered them.  It was a
wonderful moment.  It lives in my memory as I write this just as clearly as
if it were all happening again.

As the applause died I whispered to Sean to stay up front with me and then
turned to the audience.

"Well, that's it," I told them.  "Another season come to an end.  They go
all too quickly."  I turned to the older boys standing up in the front.
"To you 12-year-olds I'll say, 'Good Luck.'  It's been wonderful to be your
coach.  I hope every one of you goes on to play in the 13 and 14 league and
then for junior high and the Legion team.  We'll all be watching you and
cheering for you.  Remember what you've learned and try to make us all
proud."

Then I looked down at Sean.  I ruffled is silky blonde hair and the young
boy smiled up at me.  "For you 11-year-olds, I say this.  You're my
veterans now.  Come back to me next year.  I need every one of you.
Together we'll take this team into another season and new adventures.  I'll
be looking for you next spring.  Don't let me down."

I waved to them, gave Sean one more hug.  And then went to sit down.  The
crowd applauded for a while and then the party gradually broke up.  The
season was really over at last.

From the moment he came to me to get his award to the moment when I put him
in the back of his brother's truck for the ride home, Shane never left my
side.  He stayed next to me while I chatted with parents, shook hands,
congratulated players and helped the restaurant staff put all the chairs
back where they belonged.  He was right with me even when I paid the bill.
He kept his hand on my arm or my waist, always in contact as if he feared
being separated from me.  He was quiet, but from time to time he would
glance up at me and smile.

At last he, Sean and the first baseman accompanied me out into the dark
parking lot.  I looked at the two older boys and smiled.  "Okay, you two,"
I said.  "I'm counting on you to keep an eye on Sean until it's time to go
on Saturday.  Keep him safe for me."

"We will, Coach," they both promise.  They all giggled.

"I'll be over on Friday night to make sure you're ready," I told them.
"Remember, you don't have to bring too much.  Just a change of clothes."

"What about our bathing suits, Coach?"  The first baseman asked.

"You won't need to," I said, smiling at them.  "I'm bringing some for you
that I think you'll like.  It's kind of a surprise."

They looked at each other and grinned.

I gave the first baseman to his mother and shook her hand.  "I'll see you
Friday," I said.  Then I took Shane and Sean to their pickup.  "Be good," I
told Sean as I swung them up into the back.  "Do as Shane tells you."

"I will, Coach," he said.

I knelt down by Shane.  "MVP, Shane," I whispered.  "No boy ever deserved
it more.  How does it feel?"

He smiled and looked down.  "It's great, Coach.  Thanks a lot."  Then he
gave me an anxious glance.  "Coach?  You won't leave me or forget about me
now that you said goodbye to us, will you?"

I looked at him with my heart overflowing with love.  "Never, son," I told
him, my voice breaking with emotion.  "I'll never leave you or forget you.
You're always going to be with me."

The boy came into my arms and hugged tightly.  "I just wanted to be sure,"
he said softly.

"Take care of the other two," I told him as I lifted him into the truck.
"I'll be over on Friday after work."

I shook hands with Shane's brother and his wife.  They both looked very
proud and pleased.

"You've got the two finest boys in the world back there," I told him.  "So
drive carefully."

"Count on it, Coach," Shane's brother said.

"We'll see you Friday, Coach," his wife told me.  "Thank you for
everything."

The boys waved as they drove off.

The trip to Denver could not have been more of a success.  The boys had a
wonderful time.  We flew there on Saturday morning; the first time on an
airplane for all of them and they were excited the whole way.  I had a car
rental waiting for us and we went to a Holiday Inn.

As a surprise I had bought them all identical Speedo's in a colorful
pattern of bright red and gold.  They put them on immediately went to swim
in the hotel pool.  The racing suits were extremely brief and had a high
cut on the hip.  The beautiful slender bodies of the three boys flashed in
the sunlight as their nearly naked forms played in the water.  We spent a
lot of time at their favorite game of me throwing them.  I let it go on for
as long as they wanted and all three loosened the tie strings of their
Speedos so I could caress them beneath the water.

