<!--ADULTSONLY--> <meta http-equiv="pics-label" content='(pics-1.1 "http://www.icra.org/ratingsv02.html" l gen true for "http://asstr.org" r (cz 1 la 1 lb 1 lc 1 na 1 nb 1 nc 1 nd 1 ne 1 nf 1 ng 1 nh 1 ni 1 oa 1 ob 1 oc 1 of 1 og 1 oh 1 va 1 vb 1 vc 1 vd 1 ve 1 vf 1 vg 1 vh 1 vi 1 vj 1 vk 1) "http://www.rsac.org/ratingsv01.html" l gen true for "http://asstr.org" r (n 4 s 4 v 4 l 4))' /> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE=JavaScript SRC=http://www.asstr.org/scripts/common.js></script> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE=JavaScript SRC=http://www.asstr.org/scripts/scroller2.js></script> <SCRIPT Language="Javascript"> <!-- runScroller(); //--> </SCRIPT> <pre> <br><br> <font color=blue> Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience. </font> The Trailer Park The Third Year Wizard - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Standard Disclaimer. This is a work of fiction for adults only. If you are under the age of eighteen, please immediately do what I would have done when I was your age. Which is, delete this story from your hard drive and/or leave this internet site. I know you've left now like the good little boys and girls you are. But if you haven't or for the rest of you, enjoy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Author's Note: Special Thanks to Russell Hoisington, who spent many long nights trying to figure out what I meant and separate it from what I wrote. I understand that he's compiling an English/Wizard dictionary to help future generations translate my spelling. Thanks also to the Night Hawk for his comments and suggestions. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - One Last Note: The Trailer Park started as a short story, then took on a life of it's own. This is the third year, I strongly suggest that you read The Trailer Park, and the Trailer Park: The Second Year before reading this. I'm not big on recapping. The Trailer Park: The Fourth Year will follow, and eventually there will be six years. Thanks for all the comments I've received, hope you enjoy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chapter 1 They say a picture's worth a thousand words. * * * The picture shows an old farmhouse. Probably from the twenties or thirties. It is blue mostly, though in places where the paint is peeling, you can see an old faded greenish color. It is two stories with a large stone fireplace on one end. The roof is peaked, with two small attic windows. Five windows look out the from the second floor. They're all open, hoping to catch some of the summer breeze. On the ground floor, a door splits the house and opens into a railed porch that extends the length of the house. Two windows on each side. Half a dozen chairs sit on the porch, and a swing. The porch swing is the only thing newly painted, so white it almost shines. A pair of boots sits by the door. Behind the house on one side is a large barn. The barn was once a traditional red, but has faded from wind and sun until its color is hard to define. The large doors of the barn are open, and inside, one goat wanders while another lies, grateful for the shade. In front, a dozen chickens peck the ground. On the other side of the house is a overgrown pasture with six-and-a-half cows grazing peacefully. Further behind the cows, another pasture where a mare and her foal gallop. Fence posts lean this way and that, no two seeming to point the same way, yet the fences that define the two pastures stand. Above the house, a clear blue sky with a single white cloud shaped like a rocket ship blasting off for far off places. In front of the house, a yard, mostly grass, thick, and in need of cutting, with a few bare patches of hard-packed earth. A walkway of large stones lead to the porch stairs. The debris of a family litter the yard. A bike lying on its side. A tricycle missing a back wheel. A pogo stick. Pieces of plastic and metal from a dozen toys. A discarded t-shirt. An idyllic scene. But smoke leaks from the upstairs windows, turning the sky over the house grey. In the corner room, fire crawls up a curtain. More flames can be seen behind the glass in the other rooms. Everywhere inside, the smoke roils and boils. Downstairs, smoke pours from the windows and door. A teenaged boy is jumping from the top of the porch. The picture captures him in air just as a one foot leaves the porch, but before the other can contact the ground. He's wearing faded cut-offs and a green football jersey, the number thirteen just barely visible. He's handsome, though his face is smudged by the soot of the smoke and his hair is wild. Clutched to his side, a young girl, six or seven, wearing only baggy panties. Held tightly in front of him, a boy of three or four in shorts. Barely in view, in the front corner of the picture, a teenaged girl, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, on her hands and knees gasping for breath, a baby held tightly to her chest. Next to the girl, a woman sits crying, looking at the house. * * * They say a picture's worth a thousand words. That was only five hundred and something. They say a picture tells a story. They say a picture tells the truth. This picture lies. Chapter 2 I opened my eyes. They hurt, my eyeballs, stinging. I closed them again. `Where am I?' is such a cliche, but sometimes it fit the situation. Let's review. I was in bed, but it wasn't my bed. It didn't feel right. Besides, the ceiling was green. Puke green. Who would paint their ceiling puke green? It was hard to concentrate. My shoulder itched. I decided that was more important than where I was. I lifted my hand. It felt funny and I couldn't wiggle my fingers. I reached up to scratch my shoulder... "Oh, God!" I moaned as pain shot through me. "Tony are you okay?" The voice of an angel. Tami's voice. "Not sure. What year is it?" "What year?" "Are you my wife?" "Tony, we're fourteen." "There are states where that is legal." "He's okay," said another voice. I decided that it was my maternal unit, code-named Mom. I decided to try opening my eyes again. I opened them just a little, and they still burned. I closed them and blinked hard, trying to liquefy them. No, not liquify; moisten. Why was it so hard to think? I opened my eyes again. They still stinged. Stanged. Stang. Stung. They stung, but not as much. I kept them open. Same puke green ceiling. I looked around. I was in a hospital room. I should have known. Only hospitals and prisons use colors like that. Mom was standing on one side of my bed and Tami on the other. "What happened?" "Do you remember the fire?" Mom asked. The fire. The fire! "It was hot." "Those are some good drugs," Tami murmured, earning her a dark look from Mom. Drugs! No wonder my brain was fuzzy. I don't even like taking aspirin. "You got some really bad burns on your hands, and your right shoulder. You're in the hospital." Oh yeah. I remembered burning my hands. It hurt, but I didn't have time to think about it then. I lifted my hands up and looked at them. They were wrapped in gauze and tape. No wonder I couldn't wiggle my fingers. I didn't remember burning my shoulder, but I was pretty busy at the time. Good thing it was my shoulder, not something important like my dick. I just use my shoulder to... I use my shoulder to throw! Football! Baseball! What if I couldn't play anymore? Tami smiled. "You're thinking about sports aren't you?" she accused. "You're thinking about whether you can throw a stupid football." The mind reading thing again. I was getting used to it. "I was thinking about baseball too." "Don't panic. You can still be the star of the team. The burns are super... superfac... super-something." "Superficial," Mom supplied. "They may hurt like hell, but there's no serious damage." "That's good," I admitted. "It may be silly, but I'd miss playing football and baseball with..." "Robbie! What happened to Robbie?" "She's okay," Mom said. "She just swallowed a lot of smoke. Her dad's already taken her home." I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about Robbie. Damn drugs. Why would anybody want to not be able to control their thinking. But then my brain kicked in. Maybe I was getting used to the drugs, or they were wearing off. Ever play Monopoly? And I mean the original, not one of those Star Wars or NBA variations. I love it. My favorite board game. But I always get the damned GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card late in the game. Late in the game, I don't want to get out of jail, free or otherwise. I want to sit in jail and let other people move and land on properties with houses and hotels. So my GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card always goes to waste. Right now I had a GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card and I wasn't going to waste it. "Mommy, have you met my wife?" I said, slurring my words a little. Mom looked slightly annoyed. She thought Tami and I were too young to be in love. "Yes, I know Tami." "She's going to have your grandbabies." Mom went white and Tami went red, and I had the drugs to blame. Life was good. "Do you want them now, or next year?" I asked, trying to look dazed. "I think you should wait awhile." "Okay, Mommy. We'll wait until I graduate middle school." "You graduated, Tony. In June," Tami explained. "Okay, we'll have them now. Mommy explained all about how babies are made, and it sounds like fun." I wouldn't have believed it, but Mom got whiter and Tami got redder, and I still had a GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card. "I think I better tell the doctor that he's awake," Mom said before beating a hasty retreat. "Anthony Marion Sims!" Tami said coldly as soon as the door closed. "Stop that!" "But I..." "And no, it isn't the damn drugs talking." "I'm sorry," I said automatically. "I was just teasing her." "Do you have any idea just how worried she's been?" "I..." Now I was sorry. "You WILL behave or no more nookie for you. No Robbie, No Mikee, No Kelly." "No nookie? For how long?" "The rest of July." Unless I'd lost a day, this was the second. That was a long time. "No Robby? "No Robby!" "No Mikee?" "No Mikee!" "No Kelly?" "No Kelly!" "What about Tami?" "I'll let you lick my pussy," she whispered as the door started to open. "After all, I'm not the one getting punished." Chapter 3 The reporter showed up about three hours later. Her name was Janet Edwards, and she seemed nice, but she asked a ton of questions, most of them several times. The next day both the story and the picture were on the front page. Local Hero For those of you who think there is no hope for the younger generation, meet fourteen-year-old Tony Sims. Tony the quarterback led his middle school football team to their best season in ten years. Tony the shortstop led his baseball team to their best season ever. Not your typical dumb jock, Tony gets `A's and `B's in school and sings in local shows. Tony is also a hero. Yesterday, Tony charged into a burning house to rescue Jessica Miller and her three children, Adriana (7), Carl (3) and namesake Tony (3 months). Tony suffered several burns and smoke inhalation and is resting comfortable at City hospital and is expected to be released tomorrow. The Millers were all treated for smoke inhalation and released. They are staying with relatives. The picture was taken by Dana Bradley, wife of volunteer Darren Bradley, who was riding with him when he was called to the scene. The fire is believed to have started from a short in a power cord that caught a drapery on fire. Also on the scene were Tony's friends Roberta Tait (14), who helped Tony in the rescue, and Tami Sharp (14), who went for help. Tony... "Oh, fuck!" "Tony! Your language," Mom chided as she gathered my stuff and I sat in the wheelchair reading the paper. "Mom, did you read this?" "Of course I did. It was a very nice article. There's one in the Seattle paper, too, but they cut it down a lot." "Mom, they did everything but give away my secret identity as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent." "Oh, it's not that bad." "They made it sound like Robbie sat on the sidelines, waved her pom-poms, and yelled, `Go, Tony, go!' She's the one who got Mrs. Miller out. And the baby." "It's not that important." "Really? How many copies of the paper did you buy?" Mom pretended not to hear. "They didn't even spell her name right. And they called her Roberta." "That's her name," Mom said as she set my stuff in my lap and started pushing me out. Wheelchairs are cool if you want to have races, or pop wheelies. They are not cool when you're being pushed down the hall by your mother and could walk just fine. "It's not fair." I swore if she said life isn't fair, I wouldn't talk to her all the way home. She did and I didn't. Chapter 4 "But Mom!" "You just got out of the hospital." "I'm fine." "Anthony Michael Sims!" "It's Marion." For a second, I thought I'd be going back to the hospital with assorted bruises and broken bones. "Anthony Marion Sims, you just got out of the hospital. You are not riding your bike to Robbie's house, and that is that." "Fine. I'm not riding my bike to Robbie's house. I'm going to Tami's. Is that okay, or do you want to call me an ambulance for the trip. Mom threw up her hands, turned her back on me and stomped off to the kitchen. I knew she was just being a good mom, but I didn't need babying. I needed to see Robbie. * * * "Tony, you're back, and you're okay!" Tami's mom said as she threw her arms around me. I hugged her back. It's nice to be wanted. "I just stopped by to kidnap your daughter." "Again?" she said with a laugh. I shrugged. "I should just let you marry her and save wear and tear on all of us." "Two-and-a-half years, if we can get Mom and Dad to agree. One and a half-with-a-family court judge." "And you know this how?" "Learning," I said with a grin. "I'm always learning." "And what states let you marry at sixteen?" she asked suspiciously. "None. Isn't that disgusting? There were several in the seventies, but now all the states are eighteen without consent. Even Arkansas, if you can believe it. Though in Alabama and Massachusetts, we can get married now if you and Mom and Dad all agree. Up for a road trip?" "Tami is not getting married till she graduates high school, and she's only marrying a high school grad. Let me know when you're ready." I grinned, just to make her nervous. "After March, we could get married in Iran without consent." She laughed. "I'll make sure to hide her passport." * * * "Where are we going?" Tami asked after I'd sprung her from her mother. "Paul's house." Paul lived in the trailer court. He was a month older than me. We weren't exactly friends, but we got along. "Why are we going to Paul's house?" "I need to borrow a bike." Tami looked completely confused. "What about your bike?" "I promised my mother I wouldn't ride my bike to Robbie's house." "But..." "You don't expect me to walk, do you?" Tami made the connection. "Anthony Sims!" she said, sounding a lot like my mother. "Tamarone Elizabeth Sharp, we're not married yet. Don't use THAT tone on me." "What tone?" "The tone where you sound like my mother." "And what makes you think I'd ever marry you?" I stopped and pulled her into a long hot kiss. "If that didn't send me back to the hospital, a little bike ride isn't going to bother me," "But your mom? Can't you wait?" "Did you see the paper today?" Tami nodded. "Mom showed it to me." "I don't think I can wait." * * * Paul had no problem with loaning me his bike, especially after Tami gave him a big smile. Robbie lived a half mile away, about fives minutes on our bikes. We parked and I knocked on the door. "Tony! You're back," Robbie's dad said, as he opened the door. "Hi, is Robbie here?" "She's in her room. She'll be glad to see you. We were worried." "Just a lot of smoke and some burns." I held my hands out. They were bandaged heavily, but not mummy-wrapped like yesterday. They hurt a little from gripping the bike's handlebars, but not too bad. "That was a brave thing you did." "No, it was a brave thing Robbie did. I just..." I couldn't bring myself to say more. "She's in her room. Go on up." I think he was relieved to see Tami with me. He'd accepted that Robbie and I had sex, but he probably didn't enjoy listening to creaking bed springs from his fourteen-year-old's room. He figured with Tami along, he wouldn't have to. Of course, Robbie still owed me a threesome. We climbed the stairs and stood outside Robbie's door. Loud Latin music came through the door. I knocked. Nothing. Tami knocked a little louder. Nothing. I pounded. "Come," I barely heard over the music. I opened the door. Robbie was dancing to the pounding beat. She looked up, saw us, and launched herself at me. "Tony, you're okay." Actually I've had tackles in football games that didn't hit that hard, but I nodded. She kissed me hard and long, then abruptly let go. She hugged Tami, but without the kiss. "You really shouldn't let him out without a leash." "I could wait outside if you..." Robbie grinned. "I'm good, but thanks for offering." While sex with Robbie was always fun, it would be nice if I was consulted. Tami and I sat on the bed while Robbie pulled out her desk chair after turning down the music. "Latin?" Tami asked. "I was in the mood for something different. Tony what's wrong?" I'd been thinking about how to bring up the newspaper, and I guess it showed on my face. "I... did you see the paper?" "Oh, that." Then she laughed. "Tony, you were worried?" "Well, it looked like I..." "Tony, when you talked to the reporters, did you take all the credit?" "Of course not. I told them that you got Mrs. Miller and the baby." "And they printed what they wanted." "But..." "Tony, Tony, Tony," Robbie said as she got up then plopped herself sideways on my lap. "Don't worry. Tami and I will take care of you." "But..." "You're a John Wayne fan, right?" "Well, Dad is, so I've seen them all." "You've seen The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance?" "A dozen times." "What's the tag line?" "Something like, `When the legend meets the facts, print the legend.'" "Ya think newspapers have changed since then?" "But, I felt bad that..." "Tell ya what. Buy me a hot fudge sundae, and we'll call it even." "Deal." I felt better just talking about it. Robbie kissed me on the cheek and moved back to the chair. "I've been thinking." "Call the fire department," Tami said in mock horror. "I thought I smelled smoke," Robbie added. And Rodney Dangerfield thinks he gets no respect. "Look, we hurt his feelings," Robbie said. "I suppose we could make it up to him," Tami added seductively. I looked at Tami, then Robbie, then back at Tami. Robbie laughed, hard, then couldn't stop. Tami and I looked at each other, both with raised eyebrows. "What?" we said in stereo. It took several seconds for Robbie to get back under control. "I was thinking about the old story about the jackass who starved to death. "The one who was standing in the middle between two haystacks and couldn't decide which looked more delicious," Tami finished. Robbie nodded. Tami looked at me and started laughing, then Robbie joined in again. Me, I sat and pouted. They didn't understand. It was more than just delicious kisses. I liked kissing both girls. It was two very different experiences. But I had to balance feelings, too. It wasn't just two haystacks. It was two haystacks with me on a tightrope between them and jagged rocks below. Their laughter finally petered out, with Robbie holding her side. Then she looked at me and started again. And that got Tami going. I sighed, loudly. "Look, we hurt his feelings again," Tami gasped. "Awwww." Then they both leaned in and kissed me on the cheeks. I suppose it was better than nothing. "What were you thinking about?" Tami asked after they both got back under control. "Nothing." "Come on. A Tony thought is a rare and precious thing. Don't waste it." Robbie made me feel very simple sometimes, but she had her compensations. "Well..." "Tell us," Tami demanded. "Tomorrow's the fourth. I was thinking to celebrate..." "Yes?" Robbie prodded, suspiciously. "Well, you two and the girls all on the same bed would make some great fireworks." They both knew that when I said the girls, I meant Mikee and Kelly. "You know, he's right." Robbie said quickly. "He is?" "Great fireworks! Then later we could meet Tony and watch the big show at the park." "Hey, I meant..." "Sounds like fun," Tami interrupted. I pouted again. Suddenly I was on my back on the bed and Robbie was sitting on my chest. "Sport, you can barely handle me. Four of us would kill you." Before I could defend my prowess, there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Robbie yelled from her perch on my chest. Her dad opened the door, took in the scene and shook his head. "Tony, your mom's on the phone. She didn't sound happy." I wasn't sure if it was a case of out of the frying pan, into the fire, or saved by the bell. Chapter 5 "Tony, you have a phone call," Mom said from my doorway. I pulled the pillow over head and mumbled something about midnight. "It's not midnight, it's a little after eight. Besides, you were still up at midnight. Do you want me to tell Tami to call back later?" The part of that sentence that registered right away was Tami. The rest took longer to process. "I'll take it," I said, uncovering my head and reaching for the phone. Mom stepped into the room, handed it to me, then left, closing the door. I could tell that Mom wasn't mad at me anymore. I didn't know if it was my status as a hero, my status as just released from the hospital, or just because Mom didn't hold onto her mads. I was just glad she wasn't. I was one of those misfit teenagers who actually liked his parents. When I'd gotten back from Robbie's yesterday, I dropped off Paul's bike, then headed home for the inquisition. One look at Mom's face and I knew better than to argue that I hadn't ridden my bike to Robbie's. I listened as she read me the riot act, said only that it was important in my defense, and went to my room. She just glared at me the rest of the night. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" I said when I answered the phone. "Don't know. Don't care," came the voice of the girl I loved. "It's eight." "Don't know. Don't care. Do know that Mom had to go to work until this afternoon. And I'm in bed, and I'm lonely." The last six words worked better than a bucket of ice water. "Five," I said and hung up. I leaped out of bed, pulled on some clothes and was out the front door in less than a minute-and-a-half. I let myself in Tami's house. The door was locked, but I knew where they hid the spare key. I opened Tami's door and looked in at her, less than three minutes after I hung up the phone. She was lying naked on the bed, partially on her side, one knee up in the air and the other lying on the bed. "It's the fourth of Ju-why, my mommy left me, and I have no won to sell-a-brate wiff," she said in a little girl voice. "What did you have in mind?" I asked, sounding like a melodrama villain. "I wanted to call Robbie, Mikee, and Kelly and have fireworks. But it's too early. I didn't resent for a micro-second that it wasn't too early to call me. "Maybe I can help," I offered. "If Robbie was here, what would she do?" "She'd wick my wittle titties." "Maybe I can wick, I mean lick your titties for you?" "It won't be as good, but you can try." As I stepped over to her and knelt next to the bed, I wondered if she'd given this much thought, or if she was making it up as she went along. I admit that the thought of Robbie and Tami in bed together had crossed my mind a few times. I started planting little kisses around her breasts. They hadn't grown much in the year-and-a-half I'd known her, but they had grown. About the size and shape of the top third of a softball. The aureolas bigger than a quarter but smaller than a half dollar. I put my lips around the aureola of her lower breast and slowly closed them until her nipple was trapped. Then I teased the tip with my tongue. "Oh god, you're torturing me," she moaned. I released her nipple, gave her nose a quick kiss and went to work on the other breast. "What would Robbie do next?" I asked after a couple of minutes. "Oh god!" She'd... she'd... she'd quiss her way down to my widdle cunny." "Your wish..." I got off my knees and rolled her onto her back. I then took my position at the end of her bed, stripped, and crawled up between her legs. I leaned forward and sucked her tits again, then started kissing my way downward to her belly button, her pelvis, the top of her slit. "And what would Mikee and Kelly be doing while Robby did this?" "They be sucking my titties." "You've got this all worked out," I said then ran just the tip of my tongue down the length of her split." "Oh god, oh fuck," she murmured. "Robbie said that four girls would kill me. I think three would do you in." "Would you shut up and fuck me?" "Your wish," I repeated. My cock was more than ready. I reared up on my knees, then fell forward onto my hands. My cock seemed to know the way as it settled on her puffy lips. She was wet and ready, and I pushed forward, entering her. Now this is a grrrreatttt way to start the day. No offense to Tony the Tiger and his Frosted Flakes. In California, in my old house, my room was right above my parents and I could tell when they were having sex. It was hard to think fucked and parents in the same sentence. About once a week, they'd start the day with a good fu... I mean with sex. Why they didn't the other six days, I'll never understand. Tami arched her back, thrusting her hips toward me as I drove my cock deep into her. It took only a few seconds before I felt my release building, and I knew from her breathing that Tami was on the edge too. I drove forward, hard and deep and felt my cock spasm and fill her with spurt after spurt of my cream, Tami grabbed me tightly and held on as her own orgasm wracked her. I rolled us onto our sides and just looked at her. She was so beautiful, especially just after sex, when she looked almost cat-like in her satisfaction. I could stay like this forever. "I've got to go," she announced frantically, pulling her pussy off my shrinking little worm. "Oh god, me too," I realized as soon as she'd said it. I could feel my bladder announcing itself. It didn't like being ignored, especially in the mornings. "Use Mom's," she said as she practically leaped from the bed and rushed to her bathroom. It felt weird being in Mrs. Sharp's bathroom, surrounded by her make-up and other things, but the relief of emptying my bladder was almost as good as the orgasm a minute ago. * * * "Hi, Tony," Kelly said as I walked in the door. "Hi, Stud," Tami echoed. "Hi, Ladies," I said as I closed the door behind me. The afternoon had gotten hot and I wanted to keep the heat out and the air conditioning in. The two girls were kneeling by the coffee table in Tami's living room, coloring. Actually, it was more than coloring. Though they were using crayons, they were artists. At least, when Tami drew something it was obvious what she was drawing. Kelly was the artist, though she had a fuzzy, almost impressionistic style. Me, I'm lucky if I can draw a stick figure. I watched them, fascinated. I wished I could draw, or even color like that. "Where's Mikee?" "Don't know. Don't care," Kelly said in a pouty voice. I wondered what had gotten into her. The two sisters were usually pretty close. "Tony, there's some fireworks on my bed," Tami said without looking up from her picture. "Would you get them for me?" I nodded, though she couldn't see, and headed back to her bedroom. I opened the door, and there was Mikee, naked and in exactly the same position that Tami had greeted me in that morning. "Oh, fuck!" I said as my cock sprang to life. Mikee giggled. "Tony, your language." I grinned. "I used it properly. It's a verb, and it's what I'm about to do." I stepped in the room, dropped my shorts, and closed the door in one smooth motion. "Mikee, you're going to be an eighth grader now, and I think you're old enough to know that guys only want one thing from a girl." "What's that?" "This." I stepped to the bed and rolled over her, pulling her on top of me and pushing my raging cock into her. I hadn't realized how horny I was until her pussy sucked me in. I mean, I'd fucked Tami three times this morning before I'd had to go home. "Now I know why Kelly was being pouty." "She wanted to be first," Mikee agreed. "She always does." "Well, she's going into middle school now, so she's not always going to get her way." Damn, Kelly was growing up. She was going to be a sixth grader, I thought as my cock glided in and out of her sister. I was going to have to start wearing a rubber with her too, I probably already should have. That was when I realized my naked cock was fucking her sister. I pulled out and rolled her off me. "What the fuc... hell?" "I forgot," I explained as I rolled out of bed. I got a rubber out of my wallet in my shorts and put in on. "You shouldn't let me do that." "I... I didn't care." "You'd care if you had to start breast feeding your baby in the middle of math class." Mikee grinned. "The boys would like that." "Your mom wouldn't," I said and her face fell. She nodded. I climbed back into bed, and slid back into her. "You don't wear one of those with Tami," she accused. I wondered how she knew that, since I'd never fucked Tami in front of her or her sister. I guessed that she and Tami talked about it. "Tami uses a birth control patch." "You don't use one with my sister," she accused. "She doesn't have no patch." "She was too young to worry about it, but I should have started using one a while ago. From now on, I will." That seemed to satisfy her. Then her orgasm started and that satisfied her more. She rolled off, grabbing my proud little flagpole and jacking it several times. I grabbed her hand to stop her. "Mikee, when you and Luke... I mean you and a boy do... I mean when you have sex, do you always use a..." Mikee giggled. "I haven't done it with anyone but you. I've given Luke a blowjob though." I'd wondered, but didn't want to ask. My best friend Luke had gone out with Allie Smidt for a week or so, but for the last three weeks, had been going with Mikee. We'd even doubled to the movies a few times. "I wasn't asking that. I just... just wanted to make sure you're safe." "I'll be careful," she promised. "Some guys will tell you they don't need one. That they're safe." "I won't believe them," she said firmly. "Would Luke...?" "I don't think so, but when we guys get horny, you can't trust us." "Speaking of not trusting, you want me to send my sister in?" There's no politically correct way to answer that, so I just nodded. And tried not to look too eager. * * * "Get a hit, big boy, and I'll do things to you you've only read about," Robbie whispered in my ear. Robbie had a very subtle way of motivating me, and I wondered if I could swing the bat with a major hard-on. The game had originally been scheduled for the second. But since the Sizzler's team and our team were both undefeated, they decided to make a big deal out of it and have us play today. In fact, if they hadn't rescheduled the game, Tami, Robbie, and I wouldn't have been walking around and seen the fire at the Miller place. The Babe Ruth field was next to the city park, so our game drew the biggest crowd we'd had all year, especially when we went into the tenth inning. We usually only play seven, but the teams were evenly matched, and whenever we'd score, they'd score. Half the town seemed to be in the bleachers or standing by the fences as I stepped up to bat. There were lots of places to barbeque in the park, and the park was where the big fireworks display was going to be, and as the game went on, people just seemed to gravitate toward it. Two outs. Runners on second and third. And Sims steps up to the plate. Thinking, unfortunately about Charlie Brown and his hero or goat time. I stepped up to the plate. The pitcher was a kid named Danny that I tried out against for the varsity. He'd gotten cut before I did, which had to burn a little. I'd been up against him four times already this game and managed to get a hit every time, but nothing solid. So far, he'd burned me on the first pitch every time, throwing a fast ball right down the middle. I was sure he wouldn't do it again. He checked the runners and started his windup. I focused on his wrist and thought I saw the telltale snap of a curve ball. The pitch was coming straight down the middle and I waited, holding back the bat for it to curve away. It didn't. Smack right in the catcher's glove. I didn't need the umpire to tell me that was strike one. Now I was mad. There was no way this turkey was going to strike me out. He checked the runners, I took my hand off the bat and held it up to the umpire. Danny looked back and started his windup just as the ump called "Time!" I stepped out of the batter's box and took a couple of swings. Nothing like keeping the pitcher off-balance. I stepped back into the box. He was going to try to blow another fast ball by me, I knew it. He checked the runners and went into his windup. I tensed, lifting the bat a little higher. The pitch, coming right down the middle, I started my swing just as the ball started to break away. Damn! I corrected my swing and caught a piece of it. I hoped it would go foul, but it one-hopped to the third baseman. The runners on second and third held while he checked them, then fired to first. To me, the ball arrived at the same split second my foot stepped on the front edge of the bag. The umpire must have seen the same thing, because he was yelling, "Safe! Safe!" The first baseman took the throw and came up ready to fire home, but the runners stayed. Bases loaded. Two outs, and at the plate, second baseman Robbie Tate. Robbie had bunted her first time up and walked the next three. "Hey Danny-boy!" I yelled. "Ya gonna walk her again? I can see where you'd be afraid to throw to a girl." Danny stepped off the pitcher's rubber and glared at me. I stood on first and smiled back. "Maybe he thinks he can get a date?" Jimmy Sexton, the runner on second called. "Nah, she's going out with Ricky Calloway. He was varsity, you know." "Just because his dad was the coach," Danny yelled. "Nope. Because he was good," Robbie yelled, getting into the spirit of things. For about three minutes we all yelled insults back and forth. I looked up into the bleachers and waved. Tami and her mom were sitting there with Robbie's dad and my family. We were all barbequing together if we ever got this game finished. The umpire took off his face mask and stepped over the plate. "Enough. Let's play some ball." Danny gave me a last glare and stepped back onto the mound. I took a last look around. I saw Mikee and Kelly pressed up against the fence by the third baseline, their parents, brothers, and surprisingly, Alana, behind them. Sitting in the Sizzler dugout with a stats book was Allie Smidt, the traitor. Danny started his windup and threw a hard fast one right down the pipe. Robbie's bat came around and connected with a very satisfying smack. I took off. So did Jimmy on second and Ray on third. That's the great thing about a hit with two down, you don't have to watch for the catch, you just put your head down and run. I rounded second with Jimmy still a step or two away from third. I could see Mr. Atkins, the coach, on third waving him hard, so I kept going. Jimmy rounded third and headed home. He was halfway there when I hit third. The coach wasn't waving me, but he wasn't stopping me either, so I glanced over my shoulder. The center fielder had the ball. It most have rolled all the way to the fence. He was about to fire it to the second baseman. I decided what the hell, hero or goat, and kept going, hard. Jimmy crossed the plate and held up. I could tell by the catcher's body that the throw was coming in. I had a fraction of a second to decide. I could go back, but hell, retreat's a dirty word. I leaped forward and dove toward the pentagonal piece of rubber the catcher guarded. The throw was high, but the catcher, Billy Garwood snatched it easily and snapped it down on my arm. I felt his glove slap against me just before my hand slide across the plate. Fuck! "Safe!" I never argue with an umpire. He's got a better view than I have and is paid to make these decisions. Billy flipped the ball to Danny who was running toward the plate. "Safe? What do you mean safe. He was out by a fucking mile." "Danny!" the catcher yelled. "Second base!" Danny spun and saw Robbie rounding second. He fired the ball but she was already halfway to third. The ball was high and bounced off the top of the shortstop's glove as Robbie rounded third and slowed to a jog for the ninety feet home. She stepped on the plate and curtsied to Danny, then to the crowd. "He was out. Those runs don't score." "He was safe and you're gone." "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Danny yelled. "Giving them the game?" "Coach, get you're butt out here," the umpire yelled. The Sizzler's coach, Mr. Branaugh ran out. "Get this punk off my field." The coach grabbed Danny and started pulling him toward the dugout. "You ever put him on my baseball field again, you'd better have taught him some manners." The umpire turned to the scorekeeper behind the backstop. "Four runs," he said, holding up four fingers. It took a few minutes to get everything settled down and a new pitcher warmed up. Then Bobby drake stepped up, popped up the first pitch for an easy catch by the third baseman. Bottom of ten, and we're up by four. Life is good. It's amazing how quickly life is good, can turn to life stinks. Patrick, our ace pitcher, walked the first batter, then tried to pick him off and threw the ball away to let him get to two. Then he walked another one. On the next pitch, the runner on second stole third and a bad throw by Donny, our catcher, let him go home while the runner on first made it to second. And we had a three run lead with no outs and a runner on second. Patrick walked two more to load the bases. Our coach called time and moved Patrick to center field and brought Jake Fraser in to pitch. Jake warmed up, then walked a batter. Two run lead, nobody out and the bases loaded. The runner on second was taking a big lead and Donny decided to gun him. He gave me the sign and I nodded, almost imperceptibly. Jake threw a pitch, high and outside, Donny popped up, took the pitch and fired it straight to me. Straight to me if I'd been eight feet tall. The ball flew over my head. The runners on second and third took off. The ball bounced once before Patrick snagged it and fired it right at my chest. I took the throw, spun, and everybody was safely on a base. The runner from second was on third and the runner from third had scored. One run lead, nobody out, and runners on the corners. Like I said, it's amazing how quickly life is good, can turn to life stinks. I called time and went out to talk to Jake. Robbie came with me. "Okay, Jake, listen carefully. A wife comes home early and finds her husband in their bedroom making love to a beautiful young girl. `You pig!' she yells, `I want a divorce!' The husband tries to calm her. `Before you leave, give me a chance to explain,' he begs. `Make it fast,' she replies." I looked around and saw everybody was watching as we discussed strategy. "The husband tells his story. `I was driving home and this girl asked for a ride. I noticed she was very thin and dirty and she said she hadn't eaten for three days, so I brought her home. First I warmed up the lasagne I made for you, that you didn't eat because you thought you'd get fat. Since she was so dirty, I suggested she take a shower and while she was showering, I saw how dirty and full of holes her clothes were. So I threw her clothes away. Since she needed clothes, I gave her that pair of jeans you don't wear because you say they make your butt look fat. Then I gave her the blouse I gave you for Christmas that you don't wear because you say I have horrible taste. I gave her the sweater that my sister gave you that you don't wear just to spite her and those expensive boots you bought that you don't wear because Mildred has a pair just like them.' "The husband looked at his wife. `The young girl was very grateful, and as she was getting ready to leave, she asked, "Sir, is there anything else your wife doesn't use?" ' " Jake laughed. "Okay I'm ready." I looked at Robbie. She looked back with the same expression you'd use with a senile grandparent. "When Jake gets tight, I tell him a joke to loosen him up." "In that case, try this one," she said with a grin. "A man goes to the zoo with his little boy. When they get to the elephants, the little boy points and asks, `What's that?' `That's an elephant,' the man tell him. `No, on the elephant,' the boy explains. `That's the elephant's trunk,' his father tells him. `No, behind that,' the little boy persists. `That's the elephant's tail,' his father says. `No, in between,' the little boy continues. `That's just something,' his father says, embarrassed. Confused, the little boy says, `But last week, when I was here with Mom, she said it was nothing.' Robbie grinned at us. "The father shrugs and says,`Well son, your mamma is spoiled!' " "Oh, God," Jake says laughing. "That was too good." Robbie grinned again. "Strike this guy out, and I'll let you feel up my tit." Jake turned red. "What about Ricky?" Robbie and Ricky had been going out for about a month. "Well, if you'd rather feel his tit, that can be arranged." Jake turned redder. "I meant..." "She knows what you meant. Just throw some strikes." Robbie and I trotted back to our positions. Jake looked back at Robbie, then took his position on the mound. He checked the runners on first and third, then put a strike right down the middle. Donny threw the ball back. Jake checked the runners, then threw another pitch. The batter swung and missed as the ball curved outside. Jake looked at Robbie and grinned. He checked the runners, reared back, and fired. The runners took off, heading for second and home, the pitch was on the low outside corner, the batter swung, caught a piece of the ball, and it went back and off Donny's elbow. "Foul ball!" the umpire yelled as Donny went down, holding his elbow. Everything stopped, then the whole team was heading for the plate to check on Donny, until the coach sent us back so he and the umpire could check Donny out. Robbie and I hung out at the pitcher's mound with Jake. Jake was shaken up since it was his pitch the kid had fouled back, so Robbie and I told him some more dirty jokes to keep him loose. After a few minutes, the coach joined us. "Jake took a good shot to the elbow. His mom's going to run him to the hospital for an x-ray to make sure everything's okay." The coach, Mr. Daley, looked at me. "Coach, could I make a suggestion?" "What?" he asked, in a not too friendly tone. He and I had butted heads a little. I think he was sensitive because this was his first year coaching in Babe Ruth, and everybody knew I was the real coach of the middle school team and how we'd almost gone undefeated. "You're probably thinking about putting me into catch?" He nodded. I was usually the backup catcher. "These guys know me, and know I can throw them out. They'll play it safe." The coach nodded again. "Put Robbie into catch." He looked at Robbie, who looked as surprised as he did, then back at me. He'd been a little reluctant to have a girl on his team till he saw what she could do. "Why?" "She's a girl. They'll try to run on her, and she'll gun them." "Have you ever caught before?" the coach asked her. Robbie shook her head, looking, for once, a little intimidated. "Just pitching practice." "I don't know." "Look, we're in a world of hurt. We're only up by one. The tying run's on third and the winning run's on first, with no outs. If Robbie blows it, it's my fault. If we pull it out, you're the coach who won." Mr. Daley nodded. "Put the gear on," he told her. Robbie and I walked over to the pile of catcher's equipment. I think everybody was expecting me to start putting it on, and there was a second's hush as Robbie started strapping on the first shin guard. "What the hell have you gotten me into?" I grinned and outlined what I wanted her to do. "Are you sure about this?" "Who's your coach?" Robbie hesitated. "You are." "Can she take a few pitches to warm up?" I yelled to the umpire who was talking to Mr. Branaugh. He nodded. I walked out to the mound and talked to Jake, then over to second and told Mike, who came off the bench to replace Robbie, what to do. Jake pitched a fast ball down the middle. Robbie pushed the unfamiliar catcher's glove at it. It hit and popped out. On our side of the field, a few fans groaned. Robbie picked up the ball and threw a high lob to Jake. He caught it and looked at me. I smiled and indicated for him to do it again. Another pitch. Another catch, and again it popped out of her glove. Another lob throw to Jake. "It's okay Robbie. Just relax," I yelled. Jake threw three more pitches and all of them popped out of Robbie's glove. "Play ball!" the umpire yelled. "Can't she have a couple more? She's never caught before." I yelled, but he shook his head. Jake looked at me and shrugged. I punched my glove a couple of times. "C'mon guys, we can do this," I yelled, trying to pump up the team. Jake stepped onto the mound. He checked the runners. The runner on first had a big lead, but he ignored him. Jake started his windup, and the runner on first took off. Jake fired, about three feet off the side. Robbie popped up, took the throw and fired it at me. The ball was like a bullet straight and hard. I took the throw, swept my glove down; then without waiting for the call I transferred the ball to my other hand and fired it back to Robbie. Robbie caught the ball and dove at the runner sliding home. When the dust cleared, Robbie was sitting on the kids legs several inches from the plate, the ball in her glove and the glove on his chest. "Out at second! Out at home!" The ump yelled, almost as excited as the fans who were going nuts. Two out, nobody on, and we were still up by one. We were back in the ball game big time. The double play seemed to take the wind out of Sizzler's sails. The batter stepped back to the plate, hit a one hopper to Mike at second, and he made an easy throw for the out at first. Outback won the game. We won! I ran out and hugged Robbie. I've hugged a few catchers, but this one was more fun. Jake hugged her, too, and felt up her tit. "You should be in drama club," Robbie said as I hugged her again. "You and me both," I agreed. * * * It was almost seven before my dad and Robbie's dad got the coals going for the barbeque. I nibbled some chips and deviled eggs since I knew the steaks and burgers were going to be awhile. Tami and Robbie were laughing about something on the other side of our picnic area, but I decided I was better off not knowing. I sat on the bench and leaned back against the picnic table. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the gentle breeze that was cooling off the day. The temperature had never quite topped a hundred, but had hovered at ninety-nine most of the afternoon. Something kicked my foot and I open my eyes. "C'mon, let's take a walk," Robbie said, towering above me. I grinned and nodded. "I'll get Tami." "She's going to stay here. We're going solo." I shrugged, stood, and took her hand. "Where to, milady?" "Um, thataway," she said sweeping her other arm to include about twenty acres of woods that bounded the park. "Thataway it is," I agreed. We walked into the forest. "This looks like a good spot," Robbie said a few minutes later. "Huh?" I'd been watching a squirrel scamper up a tree. It scampered in a counter clockwise circle. I was trying to remember if I'd ever seen a squirrel scamper clockwise. What?" "I said this looks like a good spot." "For what?" "Earth to Tony," she said, rapping her knuckles on my forehead. "You're horny, I'm horny." "I'm not horny," I complained before realizing that Big Tony was at full attention. I guess it knew something I didn't. "Of course you're not," she agreed, as her hand cupped Big Tony through my shorts. "I..." "I told you I was gonna do things to you." "That I'd only read about," I finished. "Robbie, your dad is only a couple hundred yards away." "So. We've done it when he was just downstairs." "Okay, how about my Mom is just a couple hundred yards away. And she won't be nearly so understanding." "I can see where that might be a problem," she agreed as she pushed my shorts down and Big Tony made his appearance. "This is not a good idea," I said as her shorts fell around her ankles. "Very true." she agreed as she guided big Tony toward her pussy. "There's a hundred people running around the park." "Hundreds." She pulled me onto her, My hand naturally navigated it's way inside her shirt, and under her sports bra. "What about Ricky?" I asked as I pushed her back against a tree. "I thought you only wanted a threesome with Tami." "I don't... I wouldn't..." I took a breath and rammed my cock deep within her. "I'm not big on sharing." "Tony, shut up and fuck me." * * * I stood watching the fireworks display. They'd choreographed it to a music broadcast on the local radio station. I had my arms around both Tami and Robbie. A big one exploded in a shower of blue and multiplied into a dozen smaller red explosions. It had been a hell of a Fourth of July. I decided that Robbie was right. All four girls on one bed at one time would have killed me. But I sure wasn't going to tell her that. Chapter 6 "Have you seen it?" "Tami?" "Have you seen it?" "Tami, It's nine o'clock in the morning. I was up until three playing Monopoly with you, Robbie, Ricky, and Traci. The only thing I've seen is the inside of my eyelids. Oh, and what is it, I haven't seen?" "People." "People? The magazine?" "Duh." "Tami, the last time I read People was in March or something. They had Lindsey Lohan on the cover." "You and your redheads." "What can I say?" "I think you should read it." "Okay. Ricky's still asleep on the coach. I'll be over in a couple." "Robbie's asleep too, but I don't have it." I counted to ten slowly. "Tami..." I counted to ten in Spanish, "why..." I counted to ten in German, "are you calling then?" "Mom called from the office. She thought we should know." I wished I knew my numbers in a couple more languages. I'd have to work on that. I knew Tami well enough to know there was something she didn't want to tell me. "Okay, I'll get dressed and we'll ride our bikes up to the store." I hung up and made a mental note to learn one to ten in Russian, Swahili, and Chinese. * * * The ride to the store finished the process of waking me up. It was a beautiful day, but what else would you expect for the first day of August. The temperature hadn't started climbing yet. It was probably about seventy as we pedaled along the highway. In the store, the small rack only had about two dozen different magazines, but People was in front. "What am I looking for?" I asked as I flipped it open to the table of contents on page eight. It used to be the contents were on two or three, but more and more advertising seemed to find it's way to the front. "I think we should take it outside," she suggested. I gave her a look. There was definitely something she didn't want to tell me. I bought the magazine, along with a Coke for me, an orange juice for her and a dozen donuts. Outside, Tami pointed at the bench, but I shook my head. I knew there was something in here that I wasn't going to like, though I didn't have a clue what. Unless Lindsey Lohan had decided to become a blond. And while that would be a tragedy, it wasn't something Mrs. Sharp would call home about. I figured why ruin the ride home. Back at the park, we settled on the swings and had breakfast. Three donuts for me, two for Tami and save the rest for Robbie, Ricky and Traci. I pulled the magazine out of the bag and set it on my lap. "I'm not going to like this?" Tami shook her head. "Page one twenty-eight." I opened the magazine and flipped through it. One page caught my eye: Lindsey Lohan had gone blond. But that was on page ninety. This day was getting better and better. I got to one twenty-six. Some soap opera star was getting divorced. Again. One twenty-seven. An ad for Pepsi. Not a good omen. I flipped the page. ATHLETE, SCHOLAR, HERO! was the headline and below that, the picture of me leaping out of the burning Miller house. I looked at Tami and she shrugged, then edged her swing over so that she could read over my shoulder. The first part of the article was almost word for word from the newspaper article a month ago. The rest just fleshed it out. There was a picture of the football team with my face circled. And one of me on the middle school team making a tag at second base that I recognized from the paper after it happened. Also my class picture, where I was smiling a little too big. "Fuck!" "You can say that again," Tami agreed. I was tempted, but didn't. "How?" Tami pointed to the by-line. Janet Edwards. The reporter from the local paper. Evidently she decided to go national. "You didn't know." More a statement than a question. "Not a clue. I called and chewed her out for the article in the paper and the way she left Robbie almost completely out of it. I guess when she decided to sell the story to People, she figured I wouldn't help." "She was right about that." I nodded. "Now what?" "Now we wake up Robbie and see if she's as philosophical about ten million readers as she was about a couple of thousand. * * * Robbie thought it was funny. "Hell, at least they spelled my name right," was her only comment after we'd awakened her and the three of us went back to my house to wake Ricky. "Not a problem," she assured us, then took Ricky back to Tami's house. We watched them go. "I have a feeling that Ricky's going to get a hell of a workout," I told Tami, thinking about giving her a workout myself. "What kind of workout?" asked a new voice. I spun and discovered Traci was up and standing behind us in the living room. I was starting to like my sister, even though she beat all of us at Monopoly, but at the moment, I really wished I were an only child. Chapter 7 "...brings recognition on our community. The recent article in a national magazine shows the nation, shows the world, that our youth are on the right track." If the right track was about to barf on the mayor in front of a couple of hundred people, then yeah. `And why is it that the closer to the election, the more they talk?' I thought. If it was the middle of November and he'd just been elected, it would have been, `The kid did good.' A year ago we could have gotten by with a half page speech. But now, in the middle of August, with the election two-and-a-half months away, we were on page three and going strong. "...athlete of extraordinary caliber but still able to get the grades in school he'll need to succeed as an adult." He hadn't even gotten to the damn fire yet. I tuned him out and looked around the crowd. Besides Tami, Robbie, and my sister, there were only half-a-dozen kids. It was mostly adults. I recognized several of my teachers from the middle school, and a couple I knew taught at the high school. Mr. Boyd, the cop who lived in the front row of the trailer park, was there in uniform. My parents of course, looking ready to bust with pride, that made me feel good. Tami looked proud, too. Traci looked bored, and Robbie? Robbie, I couldn't read. "...risking his own life to rush into a building engulfed in flames. I present, the key to the city." I stood, smiled at the crowd and took the foot long gold plated key. "Thanks," I said quickly, waved the key over my head and beat a hasty retreat. "And modest too," the mayor said, having the final word. As the ceremony broke up, I got hugged a lot. The only one that meant anything was Mrs. Miller, and she hugged Robbie and Tami too. "Nice key," Robbie said as we made our escape. "Robbie, I..." "What?" she snapped. "Nothing. It's just a gold painted key." "Yeah, just a key." * * * I stepped inside the door and threw my gym bag. "That doesn't go there," Mom said from the arm of Dad's chair as the bag bounced off the wall and landed on the floor. "I know," I snapped. "How was try-outs?" Dad asked quickly before Mom could react. "Robbie made the team. I didn't" As soon as I'd said it, I knew my tone was harsher than it should be." "Tony..." Mom started. "Woman! Go make your son some dinner." Mom stood, turned, and looked down at Dad. "My son?" I couldn't see the look on her face and was thankful for small favors. "With that attitude, you're damn right he's your son," Dad said, grinning. With her back turned I couldn't tell for sure, but I think my mom stuck her tongue out at my dad. As Mom walked into the kitchen he said, "You, sit!" "Yes, sir." I sat down on the floor in front of his chair. "Breathe!" he ordered. I pulled my legs under me into an Indian sit, then took a nice deep breath and counted to ten, first in English, then Spanish, then German, then Russian. I was still working on Swahili and Chinese. I let out the breath. "What's the problem?" "Nothing," I said automatically. Dad stared down at me. I held his gaze without blinking. He sighed and shook his head. "Tony, you've been my son for twelve years now." "Fourteen-and-a-half," I said, though I knew he knew. "Okay, fourteen-and-a-half years now, and you have a line of bullshit that will get you elected president if you sink low enough to go into politics. But, I'm immune. What's the problem?" "It's just... it's not important. I'm sorry I snapped at mom." "Tell her, not me. But something's wrong and I'd like to know what it is. You went to the ceremony and everything was fine. Then you hung out with Robbie and Tami and everything was fine. I drove you to try-outs, and you and Robbie were both pumped. Then you came home and..." "I told you, Robbie made the team. I didn't. End of story." "How long have you lived in the same house with my wife?" "Fourteen-and-a-half years." "I refuse to believe that you could live with that woman for fourteen-and-a-half years and be bummed because a girl beat you at something. Especially when she's your friend. You should be happy for her." "I am. It's just..." "You tried out for the varsity. How many freshman make the varsity?" "Coach Branson said Robbie was the fourth freshman and first girl since he's been coaching." "How long?" "This is his twelfth year." "So four freshman in twelve years, and you're bummed you're not one of them?" "I know it's silly, but..." "Why did Robbie make it and not you?" I started to say because she was a girl. I started to say cause I had no defense. "Because she was really, really good today." "How good?" "The coach had us scrimmaging. She was on the other side. She sacked me nine times." Hard! "Nine?" I nodded. "Then the coach put her in the backfield and she intercepted me twice." "Sounds like she was having a good day." "She was on fire," I admitted. "So she deserved to make the team?" Now it was my turn to sigh. "The way she played today, she could have made the team for Washington State." "So how did you do?" "I played good." "But not good enough?" "Not good enough," I admitted. Though it would have been nice to have a little better blocking on the line. "So what are you mad about?" "Hell if I know." Chapter 8 "Tony! The vice principal would like to see you," Mrs. Wayne said after reading the note the office aid had given her. What the hell? The new school year only started an hour ago. I can't be in trouble already. I glanced at Tami and Robbie as I gathered my books. They both shrugged. * * * "What are you doing here?" I asked as I stepped into the vice principal's office. "What are you doing here, sir," Mr. Parker corrected. "What are you doing here?" I repeated. "Sit down, Mr. Sims." "I'm missing algebra." "Sit down!" he snapped. I sat. "Miss Carlyle has retired, and I'm the new vice principal. I wanted to make sure that you're getting off to a good start." "I was doing fine, except I'm missing my algebra class." "There are more important things than algebra." "I'll be sure to tell Mrs. Wayne you said so." I started to stand. "Are we done?" "Sit down! I'll tell you when we're done." Mr. Parker steepled his fingers. "We need to discuss your attitude." "My attitude has been just fine the entire..." I glanced at my watch, "hour and seven minutes of the school year so far." "Your attitude is as bad as last year." "Are you planning to talk to every freshman who got in trouble last year?" "My plans are none of your business, but no." I stood up and walked out the door. "Where do you think you're going?" he bellowed, causing everyone in the outer office to stare. "To class. I'm here to learn, remember?" "You're here to do what I tell you!" "Mrs. Hatcher?" I said, looking at the school secretary. "Would you call my mother and tell her I'm getting suspended for going to class." Mrs. Hatcher put her hand on the phone, then looked at Mr. Parker. He shook his head. "I'll tell you when you can talk to your mother." I smiled, then turned and ran into a wall. "Is there a problem here?" the wall asked. I stepped back. Imagine Dom DeLuise after he'd gained weight. A lot of weight. Then put him into a security guard's uniform that didn't fit and strap on a gun. "This student needs to go back into my office," Parker told the wall. The wall put his meaty hand on my shoulder and started pushing. I pulled out of his grip. "This student needs to go back to class." The wall put his hand on the butt of his gun. "You'll go where you're told." He reached for me with the other hand. I ducked under him and out the door. I started to go back to class but realized that would last about two minutes. I could call Mom, but the only public phones were in the office, or the main lobby. The wall looked stupid, but I thought he could figure out the lobby. I could steal a car and make a break for it. From hero to fugitive. Hell, they'd make a TV movie out of it. Then I had a better idea. Not as much fun, but better. * * * "Could I have a word with Mr. Mulino please?" I asked the secretary. She looked up at me suspiciously. "Are you delivering a note or something?" "No, I just wanted to talk to him for a minute." "Why?" Suspicious old bat. "He's the superintendent of schools. I'm a student in school. I thought we had a common interest." She shook her head. "He's a very busy man. He can't talk to every student. And shouldn't you be in class?" "Wouldn't that be nice," I mumbled. "What is it you want?" a man asked, standing in the doorway to the inner office. If the wall looked like Dom DeLuise, this guy reminded me of Jackie Gleason. "Just a question. Are you Mr. Mulino?" "I am. What's your question?" "I just wondered if it was school policy to single out one student, pull him out of class, and make dire warnings about future trouble?" "No," he admitted. "That's not our policy. "Then why did Mr. Parker have me pulled out of algebra and waste my morning listening to his threats." "Well, Mr. Parker is the vice principal." "And why did Mr. Parker refuse to allow my mother to participate in these discussions. I asked several times." Mr. Mulino looked troubled about that. "I'm sure Mr. Parker has his reasons. He's an experienced administrator after all." "Unfortunately, I can't tell you my opinion of Mr. Parker's abilities as an administrator, since freedom of speech doesn't apply here. Maybe we'd better get my mother here, and she can discuss Mr. Parker." "Well, we could..." "She can also discuss, her son being threatened by a gun." "Mr. Parker had a gun?" "No, your rent-a-cop does. And he likes to use it to enforce his words." "Henry pulled his gun?" "He didn't pull it, but he puts his hand on the butt to emphasize what he says." Mr. Mulino chuckled. "I think you're blowing this out of proportion." "Let's see if People Magazine thinks so." "People?" "You're Tony Sims," the secretary announced. I nodded. She looked up at the superintendent. "The assembly." "Oh, God! Maybe you'd better step in here and tell me exactly what happened." * * * "Then what happened?" Tami asked as she munched on a greasy sloppy joe. "I told him all about my morning." "Shading it your way," Robbie accused, as she ate a salad that somehow looked greasier than Tami's sloppy joe. "I tried not to. I tried to be objective. Then he sent me back to class and called Parker and Henry over for a talk." "Then what happened?" Tami asked again. "Well, I'm still here and you may notice that Henry is walking around with an empty holster and a lost-his-best-friend look on his face. "All because you're hero in a magazine," Robbie accused. "I think that shortened the process, but I think Mom would have been on my side and gotten the same result eventually." "What about the assembly the secretary mentioned?" Tami asked as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I guess they were planning to do the hero thing..." "Oh..." Robbie said, pushing her salad away. "I didn't ask..." "I know." * * * "A friend of mine, Ricky Calloway, gave me some advice for making it as a freshman in this school. He said to keep a low profile. To stay off the radar." I stood behind the lectern on the stage and looked out at the sea of faces in front of me. Six hundred students and change. "I don't think I'm doing it right." The audience laughed, which helped quiet the butterflies in my stomach. "I need to tell you a secret. It's one I've been keeping all summer." Off to the side Mr. Parker looked annoyed, which also helped quiet my butterflies. I was supposed to say thank you for the hero introduction and get the hell out of the way for the next announcement. "Back in July, I was taking a walk with two beautiful, sexy girls." I saw Parker's face go all pruney when I said sexy. "We were just hanging out, not doing anything at all, when Robbie Tate saw smoke. The Miller house was on fire. Since she was their neighbor, she knew that Mrs. Miller lived there with three children." "She grabbed my arm and Tami's. And literally pulled us down the road and into the Miller yard. When we got there, we saw smoke pouring out of all the windows. We also saw Mrs. Miller's car and no people and knew they were inside." "Robbie told Tami to call the fire department, and Tami took off down the road to the next house. Then Robbie rushed into the house. And I stood there." "Robbie came out a minute later, coughing hard. She yelled at me. She called me some things that I can't repeat while on school property." That got another laugh. "Then she went back in. This time I followed her." "There was smoke everywhere. I couldn't breathe, and I could barely see. Robbie grabbed the baby out of his crib and started pulling Mrs Miller, who was barely conscious, toward the door. I went upstairs and grabbed the seven-year-old and the three-year-old. The fire department showed up just as I was jumping out of the house with the kids." "You've probably seen the picture that makes me look like a real hero. But Robbie was the hero. I froze. If Robbie hadn't been there, I'm not sure any of the Millers would still be around. It's not that I was scared, but I froze. Then everybody assumed I was the hero and Robbie was just there, and I was too ashamed to set the record straight." "So if you want to see a hero, you need to get Robbie up here." It was Ricky who started it. "Rob-bie, Rob-bie, Rob-bie..." he chanted and stomped his feet. Then Tami joined in, Luke a syllable behind her. It took less than a minute before all six hundred throats were yelling and twelve hundred feet were stomping. Robbie got up and slowly made her way to the stage. She hugged me, then smiled at the chanting crowd. I hugged her again and faced them myself. The chanting went on. Mr. Parker never did get to the rest of his announcements. Chapter 9 "I need to go talk to Robbie," I told Tami after we'd done a lap around the park. Dinner was over and our nightly walk helped it settle. "You just want to get into her pants," Tami accused. "It must be nice having a part-time girlfriend with an understanding father." Tami glanced at her trailer, where her mother waited inside. "It comes in handy," I admitted. "So what do you think your mom would do if she heard us making mad passionate love in your room?" "Do the words `castration' and `convent' mean anything to you?" My hand moved subconsciously to cover my crotch. "So you think we should keep sneaking around?" "We're not even Catholic." * * * As I rode toward Robbie's house I thought about my situation. I hadn't really planned to have sex with Robbie, but I'd hate to disappoint Tami. Of course, the fact that Tami was cool about my sex life including Robbie, Mikee, and Kelly implied that it would be cool if her sexual circle expanded. I thought I would be, though the Peter King incident didn't bode well. But, I told myself, that was different. I mean, I didn't mind that Robbie was having sex with Ricky. A lot of sex, from what I could tell. And I didn't mind that Mikee's relationship with Luke seemed to have gotten pretty oral. But I knew in my heart that it would be different with Tami. I just didn't know how different. * * * When the door opened to my knock, Robbie took one look at me and flowed into my arms. "Oh, Tony," she cooed as her cheek nestled mine. Her dad stuck his head out of the living room. "Would you two get a room?" He came out into the foyer and extended his hand. "I heard what you did today. It must have been hard." I shook his hand while hugging his daughter with my free one. "It would have been easier if I'd done it from the start." "Hindsight." I nodded, my cheek rubbing Robbie's. "Now if you don't mind, take my daughter upstairs if you want to ravish her." My eyes opened wide. He'd always ignored my physical