Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:25:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joe Hunter <hunterjoe45@yahoo.com>
Subject: Baseball Diamond Tails - 8H

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 a young boy 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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I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Support Nifty!   Joe

____________________________

BASEBALL DIAMOND TAILS - 8H
(copyright 2013, Joe Hunter)

:::::::::::::::::::::::
 Center Field:  Part H
:::::::::::::::::::::::

Some things work out, some things don't.  We had an excellent practice on
Monday afternoon, but Casey didn't stay late.  In fact, it looked like he
wouldn't be staying late ever again.

"Ruth asked if he could car-pool with me an' Dink," Lance informed me as we
were talking during warm-up.  "I told her it's no problem.  We don't live
too far from each other.  She gives me money for gas, so that helps out."

There wasn't much I could say.  It was an obvious arrangement, and any
objection I might raise would only arouse suspicions.  "Sounds good," I
told the handsome teen.  "Listen, if you need any more money to keep that
wreck of yours running, you let me know.  I've gotten used to having your
help."

Lance smiled at me.  Like everything else about him, his teeth were
perfect, a dazzling white.  Standing there next to me, clad in shorts and
sleeveless shirt, afternoon sunlight glinting off smooth tanned arms and
lower legs, he might have been a model getting ready to shoot a commercial.
I kept glancing at him while the two of us went to work organizing the
opening drill.  Lance was good with the kids; even the shy ones like
Rainman and Bo related to him.  Thinking about it, it occurred to me that
Lance was good at a lot of things-—baseball, wrestling, swimming... in
the coming school year, as a senior, he would almost certainly be captain
of the high school swim team.  Yet he had not tried to get a job as
lifeguard for the summer.  And despite being an excellent baseball player,
he was not playing Legion Ball.  Given his looks and talent I was sure any
number of places would have hired him for the summer and paid him money
that would have benefited his family.  But instead he spent his time
helping me, working for free as my assistant.  I was in the midst of
speculating about his social life -- I had never heard Lance talk about
anyone -- when Tiny and Bryce started arguing over something and I got
immersed in coaching duties.  Games, practices, the upcoming fishing
trip--I had plenty of distractions from then on, but later I was to wonder
if I shouldn't have paid more attention.

Our only game that week was on Thursday--a second contest against Skyline
Gas, Big Mike's team.  So far in the season they were undefeated, and all
talk in our practices Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, centered either on
that game or else the Blue Squad's overnight fishing trip on Saturday.

Evan in particular was head over heels with excitement about the impending
camping trip.  With great trepidation Carol had agreed that he could go,
and the small boy was practically beside himself.  Of course, as much as
any other player on the team, he wanted to win Thursday night's game, but
it was the weekend trip that got most of his attention.  At least three
times every practice he was at my side, babbling happily about what he
planned to do: "I'm gonna catch a fish!  Then I'm gonna cook it all by
myself, Coach!  Then I'm gonna eat it!  An' I'm gonna look for a bear!
They got bears up there!  I know it!  We learned it in school!  There was
this ranger that came and told us.  An' I'm gonna see a deer!  An'..."

Keeping him close to me, an arm around his bare shoulders, I nodded
patiently, listening to my wonderful little second baseman pour out his
hopes and dreams.

Dink, on the other hand, was entirely focused on the game against Big
Mike's team.  When I got the boys together to go over our game lineup, he
smacked a fist into his glove, declaring, "This time we're gonna beat the
bastards!"

"That's the spirit," I told him with an indulgent smile, "but let's try not
to call them that, please.  They're all good kids, just like you are.  And
Big Mike's a friend of mine."

Dink glowered at me for a moment, then nodded in submission.  "Okay, Coach.
But let's beat 'em anyway!"

As he said the last part he was looking around at the team, and Bryce,
Cowboy, and JJ all nodded, putting out their fists for Dink and the rest to
tap with their own.

Dink's competitive spirit was infectious and sure enough, Thursday night,
in front of an excited crowd of siblings and parents, we did indeed hand
Skyline Gas its first loss of the season.  The score was not even close,
5-2.  It was one of those examples of catching a good team on an off night.
Ever since winning that first close game against us on Opening Day, Skyline
Gas had been cruising, beating all their other opponents with ease.  Coming
up against us for the second time they were complacent.  "I sure wasn't!"
Big Mike commented after the game when we shook hands.  "I told 'em you'd
be trouble.  I told `em they'd better come ready to play!"

"The breaks just didn't go your way," I replied graciously.  "It can happen
to anybody.  You've got a great team."

Inwardly, of course, I was outrageously gleeful.  Our record was now the
same as Skyline Gas--one loss each!  Win out to the end of the season, I
was thinking.  Meet Skyline again in the playoffs.  Beat 'em!  League
Champions for the second year in a row!  Head Coach of the All-Star team
again...  Back to back!  Why not?!

Returning to our dugout to congratulate my team, I was suppressing a huge
grin, muttering under my breath, "Think I can't win a Championship drafting
in last place?  Just watch.  I'll show ya' how it's done!"

Gathering my excited happy boys around me, I exchanged a palm slap with
each one, saying, "Way ta' go guys!"  They had all done well, even little
Evan, whose nickname was now 'Speedy' ever since Bone had called him that.
In one of his at-bats, Speedy had made it to first base on a walk, then
stolen second.  On defense he had stopped a grounder at second base and
made a good throw to first for the out.

My pitchers, Bryce and JJ, got plenty of my praise, but so did everyone in
the end.  Every boy had done something good.  Dink got a pat on his butt
for plays he had made in left field, plus a run-scoring single he had
batted in the third inning.

"And Casey," I said, smiling when I came to him.  "What a game, Tiger!"  My
centerfielder had saved us with a beautiful diving catch in the final
inning, stopping a late rally by Skyline.  "And that was a great double you
hit in the first inning," I told him.  "That's what got us started."

Casey smiled shyly, looking at me from under his eyelashes, shifting his
feet in embarrassment.  But I could tell he was very pleased.  Lance, who
was standing next to him, put an arm around the boy's sturdy shoulders and
said, "Casey played great."

I gave the team that Friday off, both in honor of our victory and because
parents asked for it.  Then Saturday arrived, and it was time for the Blue
Squad fishing trip.

We had good weather, we usually did at that time of year, and as I drove to
our meeting point at the practice field, a clear sky and perfect
temperature was reminding me of other times and other trips made up onto
the mountain with kids from previous baseball teams.

I was not driving my SUV.  There were ten boys going on the trip, including
Matthew, Will's younger brother.  With myself that made eleven and that
number plus equipment would never fit in my SUV.  So I had one of Big
Mike's double cab four-wheel drive trucks.  It was an arrangement we made
with each other every year.  In return, I contributed my SUV and
snowmobiles to the winter outing he always took with his basketball team.
It was an annual trade-off that helped both of us.

Purposefully I arrived at the field early.  Even with the big truck, it was
a squeeze getting all the boys plus our stuff in, and one thing I knew I
could count on was that the inexperienced kids would bring too much stuff.
It was important to be on the spot when the boys arrived to head off any of
them bringing the entire contents of a sporting goods store with them.