In the late afternoon we went to Coors Field, where there were all sorts of
things for the boys to see and try.  Videogames abounded, there were
batting cages and in the pitching lanes the boys could test their arms on a
radar gun.  Shane's best was 65 miles an hour, quite good for a
12-year-old.

We had reservations at the restaurant and because I had the boys with me
the head waiter was nice enough to give me a table by a window that looked
out over the field.  We had the steak dinner I had promised them while the
boys watched batting practice, trying to spot their favorite players.

Later the Rockies gave us an exciting game and won in the last inning to
Shane's delight.  He was a huge Rockies fan.  The boys ran all around the
Stadium during the game trying to get foul balls and autographs.  Despite
the big dinner they managed to down plenty of nachos and soda.  At one
point they slipped into some empty seats behind home plate I saw them all
waving on the big jumbotron above the scoreboard.

By the time I drove them back to the Holiday Inn they were tired and happy,
having gotten some autographs from a few of the Rockies players and come
close to snagging a foul ball.

"Just a few more rows up and we would have had it, Coach," they assured me.

I had gotten two connecting rooms at the Holiday Inn so the boys could have
a little privacy.  Each room had a king-sized bed.  For that first night
Shane and Sean took one room, while the first baseman and I took the other.

As we got ready for bed I went around turning off all the lights except for
a dim one by the bed and then the boy came to lean against me.  I put my
arm around his shoulders.  Under his thin blue shirt I could feel the
smooth rounded muscle at the top of his arm.

"Having fun?"  I asked softly.

"This is the best time I've ever had, Coach," the boy told me in a dreamy
voice.  He turned and lifted his face to mine.  I took him into my arms and
kissed him, slipping my tongue deep into his mouth.  When the boy twisted
his groin against my thigh I could tell he was hard.

I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and when I came back the boy was
in bed waiting for me under the covers.  I slid in next to him, turned to
hug and discovered that he was already naked.  As I took the slim graceful
body into my arms there was total surrender in the kiss he gave me.

That night, my first baseman gave himself to me as completely as any boy
can.  He was very tight and I went slowly and patiently with him, stroking
and comforting as he struggled to get me deeper and deeper into himself.
Afterwards, as I held his supple body, still trembling with ecstasy, I
kissed away his tears and stroked the smooth graceful swelling of muscle in
his butt and thighs.

"Oh, Coach... Oh, Coach... Don't stop.  Don't ever stop," the boy begged in
a soft little voice.

"Nice?"  I asked softly.

"Oh, yes," the boy said.  He clung tightly.  "Please don't ever stop."

"I won't," I promised him.

Far into the night, our bodies remained locked together, writhing in the
twisting patterns of love.

The next day I took the boys to a water park and all of Sean's dreams came
true.  I think he had the best time of all the three.  For the entire day
he went down slide after slide, shrieking with excitement while the two
older boys went with him, encouraging and keeping him safe.

They all went to the big wave pool and Sean played in the artificial surf
like a little otter while we taught him how to body surf.  He kicked and
splashed and finally caught a wave that took his slender lean body far up
onto the beach.  He came back to us bouncing with happiness and I caught
him up for a hug, feeling his firm muscles shifting under the delicate
skin.

"Did you see me, Coach?" he asked excitedly.  "Did you see me?"

"I saw you," I assured him.  "You're just great, son.  You're my brave
little surfer!"

Near the end of the day, Shane and the first baseman took Sean up to the
top of the highest tower in the park.  The slide dropped almost vertically
and then ran out for hundreds of feet in a flume.  I could not imagine any
boy Sean's age being willing to try it, but if Shane had told Sean to fly
off the top of a cliff, the boy would've attempted it for him.  I knew he
was frightened, but he covered his eyes and slid over the edge of the drop,
plummeting downwards in a flash of red and gold from his tiny Speedo and
then planing along the run out amid a great spray of water, shrieking in
excitement.