relationship with Robbie, not encouraged it. "I have company coming, and you two aren't exactly the welcome mat I have in mind." "Yeah, Ashley Burke," Robbie added with more than a trace of venom. "I thought you liked Ashley?" her dad said, surprised. "I do," Robbie admitted grudgingly. "It's impossible not to like Ashley." Robbie released me, took my hand and led me toward the stairs. "Send her up when she gets here." "Are you sure that's a good idea," he called up behind us. "We'll be decent," she said. "Mostly," she said softly for my benefit. "Thank you so much for today," she said with a thank you kiss as she closed her door. "You deserved it. I'm sorry I took so long." "I know I said it didn't bother me, but..." "I know exactly how you felt. You know it shouldn't bother you. You don't want it to bother you, but inside it just grates on you little by little, building up, until you want to kill somebody." "I'm sorry I tried to hurt you." "You tried to hurt me?" "At football. At try-outs. Two weeks ago." "No wonder you were hitting so hard. I had twice as many bruises as usual. And a lot prettier colors." Robbie grinned. "I'm sorry you didn't make varsity." "The way you were hitting, I'm just glad I was able to walk off the field. Besides, I can still make it." Robbie kissed me again, this time not like a thank you kiss. "So who's Ashley?" I asked, my hands finding comfortable handholds on her ass and tit. "You'll love her. She's blond and cute." "I like brunettes and redheads," I said firmly. "What about Kelly?" "I make an exception for her age." "Uh huh. You'll like Ashley. Think the movie version of Marcia Brady. Long blond hair and girl-next-door sexy without even realizing it. Add super-nice, and it's impossible not to like her." "Can I try?" "Nope. She's my friend. You have to like her to stay on my good side." "Well, I want to stay on your good side," I said, squeezing my handholds. "You'd better, or I'll..." Her threat was interrupted by a knock. Robbie opened the door without unprying herself from my body. She kissed me again as a blond girl stepped into the room. She looked exactly like the Marcia Brady from the movies. Guess it was my day for celebrities. Dom DeLuise, Jackie Gleason, and now Marcia Brady. Robbie let go of me, turned, and hugged the new girl, their cries of "Ashley" and "Robbie" mingling together. I watched, noticing how nicely their tits squished together and remembering the threesome that I was owed someday. Maybe we could make it a foursome. That would give me a blond, a brunette and a redhead. "Ashley, this is my best friend's boyfriend, Tony." "If this is your best friend's boyfriend, I want to see how you kiss your boyfriend." Robbie grinned. "Tony kisses good, and Tami doesn't mind sharing." "In that case..." she said seductively. I think she was joking. "You've got to get permission," I said, wanting at least some control of the situation. "We'll call Tami," Robbie said brightly. "We will?" "Sure," Robbie said, already picking up the phone and punching two on her speed-dial. I was one. "Hi, Tami," she said after a few rings. "He's still here." She listened for a minute, then giggled. "No, we've still got them on." She listened some more. "I've got a friend here who wants to talk to you." She pushed the phone at Ashley. "What should I say?" Ashley asked as she took the phone. "You might try, `Hi, I'm Ashley.'" Ashley brought the phone to her ear. "Hi, I'm Ashley." She listened. "Ashley Burke. I'm from Chattanooga, like Robbie." They talked for a couple of minutes, then Ashley held the phone to her chest, lucky phone, and looked at Robbie. "What now?" "Ask her." "I... I can't ask that." "You're hopeless," Robbie said and laughed, taking the phone. "Hi, Tami. Ashley thinks Tony's cute and wants to know if she can make out with him." "Robbie!" Ashley shouted, turning red and trying to bury her face in her shoulder. "Okay. Bye, Tami" Robbie glanced at me and I was shaking my head. "Tami says yes, but Tony says no," she said, putting the phone down on the desk. "You do?" Ashley asked, surprised. "It's just..." "It's okay," she said softly. Shit! "You don't have to kiss me, if you don't want to." It was almost a whisper. Fuck! A sex kitten with self-esteem issues. "It's just my life is kind of complicated." "And I'm a complication." You could almost hear the tears in her voice. Fuck! Fuck! Damn! What the hell? I grabbed Ashley's shoulders and pulled her to me. I tilted my head, and my mouth pressed against hers. She kept her mouth closed, but other than that she was a hell of a kisser. My hands moved naturally to her ass and tit, just like they had with Robbie. The kiss lasted a long time. "That's one hell of a complication," I muttered when we came up for air. "It's not a complication. She lives on the other side of the country. It was just a kiss." Robbie said, with a laugh. "Didn't you know? We're moving. My dad's going to work for your dad again." I flipped Robbie the bird behind Ashley's back. Then I kissed Ashley again. And again. * * * I sent People the true story of the rescue. They sent back a letter thanking me but never printed anything. You know what they say about facts and legends. Print the legend. Chapter 10 The only good thing about not making varsity was that I got to watch Robbie's games. Most of the time. The freshmen team played on Wednesday nights, the JV on Thursdays, and the varsity on Fridays, though that changed depending on school schedules, weather and stuff. I was the starting quarterback for the JV. At least I'd skipped the freshman team. Robbie was the backup reserve quarterback for the varsity, though some times she'd go in as an end or on defense. So that also means I got more playing time than she did. I guess that's two things. So Wednesdays, if the freshmen were at home, Robbie, Ricky, Tami and I would go watch the freshman play. After all we knew everybody. Then Thursdays Robbie, Ricky, and Tami would come watch me, and Fridays Ricky, Tami, and I would come watch Robbie. And if we hadn't had enough, we'd have somebody's house Saturday for college and Sunday for the pros. Luke and Mikee would join us some of those days. But Luke also had Tuesday night football at the middle school. Mikee was a cheerleader. Ashley moved at the middle of September. She wasn't into football, but she'd usually come either Thursday or Friday if we were at home, just to hang with the group. As you can imagine, the guys were all over her, but so far nobody had made any headway. Tami told me to make her feel welcome, so I'd make out with here a couple times a week. Maybe feel her up. Yeah, I know I'm whipped. It's hell doing what your girlfriend wants. Life was Goo... Well, I didn't want to use the G-word. It seems like every time I thought life was... well, you know, then life would come crashing down, and Tami and I would be out of it for months at a time. Not this year. Every night we weren't at football, Tami and I would take an evening walk around the park, or to the store, through the woods, or some combination. Sometimes Robbie was with us. Or one or both of the girls. Sometimes we'd talk, sometimes just walk in silence. But I also liked to walk by myself. Just me and my thoughts. That was usually when I had to be careful about thinking life was G. Usually when I was trekking by myself, I was in the woods behind the park. They extended about a half-mile behind the park and about a quarter mile one way and a half mile the other, so there were lots of trails. I always hoped I'd find another owl, but so far no luck. It was the last Saturday in September, and I was hanging by myself. Ricky and Robbie were at a movie, and Tami had gone shopping with her mother. Robbie was annoyed with me anyway. The JV had won their fourth game on Thursday, and the varsity had dropped their fourth. Which, like a good friend, I didn't mention. But Robbie said I smirked a lot. I don't even know how to smirk. None of the games on TV interested me. Besides, it was a beautiful day. Indian summer had hit central Washington. I decided to go exploring. There was one corner of the woods that I hadn't checked out much. I made several sandwiches, then loaded a backpack with them, some cookies, and a couple of cans of Atlanta's finest and headed out. I even stuck in the new digital camera I'd bought with my lawn mowing money. The sun was shining hard, but the temperature was mid-seventies with just a hint of a breeze. I went past Mr. Lansing's trailer, into the woods, and started taking trails that headed toward the southeast corner. I figured eventually I'd come out on McIver's Way. Then, if I still wanted to hike, I could walk a mile to the state park and hike around there all afternoon. Birds swooped through the low branches, checking me out, but no owls. I thought I saw a hawk, but it was too far away to be sure. Squirrels were out in force, and I saw a racoon and skunk, too. I took a lot of pictures. The camera was still new, so it was a toy. I'd bought a one gig card, so I could take all the pictures I wanted. Maybe I'd put them together into a photo report for some class. The skunk picture turned out great. With the zoom, it made it look like I was a daring wildlife photographer right up in his face. I wondered who owned all this. I'd hate like hell for somebody to turn it into a mini-mall or something. About the time I figured I should be getting to McIver's, I ran into a tall redwood fence. Somebody had some bucks. The fence was seven feet high, and I didn't think redwood was cheap. Idle curiosity made me wonder what was behind the fence. There was a tree next to it, and I hadn't climbed a tree in years. I jumped up and grabbed a branch about eight feet off the ground, then pulled myself up. The backyard was worth the climb, I thought as I sat on the limb. It was fantastic. Lots of grass, a little creek that started from a four-foot-high waterfall. A dozen different flower beds. On one side of the house was a pool. On the other, a redwood deck and hot tub. This was the kind of place I wanted when Tami and I got a house. Which meant at least one of us had to make some bucks. I was taking pictures of everything when a girl came out of the house. I zoomed in on her. It was Sally Jeffries in a string bikini that looked like it would be at home on a Brazilian beach. Yes, I visit those sites on the internet. But it was research. I was doing a report on the Amazon river. And the river empties into the Atlantic ocean. And the ocean has beaches at Rio de Janeiro. And people use those beaches. And some of those people are girls. And the girls in Rio wear really small bikinis. Good honest research. Sally was a sophomore, a year ahead of me. I realized that I'd never paid much attention to her and wondered why. She had a spectacular body. Then she turned around and leaned over to adjust her lounge chair. She had a spectacular ass which the thong in back of her bikini showed off in every detail. Why the hell hadn't I noticed her? Then I remembered. She always wore baggy clothes. Usually loose pants and baggy sweatshirts. And glasses. She wasn't wearing glasses now, so either she had contacts, or didn't need them around the house. I knew I was being a peeping Tom, but couldn't seem to make myself get out of the tree. I mean, after all, I hadn't climbed up to spy on her. I was checking out the yard. I didn't even know she lived here. I realized that I'd taken a couple dozen pictures of Sally while I'd looked through the zoom, but promised myself that I'd delete them when I got home. Or maybe when I was old and senile and they put me in a home. I watched as Sally settled onto the lounger. She leaned back, her long legs slightly open. I took some more pictures and wondered if I could get a camera with a stronger zoom. My cock was trying to get my attention as it pressed against the cut-offs I was wearing, but I had not sunk low enough to jerk off in a tree, spying on a girl. I'd almost convinced myself to climb down when Sally reached behind her and undid her top, taking it off and letting it fall to the ground beside her. I took another thirty or so pictures. Mental note: password protect the file when I download the pictures onto my computer. Before I do the responsible thing and delete them, of course. But I had to download them, so I could see them on my 21-inch monitor. Just to see how they turned out. After almost twenty minutes I was ready to climb down. I had almost two hundred shots of Sally, and I didn't think she was going to take of her bottom. I'd put the camera in my pocket when somebody else came out of the house. Another girl. In a bikini. I pulled out the camera and zoomed in. I recognized her, but didn't know who she was. I hate that feeling. She was wearing a bikini at least as small as Sally's, though I couldn't tell if it was a thong in back. Her body was almost as nice. She stretched and said something to Sally. Sally laughed. I knew I knew her. I didn't think she went to our school. Why would I know her, if she didn't go to our school? The only girls I knew who I didn't go to school with were in California. Was she a cheerleader from another school? Maybe I'd seen her at a game. I tried to picture her jumping up and down in a short skirt, but it didn't seem to fit. Wait. I did know some other girls. Alana's friends. But she wasn't one of those. She had to be Sally's friend. I tried to picture her dressed like Sally, baggy sweatshirt and loose pants. It clicked. Dana something. She'd come to school with Sally the first week of school. She was from Yakima. Or Tacoma. Or Vancouver. Someplace like that. Oh, my God! Dana had straddled Sally and sat down on her thighs. She was wearing a thong. Now she was leaning forward, and their lips melted together. I saw a flash of tongue. Oh fuck! I reached down and adjusted my cock, then took more pictures. My mind played a brief scene where I jumped down inside the fence, said, `Hi Girls," and we were a tangle of naked bodies. I wondered if Tami was ready for that three-way with Robbie yet. Sally's hands were busy on Dana's back, and her top came off and joined Sally's. I took picture after picture as their tits rubbed together. Then Sally took Dana's nipple into her mouth. I reached down and squeezed Big Tony through my cut-offs. Damn! I'd read about girl-girl sex. I'd fantasized about Robbie and Tami and other girls. I'd wondered about Mikee and Kelly. They were so sexual. What did they do when I wasn't around? Despite hundreds of stories I'd read about sisters exploring each other's bodies, I just couldn't picture Mikee and Kelly together. I watched as Dana stood and pulled down her bottoms, then pulled off Sally's. Sally adjusted the lounger until she was lying flat. Dana grinned at her and straddled her head. Then she was pressing her pussy down on Sally's mouth. I could tell by her face when Sally's tongue stabbed into her pussy. Then I remembered that my camera also took video. I hadn't tried that yet. I changed to video mode and shot as Dana leaned down and started kissing Sally's crotch. They were doing a 69. I took another ten minutes of video before the girls got up and walked hand-in-hand to the house. I was so far gone that I thought about dropping into the yard and trying to find the right window to see the rest of the action. I wondered if they would use dildos on each other. I closed my eyes and pictured the two of them, naked on a bed, with an assortment of sex toys. Until now, I'd thought all the toys I'd read about were stupid, but with the picture of the two young lesbians fresh in my mind... Eyes still closed, I reached down and released Big Tony. I felt light-headed, but that was because every drop of blood in my body had engorged my favorite tool. I wrapped my hand around it and squeezed. The orgasm that washed over me was incredible. I could feel my cock pulse in my hand as spurt after spurt of my seed splattered down to the ground Two hot lesbians. Completely in my power. Completely at my mercy. My eyes opened and I let go of my cock. Thinking with the small head was definitely not a good idea. The two girls weren't in my power. They deserved their privacy. What they did wasn't any of my business. Wasn't anybody's business. I put Big Tony back in his garage, zipped up, and dropped to the ground. I'd filled almost the entire gigabyte card. I knew I should delete it all, but also knew I wouldn't. I headed home. I needed to wash my mind out with soap. Or take a walk with Tami if she were back. That worked too. Chapter 11 I was sitting in the bleachers, one arm around Tami's waist, the other around Ashley's shoulders. Feeling the two girls huddled close to me, trying to keep warm in the fierce October wind, was nice. The looks I was getting from some of the guys near us made it even better. Ricky was sitting on the other side of Tami, and Luke and Mikee were on the other side of Ashley. This was the life. I didn't even need to pay much attention to the game in front of me. We were playing the Loggers, the toughest team in our league. The varsity hadn't won a game yet, so it was all a question of could we keep the Loggers from setting a scoring record. There were still two minutes in the first quarter, and the Loggers had already scored twice. I saw Robbie trot out onto the field and Mike Reed, the first string quarterback, head for the sidelines. I started to say something, but noticed that Luke's hand was under Mikee's very short skirt. The dog. Mikee and the rest of the middle school cheerleaders had gotten to cheer with the varsity cheerleaders before the game. I was trying not to stare as Mikee's skirt moved, not very successfully, I'll admit, when I realized that someone was standing in front of me. "Coach wants you," Jaime Arnold said. "Huh?" I said brilliantly as I tried to pull my focus away from the treasure I knew was under that skirt. "The coach wants you," she said again, very slowly. Behind her, Robbie took the snap, faded back, and fired a short pass just before two of the Loggers hit her hard. The ball sailed right into the hands of our receiver, who managed another three yards before getting tackled. Twelve yards and a first down. I looked back at Jaime. "I'm kind of comfortable." "The coach wants you, NOW! You're suiting up." Then she turned and bounced down the stairs to the field. Jamie could really bounce. She was the captain of the cheerleaders. I kissed Ashley lightly on the cheek, then Tami on the lips. "I go now. Fame and glory await," I said pompously. "My hero," Ashley said and pretended to swoon as I stood up. Tami brought her fist to her breast with a stiff arm, then extended it out and up in the old Roman salute. "Come back with your shield, or on it, my captain." I nodded to Ricky then ran down the stairs. I ran out onto the field and up to the coach. "Suit up. Be here in five minutes." Totally ridiculous. It would take me three minutes to run to the locker room, at least five minutes to get pads on and suited up, and three minutes to get back. "Five minutes," I agreed and ran off. I was pulling on my hip pads when I heard the gun sound, ending the first quarter. At least my uniform was clean. I always washed it the night after a game and brought it back the next morning. It was one less thing to worry about on game days. We were three minutes into the second quarter when I ran back on the field. Tami saw me, and she, Ashley, and Mikee stood up and started cheering. Then people around them started cheering too, though they probably didn't know why. I waved as I trotted up to the coach. "Sit!" he said, waving at the bench. So much for hero time. Sitting there on the bench, the varsity players totally ignoring me, I realized I was in a world of hurt. The JV coach--my coach, Mr. Henley--didn't like Mr. Branson, the varsity coach. The teams didn't work out together, and we didn't even use the same play book. What the hell was I going to do? The half ended on a high note. Mike Reed took the snap, faked a handoff to Robbie, then faded back to pass. Two of the Loggers hit him from each side and the ball went loose. Robbie scooped it up and zig-zagged her way down field for a twenty-one yard touchdown. Our first. Score at the half: thirty-six to six. I felt really weird walking with the team toward the locker room, my uniform gleaming white in a sea of dirt and grass stained jerseys. Robbie came up and put her arm around me. "How are you feeling?" "Lost. How 'bout you? You took some good hits." Robbie laughed. "They're boys. They don't know how to hit." I didn't even bother to defend my gender. * * * The coach was less than inspiring in the locker room. And our charge back to the field was more of a disinterested jog. The first play, Robbie and I were both on defense. We were on the left side. The center hiked the ball, and I hit the left end while Robbie scooted around. She was on the quarterback before he knew what had hit him. And hit him she did. Right at the side of the knees. She picked him up and carried him a couple of feet before they both hit the ground. Having been hit by Robbie, I felt a little sorry for him. Just a little. I wondered if he knew he'd just been sacked by a girl. And a freshman girl at that. As we set up for the second down, I had a vicious idea. I motioned Robby over and whispered to her. The grin on her face told me that my idea was as good as I thought. We held them for the next two plays, which brought us to fourth down with twelve yards to go. "They're not going to punt," I told Robbie. "They haven't had to punt all season, and they're not going to punt against us." She nodded. I pointed and motioned, and she nodded again. The Loggers lined up and looked like they were gonna punt. But I was confident. Sort of. The center hiked the ball, and I dove hard between two of the lineman. Then Robbie was going over the top of me, her foot in the middle of my back. Mental note: no more donuts for Robbie. Robbie was through the hole and on top of the quarterback. As the kid was picking himself up after the play, Robbie unsnapped her helmet and took it off, then shook out her hair. Lots of long red hair. The kid's eyes barely stayed in his head. Robbie grinned at me as she walked back to our side, tucking her hair in and putting her helmet back on. That ought to shake him up a little, I thought. Mike Reed came out to quarterback, but Robbie and I stayed in the game. Mike took the snap, Robbie ran along the outside, Mike faked the handoff. I came up the other side and Mike slammed the ball into my gut. I ran straight at the sideline, turned, planted, and fired a short pass, right to where I knew Robbie would be waiting. She caught the ball and made fifteen yards before a Logger caught up to her and brought her down. I wish I could say we won, the comeback of the season. But when the final gun sounded the Loggers won, forty-six to nineteen. But at least we scared 'em a little. Robbie's stats were amazing: five sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery, on top of sixty-five yards on the ground. My stats weren't nearly as good, but good enough that I moved to varsity for the rest of the season. It felt good to be the fifth freshman. It also felt good to read the write-up in the paper about the game. They had a great picture of Robbie's second