The first few arrivals were no problem.  Wheels got dropped off by his
father, carrying his school book bag packed with a few supplies along with
a sweatshirt, "Cause, like, I know it gets cold up there at night, Coach,"
he told me.

Sitting in the pickup truck with his father was older brother Rainman, glum
because he wasn't going.  "Tough luck, Sport," I told him with a grin.
"But you went last year, so I guess this is only fair."

"He'll be fine, Coach," Rainman's father assured me with a smile.  "I got a
whole stack of chores around the place.  he's gonna help me.  We'll keep
him busy."

It didn't seem to me that Rainman was any too thrilled by this prospect as
they drove off.  Grinning at Wheels, I said,"Good job gettin' outta that!"
and swung him up into the truck bed.

Will and Matt arrived then, both running over to me carrying brown paper
supermarket bags with their stuff.  "You guys got warm clothes to wear
tonight?" I asked, and Will nodded.  "Uh-huh.  We got, like, our jackets,
Coach.  But we don't got no fishing poles."

"Don't you worry about that," I assured him, swinging the sturdy boy up
into the truck.  "I brought enough for all of you."

Young Matt laughed happily, wiggling like a puppy as I tickled him before
lifting him in.  His lean little body felt smooth and warm beneath his thin
tee shirt.

"Thank's again, Coach," their father told me, walking over to shake my
hand.

"No need," I said.  "Will won this fair and square on his own.  Plus he and
Matt have both been a big help in our practices and games.  Our team's
better for having them with us.  I'm the one who should be grateful."

When JJ and cowboy arrived, in a truck driven by a young man I recognized
as one of Cowboy's many uncles, they had all the 'Lacrosse Gang' with them:
Kelly, Slick, Todd, and Dennis.  JJ and Cowboy came right to me, bringing
one small pack apiece.  Then we watched in amusement as the other boys
unloaded tents, sleeping bags, Coleman lanterns, stoves, heavy clothing –
more stuff than would be needed for an expedition to one of the Poles.

"We tried to tell 'em, Coach," JJ said.

"Yeah," Cowboy agreed.  "Didn't do no good."

"Put it on the truck," I told him.  "You know how we'll handle it."

JJ laughed.  "Uh-huh."

With my two veterans helping, we loaded everything in the back of Big
Mike's truck, and while that was going on Carol arrived with Evan.  He was
the one I was sure would be over equipped and I was right.  Despite a blue
sky and warm summer temperatures, Carol had the poor kid dressed in long
blue jeans, a heavy long sleeved shirt, a jacket, and a floppy hat that was
a size too big.  He was carrying a fishing pole, and dragging a big sack
that I was sure was full of more extra clothing, rain gear, and stores of
food.

Cowboy tugged at my arm, starting to laugh.  "Oh, geez, Coach..."

"Don't you dare laugh at him!" I hissed, hugging my tough little veteran
around his muscular shoulders.  "And don't you say a word either," I
ordered JJ who was suppressing a giggle.

"What's up, Speedy!"  I greeted Evan, who gave me an uncertain smile.
After putting his sack and fishing pole in the truck bed, I had him climb
into the cab along with JJ and Cowboy.

"Coach," Carol said, approaching with a box full of lotion bottles.  "I
brought enough sunscreen so you can use it on all of them.  You know how
bad the ultraviolet is up at that altitude."

"Right!"  I accepted the box from her.  "Carol, you're a lifesaver.  I knew
there was something I'd forgotten!"  There was a snicker from behind me and
I turned to glare at JJ, who was grinning out of the truck window.  The
slender boy quickly pulled his head back inside.

"I put extra sweaters in Evan's bag," Carol went on.  "The other boys can
use them if they get cold.  I told him to share.  And there's..." She
hesitated a moment, took a breath, and went on, "There's a box of cookies.
I don't usually let him have them, but this is a special occasion, so..."

Nodding my head in understanding, I hastened to assure her.  "I won't let
them eat them all himself.  I'll make him share."

"Thank you, Coach."  Carol gave me a little smile, something she very
rarely did.  She even reached out, as if she might actually pat my arm, but
then pulled it back.  "I knew you'd understand.  I don't mean to fuss so
much.  It's just that..."  She bit her lip, then took another breath.
"He's never been away from me like this before..."

My head was nodding in understanding.  "I'll have my eye on him, Carol.
Even better, every boy with us will be keeping an eye on him, too.  He'll
be fine.  You wouldn't believe how much they all like him.  JJ and Cowboy
think of him as their little brother."

"Oh, I know, Coach."  Carol's strained expression relaxed a bit.  "The boys
have all been so nice.  It's been so good for Evan.  When I think that I
nearly didn't let him sign up..."

"But you did," I said, interrupting.  "And I, and every boy, and every one
of their parents are grateful you did.  You're making the whole season
better with all your work.  Now, Carol..." I patted her arm.  "Evan's gonna
be fine.  I won't tell you not to worry, because of course you will.
You're a parent.  Just hang in there till we get back.  Unless..."  I
grinned at her.  "Unless you want to come along with us.  The boys can
teach you to fish along with Evan.  Think of the fun.  No phone, no TV..."

"Oh..." Carol looked at me, and for a moment I worried that I might have
overplayed my hand - that she was going to take me up on it!  I hastily
went on, "... No shower, no toilet paper, sleeping in the open..."

"Oh, Coach..." She shook her head.  "No, I'm going to 'tough it out' like
you said.  I'm not going to be silly.  I'll do without Evan for a night.
But you promise to keep him safe?"

"Absolutely."

With more reassurances, I finally got her back to the car and she drove off
after waving to Evan one last time.

"Okay!"  I clapped my hands and slid in behind the wheel of the truck.
"Here we go!"

"Geez, Coach...!"  Cowboy was jammed in next to me with Evan beside him and
JJ over by the passenger door.  I smacked his thigh to shut him up.  "Not a
word!"  My hand lingered a moment, rubbing the hard swell of muscle beneath
Cowboy's silky shorts.  ThenI leaned out my open window to look back into
the truck bed.  "Everyone set back there?"

"Set, Coach," Kelley yelled back.  He, Wheels, Slick, Todd, Dennis, Will,
and Matthew were all securely placed, sitting on their gear.  I got the
truck started and we headed out, turning in the direction of my apartment
rather than toward the back roads leading to the mountain.  JJ and Cowboy
exchanged glances, grinning at each other.

As we turned onto my street, I heard several voices in the back ask, "Hey,
where we goin?"  When I turned into my short driveway, parked the truck and
got out, Kelly stood up in the back.  "Ain't this where you live, Coach?"

"Yup."  I gestured for all the boys in the back to get down, then triggered
the clicker I carried in my pocket to open the garage door.  Todd vaulted
over the tailgate.  "What we gonna do, Coach?"

"Gonna lighten our load.  Heave all your gear out."  Somewhat reluctantly
the boys started handing down the tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, and all
the rest.  "Leave that," I told them, pointing at Evan's big sack.
"Everything else out."