He came running to me almost beside himself with joy.  "Coach!  I did it!
I did it!  Shane!"  He shouted up at the high platform, "Shane!  I did it!
I did it!"

I swung his almost nude body into the air.  "Way to go, son!"

"I was scared, Coach," Sean whispered to me as I hugged his firm little
body.  "I was scared, but I did it!"

"I'm so proud of you," I told him lovingly.  "You're the best boy and the
best son in the world."

After that, of course, we could not keep him off the thing.  Again and
again he went over the drop, trying to see if he could go faster and slide
out further on the flume.  I only convinced him to stop by telling him we
were all going to try every slide one more time before the fireworks
started.

The three boys and I watched the fireworks from a pool on the innertube
ride.  As it got dark the air grew cooler so the warm water felt good.  The
twisting maze of the ride was lit by underwater lights but we found a
shadowy spot by the waterfall were one of the lights had burned out and
settled back into the warmth of the pool to watch as the first skyrockets
went up.  I had Sean in front and the two older boys behind me holding my
shoulders, stretching out against my back.

I stroked Sean's Speedo and felt his hard little spike push against the
tight satin.  While I rubbed he untied the drawstring and pushed the brief
down releasing his stiffy from the constraining cloth.  The mounds of his
naked butt pressed on my belly.  I stroked his jutting boy rod and Sean
leaned his head back against my chest, his lips parted.  I felt his warm
little hand fumbling with the waist of my own suit.  I pushed it down for
him and he took my hard erection into his small fist to pump me.

The two boys behind felt us moving and I could tell they were aroused.
They both pulled their suits down and I felt their hard jutting erections
pressing on my back.  With one hand I continued to slide my fingers over
Sean's little shaft and with the other I reached under his butt and slid my
finger through his crease until the tip pushed into the dimple of his small
opening.

The young boy caught his breath and drew his legs up underneath the water
so he could spread his thighs.  He head went back against my chest and I
felt him bear down.  As his ring loosened my finger slid deep into his
body.  I felt him tremble and he gave a soft little moan.  Rubbing his
stiffy harder, I twisted my finger in him and Sean moaned again, stroking
my own rigid shaft.

Behind me both boys had taken their briefs off and the first baseman lay
against my back, arms around my neck and knees pulled up gripping my waist.
I could feel his slender quivering shaft throbbing against my back.  Shane
lay against him. hips thrusting and both boys groaned softly.

The fireworks continued to burst overhead.  Flashes of garish color and
loud booms filled the sky.  I felt a huge pressure building in my loins and
my engorged shaft pulsed.  Sean felt it and rubbed faster.  I pushed a
second finger into his tight little butt and found his tiny nub.  Pressing
on it I rolled it beneath my fingertips and the boy gasped with pleasure,
straining his thighs farther apart.  His rigid little shaft pulsed and his
head came back as he gave a soft moaning cry.  Then my own member
contracted powerfully and I came again and again, shooting off into the
water while Sean's little fist pumped on me frantically.

Behind me I felt my first baseman's slim body buck against me.  His slender
hard shaft throbbed on my back and Shane gave a little cry, pushing hard
and writhing.  The first baseman's rigid boner throbbed again.  Above us a
cascade of fireworks exploded in the sky and the show's grand finale shot
up into the night.

As the fireworks ended the boys all put their Speedo's back on, I gave each
one a hug and a kiss, and then we got back on our inner tubes and drifted
slowly around the long winding ride.  We stayed until the Park closed.

That night all three boys slept together in the other room.  I could hear
faint giggling and talking as I went to sleep.  Much later, I was awakened
by a soft noise.  My bedroom clock read 4:30.  A dim figure crept through
the connecting door into my room.  I heard the door close softly and there
was the tiny snick of the lock.  Then someone slipped into bed next to me.
I reached over and a smooth hard body came eagerly into my arms.  It was
Shane.  We kissed and I felt his heart thudding in his chest.

"Do me, Coach," he whispered in my ear.