sack and about half of the full page article was about Monster Girl as somebody from the Loggers called her. Monster Girl. I liked that. Chapter 12 "It's for you,." Tami announced, looking... not surprised. Wary? I'd been sitting between Robbie and Tami on the sofa in Tami's living room, watching Ever After on television and wondering if this might be a good night to suggest the threesome that Robbie owed me. "Hello?" I said, after taking the phone. It was only nine-thirty on a Saturday night, so I didn't think it'd be Mom or Dad. "Tony?" A girl's voice, but I didn't recognize it. "This is Tony." "I didn't know who else to call." Flattering, but not terribly informative. "Okay?" "I need... I think I need some help." "Allie?" "I don't know... what to do. I called your house, they said you were here." "Allie, what's wrong." "I'm at THE party." Shit! When she said the party instead of a party, I knew exactly where she was. "Do you need me to come get you? "Please." It was the most pathetic sounding word I'd ever heard. "Five minutes." "I've got to go," I said to Tami and Robbie, setting the phone on the coffee table and standing up. "To see Allie," Tami accused. "Yeah, to see Allie." Either we had trust or we didn't. "If you get lonely," I said as I stepped out the door, "you could always tell Robbie about that little fantasy you had on the fourth of July." I ran home. "Mom, I need a ride." "It's almost ten," she said, from her perch on Dad's lap. Traci was lying on her stomach on the floor in front of them, trying to ignore our parents who didn't know how to act their age. Ever After was on the TV. "Mom, I need a ride NOW!" Mom looked surprised, but after she studied my face a few seconds she struggled to get up. "I'll get my keys." "What's wrong?" Dad asked, while Mom put on her shoes. "It would really help if this was a don't-ask-don't-tell kind of thing." Dad looked like he was going to argue, then stayed quiet. He probably figured he'd let Mom worm it out of me. "Can I come?" The squirt asked from the floor. "No!" I said sharply, then softened it. "Not this time." "Where are we going?" Mom asked, picking her keys up off the table in the foyer. "Falstaff Road on the other side of town." I opened the door and a big wet snowflake landed in my left eye. Just what I needed. The snow was just beginning to fall, so the roads wouldn't be bad. But visibility might suffer. The forecast had said Sunday. "Would you like to tell me why we're going out into a blizzard?" she asked as she started the car. There was about a dozen splotches on the windshield from the snow. Not exactly a white-out. "A friend called. She's in trouble." "That call a few minutes ago. I gave her Tami's number." Mom turned the car onto the highway and headed for town. "She sounded upset." I knew that don't-ask-don't-tell wasn't going to get me very far. Mom was capable of stopping the car on the side of the road and sitting there with us slowly freezing to death until I talked. "There's a party. It's a tradition the Saturday after football finishes. It's at Gary's house. Gary Peters. It's mostly juniors and seniors, Gary's a senior. A friend of mine went. I think she's in over her head." "And she called you?" "She called me." "It's not Robbie, is it? I thought she was with you at Tami's house." "She was. Is." "That new girl, Ashley?" "No, she went to Seattle with her Dad. Her mom and little sister are flying in tomorrow." "Then..." The unspoken`Who?' hung in the air in the frigid car. I wondered if I could get away with not saying. Then decided it didn't matter. "Allie Smidt. I don't think you know her." "Why'd she call you?" "That is a very good question." And one that Tami is probably asking herself right now. Allie and I were friends, but hadn't been close except for that fling a year-and-a-half ago. Then she'd gone off to camp and Tami and I were Tami and I when she came back. "Why not call her parents?" "Mom, I don't know!" I said, a little more hotly than necessary. "Maybe they're not home. Or maybe she's afraid to call. I just don't know." Mom nodded. "Take the by-pass, it goes right by Falstaff." Mom nodded again and made the turn. The snow was picking up, but still wasn't that bad. And it didn't seem to be sticking on the road. "That's Falstaff," I said pointing. "Mom chuckled. "Tony, I've lived here as long as you." She turned onto Falstaff. "I wasn't sure if you knew this part of town," I explained. "Janet Taylor lives over here." I made a face and watched the road. Janet Taylor worked with Mom. She also had a daughter, Kendra, that Mom had tried to fix me up with a couple of times, after she'd decided that Tami and I were too serious. "Where to?" "Not exactly sure," I admitted. Gary was on the football, team-co-captain as a matter of fact-and had never accepted the fact that I was, too. "That's helpful." "Look for a house with a lot of cars." "What if someone else is having a party?" "I have a feeling this will be kind of obvious." We drove slowly down the wide residential street. "There!" Obvious was an under-statement. There were about thirty cars parked in front of the large two-story house. Several parked on the lawn. One parked with it's tail end halfway in the road. The front door was open, despite the thickening snow, and a loud bass beat filled the street. "Are we taking her home?" "Mom!" I said, exasperated. "I really hate when you ask questions I don't know the answers to." Mom parked next to the car sticking into the road. "Wait here!" I ordered. Mom cocked her head and looked at me as I opened the door. "Please?" She nodded. "What are you doing here?" Steve Logan, another senior and another football player not happy about a freshman on HIS team. "Carla invited me," I said, thinking quickly. The two biggest sluts in the school were both named Carla, and I'd bet the ranch they were both here somewhere. Steve ignored me. I wandered in, not closing the door. Four couples were squeezed onto the sofa making out. I noticed that Jenny Tadesco had a very nice tit, since it was poking out of her shirt as Vinnie Barbarino pawed it. Another dozen kids milled around, talking or dancing. Alana was on the floor with a guy I didn't know. They were more than dancing, but not quite fucking. I went into the kitchen and saw a dozen almost-empty bottles lined up for inspection on the counter, mostly vodka, but a couple of Jim Beam and one Jack Daniels. Three kegs sat on the kitchen table. Several guys I knew from the team were standing around with drinks in their hands. No Allie. Another room, probably the den, and I found Paula pressed into a corned by Mark Richards. Which was interesting because as of this afternoon, she was going out with Ben Wright. Paula saw me. "Hey tiger, come to party?" Mark turned around and glared at me. Interrupting a senior while he's making out is not the best thing for a freshman's health. "Looking for Allie," I told her. Paula looked surprised. "Upstairs, the last time I saw her." Mark decided that we'd talked enough and pressed her back into the corned and covered her mouth with his. I nodded thanks, not sure if she'd notice, and headed for the stairs. Upstairs, I hesitated outside the first door. From what was going on downstairs, I had a feeling that I'd be Interrupting some serious stuff if I picked the wrong room. I opened the door. The room was dark except for the band of light from the door. On the bed, was a very nice bare ass, with her legs wrapped around a naked guy. But it was a blond, so I closed the door quickly. The next door I opened, there were two couples on the bed, one fucking, the other in a 69. But the girls weren't Allie. "Shut the fucking door," came a strained voice from the tangle that I wasn't sure was male or female. The next door was locked. I assumed it was a bathroom. I knocked. "Go away!" "Allie?" "Go away!" "Allie, it's Tony." "You go away, too." Now what? "Allie, tell me you're okay, and I'll go away." A girl I vaguely recognized came up beside me. "She's been in there awhile," she said softly. I nodded. "Allie, are you okay?" "I'm fin..." The door opened and Allie rushed out and hugged me. I noticed her shirt was open and caught a quick glimpse of her yellow bra. "I... I didn't know what to do." I put my arms around her. "You did the right thing," I whispered. "You called a friend." The girl in the hallway slipped past us, and I saw her start to pull down her jeans before the door closed. "Come on." I started leading her toward the stairs. "Do you want to talk about it?" "No, I can't." "Okay." We were about halfway down the stairs, and I wondered what I was going to do with her. Tami didn't like her, but I knew she'd take her in if I asked. Or I could take her home. But what about her parents? Were they home? Did they expect her, or was she supposed to spend the night somewhere? Why the hell am I involved. Just as we stepped outside, Allie convulsed and spewed a greenish-blackish gunk all over Mrs. Peters' roses. I was guessing that little Allie had some of that liquor from the kitchen. It was cold, but I didn't want to worry about Allie's coat. I would have given her mine, but it was back in Tami's living room. I guided her toward the car. Just as I open the back door, Allie let loose with another torrent of goo, this one more of a yellow-green. I wondered if that was a good sign. I got Allie in and sat beside her. Thankfully the car was warm now. Mom looked back at us, I'm sure noticing Allie's open shirt, then looked at me questioningly. "Home." I mouthed. "Do you need anything?" I asked softly. Allie shook her head. "I came with Rod Anderson," she said quietly. Another football player. A senior and the other co-captain. Allie was playing at the top of the food chain. "His friend Alex Keaton came too, but by himself. We had some drinks." I guessed more than a couple. "Then we went upstairs to fool around. Alex came too." Allie looked at me, the surprise must have shown on my face. "I'm not like that. I was just... it was... it was just a little kinky. And I was feeling all warm and loose." "Allie, you don't have to say..." I whispered. "We started out just necking. And touching." Allie kept her voice low, not wanting my mother to hear. "Then Rod was pulling off my clothes. Alex was in a chair, and he had his dick out, playing with it." "Is that when your shirt got ripped?" Allie nodded. "Rod was just playing around, but the buttons all came off. Rod fucked me standing up, right there in the middle of the room. It... it wasn't the first time. Alex sat there watching." I nodded, not a clue what to say. "Then Rod wanted me to do Alex." "Did he force..." Allie shook her head hard, then looked like she regretted the action. "He didn't make me. He just kept talking about being nice to Alex. And Alex didn't have a girlfriend. And... and... I let him." Allie dropped her head to my shoulder. I didn't think she was crying, but I just held her. "When he finished, he was talking about how much Timmy and Brian would like me," Allie said into my shoulder. "That's when I hid in the bathroom. The phone was on the counter and..." "You called me. Why me?" "I... I knew, I could trust you." Well, there are worse reputations to have. "What do you want to do now? Do you want to go home?" "I'm... I'm scared. Mom..." "Loves you." I finished for her, hoping it was true. "I... I can't face her. Or Dad." "I know a nice little cave. We can move you in. Set up housekeeping. You can hide forever." Allie lifted her face off my shoulder and looked up at me, "Fuck you!" she said loudly enough that I knew Mom heard. I hoped she wouldn't say anything. "You can stay with Tami tonight. Go home in the morning," I said in a normal voice, so that Mom would hear. "Tami doesn't like me,": she said flatly. "You can stay with Tami," I said firmly. "Robbie's there too." I was sure that Robbie knew Allie; it was a small school. But I had no clue if she liked her, hated her, or what. "Or you can stay at my house. But you'd have to call home and let them know where you are." "I don't think Mom would like that." "Then it's home or the cave." Allie gave me a dirty look. Then buried her face in my shoulder again. I guess I'd better go home," she said, her voice muffled. "Mom's gonna kill me." "Nobody's gonna kill anybody." We were almost to the trailer park. I gave Mom directions. A couple of minutes later we pulled up in front of Allie's house. "Do you want me to come up with you?" Mom asked from the front seat. `Yes, Mommy, I want to hold your hand and hide behind you.' I wished I could say. "No, thanks," I said, trying to sound casual as I opened the door. I hugged Allie close as I walked to the door, both for warmth and for support. The door was locked. My dream of slipping Allie quietly into the house started sliding away. "Do you have a key?" "In my jacket," she said, shivering. Having Allie catch pneumonia probably wouldn't make this any easier. I knocked. After about a minute, the porch light came on. I wondered if it would be a good time to take up prayer. The door opened. "Tony?" Mrs. Smidt opened the door wider. "What have you done to Allison?" she practically screamed as she saw Allie. "She's all right," I said, trying to sound calm. "My baby!" she reached for Allie, and Allie pulled back, hugging me tighter. "You pervert!" I considered pointing out that in most cultures, a boy and a girl the same age having sex wasn't considered a perversion, but decided a semantics lesson probably wouldn't help things. "Where's her room" I asked, hoping to deflect things. "So you can..." "Where's her damned room?" I said losing my temper. "Upstairs, second door on your left," A man said, coming up behind Mrs. Smidt. As I stepped into the foyer I got a good look at him. He looked like the kind of guy the NFL would hire to make linemen behave. As I guided Allie up the stairs, I saw them talking animatedly. I was beginning to understand why there were so few good Samaritans in the world. I parked Allie on her bed, noticing that her room was all pink and lacy with a couple of posters of hot boy bands on the wall. "Go to bed," I advised. "Try not to talk about anything tonight." She nodded. "I wish you could stay." I grinned down at her. "I have a feeling if I take more than a minute, the sheriff will be on his way. Call me, if you need me." I closed her door behind me, took a deep breath and headed for the stairs. Mom was waiting at the bottom. "What did you do to her?" she asked, before I halfway down. "I picked her up from a party." "What kind of party did you take my baby to?" "You're not listening. I picked her up. I wasn't at the party." "You rapist!" "Are you hard of hearing, or just stupid? Your daughter was at a party and needed to get out of there. She called me. She didn't call you. You might want to think about that." I looked over at the man, who so far hadn't joined in. "I'm going to find out exactly what happened," she declared and started up the stairs. "I think you should wait," I said, blocking her way. "You're wound up, she's upset. Not a good combination." "Get out of my way!" "Annie, get down here," the man said. "John?" "He's right. This'll wait." "Did she tell you what happened?" she said, not retreating. "No." It wasn't the truth, but in this case, the truth wasn't mine to tell. "What if she had sex?" she said, looking down at her husband. The man looked like his cool was slipping. "Will you take some advice from a pervert rapist?" She glared at me. "Don't ask." "She's my daughter," she said firmly, as if that solved everything. "If she tells you she had sex, will that make you feel better? If she tells you she didn't, will you believe her? I think it's a no-win situation unless she wants to volunteer something." "I'll tell you one thing. She's never going to another party." She was annoying the hell out of me or I wouldn't have done it. I smiled smugly. "Ma'am, I had sex with a few girls. Not once at a party." "Well, I..." "Tony, was it?" the man asked. I nodded. "Thank you from bringing Alison home. You'd better go now." I nodded, stepped past Mrs. Smidt, and walked to the door. I looked back. Mrs. Smidt was standing halfway up the stairs, looking alternately up at the top, and down at her husband. I let myself out. "You okay?" Mom asked as I got into the car beside her. I nodded. "I don't think I made any friends in that house tonight." "I think you made one," she said as she put the car in drive. Chapter 13 It was almost four the next day before I got over to Tami's house. First Mom decided that we should all go to church, even though Grandma Cooper wasn't visiting. Then Dad decided that we should all go out for brunch. Then Traci wanted to do a family movie. I got a vote; it just didn't count. There were about four inches of snow on the ground as I trudged to Tami's house. By the time I got to Tami's, my feet were cold enough that I wondered if it was time to break down and buy a pair of boots. I stomped up her porch, trying to knock the snow off my tennis shoes. I wondered how she took my leaving to go see Allie. I knocked. A minute later, Tami opened the door. "Hi. How are you?" I had no idea why I was sounding so formal. Tami cocked an eyebrow. "Fine. And you?" "I'm good." Suddenly, I had nothing to say. "Must have been a hell of a party, if you're just getting home." "I, uh..." "Of course, Allie's a redhead. And I know how you are about redheads." "I, uh..." "You left Robbie and me sitting here to go off and be with her." "I, uh..." The door closed. I couldn't believe it. Three years in a row. Just when things were going good with Tami, fate drops a bomb in my lap. Three years in a row. This couldn't be happening. The door opened. "Tony, breathe." "I, uh..." "If you can complete a full sentence, you can come in." "It's damn cold out here," I managed to stammer out. Tami opened the door wide and literally pulled me inside. I knew I had to be careful. I had to explain this right. Tami fell against me, her mouth pressing to mine, and she guided my hands to comfortable spots on the seat of her jeans. "God, I missed you," she said when we came up for air. "Tami, about last night..." "Before you stick your size ten-and-a-half squarely in your mouth, I know all about last night." An intelligent person would have accepted that and kissed her again. An idiot would have accepted that and just held her. "Tami, about Allie..." "Tony, at the ungodly hour of nine o'clock, Paula was here telling me and Robbie how you'd shown up at the party, found Allie, and taken her out of there. She practically made it sound like a hostage rescue mission." I decided I owed Paula a thank you. A big thank you. Jewelry might be involved. "Then about noon, after Robbie left, Allie showed up. She was looking for you, but she told me how you rescued her twice last night." "Twice?" "Once from her parents." "Oh." "We had a long talk." "Oh." "You are a sparkling conversationalist today," Tami said with a grin. "Does this mean you two are friends now?" "I wouldn't go that far. Let's just say, we've gone from mortal enemies to run-of-the-mill antagonists." "I guess that's a start." "You're my hero, you know." "Please! I had enough hero this year. I was just doing a friend a favor." "Okay, you're my knight in shining armor." "That's worse." Tami looked surprised. "You don't want to be a knight in shining armor?" "Not enough babes." "Knights don't get babes?" "I don't think so. Can you imagine what they smelled like after riding around in a tin can all day?" Tami laughed. "You got a point." "Of course, when they got back to the castle, maybe they had the upstairs scullery maid give them a bath." "That sounds like a hint. Would you settle for the downstairs scullery maid and a shower?" "Well, I did get all hot and sweaty, walking all the way here from my house. In a raging blizzard." "Raging blizzard," Tami repeated, looking out the window at the clear skies and bright sunlight. "Your bathroom, or your mom's?" "Mom's is bigger, but it would feel really weird. Mine is kinda small." "Cozy is good," I said with a grin. "Cozy is very good." Chapter 14 It was after ten before I dragged myself out of bed. But since it was the first day of Christmas Vacation, that wasn't bad. Actually we don't get Christmas Vacation anymore. It was winter break. Maybe Tami was still in bed and I could go join her. There'd been a dance at the high school last night, and Robbie and I had gone for awhile to perform with the band. Then we met Tami and Ashley at Robbie's house for a party of our own. Mostly Risk and some dancing and making out. It was a nice way to start the holidays. I turned off my radio and was getting ready to take my shower when I noticed the noise of the television coming from the living room. That surprised me. Traci must be up, but she'd gone to the dance at the middle school and hadn't gotten home until midnight. I figured I'd go in and say hi to her before I grabbed a shower. "Mom! What are you doing here?" "I live here, if that's okay with you." "It's just... Are you sick? You should be at work." "I'm fine, thank you. And I figured that if you got the day off, I should too." Mom playing hooky? "Uh, okay." "And what would you like for breakfast? Your usual omelette with everything?" "Sure. I'm gonna grab a quick shower." "It'll be ready when you are," she said, turning off the talk show and getting up. "Okay," I said and retreated to the bathroom. I turned on the water and stepped under it, even before it warmed up. Fact one, Mom was home when she should have been working. Fact two, Mom was making me breakfast when she had stated many times I'm old enough to fend for myself. Fact three, Mom was making me an omelette, and it wasn't my birthday, Christmas Day, or the day after a really good report card. Fact four, Mom seriously hated omelettes. Fact five, Facts one through four didn't add up. The water was just getting comfortable when I stepped out and started drying myself off. Something was going on. "That was fast," Mom said when I came out, dressed in jeans and a turtleneck sweater. "Should I wake Traci for breakfast?" "Your dad took Traci shopping an hour ago." Fact six, Dad was shopping when he should have been working. Fact seven, Dad hates shopping, especially with Mom or Traci. Fact eight, somebody had to be dying. Mom brought out a huge platter loaded with a giant omelette, hash browns, and both link sausage and bacon. I had to be dying. But I hadn't been to the doctor. No, I went a month ago, just before football ended. I'd hurt my ankle and he took an x-ray. But an x-ray wouldn't show a tumor or anything like that. Would it? And people don't get tumors in their ankles. I was pretty sure they didn't. But if I wasn't dying, it had to be somebody close. Mom, or Dad, or Traci. They all looked good. Traci couldn't be dying; she went to a dance last night. "You haven't touched your food," Mom accused. "Sorry, I was thinking." I picked up a fork, and started pushing food around my plate. "We need to have a talk." Something about the way she said that made me think she'd used the wrong article. Not a talk, The Talk. Damn, Mom wanted to talk about sex. Now I wished I were dying. I took a forkful of hash browns and shoveled them into my mouth. "We need to talk about sex." Damn! Damn! Damn! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! "Moooommmm!" I protested around a mouthful of food. "It's time," she said flatly. "Dad and I have had this talk." I took a bite of omelette. "Three times," I added. Once in California, when he or Mom noticed I was spending more and more time with girls. Once just after we'd moved. And once last year. "Tell you what. If you can honestly tell me that any one of those talks was more than twenty words, I'll let you eat in peace." I really wanted to lie to my mother, but I doubted Dad's talks were twelve words each time. If you subtracted twenty minutes of hemming and hawing, it came down to `Don't get anybody pregnant,' and `Don't catch the clap or something worse'. I looked down at my plate and kept eating. "That's what I thought. "Mom, we don't need to do this." "Yes, we do." I knew finality when I heard it. A judge reading a death sentence wishes he had Mom's finality. Of course, he could get overturned. Not even the Supreme Court could help me. "I'm not going to ask if you've been sexually active." Thank you, God. "And I'm not going to ask with who." Thanks again. "But we are going to have a nice long talk about sex, and babies, and other fun stuff like syphilis, gonorrhea, and AIDS." I really didn't like the way she said `long.' "I'm not complaining." Like hell, I'm not. "But why today? What made you take a day off work for this?" Mom chewed her lower lip, looking thoughtful. "Uh, last night..." I tried to think what I'd done last night at the dance that might have gotten back to Mom. I may have kissed Robbie, but that was it. Nothing major. "At the dance..." she continued. Damn, nothing happened. Unless Parker was trying to make problems by making stuff up. "Mrs. Richland..." Mrs. Richland? She wasn't at the dance. She was the home ec teacher at the middle school. "...caught Traci with her tongue in a boy's mouth and his hand up her shirt." "Traci? My sister, Traci? She's just a kid!" "So are..." Mom bit off her sentence before she could finish, but we both knew where she was going. "Traci wouldn't do that." Hell she was a kid. A little kid. She was... I had to think about it. Eleven. Eleven-year-olds don't... Of course, Kelly was eleven. And she and I... But, that was different. Traci wouldn't... "Are you sure?" "Mrs. Richland seemed pretty sure." "Again, not complaining, but shouldn't Traci be sitting here?" "She will be, this afternoon. While you take a long afternoon somewhere else." I still couldn't believe it. Traci! "Now, let's talk about babies..." * * * "I need a favor," I asked Tami in her living room, two hours later. Tami giggled. "Does it involve my tender young body?" "Just your mouth." "And just what did you want my mouth to do?" she asked, patting my crotch. "Talk to my sister." "Talk to your... I don't even know Traci. Just to say hello." "I just spent a very, very uncomfortable two hours talking to my mom." "Why was it...? Oh, the talk." "The Talk." "Did she ask...?" "She made a point that she wasn't going to ask if I was sexually active. Which means she's pretty sure. And a point that she wasn't going to ask who with, which probably means she has you and Robbie pegged." "Does she know...?" "That I'm still with both of you? I don't think so. And if she knew about Mikee and Kelly, I don't think I'd be here right now." "What does all this have to do with your... with Traci?" "Apparently she and Dad felt it necessary to take the day off and set this up, because last night Traci got caught with a hand up her shirt, and it wasn't hers." "Whose?" I laughed. "You know, I was so surprised, I forgot to ask." Tami laughed and shook her head. "I don't think Mom would have told me if I had asked. Little sister's privacy and all that." "So, who's she been going out with?" "Going out? I didn't even know she liked boys." "Brothers!" I grinned and shrugged. "So why am I having a talk with Traci? Won't your Mom?" "Yeah, she's planning it for this afternoon, after Traci gets back from shopping with Dad." "So why do I...?" "Traci's a pretty good kid, though I'll never admit that to her. But like most kids, she's capable of shutting out parent-talk at will." "So how much of the talk did you shut out?" "About sixty percent," I admitted with a grin. "But I already knew all this stuff. I don't know if Traci does." "Okay, I'll talk to her. But I don't know how much she'll listen. I have a handicap almost as big as being a mom. I'm big brother's girlfriend." "Thanks, Tami. I'm just figuring out how to be a brother. I'm not ready to be an uncle." "You know, you could talk to her too." "I plan to." "She's going to feel ganged up on." "Good! She's too young to be doing this kind of stuff." Tami just looked at me and shook her head. "And if I find out who was pawing her..." "You'll do nothing!" "Nothing?" "Not if you ever want to touch this tender young body again." "Nothing. Unless he hurts her." "Then it's open season," Tami agreed. Chapter 15 "Are you mad at Tami?" Traci asked, looking out the big picture window in the living room. "Nope, she's mad at me. Why?" I'd floated the idea of a threesome with Robbie Friday night, treating it as a joke, and she hadn't taken it well. It was Sunday and she still wasn't talking to me. I figured I had about two more days before I was forgiven. "Well, I didn't know if you'd care." "Care about what?" "The car." "What car?" I felt like I was in an Abbott and Costello routine that wasn't working. "There's a car that's been circling the park. Seven or eight times. It slows down in front of Tami's house." "Maybe it's not Tami's house. Maybe they're checking out the Temples. Or those people across from Tami, the Westons?" "The Westlakes are across from Tami," she corrected. "The Simpsons are across from the pool and the Taylors across from the Temples." It always amazed me that Traci knew everybody in the park. "Could be, I suppose. There they go again." I walked over and stood next to my sister. The car, a brown four door sedan, drove past our house, then slowed as it went past Tami's, speeding up when it got to the Temples'. I watched it's tail lights until it turned onto Patty Duke Way and disappeared. I looked at my watch. It was almost nine. Very strange. "Do we have any kind of neighborhood watch?" "Mrs. Dugan, up on Annette Funicello," Traci said proudly. She liked knowing things I didn't know. "Do we have her number? I think I'll call if they go around again." "It's on the call board. Why's Tami mad at you?" The call board was our family bulletin board next to the refrigerator. A corkboard with a hundred-odd pieces of paper tacked to it. With luck, I'd find the number by March. It was February twelfth. Three days past my birthday. "I made a bad joke," I explained. "You should be nice to her." Traci and Tami had gotten closer since Tami had her version of The Talk with her. Both of them refused to tell me anything about it, though I had learned the boy with his hand up Traci's shirt was Gary Rogers, who'd been history since the middle of January. I think Brian Lewis was the current interest, but it was hard to keep track. "I am nice to her. It was a joke." "You should... he's back." The car was just turning onto our street. "I'm going to give Mrs. Dugan a call, see what she thinks." I started for the kitchen, wishing Mom or Dad were here, but they'd gone to dinner with friends. "He's stopping," Traci announced. I went back to the window. The car had parked in front of Tami's house. The door opened, and in the light from the car, I saw a big man get out. The image of King Kong flashed through my mind before the door closed and he was wrapped in shadow. "I'm going to take a short walk." "Mom said to stay here with me." "I'm going to take a short walk," I repeated. Traci nodded, then went back to looking out the window. I walked to the door, hesitated, then went to my room. When I came back I was carrying my favorite baseball bat. I noticed Traci looking at me funny. "Walking stick," I told her. She nodded, then returned her gaze to the window. I stepped outside and a cold wind attacked me. I hadn't gotten a jacket. Staying on our side of the street, I walked slowly toward Tami's house, the bat on my shoulder. There was some snow left on the grass, but the streets were completely clear. I got to the Westons' house--no, Traci said it was the Westlakes'--and looked over at Tami's. The curtains in the front window were drawn. I couldn't see anything. I crossed the street next to the car, noticing in the dim light that it had an airport sticker on the license. I wondered if it was a rental. I said the license number to myself a couple of times, committing it to memory. As I passed in front of the car I could see in the side window. Tami was sitting on the sofa. I couldn't see her face, but her body looked a little strange, rigid. Her mom and King Kong were standing in the middle of the living room, talking. I guessed everything was okay. She seemed to know him. I decided that I'd walk to the end of the street and back, check again, and if everything looked normal, go home before I froze to death. As I walked I noticed that several houses had GO REBELS signs in their front windows. The Girl's basketball team was undefeated, and the most recent poll in the Seattle paper said they were the number one team in the state. I hoped they'd go all the way. It'd been awhile since our school had won a championship. I walked back, and the scene in Tami's living room looked unchanged. I took the bat off my shoulder and held it in front of me, grinning to myself and feeling stupid. I guessed the hero thing had gone to my head. I nodded goodnight to the back of Tami's head and decided to go home. As I started to step around the car some movement caught the corner of my eye, and I looked back. The stranger had grabbed Mrs. Sharp by the throat and pushed her against the wall and was slapping her with his other hand. A smart person would have run home and called nine-one-one. An even smarter one, would have brought the damn cell phone with him. Me, I ran to the porch, jumped to the top stair, and yanked the door open. I was in the house before I had a chance to think what I was going to do. The bat was still in my hand, so I swung it hard against King Kong's back. It was a short stroke, without the power I wanted to have, but it made a satisfying THUCK sound and the stranger went down to his knees, letting go of Tami's mom, then fell to the side. I dropped the bat and rushed up to Mrs. Sharp, who was rubbing her throat. "Are you okay?" She nodded, without enthusiasm. "Daddy!" I heard and spun to look at Tami. She was standing, her eyes wide with... shock... fear? "That was stupid boy." I spun further. The stranger was sitting awkwardly on the floor, a revolver in his hand. I noticed an empty ankle holster on one of his legs. I thought those were just in the movies. "Assaulting a police officer." A police officer? Tami called him Daddy. Her dad was a cop and pointing a gun at me? "You're going to jail for a long time." Jail! Hell, I could barely survive detention. "And you're going as a cripple." He cocked the gun. The click was amazingly loud. At least it seemed that way when your whole attention was focused on the hole in the barrel pointed at you. My mind raced, but not usefully. Most revolvers are thirty-eights, right? That's thirty-eight hundredths of an inch. Just over a third of an inch. So why did that damn hole look so big? "Bill!" "Daddy!" I heard at the same time. "Shut up!" he shouted. He looked over at Tami, "Sit down." she did. "You too," he told his wife, and she moved over and sat next to Tami, putting her arm around her. "Who are you, anyway?" "Tony. Tony Sims. Tami's boyfriend." A funny look crossed his face, and I wondered if it would have been better to say Tami's neighbor. "So, little Tami has a boyfriend. Just what have you been doing to my little girl Tony Sims?" he asked as he climbed to his feet. The way he grimaced, I guessed his back didn't feel too good. "What Tami and I do together, or don't do together is none of your business," I said, a lot more bravely than I felt. But he was a cop; he wouldn't shoot me. "She's my little girl. That makes it my business." I stayed silent. I tried to glare at him, but my eyes kept coming back to that hole. He looked over at Tami. This is the part when the hero would leap forward and wrestle the gun out of his hand. I didn't move. "What about it, Princess? Just what sort of perverted stuff does this little punk do to you?" "Daddy, I love him!" I had a feeling this wasn't the best time for that particular declaration. "So you raped my little girl. And assaulted a police officer.' "No," was all I could manage to say. "I'm going to blow your fucking knee off. Then I'll call the sheriff and tell him how you attacked me for no reason, and you, little motherfucker, will spend the next ten years hobbling around a prison with a cane." I wanted to say something about my relationship with my mother being perfectly normal and non-physical, but my mouth had gotten so dry that the words wouldn't come. And that damn hole looked even bigger. "Tami will..." I managed to croak. "Tami and her mother will say exactly what I tell them to say. Then we'll have a little talk about how much it hurt when they ran away." That explained a lot. "Now..." "Lay the gun down!" shouted a new voice. I looked at the open door. A uniformed cop was standing there, his gun pointed at Daddy. That's when I realized I'd been holding my breath and let it out. "I'm a cop," King Kong said. "I.D.'s in my back pocket." "Right now, all I want to see is that gun on the floor." Daddy--Mr. Sharp?-used his thumb to uncock the gun, then extended his arm straight out and laid the gun on the floor. "Now, on your knees, hands behind your head." "I'm a cop," King Kong repeated. "Right now you're a suspect who was holding a gun on a teenager and telling him about blowing off his knee. I know Tony, I don't know you. On your knees!" That was when I realized that the cop was Mr. Boyd, who lived in the park. King Kong gave me an unpleasant look, then sank to his knees. The cop stepped forward and flicked a handcuff around one wrist, then pulled his arm behind his back and clicked the other cuff to his other wrist. Just like in the movies. A car skidded to a stop out front. It was a police cruiser. Another officer came in, surveying the scene. Mr. Boyd--Officer Boyd? Deputy Boyd?-stood King Kong up and pulled his wallet out of a back pocket. He flipped it open. The only thing I saw was a shiny police badge, just like on Law and Order. Shit! I really attacked a cop. That was probably worse than mouthing off to a vice principal. "What happened?" deputy Boyd asked. "This punk rushed in here and..." "Quiet!" Boyd ordered. He pointed at Tami. "What happened?" Tami swallowed. She looked at her mom, then her dad, then me, officer Boyd, then back again. She swallowed again and seemed to make a decision. "My dad was beating up my mom. Tony tried to stop him." "You little bitch! I'll teach you to..." Officer Boyd clamped his hand on King Kong's neck and squeezed. King Kong shut up. "Bert, take this..." he hesitated, "fellow officer to the station. Book him for domestic assault and assault with a deadly. Tell the lieutenant I'll be in with the report as soon as I can." The other officer led King Kong out the door and shoved him in the back of the police car. The story took about a half-an-hour to get out, with Tami doing most of the talking and her mom looking mostly embarrassed. They had moved from Aurora, Colorado, where Daddy, Bill, was a cop. He'd been beating on Tami's mom as long as Tami could remember. It had been reported, but since Dad was a cop, nothing ever happened. They finally had enough and moved here without letting anyone know where they where. Tami stressed that her Daddy had never hit her, though. Tami's mom was bolder when it came to telling about my part in this. She told Officer Boyd that Bill had been choking and hitting her, and I had charged in and hit him once with the bat before Bill had drawn the gun. "Will you press charges?" "Will you do something about it?" she countered. Officer Boyd walked me out a few minutes later. "There's a fine line between brave and stupid." "And I was a long way on the wrong side of the line," I told him. "I'm just amazed I didn't wet myself." He grinned and held out his hand. I shook it. Then I noticed there wasn't another police car. "Where's your car? How did you get here?" "Your sister called me at home as soon as you walked out the door. I was just getting ready to go to work." "She's the smart one in the family," I admitted. "That's what I think too." Traci's birthday was in March. A week after Tami's. I didn't know what, but Traci was getting a hell of a present this year. Chapter 16 "I'm sorry." "What for?" "My dad." I could see that her eyes were wet. "Tami, your dad's not your fault." "You were protecting me. And you almost got..." We were sitting on the swings. We'd both skipped school, and last night seemed almost like a dream. I twisted my swing and scooted closer to Tami. I picked her up and pulled her sideways across my lap. "Tami, first of all, what I did was stupid. I should have called the cops, then knocked on the door and tried to sell him a magazine subscription or something to stall for time. Instead, I charged in like John Wayne. I'm starting to think maybe the Duke's a bad influence. Second, while I'm glad I helped you and your mom, I'd like to think I would have done the same for Mrs. Westlake or Mrs. Taylor, and I don't even know them." "You would have. You couldn't help yourself." "What now?" "What do you mean?" "Are you and your mom going to move back to Colorado?" "Nope, this is our home and we like it. What were you and Mom talking about while I changed?" "Consent papers." "Consent papers?" "Yeah, she said she'd sign." "What kind of consent papers?" "To get married. Now all I have to do is talk my Mom and Dad into it, and a judge and we can get married next month. Right on your birthday." "Don't I have a say in this?" "Nope, you're stuck with me. And have I mentioned, my religion, Tonyism, doesn't allow divorce?" "No, you hadn't mentioned that. Tonyism, huh? Does it allow adultery?" "Only with spousal permission." Tami got quiet after that. I gently swung back and forth, just a few feet in each direction. "We can wait until the day after your birthday if you want," I prompted. "Anthony Marion Sims, I'll marry you whenever and wherever you want. Whether I'm your only wife or just one of a dozen." I tried to picture a house with a dozen wives. It was a scary thought. I had trouble with just four. Four-and-a-half, if you count making out with Ashley. "Tony," she said after a while, "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about my dad. We said we wouldn't have any secrets." "No, we said we'd be honest. There's a difference. There'll always be secrets. Things you're not ready to tell me, like your dad, or things you think I'm not ready to hear. Or things, that aren't your secrets to tell. I've got a couple of those," I said, thinking of Sally Jeffries and her friend Dana. "Why are you so sensitive?" "I read," giving my standard throw-away answer. "Actually I'm cursed by the ability to see both sides." She kissed me gently on the lips, then laid her head against my chest. "I guess I didn't tell you about my dad because I was embarrassed. I mean, he hits her, he hits my mom. How could he do that?" "My curse doesn't extend to understanding that, but I'd guess it's the stress of his job. He just can't deal with it. I mean, a cop is supposed to be so in control all the time. He comes home and relaxes that control, then anything can set him off." Tami lifted her head and looked at me. Then she kissed me again and laid her head back down. "Pretty good for somebody who doesn't understand." "I spent some time last night reading on the internet about abuse." "Why?" "Because I don't understand how someone could hurt someone they love, or even loved." "Did you figure it out?" "No. But you said you were embarrassed. I think there's a lot of kids out there in the same position. You could help them." "Help them?" "You could tell your story." "I can't." I could feel Tami starting to cry. I held her and didn't say a word. "You want me to stand up in a school assembly or something, and say `Hi, I'm Tami and my dad beats up on my mom'." "Actually, you like journalism and you're good at it. I think you should write your story." "Why? Why embarrass myself?" "I told you. I went reading about this on the internet last night. One of the statistics I saw, said that four million women a year get battered. That's out of a hundred and forty-three million women in the country. That's like one in thirty-six. If you figure that our school has about three or four hundred mothers, that means that there are eight to ten women getting beat up, and their kids are just as embarrassed." "You're a bastard, you know that?" Tami said without lifting her head. "Yeah, I know. And if you add in the justice department figures, seventy percent of those have kids getting hit too." "You can stop now." "Will you try it? Just to see how it goes? You never know, it might help. Sometimes, just getting it off your chest..." "Okay, I'll try." She was quiet for awhile. "Tony, make love to me." "You mom's home." "What about your house?" "My mom's home." "We could go out in the woods?" "That could lead to frostbite in an inconvenient location. But there's nobody home at Robbie's house, and I know where they keep the key." "You may be a bastard, but you have your moments." Chapter 17 MY DAD HITS MY MOM My dad hits my mom. Five very simple words. But you wouldn't believe how hard to say. Or write. My dad hits my mom. For fifteen years, all of my life, that's been my reality. Most kids are embarrassed by their parents. They're too smart, they're too dumb, they're not cool. For my best friend, they kiss in public. But I wasn't embarrassed, I was ashamed. I didn't want anyone to know. And they didn't. It was our dirty family secret. My dad hits my mom. For most of my life I wondered if it was my fault. If I was smarter, nicer, prettier, maybe this wouldn't happen. If I was taller, shorter, if I was a boy, maybe Dad wouldn't get so mad. Maybe he wouldn't hit. My dad hits my mom. And the worst part was, I was alone. No one in the world had a dirty little secret like mine. No one in history knew what I felt like. My dad hits my mom. A friend showed me some statistics from the Justice Department. Four million women get hit every year. Many with kids. A lot of the kids get hit too. I was lucky. I... ...can end. The first step is walking up to somebody, somebody you trust, and saying the five hardest words, `My dad hits my mom'. "Damn girl. You can write," I said as I passed the page to Robbie. "I never knew," was her comment when she finished. "You weren't supposed to," Tami said with an almost-smile. "That's the whole point of a secret. "Now what?" Robbie asked. We were sitting outside, eating lunch out of our brown paper bags. It was a bright clear and warm March day. "Tony thinks I should print it in the school paper, in case there's somebody out there like me, one with a dirty little secret they're ashamed to tell." "Then a