When the pile of stuff was down I did a fast inventory, letting each boy
keep a few extra clothes for warmth, as well as a fishing pole or sleeping
bag for those who had brought one.  "Okay, that's it.  Everything else in
my garage."

"Aw, Coach!"  Todd looked in dismay at his Coleman lantern, stove, tent and
other goodies.  "Come on, I need this stuff."

"Nope."  I patted his shoulder.  "Actually you don't.  We're only staying
for one night, not a month.  I've got everything you'll need.  You just
concentrate on catchin' a fish!  It'll be a hungry night if you don't.
Come on, get this stuff put away.  It'll be safe here."

"Geez, Coach," Kelly whined as he and Todd begin putting stuff away.  "You
mean if we don't catch a fish, we don't eat?"

"You got it."  I grinned at him.  "But don't worry.  Nothing focuses the
mind on a task like hunger.  You'll find a way to get one."

"But, geez!  What if we don't?"  Kelly was clearly anxious.  I didn't tell
him that I had plenty of freeze-dried food plus cans of stew packed away in
the truck as reserve.  It was much more fun for the boys if they caught
their own food, plus it would keep them all busy.

I felt a warmth pressing against me.  Evan was at my side, looking up
wide-eyed.  "Coach, I doan' know how ta' fish."

"No problem, Speedy."  I ruffled his blonde hair.  "I do.  And so do most
of these other boys.  You stick with Cowboy and JJ.  They're experts.
They'll show you how ta' do it.  I bet you'll get some nice ones!  You'll
see."

Once all the excess gear was safely stowed--except for Evan's, which I kept
in the truck for a reason--I told the boys to get back on board.  "But
here's how I want it," I ordered.  "Veterans up in the back.  All you
rookies in the cab with me until we're up on top of the ridge."

"Aw, Coach!" Kelly and Slick protested.

"In the cab," I told them.  "When we're up on top you can get in the back."

At first--with some reluctance, and then moving a lot faster when they
realized there would be a competition for window seats--Kelly and Slick
headed for the cab, along with Evan, Wheels, and Dennis.  Meantime, with
proud looks of superiority, JJ, Casey, Todd, and Will climbed up into the
rear cargo bed, finding spots among the fishing poles and equipment.  I did
a final walkaround of the truck, checking the tires and making sure things
like the tailgate were secure.  It was only then that I realized that
10-year-old Matthew had sneaked into the back as well and was crouching,
hiding behind his brother, where he was hoping I wouldn't spot him.  I gave
him a wink, put a finger beside my nose, and then told Will quietly, "You
keep a close eye on him as we go up."

In the club cab, Kelly and Slick had taken the rear window seats with
Dennis between them.  Wheels had grabbed shotgun position, so when I slid
in behind the wheel I had Evan beside me.

"Put your hand over mine," I told him as I grabbed the floor mounted gear
lever.  "This is reverse... Now we'll back up..." I maneuvered the big
truck out of the driveway.  "Now, here's first.  Follow along with me on
all the rest as we get goin' here, 'cause when we stop for a red light,
you'll do the shifting!"

"Aw geez, Coach!" Wheels said in dismay.  "How come he gets to?"

I put the truck in motion, then shifted into second with Evan holding my
hand, his face screwed up in concentration.  "You put him in the middle," I
told Wheels with a grin.  "You coulda had it if you wanted."

"Geez..."  Wheels looked so disappointed that I decided to give him a
break.  "When we get on the Fire Road and stop to shift into four-wheel
drive, you and Evan can switch seats.  Then you can shift as we go the rest
of the way up."

"Yeah!"  Wheels bounced excitedly, and all was happiness again.  I smiled
to myself.  The best time to have the window seat was on the steep climb
up.  Evan would get a good look at the view, which would be nice for him,
since it was his first time.

Although I four-wheeled up and down the Fire Road at least a dozen times
every summer, and then another dozen in winter on a snowmobile, I was well
aware that it was never a good idea to be complacent.  The Forest Service
maintained the access, and they did their best, but it was a steep grade in
terrain where washouts, rockslides, boulders, and tree fallings had to be
anticipated.  It was a good idea not to rush things.  Once Evan and Wheels
had switched seats, I let Wheels shift the truck into four-wheel low; then,
eyes open, alert for problems, we began a slow ascent.

Higher and higher...  While Evan and the rest of the boys admired the
views, Wheels and I kept the truck going at a steady pace.  Now and then we
would bounce around a bit going over rough spots where the road had taken a
beating in the spring thaw, but one of the reasons I had left the
12-year-olds on guard in the back was so they could alert me if any of our
gear got loose.  Altogether it was a good safe climb to the top.  When we
came around the last switch back, emerging onto more level ground atop the
ridge, I slowed, then stopped to let the engine cool, and to let all the
boys stretch their legs.

"Coach, this is awesome!"  Kelly stood next to me, staring out at a view
that seemed to go forever until it hit the horizon half a world away.  We
were not above the tree line, but only a few hardy pines still remained and
it was easy to see in all directions.  Behind us, range upon range of
mountains extended back to what seemed like the roof of the world, great
peaks reared up against the sky.

"Neat, huh?" I said to Evan who was leaning against my other side.  The boy
just nodded wordlessly.  All the rest were standing, shading their eyes,
staring out; even JJ, Will, and Cowboy, who I knew had been up multiple
times.  "Okay, guys," I told them.  "You can all pile into the back now if
you want.  JJ, you're in charge.  Bang the top of the cab if there's a
problem."

Chattering excitedly among themselves, the boys climbed into the truck bed,
Will helping his younger brother, and Cowboy giving Evan a hand.  All but
Evan were dressed in shorts and T-shirts, just as they would have been if
we were having a practice.  The late morning sun was well up, so even at
altitude the temperature was comfortable.  I knew the boys would be fine
for the time being.

Maneuvering slowly along the Fire Road, I went on for another mile, leaving
the sheer mountainside behind us, passing turn offs that went left to
private cabins.  A bit further on, the Fire Road swerved right climbing
uphill into a stand of pine.  Beyond was a meadow where I sometimes so
deer, but there were none this time.  Up we went, climbing even higher on
another steep grade, following a dry stream bed, one that only flooded in
the spring thaws.  I could hear the boys chatting excitedly in the back.

"Coach, we can see some hawks!" Cowboy informed me, leaning to shout into
my open window.

"Yeah, they're up here," I yelled back.

More pine thickets awaited us at the top of that rise and the dirt road
went through, swerving to avoid huge boulders left by the glaciers.
Eventually the wheel ruts dipped slightly and we emerged into a vast upland
area; range upon range of open meadow, sweeping out toward distant peaks
whose snowy tips gleamed in the sunlight.

"Oh wow!" I heard one of the boys exclaim.  It sounded like Slick.  At the
base of the meadow immediately on our left, a line of brush and small
stunted trees revealed the course of a fast-moving stream.  This was our
spot.  I parked the truck clear of the Fire Road, shut off the engine, and
for an instant the deep silence of the mountain world was around us.  I
could hear the musical chuckle of water running in the stream.

Then all the boys began to talk at once.  "Is this it? ...  Are we here?
...  Oh, cool! ...  That's where ya' can fish, over there! ...  This is
awesome!"