I stroked his thick tangled hair and he pulled up his slender, beautifully
rounded legs.  As my hard man rod slipped into him, the boy gave a little
cry of wonder and delight.

We flew home in the morning and as we maneuvered toward the landing I
pointed to the rugged wall of mountain peaks that we could see through the
cabin windows.  "All that's waiting for us, guys."

Shane held my arm as he looked with me.  "When are we going coach?"

"Tomorrow," I told him.  Both Sean and the first baseman leaned on my back
trying to see over our shoulders.

"Is that where we're going, coach?"  My first baseman asked in an awed
whisper.

"Back even further than that," I told him.  "Way up to the high country,
the lost valleys by the great peaks were no one ever goes."

They all stared out the window at the mountain wilderness with rapt gaze.

We did go on that trip, and there amid a world of rock and mountain
sunshine the bond between the three boys was forged even stronger.  It was
the first of many trips we took into the wilderness over the years.  In all
our time together, Shane's greatest joy was always to go exploring with me
in the backcountry.

Fall came with school, football and soccer.  We made the trip to the State
University and saw a football game and the professors, just as I had
promised.  The boys found there were, indeed, others besides their coach
who liked for them to ask questions; and even more wonderful, they
discovered a whole world of marvelous things waiting for them to come and
explore.  They returned from that trip fired with a thirst to learn and
know.

Shane and Sean spent most of the time with me, and my first baseman was
with us almost as often.  I always tried to arrange things so each boy had
some time alone with me as well as time as a group.  My most frequent
companion was Shane.  Even more than the other two boys he seemed to need
my sole attention and he found ways to get it.  For several years he was
like my shadow.

In the winter the boys played basketball, Shane wrestled and the first
baseman and Sean were on the swim team.  My first baseman made me very
proud with his accomplishments in swimming and Sean became an excellent
swimmer too, surprising everyone.

That spring and summer, while the two older boys moved up into the 13 and
14 league, Sean and I went through another exciting season of baseball
together.  That was an important summer for Sean.  He spent a lot of time
with me and matured quite a bit, coming finally into his own.

The years slipped by, season after season coming in their turn.  The boys
were all together again as 13 and 14's in baseball and won a championship.
Their double play teamwork was a byword all through the state and our
All-Star team won the District Tournament.  There was no argument that time
about Sean making the team as a 13-year-old.

Before I knew it, the boys had gone through junior high and were getting
ready for high school.  I found it hard to believe time had slipped past so
quickly.

At the end of Shane's freshman year in high school, my first baseman moved
away.  His mother got a job in another part of the state.  I tried to
convince her it was a mistake.  "These boys belong together," I told her.
"I've always believed that.  I know you do, too."  But she concluded,
regretfully, that the new job was more important.  The parting between the
boys was a sad one.  They continued to write and call each other, and I
always tried to fix things so they had at least one trip together every
summer, but it was not the same.  The separation was very hard on my first
baseman and there were times I had to comfort him while he cried.

Gradually, inevitably, our relationship changed.  Over time, first with
Shane and then with Sean, our physical intimacy decreased.  But in many
other ways their need for me was even greater and our friendship deepened.
As the boys matured they grew more independent, as I knew and accepted they
must.  But the desire for my approval and guidance was an anchor point for
them.  They still talked about everything with me and came to me for final
approval of all their plans.

Shane and Sean helped Shane's brother and his wife build their new house
and the two boys had their own rooms.  By that time there were some new
youngsters in the family.  Shane's sister-in-law had three children; a girl
and twin boys.  My boys spent a lot of time taking care of their little
niece and nephews.  Sean had become an official member of the family when
his mother gave up parental rights his freshman year in high school and
Shane's brother adopted him the next year.

In high school the boys began to live up to the potential I'd seen in them
long before.  Their grades, always good, now soared as all their reading,
studying and pursuit of knowledge began to bear fruit.  They led their
classes and were always seeking to know more.  Shane was a leader among his
peers, providing direction in the classroom or on the sports field just as
he once had done on my baseball team.  Sean was less that way.  It was
enough for him to be Shane's best friend and follow where he led.