reprint in the New York Times, and a quick trip to Columbia University to pick up a Pulitzer, splitting the money with me, since it was my idea." Robbie patted me on the head. "He's so cute when he's delirious." Tami grinned, "He's even cute when he's not." "So are you? Going to put it in the paper?" "I'd like to. Tony was right, it helped a lot to write it out. I'd like to think it might help somebody going through this. But, it won't work." "Why not?" I asked. Tami fixed me in her gaze. "You take the same journalism class as I do. Remember the guidelines?" "Guidelines?" "For printing articles in the school paper?" "I must have missed that class." "Slept through it is more likely," Robbie said, patting me on the head again. "I do not sleep in class," I said indignantly. "Except for biology and that's a given." "If we could bottle Mr. Bower, we could put the sleeping pill companies out of business in a week," Robbie agreed. "The guidelines," Tami said, reminding us of the point of the conversation, "that Mr. Walker gave us the first class of the year--that, Mr. Sims, you not only attended, but were conscious for--said that articles in the school paper must be about school sponsored activities. Articles about students or teachers in non-sponsored activities were permitted on a space available basis as long as they were upbeat and moral." "You sound like you memorized it," I accused. "I looked it up yesterday," she admitted. "Oh!" was the most intelligent thing I could think of to say. "So, I repeat, now what?" Robbie asked. "I give it to Mr. Walker, he says we can't use it, and I file it away." Tami sounded sad, as she said it. "You really wanted to print it?" "Not at first. I started it to get the love of my life to shut up." She flicked me on the nose, like a bad puppy. "But it really helped to write it. I kinda hoped, it might help somebody to read it. * * * "What'd he say?" I asked. Tami grinned. "Mr. Walker said it's the best thing I've ever written and one of the best essays he's ever read." "And?" Robbie prompted. "It doesn't fit with school policy for newspaper articles." "Well, if it's any consolation. Your not the first reporter to have a story squashed." I said, hopefully. "Yeah, boyfriend," Tami said, sliding her arm around my waist and her hand into my back pocket. "That helps a lot." "Sarcasm doesn't become you," I said repeating her movements and finishing with my hand in her back pocket. "Yeah, but it becomes me," Robbie added. "And you two better watch it, or you'll get Parker's public-display-of-affection speech number one oh three." We were standing outside the history classroom, waiting for the sixth period second bell. "Right now," Tami said with a heavy sigh, "I don't really care." * * * "Kelly, my favorite math genius!" Kelly smiled. She might only be twelve, but she looked as confident as any high school freshman. I knew that Robbie and Tami had both helped her with make-up and stuff, and I'd heard she was dating a boy in the eighth grade who was almost as smart as her. "Tony, you want something," she accused with a grin. "Who, me?" Chapter 18 Second period on Friday, and Mr. Bower droned on and on about the life cycle of the mosquito. I glanced around. Most of the class were nodding off as usual. Even Tami and Robbie, who shared a lab table with me and Luke, looked zoned out. It's not that biology can't be interesting-hell, I was in my third year of research on female mammalian mating habits--but Mr. Bower had a monotone voice and never got excited. I doubt he could give a word inflection if he wanted to. It was a good thing his tests were straight out of the book or everybody would flunk. And it was a required course. For once, I was wide awake. But not because of the life cycle of the mosquito. I was waiting. I actually listened to Bower; not the content, but his delivery. How the hell could he talk and talk without changing his pitch or tone even a little? Did he know he did it? Did he ever notice that half his class was asleep and the other half, dazed? An aide from the office came in and set a stack of newspapers on the corner of Bower's desk. Bower either didn't notice or didn't care, because his delivery on the blood sucking tendencies of the mosquito didn't waiver. The man was amazing in a tragic sort of way. The papers always got delivered second period. When the bell rang, everybody would grab one on their way out. I wondered if Bower would notice if I got up and started passing them out. I glanced at the clock over the door. Fifteen minutes. The door banged open, waking everyone, and Parker strode in. I was reminded about the movie about George Patton. I wondered if they ever made a movie of my life, could we get George C. Scott to play Parker? Parker looked around as Bower abruptly stopped talking, with a real live change in pitch to indicate surprise. Parked focused on our table and stomped over. "You!" Tami started when she realized he was talking to her. He had a folded newspaper in his hand that he slapped down against the desk. "What is the meaning of this?" "I, uh, I, uh..." "Excuse me, some of us are trying to learn here," I said. "I am not in the mood for you," he said, shifting his stare to me. I wanted to tell him that I wasn't in the mood for him either, but my policy is never get suspended on a Friday if you can help it. Ruins the weekend. "We're here to learn and Mr. Bower was just getting to the good part." "I was?" Bower asked in surprise. "Well, to continue, the female mos..." "I'm not done here." Parker said loudly. "What is this about?" He slapped the paper against the desk again. "What?" Tami stammered. "This," he said, slapping the paper down for the third time. "I..." "You might get better results if you showed her the paper instead of waving it around," Robbie suggested sweetly. "Stay out of this," he shouted. I watched the vein in his forehead start to throb. I pictured it as a mamba, ready to strike. "Mr. Parker, If you must yell at students, could you do it elsewhere?" Bower asked, surprising everyone. "Teach your class," Parker snapped. "I'm trying to," Bower snapped back. Parker ignored him. "What is this?" He opened the paper and displayed it for Tami. I decided to be helpful so we could get back to the other bloodsucker, the mosquito. "It's a newspaper. A popular form of mass communication. The first newspaper in the United States was the Boston News-Letter, first published in 1704--or was it 1705?" "Detention, Mr. Sims." "For answering your question?" I asked innocently. He ignored me like he'd ignored Mr. Bower. "Well, Miss Sharp. Would you care to explain?" "Explain what?" Tami asked, confused. "The girl's basketball team being invited to Phoenix?" The headline was GIRL'S B'BALL TO PHOENIX TOURNAMENT, with half of the team picture above the fold. "No, this," he said and showed us the bottom of the paper. Tami's essay was in the right hand column. "I...I..." "Come with me. NOW!" "Excuse me," I said, as politely as I knew how. "Mr. Sims, your detention is now for a week. Want to try for a month?" "No, sir." I smiled. "I just thought you might like to know that I put that in there, not Tami. But I realize now that facts just get in your way. I'll be quiet." I smiled again. The room was silent. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop. Though I had a feeling that anyone dropping a pin right then, would be joining me in detention. "Mr. Sims, my office now!" "Could it wait five minutes? I was really hoping to hear the rest of the lecture. Education and all." "NOW!" It was almost a scream. * * * "Why did you do this?" Parker asked waving the paper in my face. "How did you do this?" Mr Walker, the Journalism teacher, asked as he leaned against the front of Parker's desk. I was seated in front of the desk while Parker towered over me. It would have been more impressive without the beer belly sticking out at me. "I just opened the copy file on the terminal, and rearranged the front page," I said, answering Mr. Walker's question and ignoring Mr. Parker's. "I remembered everything you taught us about composition. I moved the article about softball try-outs to page four and cut-down two of the articles there. How'd I do?" "Very well," Mr. Walker said. "You really should have..." "Mr. Walker, the point," Parker reminded. "Sorry. The copy file that goes to the printer is password protected. How'd you get into it?" "I just sat down and started typing." Which was true, after Kelly Dubrey spent fifteen minutes hacking the file for me. "Why?" "It was a good story. You said so yourself. I thought it was an important story that might help somebody in the same situation. Isn't that what journalism is all about?" "It is," Walker agreed. "This school has guidelines, and this story didn't meet them." Parker grumbled. "I understand you set the guidelines. I know you didn't bother getting input from the students. Did you ask Mr. Walker?" "Policy is not your problem. You don't run this school. I do." "Funny, I thought you worked for the district. And I thought the elected school board ran the district." "Apparently your last suspension didn't teach you anything. Certainly not respect." "Not for you," I agreed. Walker's eyes opened wide, but he didn't comment. "Your mother wasn't very happy last time. Maybe you should have thought of that." "Maybe you should call her and ask her." I grinned, and he looked a little less confident. "And you won't be playing baseball during your suspension this time." "If I'm suspended, I'll do whatever I want." "Not with our team. Not during your suspension, and not after. You're banned from all activities." I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I took a few seconds to process. "What about the paper, it's an extra-curricular activity?" "I can assure you. You're never going near the paper again." "What about my journalism class? It meets in the paper's office." "You just flunked journalism!" "I..." I closed my mouth, wondering if I was in over my head and going down for the third time. "NO!" Parker and I both looked at Mr. Walker. "What?" Parker said. "I said, no. You do not decide what to grade my students, I do. And Mr. Sims is not earning a failing grade in my class." "See here..." "Shall we go see Marty and find out who gives the grades?" I found out later that Marty was the superintendent. "This is not an appropriate discussion in front of a student." "I think it's very appropriate," Mr Walker corrected. "You just said that he was going to flunk my class. I'm telling him that as long as I'm grading my classes, if he does the work, he won't fail. And so far, he's done the work." "I'm the vice principal of this school, and if I say he fails..." "You will Not grade ONE of my students! If you want to do the grading, I'll bring you my grade books and you can grade them all. And I'll be sure to let all the other teachers know that you'll be taking care of that chore from now on." I always liked Mr. Walker. Now I wanted him to adopt me. "Fine, he's passing your class, but he's to have nothing further to do with the newspaper." "The newspaper is, and always has been, part of the class," Mr. Walker explained. Parker looked like he wanted to sit on the floor and kick and scream. "You can go back to class now. I can handle it from here. "Yes, I can see you can," Walker said sarcastically and left. "Mr. Sims, you can wait on the bench outside the office. Mrs. Hatcher will call your mother. "Thank you, sir. It's been a pleasure as always, sir," I said with a grin as I left the office, just to keep him guessing. * * * Mom was less upset than I expected. After ten minutes with Parker in his office she was more than happy to listen to my side. She commented that I was playing fast and loose with the rules again, but didn't seem mad about it. "I won't bother asking if it was worth it. What I don't understand," she said as she turned the car into the trailer park. "Why do you always do this in March?" I hadn't thought about it like that. "I guess it's the nice weather that gets to me." Chapter 19 "Why?" "Why what?" "Anthony Marion Sims, you know damn well what I'm asking." I grinned and kissed Tami on the nose as we walked down Elizabeth Taylor. Then for good measure, I leaned the other way and kissed Robbie's nose too. "Are you familiar with Sir Edmund Hillary?" "Because it's there?" I nodded. "Though in this case, because it needed to be done." "But you're suspended." "It's not the first time," Robbie injected. "You're not helping," I said. "But, your parents," Tami said. "I'm not quite sure what's happening there," I admitted. "Mom dropped me off, told me to stay out of trouble, and went back to work. She didn't ground me or give me a ton of chores or anything. But maybe she's waiting to talk it over with Dad." "What about baseball?" Robbie asked. "Not looking good. Parker said I was banned from all activities." "For how long?" "I think forever." Tami looked like somebody had just run over her puppy. "It's my fault." "Don't be stupid," Robbie said before I could. "You didn't make Tony put your essay in the paper. You didn't even know." "But if I hadn't written it?" "And who talked you into that? Besides, Mr. Calloway posted the list for varsity today, and Tony was on it, even though he missed today's tryout." "I was?" I said in surprise. "Yep, and so was I." I stopped and hugged Robbie. Then I hugged Tami. Life was good. I made the team before I got kicked off. "We should celebrate," I decided. "Why don't you call Ricky. We'll all go to a movie." "Ricky?" "You know, your boyfriend." "Uh, Tony, Ricky dumped me." "Ricky dumped you," I repeated, stunned. "When? How? Why?" Robbie grinned. "Monday. He told me. Molli." "I don't... The kid's got brain damage. Must have taken a baseball off the noggin." "I agree," Tami said quickly. Robbie shook her head. "It's cool. We've been going out since June. That's a record for me. For him too." "You're okay with this?" I asked. "Sure. We aren't, weren't, like you two. It wasn't special, it was just fun. If he hadn't dumped me, I would have cut him loose pretty soon. It was just... time to move on." "Molli who?" Tami asked. "Molli Seaver." "A cheerleader? He dumped you for a brain-dead cheerleader?" "Tony Sims! Molli isn't brain dead. She's on the speech team and the debate team. Just because she's pretty and a cheerleader..." "Sorry, Mom," I said. "I tell your real mother you're stereotyping women like that and you won't see daylight until after Traci graduates." "That's a fact," Tami agreed. "Hey! I thought you were supposed to be on my side." "Not when you're being sexist." "I wasn't being sexist. I was being cheer-ist." * * * I'm not sure if it was part of her plan, but spending the weekend waiting for the other shoe to drop made it a very, very long weekend. Mom didn't say a word. Nether did Dad. And I was free to come and go. My mother is trying to drive me crazy. * * * I was camped on the sofa, stretched out with my feet on the arm, when there was a knock on the door. I figured it was probably somebody wanting to bring me to Jesus, and I was really into rereading Asimov's Caves of Steel, so I ignored it. It was Sunday, and Tami had gone shopping with her mom, and Robbie and her dad were doing something with Ashley and her family. They knocked again. "You going to get that?" Traci asked, from the kitchen. "Wasn't planning to," I said and turned the page. Traci mumbled something about men and lazy and went to the door. "It's for you." I looked up. Mikee was standing in the door. "Hi," I said, swinging my feet to the floor. "Uh, hi," Mikee said and stepped past Traci. "I need a favor." "Sure." "I need... uh... that is..." She looked over at Traci again, then lowered her voice. "I need a rubber," Mikee said, glancing back at Traci and turning red. I felt my eyes open wide. It sounded like my friend Luke was about to lose his amateur status. "Not a problem." I got up and walked past her to my room. I had a box in my football bag, I opened it and pulled out four. Back in the living room, I handed them to Mikee. "Uh, thanks." She looked at Traci again, then made her escape. Traci gave me an appraising look as I settled back on the couch. "That was nice of you." "Unh huh." "I wonder how she knew to come here?" "Uh..." "I guess she figured because you're so hot and heavy with Tami." "I guess." This was not a conversation I wanted to have with my little sister. "Still..." I never found out where she was going. There was another knock. Traci opened the door, Mikee was back, this time with Kelly. "Uh, hi again." Traci opened the door and pointed the two girls toward me. "I need another favor," Mikee said when she was standing in front of me. I nodded. "Can Kelly hang here for awhile?" I nodded and smiled at the younger girl. Mikee was red-faced again. "Luke was kinda weirded out about her being in the house," she admitted, before leaving. `Now what?' I thought. If Traci wasn't here, Kelly and I could have some fun on our own, but she was, so we couldn't. Kelly settled on my knee and looked at me. "Kenny says, you're suspended again." "Unh huh." "He was pretty happy about it." "That doesn't surprise me." Kelly looked back at Traci, who was standing by the door watching us. I think she realized that she had to be good. "Want to play a game or something?" "Sure. Traci, you up for it?" "I guess." I cleared the dining room table while Traci got Monopoly out of the hall closet. I made a mental note to remind Luke that he owed me. Big time. Chapter 20 "It was good of you to see us," Mom started out politely. "Especially so early on a Monday morning." "I'm always happy to talk to one of our parents," Mrs. Jeffries, the principal, smiled. She was a grey kind of woman. Not her clothes: they were bright, almost loud. But the woman herself was grey, not just her hair, her personality. Just... blah. She was also a closed-door principal. I rarely saw her. I doubted that I'd seen her in the halls a dozen times since school started. Mr. Parker was the visible face of the school. And that was a very depressing thought. "What can I do for you?" she prompted. "I wanted to talk to you about Tony's punishment." "I see. I had a feeling that was what this was about." She leaned back in her chair and steepled her fingers. "What Tony did was very serious. He may have thought he had a good reason, but the fact is, he ignored school policies and hacked a school computer. I think a five day suspension is very fair." "Oh, I agree," Mom said, surprising Mrs. Jeffries. "I thought the suspension was very fair." "You did? You do?" Mom nodded. "I'm very gratified to hear that. So often parents don't want their little ones to take the consequences for their actions." Little ones? What were we, eight? "No, that's not a problem. I think even Tony will agree that his sentence was fair under the circumstances." Both women looked at me and I nodded. "I'm afraid you've lost me then. I don't understand what this meeting's about." Mrs. Jeffries said as her fingers interlocked, then she templed just her forefingers. "It's about the rest of his punishment." "I'm sorry?" "Mr. Parker has barred him from all further activities. No sports, school shows, no newspaper or yearbook." "I see. I wasn't aware of that, but I'm sure Mr. Parker has his reasons." I would have loved to comment about Mr. Parker and his reasons, but I had a feeling that Mom wouldn't have appreciated the help. "Mr. Parker also threatened to fail Tony in journalism class until Mr. Walker intervened." "Again, I'm sure Mr. Parker had his reasons." "Apparently Mr. Walker didn't think so." "Well, I'd have to talk to Mr. Parker..." "We'll wait." "Excuse me?" "I said, we'd be happy to wait, if you want to talk to Mr. Parker about this." "I didn't mean right now." "Why not? We came to get this resolved." "Well, I make it a point never to over-rule my subordinates." "Then what good are you?" Mom asked bluntly. "Excuse me?" "What good are you?" Mom repeated slowly. "If you never over-rule your subordinates, either they're always right, in which case you're superfluous, or you're afraid to make a decision in which case you're a waste of space." Go get'm Mom. "You don't have to be insulting." "I wasn't being. I was stating reality." "I'm not sure we have anything more to discuss," Mrs. Jeffries said, standing. "Sit down. We're not finished," Mom snapped. "I don't see..." "That may be the problem. Now, Mr. Parker has set a punishment. Do you feel it's appropriate?" "Well, it does seem a little extreme, but Mr. Parker is an able administrator." "If it's extreme, will you overturn it?" "As I said, it's my policy not to over-rule..." Mom looked at her watch. "C'mon Tony, we're late for our appointment with Mr. Mulino." Mrs. Jeffries looked startled. "You have an appointment with the superintendent?" "Yes, we do." "But..." "Like you said, you have a policy." Mom stood, so I stood. I wondered if I'd be able to survive in this school once Mom got through with it. * * * "Mrs. Jeffries has a policy of never over-ruling her subordinates," Mom said without preamble. "Do you have the same policy?" "Well, I like to support my people, but sometimes I have to change their decisions." "That's a start. Are you familiar with Tony's case?" "I know he's been suspended. "For five days. That's..." "Tony?" Martin Mulino interrupted. "What do you think? Was five days fair?" "Yes, sir!" I said quickly. "I think if I'd been the principal it would have been more." "Are you aware of the rest of the punishment?" Mom asked. "No. Just the suspension." "Tony's been banned from all future extra-curricular activities." "I see. That's unusual. We sometimes suspend a student from an activity, but only if he's causing problems in that activity. I've never heard of banning a student from all activities." "So you'll reverse him," I asked, hopefully. "No." "No?" Mom and I said together. "But I will investigate and then decide if such action is warranted. If it isn't, then I'll reverse it. Or let Mr. Parker reverse it himself." * * * "Thanks Mom," I said as we walked out into the parking lot. "For what?" "Going to bat for me." Mom stopped and looked me in the eye. Lately that was getting a little harder since I was now a quarter-inch taller than her. "Tony, I think you, as your dad says, play fast and loose with the rules. But I also think you understand that there may be consequences, and you're prepared to take those consequences. And I'm just mean enough to let you," Mom said with a grin. "But sometimes, people over-react and the punishment doesn't fit the crime. Then I'll be happy to be your mother and fight for you. I don't think this punishment fits this crime, so I'll be in your corner until we straighten it out, or you screw up worse. Whichever comes first." "I couldn't ask for more." I couldn't resist. I hugged her. "Thanks for being my mom." Mom hugged back. "Thanks for keeping your crime spree local." Chapter 21 "Now you've really screwed things up," Ashley accused as she got off the bus with Tami. "What'd I do? I've been here all day." I hugged Tami and gave her a quick kiss. "You killed student government. And on my first day." "I killed...? Your first day? Somebody give me a map, cause I'm lost." Tami slipped her arm around me and her hand into my back pocket. "Did you know Danny