They were scrambling over the sides of the truck even before I started to
get out, sprinting across the grass, all of them following JJ and Cowboy
down to the stream.

Smiling, I watched them go, knowing that nothing much could happen to them.
The stream was too shallow to be a problem should they fall in, plus the
water was so icy cold I'd hear the squeal if they did.  I turned to enjoy
the view, gazing at the distant skyline, remembering other times and other
boys.  This would be our spot for the night.  Further on downstream, far
away from the road, there were other more secluded spots I knew about, but
I never took groups to those places, only certain very special boys...

The sounds of excited young ballplayers interrupted my reverie, and as I
turned back to the truck JJ and Cowboy came running to me, followed by all
the rest.  "Can we start fishin' now, Coach?" Cowboy pleaded.  "Can we get
out our poles?"

"Yup," I said with a smile.  "But here's the deal.  The kids that don't
know how to fish get to try first.  You guys that do know how have to teach
them.  You don't get to catch anything until they've all caught at least
one, got it?"

"Yup ... Uh-huh! ... Yes, Coach..." The older boys nodded and without my
saying anything more, JJ and Cowboy took charge, paring kids up while the
poles got handed down off the truck bed.

"Will," I said, taking the boy by his shoulder.  "You and Matty use my
pole.  An' you both know how to fish.  Help these other kids before you get
started."

"Uh-huh!"  Will climbed into the truck bed, dropped my pole to Matty, then
vaulted back onto the ground.  "Coach, can we take our shirts off?"

"Absolutely."

With a flourish, Will pulled off his tee and Matty got free of his as well,
wiggling like a little eel.  Within seconds all the boys were stripping and
soon the meadow was full of half-naked boys scampering toward the stream.

I took my time unloading the rest of the gear, used my camp handy tool to
clear a fire pit over by a rocky outcropping that provided natural wind
shelter, then from my box of supplies I grabbed a big plastic bag of
kindling and firewood I had brought with me.  Wood was scarce up on the
mountain; cutting trees was forbidden, so I always carried in my own
firewood.

Once I had the major chores out of the way, I grabbed two bottles of
Carole's sunscreen and headed for the stream.  "What a excellent idea these
were," I muttered to myself, smiling.  I intended to put them to good use!

My ballplayers were strung out along the stream in pairs, intent on
catching their lunch.  JJ was helping Slick and the two proudly held up
several nice little trout they had already booked.  "This is neat, Coach!"
Slick exclaimed.

"You're doin' fine, guys."  I held up the bottles.  "Take a break while I
put sunscreen on ya'."

Both boys lifted their arms while I slathered lotion on their smooth
bodies, turning their heads to watch as more went on their arms and
shoulders.  It was a perfect set up.  Neither JJ nor Slick had ever shown
any inclination for a lot of caressing or petting, but here they accepted
what I was doing without any question.  Slick's silky lacrosse hardened
torso was a pleasure to handle, and JJ, my slender left-handed pitcher, had
a willowy grace that I had longed to put my hands on since his first day on
the team a year earlier.  Why hadn't I thought of this sunscreen trick
before!

Cowboy and Evan were the next pair on the stream bank; Evan had the pole,
with Cowboy crouching by him, using hand signals to show where he should
cast.  As I came to them, moving quietly so as not to disturb things,
Evan's pole jerked, there was a silvery splash in the water... and then he
was reeling in a small struggling trout.  "Ok!  Yeah, yeah, I got it,"
Cowboy told the excited boy.  He pulled on the line, expertly gripped the
squirming fish, and after detaching the hook, strung the fish onto a stick
he had prepared for a keeper.

Evan was squirming almost as much as the fish.  "Coach!" he whispered.
Cowboy had obviously instructed him in the importance of noise control.
"Coach!  Did you see!  I caught one!"

"Nice going, Speedy."  I gave his shoulders a hug, then winked at Cowboy.
"You too, Stud.  Way ta' go.  Take a break while I get this stuff on ya'."

Evan put his pole down, and lifted his arms for me, evidently very familiar
with the procedure.  "This is neat, Coach," he said, still whispering.
"Cowboy showed me like how ta' fix the hook, an' everything!"

Evan's lean, sturdy little body was quivering with excitement.  I slathered
on the greasy sunscreen, circling palms on the boy's silky chest, tiny
nipples, and smoothed little tummy.  When I began doing his back and arms,
Evan pulled his jeans half off, letting me spread lotion on his
well-rounded butt cheeks.  Then my palm slid around his hips rubbing more
slippery stuff down his lean belly while he held the waist of his
underpants open for me.  The tips of my fingers brushed past the base of
his little peener, lingering as long as I dared.

Then I turned to Cowboy.

For as long as I had known him, Cowboy had shown by actions rather than
words that he disliked being touched by anyone, particularly adults.  Like
a wary animal, he never stood close, ducking away if anyone tried patting
his back or shoulder.  I was the one exception.  At first he avoided
contact with me as well, but gradually, as he learned to trust me, I was
permitted to rub an arm, squeeze his shoulder, even pat his hard little
butt or give his back a fond caress.  But that was it.  There had been no
going further.  Now, to my astonishment, after watching Evan, Cowboy put
his arms up and allowed me to smear sunscreen all over him as if it were
something we did every day.

"We need to thank Evan's mom for sending this with us," I told him.  "It's
a good thing to use a lot of it.  That sun can burn you quick up here."

My tough rodeo star nodded in agreement, turning a little so I could do his
lean side.  "Yeah, Coach.  Sunburn sucks!  I get it every summer, too.
Every time I go swimmin' at the pool!"

While my hands slid over his ribs, I was trying to keep them from
trembling.  This was a boy I had never thought would let me do what I was
doing.  Cowboy was not a big kid, but he had learned to ride even before he
could walk and had been competing in rodeo since the age of five.  His hard
compact body had a whipcord wiry toughness that made him a formidable
competitor in wrestling, as well as a fast agile third baseman who could
hit with some power.  Sliding my palms on him was like touching warm living
sculpture; I could feel every bone, tendon and muscle in his slender,
perfectly defined body.  When the boy, imitating Evan, pulled his shorts
down, allowing me to touch the glossy swell of butt, and then gave me the
incredible liberty of pushing beneath the front of his shorts to spread
lotion onto his lower belly, it would have been so easy to keep going, to
explore that silky groin and the base of a small stiff boy stick the tips
of my fingers were brushing.  But I knew Cowboy would not want that.  He
would not enjoy it, and even worse he would be shattered by such a
betrayal.  Although he would have died before admitting it, I knew that in
his boyish way Cowboy loved me.  I was the one adult in his world he had
attached to, and in token of that he had given me something far more
precious than his body -- his allegiance and trust.  I would've died myself
rather than destroy such a gift.

Instead I withdrew my hand and Cowboy pulled the bottom edges of his shorts
up so I could smear sunscreen on his firm muscular legs.  "Thanks, Coach,"
he said as I straightened up.  Cowboy did not like hugs, but he stood close
so I could stroke his bare shoulder while he looked up with an expression
on his face that was reserved only for me.  I winked and said, "You guys
keep catchin' 'em."