Both of them were popular.  They were pursued constantly by all the girls
in town; something that Shane has long been used to, but which required an
effort of adjustment for poor Sean.

"Coach, girls are following me everywhere!"  He complained to me once.  I
laughed and patted his shoulder.  "Lots of boys would love to trade places
with you, son," I told him fondly.  "You go talk to Shane about it.  He's
the expert.  He can tell you exactly how to handle that."

In sports, of course, they became a legend.  In football, basketball and
baseball they led the state and took our junior high and then our high
school to victory after victory, championship after championship.  For
several years our legion baseball team had undefeated seasons.

Now Shane's last high school season had arrived and the exciting football
game I had witnessed that night was only the beginning.  Together he and
Sean would take our community down another road of victories.  And then...

Following their dreams, the boys would continue on the path I had set them
so long before.  With their talent and ability they could pick any college,
but there had never been any doubt about where they would go.  Ever since
our first trip both Shane and Sean had been determined they would go to
State.  Every fall since we had driven down to see a football game and talk
with the professors they had come to know, and each additional trip had
strengthened their ambition.  Shane would be going next fall and Sean would
follow him a year later.

............................

I held my old scorebook in my lap and leaned back in the chair caressing it
with my fingers thinking about the year to come.  Tonight, Sean and Shane
had put their football team into the state playoffs.  I knew, as surely as
I had once known they would get their magical double play, that they would
go on to win the State Title and do the same in basketball, and again in
Legion baseball the following summer.  It was all meant to be, and I known
it since that moment with the three of them in the changing room at the
municipal pool so long ago.

Would my first baseman be with them again?  It was possible.  I hoped so
for his sake.  He had talked once of going to State U. and I made a mental
note to call him in the morning for a long talk.

My job this year would be to cheer the boys on to the victories I knew they
would win.  Their courses were set; had been for some time.  They still
needed me, but not so often now.  Already Shane was advancing to
independent manhood, leaving all childish things behind.  Sean would be
quick to follow.  He always had been.

The year after that would send me my last challenge: to get Sean through
his senior year without Shane's companionship.  It was always a little
difficult for Sean in the years when Shane moved up to the next level and
left Sean temporarily behind.  But the younger boy and I had been through
it before and we knew what to do.  I was sure there would be lots of
weekend trips down to the University to see Shane.  I wondered if the old
Blazer could do it.

I suppose it's time to start thinking about a new vehicle, I thought.

I looked around my apartment and sighed.  After that year Sean, too, would
be gone.  The apartment seemed very empty tonight.  Once Sean went it would
seem emptier still.

I got up and looked out the glass doors that opened onto the tiny balcony.
It was very cold out there in the dark.  I drew the curtains to shut out
the night and help hold in the warmth.  I was struck suddenly by the
swiftness and irrevocability of time's flow.  How, all too quickly, the Now
that seems so real - so immediate - slips, without our even being aware of
it, into the unreachable past.  Moments and opportunities that we take for
granted, that we think we have so much time for, come just once and then
are gone, disappearing without a trace in time's unending flow.

I got my old scorebook and sat down with it again.  Just once more I looked
at the names of those young boys I had worked so hard to teach and coach
all those years ago.  Where were they now, those fresh eager faces I had
loved so well?  I knew where some were, but not all.  Some had moved away,
I did not know where.

And yet, in a sense, I no longer knew where any of them were.  Boys change
so fast!  They exist only for an instant, and then are gone forever.  The
boys from that team lived now only in my memory.

Did the grown-up versions of themselves ever think of the things we had
done together?  Of the words I'd given them, the lessons I had tried to
impart?  I hoped so.  That was all that was left of our precious time
together.