Kelly moved?" "I heard he was going to. He's gone?" My arm wound it's familiar way around Tami and my hand plunged into her back pocket. "Friday was his last day. He probably would have said goodbye, but you didn't make it through the day." "Thanks for not rubbing that in, by the way," I said and gave her butt a squeeze through her jeans. "My pleasure. Anyway, he was the freshman representative to the student council." As we walked toward Tami's house I slipped my other arm around Ashley's waist. "Dave Gladstone appointed her as Danny's replacement." "And why," I started and pulled Ashley close to me, "would Dave pick a student who's only been here since October?" "He thinks she's cute." "No wonder we elected him class president." I gave Ashley a quick kiss on the cheek. We got to Tami's house. She unlocked the front door, and we went in. I sat on the sofa and pulled Ashley onto my lap while Tami got Cokes from the fridge. "So now I know how you got to student council. How did I kill student government without even being within two miles of the school?" "Pretty much, by being you," Tami said as she came back balancing three cans of Coke and a bag of chips. "Sorry, don't know how to be anyone else." Tami set down everything, then settled in the chair across from the sofa. "Maybe you should try," Ashley said. "Less wear and tear on friends and family." I kissed Ashley on the nose and started rubbing her butt. "Wouldn't be nearly as much fun." I leaned down and kissed the top of her breast. "You want me to take a walk for a while?" Tami asked with a grin. "Nah, I figured we'd use your bedroom." I kissed the top of her other breast. Tami stuck her tongue out at me, then popped the top of her Coke and took a sip. I don't think it would have bothered her if I had taken Ashley to her bedroom. "I still don't know how I destroyed democracy at school." "You know we had a meeting today," Ashley said. "I know that the student council meets every Tuesday. I'm still getting used to you being part of it." Ashley stuck her tongue out at me, then leaned forward and stuck it in my ear. It tickled. and I grinned at Tami. She shook her head and stuck her tongue out at me. I wondered if I could talk her into sticking it in my other ear. It might be a close as I ever come to a threesome. "Are you going to finish explaining how sitting on the sofa in my underwear, with my feet on the coffee table and a bag of chips on my stomach, watching General Hospital destroyed student self-determination?" "Thanks for the image," Ashley said, getting off my lap and moving to the other end of the sofa. "General Hospital?" Tami asked as she took Ashley's place. "I was channel surfing and got sucked in." Two cute girls in bikinis got me started, then I got hooked. "My football hunk boyfriend watching a soap. That's just sick and wrong." I grinned. Ashley giggled. "What?" I asked. "I was just thinking that our conversations have trouble staying on track." Tami giggled. "True. And it's worse when Robbie's here." "Quiet woman!" I said sharply. "Ashley's trying to tell a story." Then I kissed her to take the sting out of my words. Tami opened her mouth, and my tongue plunged in to wrestle with hers. "By the way, man," Tami said when we'd finished, "talk to me like that again and your tongue ain't comin' home." I looked at her hard. "You've been hanging with Robbie too much. Tami just grinned. Then she showed her teeth and pretended to bite a couple of times. I considered emigrating to Australia. "Tell him about the meeting," Tami suggested. "I'm not sure I want to anymore." "Okay, I will." Ashley glared at her, and Tami laughed. "Tell him." "We were at the meeting and got through all the business pretty quick. Then Ricky suggested that we issue a formal protest over your suspension." "Really?" "We were discussing it when Mr. Parker came in. He listened for a minute, then told us it was none of our business." "Darlene Chambers... do you know her?" " I know who she is. I know she's student body president. I've never talked to her." "Anyway, she'd been arguing against supporting you, but she told Parker that the council had the responsibility to discuss school affairs and let the administration know what they thought. I thought he was going to explode. He said he'd decide what the council could or should discuss." "You would have been so proud of her. She stood up and said, `I move that since student government is a mockery, that student council be dissolved. All in favor?' There was a dozen ayes, and we all got up and left. Mr. Parker was standing there with his mouth open." "Wow." "By the end of school, Darlene had written it up formal. `We the undersigned, having been informed by the administration that our decisions and discussions are meaningless, do, this day dissolve the farce known as student government.' We all signed and she delivered copies to Parker, Jeffries and the superintendent." "Mr. Mulino," I supplied. "Yeah." "So it's all my fault?" "Pretty much." "I'm sorry." It was just words. I wasn't sure how I felt. "Why? It wasn't really about you. It was Parker. If he'd kept his mouth shut, I think we would have voted to do nothing." "We?" "I was going to abstain." "Thanks a lot, I said. I kissed Tami again, slipping my hand up inside her shirt. Well, I've destroyed my athletic career. And I've killed student government. What do I do for an encore? Chapter 22 On Thursday, I was just sitting down for General Hospital when the phone rang. "Hello." "Tony Sims, please." "This is Tony." "Tony, this is Martin Mulino. I was wondering if you could come see me this afternoon?" "Uh, Mom and Dad are both at work." "Unless you think they'll object, I only need to see you." "Uh, ok. When?" "As soon as possible." "Twenty minutes?" "That would be fine. See you then." I hung up, wondering what was happening now. * * * School was just over two miles from the park. It took me about fifteen minutes to get dressed and ride my bike there. The superintendent's office was in the high school, at the other end of the hall from the school office. I chained my bike to the rack in front of the school and went in the front doors. It felt good to be back, though I couldn't admit that to anyone except Tami and Robbie. I'd gotten three steps inside the building when... "Mr. Sims. What are you doing here?" I turned, Mr. Parker was coming out of a door down the hall. "I'm..." "When a student is suspended, the school is off-limits." "I know but..." "I realize that you think being a football hero frees you from all the rules." "I don't think..." "You need to realize that the rules are for everybody." "I know the rules..." "There are rules for a reason, and they have to apply to everyone, even football heroes." I decided I had two options. Then I decided that option one. Killing Mr. Parker wasn't practical, it was messy. There was the body to get rid of. I turned and started walking down the hall. "Mr. Sims, come back here. I was talking to you." I ignored him and kept walking. "Mr. Sims, you can't just walk away from me." `Wrong again,' I thought. I turned and walked through the open door into the superintendent's outer office. The same old bat was sitting at the desk. I didn't know her name, and she didn't have a nameplate on her desk. "Hi, I'm Tony Sims. Could you explain to Mr. Parker that I have an appointment." "Mr. Parker?" she seemed confused. Just then he burst into the room. "Mr. Sims, I will call the police," he bellowed. "Mr. Parker, what is this about?" the secretary demanded. "This student..." he started just as Mr. Mulino came out of his office. "What's going on?" "Mr. Parker thinks I shouldn't be on school property," I explained. "Did you tell him, I asked you to come?" "He never gave me a chance." "Tony, would you mind waiting for a minute?" I nodded. "Charley, could you step in for a minute?" Parker looked at me, then nodded and followed his boss into his office. He came out two minutes later. He didn't look happy. He glared at me, then walked out into the hall. The phone buzzed, and a second later the secretary waved me into Mr. Mulino's office. "Afternoon Tony," he greeted me. "I appreciate you coming down to see me on such short notice." "Not a problem." "Sorry about the mix-up with Mr. Parker." I decided that silence was the best answer to that. Mr. Mulino waited a few seconds for a response, then realized he wasn't getting one. "Tony, you're a problem for me." "Sorry." "You broke the rules, and got punished. But it's not ending there. I gather you've heard about the student council." "Yeah. One of the council members is a friend of mine." "Have you also heard about the baseball team?" I shook my head. "Your friend Roberta has been stirring things up. She and six other team members are planning to quit if you're not allowed to play." "I don't know what to say. I'm flattered." "You should be. I know Ricky Calloway. He wouldn't do that for just anyone." I grinned. "Coaches Calloway and Branson aren't very happy about you not playing, either. They seem to think a lot of you. You've left me in an awkward position." "Sorry," I said again. "Any suggestions?" "The only suggestion I could make, you won't like." "I assume it has something to do with Mr. Parker?" "Fire him!" "I know you and Charley have some problems..." "It's not that. Well, not all that." "Well...?" "Do you want me to answer that as a student or a people?" Mulino smiled. "What would a student say?" I put a completely neutral expression on my face. "Mr. Parker is a wonderful administrator in a wonderful school where I get a wonderful education." "And what would a people say?" "Mr. Parker will cause more problems because he has absolutely no respect for the students." "I see." "Or their parents. My Mom was ready to strangle him after five minute in his office." "I see." I wondered if he really did. "According to my source, the problem with the student council is not because they wanted to stick up for me, but because Parker told them, they couldn't even discuss it. I think everyone knows that the student government has no real power, but he told them they couldn't even have an opinion." "I can't fire him." "Then promote him." "Promote him?" "Yeah, assistant deputy superintendent in charge of paperclips or something." Mulino smiled at that. "I don't know how he got where he is, but he's not a people person, so he's going to make mountains out of mole hills." "So Mr. Parker is the cause of all your problems?" No, sir," I said emphatically. "I chose my course of action, and I was prepared for reasonable consequences. Mr. Parker over-reacted. Like I said, a mountain out of a molehill." "I think you overstate the problem." "Consider today," I suggested. "I walked into the school. Mr. Parker didn't ask why I was here, he started in on a long winded lecture on why I couldn't be. If I was a good little boy, I'd still be standing in the front hall, listening, and you'd be wondering where I was." "I'm not firing Charley Parker. And I'm not promoting him. Where does that leave me and the school?" "Do nothing." "Nothing?" "Today's my last day of suspension, so I'm back tomorrow. I'll talk to Robbie, Ricky and the rest, and I think they'll play." "And you?" "Maybe I'll go down to the middle school and see if Mr. Hallowell wants some help with his team." "And the student council?" "If you or Mrs. Jeffries talk to them and tell them you actually want to hear their opinions, I think things will go back to normal. If you could keep Mr. Parker from going to their meetings it would help." Mulino nodded. "And you think tomorrow, everything goes back to normal?" I nodded. "Pretty much. Until the next crisis." He smiled and nodded at that. "Speaking of which, you might want to read today's Seattle paper." "Why?" "They reprinted Tami's essay. And they're nominating her for the Bothwell Award." "You think that's a crisis?" "Just the potential for one. The Bothwell is apparently for the paper as well as the writer. It could be embarrassing if we win and the word gets out that a student was suspended over the article." "Is that a threat?" he asked darkly. "No sir. I'm just stating facts. I hope Tami wins, but if she does, the school may take some flack. I don't plan to start it." "And I'm guessing you have a suggestion." The sarcasm in his voice was almost a physical presence between us. "I'm sorry if I'm being presumptuous." Mulino sighed. "Tony, I'm sorry. I asked for your opinions, and I want to hear them. I'm just annoyed by the situation. One of our students is nominated for a national award. A prestigious national award, and I can't be happy about it." "I understand." And I did. It had to be frustrating. "Did you have a suggestion?" "It's kinda the same one. Take Mr. Parker out of the mix. Let Mr. Walker and Toby edit the paper and choose articles on merit." Toby was the paper's editor, I figured he knew that. "I'll think about it. Thanks for coming in." I guessed I was dismissed. I stood up and headed for the door. "See you in school tomorrow." "Yes sir," I said as I put my hand on the knob. "And Tony..." "Yes," as I opened the door. "Plan to stay after." "Sir?" "Mr. Calloway is expecting you." Chapter 23 I couldn't help laughing. "You want to let me in on the joke?" "Us." It was the kind of night that seemed to define Washington. Define the northwest. The air was clear after the afternoon rain. The Moon was out in force enviously trying to outshine her older brother, the sun. The stars shone brightly, cheering her on, yet twinkling at her forlorn attempt. The air was cool, still filled with the moisture of the rain. Tami and I were taking our ritual walk, hand in hand, enjoying the night, the moon, each other. The image popped into my head and I laughed. "We're funny?" Tami asked. "No, not us. Our relationship," I said, still laughing. "Our relationship? Or OUR relationship? She asked, the capital letters in her second sentence obvious." I let go of her hand and slid my arm around her, my hand sliding into the far back pocket of her jeans. "Both," I said, as I got my breath back and stopped laughing. Tami glared at me out of the corner of her eye. Not in anger, but in the frustration of not understanding. I gave her ass a squeeze. "Did you ever see The World According to Garp?" "I think so. Robin Williams? He was a writer or something." "That's the one," I agreed. "What does Garp have to do with us?" "After Garp sold his first book and married his sweetheart, I think it was Helen, they were going to buy a house. They looked at one and weren't sure, then... "An airplane flew into it," she finished for me. "I remember that part." "Yeah, and Garp decided to buy the house because it had been pre-disastered. We're kind of like that." "Pre-disastered?" "Exactly. Look at all the stuff that's happened to us. If we can survive this, we can survive anything." "Don't tempt fate," she warned, holding her fingers out in front of her to form a cross. "I'm not. I just figure we're pre-disastered. We've had our problems, and now we can go the distance." "You make me feel like I'm seventy years old, in my rocking chair on the porch." "We'll be seventy all right. But we'll be running our great grand-kids ragged." "Great grand-kids, huh?" "Yep, Tony the fourth, star quarterback and short stop. "What about Tami the fourth?" "Super-model." "Super-model?" "Yep, super-model, just like mom, grandmom, and great grandmom." "Tony, you're hopeless." "I can see the sports illustrated cover now, Four generations in bikinis. Tami the fourth, mom, grand-mom, and you." "I hope," she said stiffly, "that when I'm seventy, I have sense enough not to wear a bikini." "Awww." "I've seen you cringe when you saw some old broad in spandex or a bikini." "But they're not you." "Anyway, I hope I do more than become a super-model," she said as she slipped her hand in my back pocket and gave me a quick squeeze. "How about super-model slash secret agent. Keeping the world safe for democracy." "If and when I decide democracy is worth saving, I'll consider it." "Going communist on me, babe? I think we'll have to move to China or Cuba, but I'll follow you anywhere." "No, I'm not going communist. And call me babe again, and you won't live long enough to follow me anywhere," she said with a laugh. I grinned back at her. "Besides, it'll be hard for you to be a pro football slash baseball player in China or Cuba." "Who knows, by then they may have franchises." "The Peking Ducks?" "Ouch. But I don't want to be a pro." "Weren't you and Robbie arguing about who would be first to be drafted." "That's different. I want to get drafted, I just don't want to play." "I don't get it." "I play football and baseball for fun. I don't want it to be a job." "So if the Miami Cowboys or Dallas Bears offer you ten million a year?" "I'd like to think I'll say no, but we'll have to wait until they actually wave the green in front of my face." "So you want them to want you, just so you can say no?" "No. I want them to want me because I want to be that good. I want to say no because there's something more important in my future." "What?" she asked bluntly. "Not a clue," I admitted. "Not even a little one?" she prodded. "Well, journalism with you was fun this year." "I can picture you running into the pressroom yelling `Stop the presses!'". I grinned. "And I've thought about medicine, but blood is not my favorite liquid." "Maybe you could be a reproductive specialist. You seem to like sperm." "Only my own. Maybe I could be a g-y-n, cause you know how I like pussy." Tami giggled. "And I know it sounds like a little kid, but I've thought about being an astronaut. I mean, maybe, by the time I'm ready, NASA will get off it's ass and make the manned space program more than a taxi service." "You read too much Heinlein," Tami accused with a laugh. "And Asimov. And Bova." "I'll bet it was that damn Bova and his Grand Tour that did it too you." "Guilty," I admitted with a grin. "Anything else?" "Well, I could see myself sitting on the Supreme Court, shaping the law. But, unfortunately they make you be a lawyer first, and I don't know if I could stomach that." "Pretty unfair," she commiserated. "But just because most lawyers are crooks doesn't mean you have to be. "Oh, I could be an honest lawyer, but I'd have to hang out with crooks. Don't know if I could bring myself to do that." "Poor baby. I guess you'll have to settle for being the first g-y-n in space who writes a column for the New York Times." "Pu-lease. The Wall Street Journal." "Exxxx-cuuuuuse me." "Never." I leaned over and kissed her. "Well, okay." "Any other big plans?" "Just one." I pulled away from her, and dropped to one knee. "Will you marry me?" I asked, looking up. "Tony, we're fifteen." "I figure if I start asking now, I'll wear you down by your eighteenth birthday." "Mom says I have to graduate first." "That's perfect. Today's the last day of school. I'll ask you again next year. And the next year. And the next year. That'll give you three years to practice saying yes." Tami grinned. "I won't need three years. Does this mean you're giving up Robbie and the girls?" "In a heartbeat." I surprised myself by meaning it completely. Tami looked surprised. I'd bet that she was expecting some smart and somewhat evasive answer. "Not just yet. You know, if you marry Robbie instead, you two could start an athletic dynasty." "Don't want an athletic dynasty. I want you." I almost added, and only you. But considering that she'd just told me to keep fucking three other girls, I didn't know if it was appropriate. Why doesn't somebody write a training manual for these situations? We walked for awhile. It was almost midnight, and I knew in a few more minutes, I'd have to take her home. "You know Robbie was saying yesterday that Ashley looked horny." Tami whispered. "No." "No?" "NO!" "You don't want to make love to her?" "I'll never make love to her. But I'm not interested in fucking her either." "Why? She's cute." "She's a hottie. But our lives are complicated enough." "But..." "There are three hundred and four guys in our school. Some of them are almost as cute as me." "But none as modest." "It's a gift," I said, using my free hand to buff my fingernails on my chest and blow on them. "It's just sex." "You know that phrase, `It's just sex,' has caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people." "But this is different. I'd know. And I asked you to." "If you asked me to, I'd even have sex with Brenda Walthan." Brenda `the Whale' Walthan probably outweighed me, Tami and Robbie combined. "But why ask? She can find her own guy." God, I must be in love. I was working pretty hard to talk myself out of fucking a sexy young girl. "It's complicated," Tami said. I really hate that phrase, especially when someone else uses it on me. "Tami, there's three hundred and four guys at the school." "I know." "And three hundred and nine girls." "You knew?" "Tami, you and Robbie have had me making out with her all year. It's been pretty obvious that she might like it, but wasn't excited by it. "Robbie thought..." "I know what was on Robbie's devious and dirty little mind. The question is, does Robbie know?" "Does Robbie know what's on her own mind?" "No. Does Robbie KNOW?" Tami sighed. "That Ashley's in love with her?" I nodded. "I doubt it." "So the question is, love of my life, are you going to tell her?" "I don't know if it's my place. Are you?" "I'm not going to walk up to her and blurt it out. But if it seems appropriate, yeah, I'll tell her." "Anthony Marion Sims. Sometimes I really like you. You're a sensitive and caring guy." "Shhhush. I have three more years of high school. If that gets out, I'm ruined." "You're also a putz." "Sensitive, caring, and a putz. I can live with that." "So what about Ashley?" "Well, I'm not going to walk up to her, pull her shorts down and stick it in. But if the situation is right..." "You'll make love to her?" "No, I'll never make love to her." "But, you said..." I knew what I wanted to say, but wasn't sure it would come out right. "Tami, when I'm with you, it's about ninety-nine percent making love and one percent sex. With Robbie, it's about fifty percent making love and fifty percent sex. Cause, I do love Robbie too. With the girls, it's about ninety-ten toward sex. Cause I've really gotten to care for them. But with Ashley, it would be all sex. I like her, but I don't love her. Does that make any sense at all." "Tony, that was beautiful." Tami pulled me into a tight hug. "Unless it's your way of saying I'm not very good at sex." I wondered again how two such diverse species as men and women wound up on the same planet. "I..." "Tony, relax. I'm not really that insecure. I promise." "I thought maybe I said it badly." "No. I understood what you were saying, and I do think it's beautiful. And I do think it's possible to be in love with more than one person at a time." "You do know it's not going to change anything with Ashley. I'd like to think sex with me is great, but I don't think it's going to change somebody's orientation." "What about you?" "Me?" "Are you going to like having sex with Ashley?" "She's young. She's beautiful. She has a hot, tight body. I'm sure I'll hate it. But I'll make the sacrifice for you." "My hero." "Just keep remembering that for the next three years, until you say yes."