Cowboy grinned.  "We will!  C'mon Evan..." Picking up the fishing pole he
handed it to his young charge and resumed his teaching.

Further downstream Todd was working with Kelly who had already caught
several fingerlings.  "This is awesome, Coach!" Kelly announced as I
uncapped the sunscreen lotion.  Both he and 12-year-old Todd offered their
firm boy athlete forms to me for anointing and I allowed my hands to linger
on them, enjoying the silky warmth of smooth boy flesh.  There were giggles
from Kelly when I pushed beneath the waist of his shorts to smear lotion on
a muscular butt and smooth lower belly, but he clearly enjoyed it.  Todd,
when I came to him, already had his shorts pulled down nearly off his butt
so I was able to admire him while I stroked, spreading lotion over his
perfect lacrosse hardened body.  As I crouched to do his legs, I could see
a definite tenting out in his crotch.

The last group was Will's, where he, Matty, and Wheels were showing Dennis
how to catch his lunch.

"Hi, Coach!"  Matty ran over to me.  "We found a good spot!  We, like, got
three already!"

The boys were at a pool formed by a natural dam of rocks and dead branches
where the stream spread out a bit before spilling over to continue its fast
course along the bottom of our meadow.

"Watch, Coach," Will told me over his shoulder.  With an expert flick of
his wrist he put a cast into a corner of the pool.  The shadowy forms of at
least six fish followed the baited hook as he reeled it in.  Will twitched
the rod, one of the fish went for the hook... moments later the boy was
pulling in a wriggling silvery form.

"Nice."  I stroked his shoulder while Matty put the wiggling trout onto the
stick they were using to hold their catch.  "Take a break and let's get
some sunscreen on you."

Eager for my attention, the boys clustered around and I did them from
youngest to oldest, starting with Matty.  The small boy wiggled happily,
turning from side to side as my hands stroked him, giggling when I pushed
beneath his shorts to spread lotion on his butt, hips, and narrow tummy.
My sliding fingertips discovered the hard jut of a little boy boner, and
when I began rubbing back and forth over it, Matty sucked in his tummy,
turning toward me in a way that made it easier for me to take hold of the
smooth shaft and give it a few rubs.  Then I did his legs, my hand sliding
up under his blue shorts all the way to his crotch.  Matty grinned at me,
eyes sparkling with mischief.

Like Kelly and Todd, Wheels and Dennis both pulled their shorts down and
then raised their arms so I could get the sunscreen all over them.  Dennis
slid his blue shorts down so far both pale globes of his pert little rear
were completely exposed.  In front I could see the base of a boy tube that
appeared to lift into erection as I applied the slippery sunscreen to his
lacrosse muscled young body.

Imitating him, Wheels had his shorts down as well, pushed so far I could
see nearly all of a thick little boy worm.  His body was less stocky then
Dennis', although just as sturdy in its way.  My fast young ballplayer had
the lean graceful lines of a sprinter, and his slim legs were knotted with
muscle.  His worm also lifted into rigidity while my palms circled on him.
I could see the tenting beneath the pulled down shorts as I worked.  When
it was time to do his legs and he had to pull the shorts up, Wheels turned
to hide the obvious bulge in the front, standing close, the bulge nearly in
my face as I smeared sunscreen on his wiry calves and thighs.  After
finishing, I helped my young ballplayer sit down so he could conceal his
hard on, and he gave me a grateful look.

"You're doin' great," I told him, giving his slim shoulder a caress.
Wheels' eyes were on mine, the gleam of suppressed excitement showing that
we now shared a secret.

Will was less enthusiastic than the others.  His shorts remained up while I
put the sunscreen on, and I soon discovered why.  Underneath Will had a
huge boner, the front of the shorts tented way out.  I turned him away from
the others to help him keep it hidden and circled my palms over his silky
body, enjoying the feel of its firm smoothness.  Will was beautifully
formed, a young body as hard as Cowboy's and almost as well defined.  When
he raised his arms so my fingers could smear a coating of sun screen on his
torso, my palms drifted over the tiny points of his nipples, the swells of
developing boy muscle, vee of ribs, and the firmness of his lean tummy.  To
do his back I did not turn him, but instead leaned closer, bending over the
rounded points of his shoulders to slide my hands on him, fingertips in the
hollow of his spine, palms sliding down to his small tight waist.  Will
leaned even closer to me and when I pushed under the edge of his shorts I
felt the muscles of his butt tighten.  Rubbing with my hands I slicked the
glossy mounds with sunscreen, gradually working my palms around the boy's
smooth hips.

In front, my rubbing hands discovered a boner that was rock hard.  The boy
gave me a scared, embarrassed glance.  "It's okay," I whispered withdrawing
my hands from his shorts, then caressing his sides.  After pouring more
sunscreen into my hands I pushed beneath the shorts again and Will sucked
in his tummy to give me even more room.  My hands slid to his groin,
spreading slippery stuff on his rigid shaft, rubbing and stroking.  Will
gave a very soft involuntary moan.  I felt his rigid boy stick swell as he
squeezed his butt again.  He was circumcised, the shaft thicker and longer
than the others, longer even than Casey's, and my fingers discovered a
fuzzy tuft of hair surmounting the base.

"Later," I whispered, after rubbing him a few more times.  Will gave a tiny
nod in return.  Withdrawing my hands, sliding them up his smooth sides to
sturdy shoulders, I gave the boy a half hug and patted his butt.  Then I
had him sit down while I gestured for the others to come to me.  Matty
crouched next to his brother and Wheels stood with Dennis beside him,
looking up at me expectantly.

"There's four of you," I told them, "and only one pole, so you'll need to
stay busy.  The trout are small.  You'll need at least two or three apiece.
Will's in charge.  Wheels, you and Matty need to make sure Dennis gets
enough for his lunch first, right?"

"Yup ... Uh-huh ... Yes, Coach."  The boys' eyes were all locked on mine.
I held out a fist.  "Get to work now.  Let's see some good fishing!"

Each boy tapped a fist on mine.  Matty scrambled to his feet, but I noticed
Will remained seated.  To give him cover, I stayed next to him, remaining
long enough to see Dennis get another bite but lose the fish when it
wriggled free.  "Hang in there," I told him, patting his back.  Then, after
ruffling Will's thick hair and stroking his silky shoulder again, I went up
stream to see how the others were doing.

By noon, the boys had all caught more than enough fish for their lunch.  I
had known they would; the stream always provided abundance at that time of
year.  In the meantime I had gotten the fire started and when the boys
brought their catches to the truck I showed them how to wrap the trout in
tinfoil with lemon butter, salt, and pepper for baking over the coals.
This created all sorts of fun as the more experienced of the group showed
off culinary skills to the neophytes.  Taking advantage of the ensuing
shouting and excited chatter I grabbed my fishing pole, went to the stream,
and did some catching of my own so I could supplement the sandwiches I had
packed for my lunch.