Out there in the darkness, dreaming in the cold night, I knew the baseball
diamond waited for another spring - a spring that seemed far away now, but
one that would come eventually just the same.  And there would be other
boys and a new season and another summer.  But somehow the summers now did
not seem the same and the faces of the boys were not the faces I looked
for.  Where had they gone, my wonderful summer boys?  How long had it been
since the little tent had been pitched in the back yard?  From far, far in
the distance I thought I heard their light high voices calling.

I took up the old Polaroid that had fallen out of my scorebook and looked
at it.  It had been taken on a glorious summer day years before.  There
were mountains in the background.  A shirtless smiling boy with tousled
blond hair was holding up a fish proudly, the first one he had ever caught.
He was radiantly happy because his coach, his best friend in all the world
had taken him fishing and promised someday to take him camping.

I put my face in my hands and felt the tears well up.  "Oh my boys, my
boys," I whispered softly.  And I could see, so clearly in my mind's eye,
the sculpted form of a beautiful naked boy gleaming in sunlight, staring
out at the mountains peaks lifting against the horizon.

 [ The End ]

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Hope you
enjoyed it!  This baseball series has a 'long' short story for every
position around the diamond.  Look for a new chapter or two each month.
Here is a short excerpt from the next in the series - Left Field:

...There I was, just moved from the city to the suburbs, involved for the
first time in a highly competitive Baseball League - the new young coach,
stuck with a busted team and having no idea of what I was getting into...

"You're one of the coaches, aren't you?"

I looked at the young dark-haired boy who had approached me and now stood
peering up with an inquiring, half accusing expression on his face.

I smiled at him.  "Yeah, I'm a coach.  Listen, I think you may be at the
wrong field.  The 11 and 12-year-old tryouts are about a mile down the
road."

The boy's eyes appraised me coldly.  "I'm 13.  I know where I am."

He seemed annoyed, but willing to forgive an understandable error.  I was
handed a slip of paper with his name on it, and then after taking a little
breath he declared, "I know I'm small for my age, but I've played baseball
since I was eight.  I turned 13 this month and I'm here to try out today.
I'm sure if you watch me you'll see that I can play better than a lot of
the kids here and that I could help your team.  I hope you'll draft me and
give me a chance to -- to show you what I can do."

It was obviously a prepared speech.  He stumbled a bit at the end, but I
thought he did pretty well.  I must have looked favorably impressed because
the boy stared up confidently waiting for my response.

I studied the name on the scrap of paper.  "Your first name is Andrew?  Is
that what you like to be called?"

He shook his head.  "Andy."

"Tell you what, Andy," I said, giving him back the paper, "I will watch
you.  That's a promise.  And if you're good like you say you are, I'll
draft you - or try to.  I don't think size matters all that much."

I looked him over thoughtfully and then added.  "Here's another promise.
I'll draft you even if you're not as good as you think you are. I think
desire's important.  I might not draft you very high, but I'll draft you.
Okay?"

"Okay," the boy told me politely.  "Thanks.  What team do you coach?"

I told him and I could see he was unimpressed.  He checked me off a list he
had on another piece of paper and walked off.

Geez, I thought.  Now I've seen everything.  I wondered if the kid's
parents had put him up to it.  But there was no time to speculate.  I was
late and tryouts were getting ready to start, so I hurried over to the
bleachers with my clipboard and looked for a seat up far enough so I would
have a decent view.

 [ To be continued... ]

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Thanks for taking the time to read my story and if you'd like to comment,
my e-mail address is:

			hunterjoe45@yahoo.com

I will try to answer all serious mailings.  My on-line access is very
limited.  Rants and ravings will not get consideration.

To all you readers who enjoy these stories, please support Nifty with
contributions and keep the Archive online.  Check the Nifty home page for
ways to make contributions.  Without this Archive those of us who write for
you will lose a wonderful resource to get our stories out.

You can find links to all my other stories on Nifty under my name, Joe
Hunter, listed under the J's (for Joe) in the prolific authors list.  To
get that list click the Authors tab at the top of the Nifty home page and
then select 'Prolific Authors'.  I hope you will read and enjoy!

All the Best.  Joe