After the boys had stuffed themselves and finished off the Gatorade I
passed around, they settled around me where I was leaning back against a
tire of the truck, eating.  I had brought a pair of binoculars and these
were passed around so everyone could try searching the far ranges for
wildlife while I answered their questions about the mountains and described
the backcountry around the great peaks.

"Let's go there, Coach!"  Kelly exclaimed, staring out at the mountain
skyline.  He turned to me wide-eyed.

"Can't get there in a truck," I told him with a smile.

"Not even a four-wheel?"  Slick asked.

I shook my head.  "Not even a four-wheel."

"Horses!"  Cowboy said.  "Bet you gotta get there on horses!"

Turning to smile at my tough little third baseman, I shook my head again.
"Nope, not even horses can get you there.  There's no real trail.  It's all
up rockfall and scree.  The only way in is to backpack."  I looked out at
the mountains again, remembering the last time I had visited that secret
place--and who I had been with.

"Coach goes backpackin' all the time," JJ informed the others.  "He knows
places nobody else does."

"Take us, Coach," Kelly begged.  The blonde boy was sitting close by and
tugged at my arm.  I put an arm around his bare shoulders.  "Maybe
someday..."

The sun was past its zenith, but the air still felt comfortable and warm.
The boys began to be restless so with a wink at JJ and Cowboy I told them
to pick sides for a game of capture the flag.  We were in a perfect spot
for that game and soon the Meadow was filled with excited shouts as JJ,
Todd, Dennis, Kelly, and Matty sought to steal the big red bandanna that I
gave Cowboy, Will, Wheels, Slick, and Evan to defend.  During breaks in the
action I continued to apply sunscreen to all the boys, rubbing my hands
freely over slick sweaty bodies.  Several left the game multiple times to
run over for extra applications, "'Cause like I don't want no sunburn," as
Cowboy kept telling me.  I was very careful with him, each time letting the
boy get his fill of the stroking and petting he so obviously enjoyed
without doing anything that might make him uncomfortable.

It was a long golden afternoon, but bit by bit the Sun was dropping toward
the peaks and soon enough the temperature would begin to fall.  I halted
the game when I saw the boys beginning to tire and sent them back to the
stream to catch more fish for dinner.  Then I restarted the fire and from
my supply box brought forth the extras I knew the boys would like--a big
fire blackened pot of stew that could be put on the coals to heat, hot
dogs, marshmallows, and a stash of little chocolate bars I could hand out
for treats.  Soon my beautiful boys were coming back to the truck, all
smiles, eager to show off their catches.  As they came toward me, the last
rays of a setting Sun struck glints from their hair and shiny half naked
bodies; each boy so perfect, so vital and alive.  I experienced one of
those moments when every single detail was so exceptionally sharp and clear
I knew it would be a picture in my mind forever.

While the boys were cooking and eating, darkness came, descending around us
quickly the way it always seems to do in the mountains.  With it came the
drop in temperature.  The boys were so busy at first they did not notice,
but soon enough they were looking for their shirts and then scrambling to
find the sweatshirts and sweatpants they had brought.  As night completely
engulfed us, even the sweatshirts and pants were not enough for several of
the boys.

"Get that bag of stuff you brought, Evan," I shouted.  Soon, my young
second baseman was sharing out the extra sweaters Carol had sent with him,
along with the sleeves of cookies she had included.  Happiness reigned.
The boys and I gathered around the fire, I put the last of the wood on it
and Kelly rubbed his hands together over the flames.

"Tell us ghost stories, Coach."

I smiled and pulled him close for a hug, feeling the hard smooth warmth of
his tough little body beneath the layers of clothing.  "Tell you what.  How
'bout some true stories instead of ghost stories?  I like the true ones
better."

"Yeah, tell us, like, more cool stuff about places you've been," Cowboy
said.

"Here's something even better."  I pointed up into the sky.  "There's all
kinds of stories right up there over your head."

Above us the stars shone brightly, easy to pick out as they always were
high up in the mountains away from the lights.  Every constellation was an
adventure tale waiting to be told.  In the silence and complete darkness of
the mountains, ghost stories would not have been a good idea for any of the
boys, especially the younger ones like Evan and Matty.  With the coming of
night these two had already moved closer to me.  Now Matty crawled into my
lap, Evan snuggled close on my left side, and not entirely to my surprise,
Wheels leaned in on my right.  Above us the summer stars burned bright and
clear while I told stories of the Great Bear, Perseus, Andromeda, and
Pegasus the fabulous winged horse.  Concealed in the dark, my right hand
stayed busy underneath Wheels' bulky sweat suit, rubbing his hard little
boner.  On my lap Matty turned to hug closer, at the same time giving my
left hand room to slide under his big blue sweater, caressing down his lean
tummy all the way to the hard little boy spike between his thighs.  When my
fingertips moved back and forth on the circumcised tip, Matty squirmed ever
so slightly on my lap.

One by one the boys drifted off into sleep.  JJ and Cowboy had been wise
enough to have staked out the seats in the cab.  The others stretched out
in the truck bed, or else found places on the dry ground around where the
coals of our fire still made a faint glow.  Wheels ended up there along
with Todd, the two of them wrapped together in each other's arms.

Propping my head on a roll of soft foam, I stretched out with Evan still
curled against my left side and Matty sprawled face down on top of me like
a puppy.  My intention was to catnap through the night, waking now and then
to keep an eye on things, but I was tired enough to sleep fairly hard for
the first three or four hours.  I woke later to find Will pressed to my
right side, head on my chest, one arm around my neck.  When I turned my
head I saw the gleam of the boy's eyes and knew he was awake.  Evan on my
left and Matty still lying on top of me were fast asleep, their breathing
shallow and even.  Slowly, careful not to wake them, I moved my right hand
over Will, exploring his firm sturdy form through the sweatpants and shirt
he wore.  The boy hugged tighter, turning slightly to make it easy for me,
then gave a tiny sigh when I pushed beneath his clothing.  I found nothing
but smooth warm flesh.  Will had pushed all his other clothes out of the
way so I could stroke his naked butt, glossy hip, and hard tummy.  In his
smooth warm groin with its fuzz of hair, his long boy stick jutted straight
out, a slick rock hard shaft quivering at my touch.

With another sigh and a soft inhalation, "Ahh..." Will squeezed to harden
himself even more and thrust a little, sliding his rod on my questing
fingers.  I knew what he wanted.  My thumb and fingers began rubbing the
rigid shaft, pumping in steady rhythm.  The boy was so aroused it took very
little time to bring him off.  In what seemed mere seconds he was squeezing
his butt, tensing, biting his lip to keep from crying out.  Then he jerked,
hips thrusting.  His pulsating rod shot spurts of hot boy cream into both
my hand and his sweatpants.

Once his spasm passed Will clung to me, eyes closed, panting for a moment.
When he lifted his face to mine, mouth open, wanting a kiss, I gave him
one, thrusting my tongue deep in his mouth, our breaths mingling.  With
slow circular motions of my palm I smeared his cum all over the hard silky
sheath of his tummy, just as I had spread sunscreen earlier.  It dried
quickly.  I kept stroking until it did, then hugged the boy and kissed him
again.

"Coach?" he whispered when our lips parted.

"Yeah?"

"I really, really wanted to be on your team last year."

"I know."

"It sucked being on that other team."

"Yeah."  My palms moved around onto his warm smooth back and I caressed the
boy, sliding fingers down the hollow of his spine, then cupping the glossy
smooth globes of his round butt and rubbing them.  Will snuggled against
me.

"Coach, my dad... He like... He like says we gotta move so's he can find
work."

I nodded my head, stroking to comfort the boy.  "I know..."

"I'm scared, Coach.  I doan' wanna move."

"Yeah."  My palm glided over the silky perfection of his hips and back.  "I
know.  Moving's not easy.  You've got to take care of Matty."

"I will, Coach."  Will hugged closer and I saw tears glittering in his
eyes.  I kissed him once more, kept petting him, and finally he drifted off
to sleep.

Much later--by the position of the stars I knew it was after midnight--I
felt a stirring on my left side.  Evan pulled his head up.  "Coach?"

"Right here, son."  I put an arm around him and immediately the youngster
relaxed, cuddling close.  "Everything's fine," I whispered, stroking him.
"You're safe with me.  I'm right here.  Everyone's asleep."

"Are the bears asleep, Coach?"  Evan's voice was high and soft, the voice
of a very young child.

"Yes, the bears are asleep.  They're all having wonderful dreams of long
summer days filled with lots of honey."

With a sigh Evan snuggled against me.  After a few moments he whispered
very softly, "I love you, Coach."

With a hug I whispered back, "I love you too, son.  Very very much.  Go to
sleep now.  You're safe here with me."

A few moments later his breathing was deep and regular again.  I shifted
around to get comfortable.  Matty was still sprawled on top of me and his
brother Will slept rolled against my right side.  With the Big and Little
Dippers circling the polestar in the North, I had no need of a watch to
tell time.  My eyes closed and I cat napped through the rest of that night,
waking from time to time when Matty or Will stirred.  All remained well.
Orion appeared at last, that mighty hunter of the winter sky now vanquished
by summer.  Dawn lit the horizon.

First to stir were JJ and Cowboy, my wily veterans who had spent the night
in the truck cab.  I heard them come out, whispering to each other.
Moments later they were on their way to the stream, fishing poles in hand.

When I stirred, holding a groggy Matty in my arms, both Evan and Will sat
up, rubbing sleep from their eyes.  Evan looked around in surprise.  "Is it
morning already?"

"Do we gotta go home today, Coach?" Will asked, taking my arm.  "Can't we
like stay another night?"

"'Fraid not."  I hugged the boy.  "But you can still do some more fishing.
JJ and Cowboy are down there right now, catching breakfast."

"Cool."  Will scrambled to his feet.  "C'mon, Speedy."

While my two nighttime companions grabbed fishing poles and trotted off
toward the stream, I deposited Matty in the now deserted truck cab where he
promptly curled up on the rear seat and went back to sleep.  Then I got
busy starting a small fire for whatever breakfast fish my early-morning
anglers managed to catch.  By the time I had something going other sleeping
figures were stirring.  Kelly and Slick peeked at me over the edge of the
truck bed, then Dennis' head appeared.  Last to show up where Todd and
Wheels who crawled out from underneath the truck, dragging the extra
clothing they had slept on.  The morning air was chilly and the five boys
gathered around the fire while I made cocoa for them in an old pot they
could take turns sipping from.  While the chocolate was heating, they
related to me all the things they thought they had seen and heard during
the night.  Todd was certain he and Wheels had heard a bear, Slick was
positive he had spotted a shooting star, and Kelly kept trying to convince
us he had seen a UFO.

Doing the cocoa took time and once the pot had been passed around and
emptied, the boys were fully awake.  When I informed them that JJ, Cowboy,
Evan and Will were already fishing the rest ran to join them, racing across
the meadow like a flock of birds.

It takes awhile to get boys organized for leaving a campsite, particularly
when they're having fun and don't want to go.  First I had to arrange the
fire so fish could be cooked for breakfast, a meal that went for several
hours as the boys came with their catches in relays.  By then, activity and
rising air temperature had the boys shucking all their extra clothing.
Cowboy came to me clad in nothing but his tight little boxer briefs
insisting on being smeared with sunscreen again, and once I had done him,
all the rest were lined up as well, including young Matty who had finally
gotten up.  Then the fire had to be doused.  While I was doing that, with
Will and Matty bringing water from the stream, the rest started a game of
tag, all wearing nothing or next to nothing.  Naturally I was in no hurry
to break that up, so I encouraged my two water bearers to join in while I
had fun watching ten beautiful almost naked boys chase each other around
the meadow.

"What are we havin' for lunch, Coach?"  JJ finally asked, running over to
me followed by the rest.  In that clear air and late morning sunshine the
boy's tanned graceful form glistened like polished bronze, a sight so
perfect that the scrap of old faded briefs he was wearing seemed like a
desecration on such perfection.

"Oh, I thought maybe we'd hit McDonald's," I answered with a grin.

"There's a McDonald's here?"  Evan asked, staring at me wide-eyed, his
mouth a little 'O' of astonishment.

This was greeted with laughter, which I stopped by holding up a hand.  I
ruffled the young boy's wispy blond hair.  "No, son.  We'll have to go back
to town for that."

Little Matty wailed in dismay, "You mean we gotta go?  But we just got
here."

"Yeah," I said, stroking his head as well.  "Sure seems that way, doesn't
it?"

Given the prospect of McDonald's, the hungry boys were ready to hop in the
truck just as they were and head down the mountain, but I made them get
dressed, collect all their gear, put the warm clothes Evan had loaned back
in his bag, clean the campsite, and put all their trash into a big plastic
sack I had brought for that purpose.  All ten were chomping at the bit to
get going when those chores were done.  I gave the word, Wheels and Evan
got into the cab with me to share the shifting chores, and the rest
scrambled up into the truck bed, ready for the descent back to town.

A little more than an hour later my hungry troop of boys were devouring
hamburgers and slurping thick shakes, chattering excitedly about the
adventure they had just shared.  "And you're not done yet," I told them
with a grin.

As a surprise I took them all to the batting cages where they had fun
hitting, then played video games.  When I finally pried them loose from the
games and herded everyone into the truck, it was JJ and Cowboy who joined
me in the front seat of the cab.  Kelly, Slick and Dennis grabbed the rear
seat, and everyone else climbed into the truck bed.

"This was awesome, Coach!" Cowboy told me.  The sturdy youngster was
leaning against my side, his hard muscular thigh touching mine.  It was the
closest sustained contact I had ever had with him.

"Yeah, Coach," Kelly said from the seat behind us.  "This was like the best
ever!"

"Don't thank me," I told them.  "Thank JJ!  He's your captain.  He put your
team together.  And it was his good pitching that helped you win the
scrimmage and the trip."

"C'mon, Coach..."

My slender left-hander was blushing in embarrassment, looking down at his
lap.  I reached across Cowboy and patted JJ's thigh.

"I didn't think we was gonna beat Top gun an' Bone," Cowboy admitted.
"Bone's pretty good.  But we did beat `em.  That was, like, a really good
game!"

"Show's you what can happen in baseball," I told him.

Shifting into reverse I backed the truck, moved the gear lever to first,
and began maneuvering out of the parking lot onto the highway.  As we
accelerated through the different gears my hand brushed between Cowboy's
legs, touching his bare knees and rubbing the insides of his thighs.  The
boy made no move to avoid my touch, and even seemed to be encouraging it
with little movements of his own.

"Coach, is it true you, like, take kids from the wrestling team
snowmobiling in the winter?"

It was Dennis' voice.  He was sitting behind JJ in the rear seat, leaning
forward.  Our eyes met in the rearview mirror and I smiled at him.  "Yup.
We go snowmobiling.  It's only the kids that make district though."

"I'm makin' it this year!" Cowboy said confidently.

"Darn right!"  I gave his thigh a gentle tap and the boy smiled up at me.

One by one I dropped my players off.  Cowboy, whose family lived miles out
of town, was staying with one of his grown-up uncles and when we stopped
there, JJ got out with him.

"You guys were terrific," I told them.  "Thank's for all the help.  You
made the trip a success.  JJ, take care of that arm.  You're pitching for
us Tuesday!"

"Okay, Coach."  My slim left-hander grinned back at me, then he and Cowboy
waved as I put the truck back in motion.

Matty and Will had scrambled into the cab when my two veterans got out.
Their house was our next stop.  "See you tomorrow at practice," I told Will
who hugged me very tightly before climbing out behind his little brother.

Kelly, Slick, and Dennis were next, all getting off at Kelly's house where
they intended to play video games and try talking Kelly's mom into letting
them have a sleepover.  Then came Wheel's house where his brother, Rainman,
ran out to meet us as I stopped the truck in the driveway.  Todd climbed
down from the truck bed along with Wheels, both of them telling Rainman
about the fish they had caught, and I got out as well to give my
12-year-old veteran a hug around the shoulders.  Rainman was never going to
be a superstar player for me, but he had made a lot of progress, becoming a
solid reliable player since joining the team as a shy frightened
11-year-old.  Although the older brother, he was overshadowed a bit by his
more talented young sibling, so I wanted to reassure him that he was
valuable and important.

"Bummer that you couldn't come this time," I said when he looked up at me.
My arm was tight around him and he leaned his head against my side.  "I
missed you.  Now both you and Wheels have each had a trip, so you're even,
right?"  The dark-haired boy nodded, eyes never leaving mine.  "Practice
tomorrow, Sport."  Rainman had on a thin cotton shirt and my palm rubbed
over it, stroking his firm shoulder, then his back, sliding all the way
down to his butt.  "Let's be ready to kick ass in our games this week!"
The boy nodded.  Todd and Wheels came to me for a caress as well, then all
three boys ran across the lawn toward the house.

Evan was the last one.  He got into the truck cab with me and I pulled him
close for a hug.  "Did you have a good time, Speedy?"

"Uh-huh."  The boy turned to put his arms around me and hugged while I
stroked his back, the cotton cloth of his shirt sliding on the smooth silky
warmth of his body.  Finally I encouraged Evan to put the truck into gear
as he had learned to do and we started off for his house, only a few
streets away.

"Here's what I want you to do," I told him.  "You got a bike, right?"

Evan nodded.

"Well, as soon as you've put your stuff away, and convinced your mom that
you survived the trip, get on that bike and ride over to Wheels' house.
He'll be there playin' video games, or else out back jumpin' a bike on that
ramp he's got.  You go over there and find him.  Okay?"

Evan stared up at me with his blue eyes.  "But my mom..."

With another quick hug of his shoulders I told him, "You let me take care
of that."

The moment we pulled into his driveway Carol was out of the front door,
walking quickly toward us.  "Evan!"  She grabbed the poor kid before he had
a chance to climb down from the cab, pulling him into an embrace and
kissing him right there out the open.  For a moment, Evan's expression was
like a trapped animal's.  I saw his eyes dart around checking to see if
anyone from the neighborhood houses was watching.

"Coach, is he all right?" Carol asked anxiously.  "Did he stay warm enough?
He didn't get too much sun, did he?  You used the sunscreen?"

"Sure did," I assured her.  "Carol, that sunscreen was a lifesaver.  Can't
thank you enough for thinking of it.  There was enough for them all.  It
was perfect."

She beamed, releasing her son who looked up gratefully at me.  He tugged at
Carol's arm.  "Mom, I caught, like, a bunch of fish!"

"That's wonderful dear."  Carol stroked his hair.  "Don't use 'like'.
We've talked about that."  She looked at me.  "Coach, you didn't let him
eat any candy, did you?  If so bad for him."

"Oh, no.  And Evan shared all his cookies with the other boys.  Carol,
those extra sweaters worked perfectly.  He shared those too with the boys
who needed them.  It was brilliant of you to have thought of that."

My efficient team mother's eyes sparkled.  Before she could say anything
else I grabbed the big bag of Evan's clothes out of the truck and she got
busy, checking to be sure everything was there.  "Now," I told her, "Evan's
been invited to go over and play at Flick's house.  That's the boy they all
call Wheels.  He and Evan both play second base."

"Oh, Coach..." Carol looked suddenly dismayed.  "I haven't seen Evan for a
whole day.  Can't the little boy come here instead?"

I smiled and raised a cautionary finger.  "Check this out.  We're more than
halfway through the season.  You know we need to start planning the team
awards party?"

Carol nodded.

"Well..." I gave her a conspiratorial smile.  "Flick's mom was involved
with that last year.  She knows who the contacts are.  What you do is--
send Evan over there and then..."

But Carol was already ahead of me.  Nodding wisely she said, "I'll go over
there later, and we'll get the planning started.  That's a good idea,
Coach."  She turned to her son.  "Evan, I want you to change your clothes.
You can go play with your friend as soon as you do."

With a wink at Evan I said goodbye and left Carol to get on with her
organizing.

My next stop was a car wash where I cleaned and vacuumed Big Mike's truck.
Then after stopping at his house to trade a few friendly insults with him
and swap out the truck for my SUV, I headed for my apartment.  There, the
first thing I did, even before taking a shower, was to call Casey.  I was
thinking that it wasn't too late to pick him up on the excuse of taking him
to the batting cages.  I could spend the rest of the afternoon with him.
But it was his mother, Ruth, who answered the phone.  After asking me how
the fishing trip had gone, she said, "Oh, Casey's not here, Coach.  He was
over at Dink's yesterday and spent the night there.  Dink's brother Lance
is supposed to bring him back later.  You want me to have him call you when
he comes in?"

"No," I told her.  "That's okay.  I'll see him at practice tomorrow."

We hung up and I took a shower, but as I soaped up, luxuriating in the hot
water after a night of sleeping rough under the stars, I was thinking, "It
would be a lot better if Casey was here with me."

[ To Be Concluded In Part I ]

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Hope you enjoyed it!  This baseball series has a 'long' short story for
every position.  Look for a new chapter or two each month.

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