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Message-ID: <58431asstr$1230289804@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: John Wizard <johnwizard13@hotmail.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} The Trailer Park - The Fifth Year - Part 2[07/08]: Music and Lyrics by Wizard (mf, slow)
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Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:10:04 -0500
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Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories
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[Section 7 of 8]


   The Trailer Park The Fifth Year: Music and Lyrics

   Wizard


   "So, Tony, I've always wondered, did you ever forgive Miss Tate for
dragging you to that audition with me?"

   I grinned and shook hands with Mr.  McCoy, the middle school music
teacher.  Traci was standing with Miss Breslin, her old fifth grade
teacher. Tami and Robbie, with a bundled up Darlene in the middle, were
talking to the mayor.  Allie was successfully ignoring her mother as she
chatted with Mr.  Reed.  And Mom and Dad were accepting congratulations
from almost everyone.

   "Almost," I said as the first raindrop hit the back of my neck.  "Maybe
by graduation."



   Chapter 27

   "That red light goes on, and I spank."

   Robbie grinned, and I knew she wasn't taking my threat very seriously.

   "I mean it.  If Mom hears me tonight, my life is over."

   Robbie smiled sweetly.  "And I care, why?"

   "You wrote the script," I reminded her.

   "True," she admitted.  "But my dad won't ground me."

   I nodded agreement.  "Yeah, he's given up on civilizing you."

   "No, but I explained years ago that well behaved women rarely make
history."

   I grinned.  I could imagine Robbie saying just that and her dad taking
it as a simple statement of fact.

   "Any comments before we start old business?" the man in the center of
the table on the stage asked.

   I took a deep breath and raised my hand.  The man on stage recognized
three others before he got to me.

   "Yes?"

   I stood.  "My name is Tony Sims.  I'm not from this school, I'm go
to..."

   "I know who you are," The man said stiffly.

   "I just wanted to say that the team from my school has decided that
they'd be happy to come to Lake and play baseball."

   The man looked surprised, then smiled.  "I'm glad to hear that you've
decided to end this nonsense."

   I smiled back.  "They decided that they were punishing the Lake students
for something that wasn't their fault." I paused 'cause I knew that I had
to get the rest out in one breath.  "After all, it's not their fault that a
bunch of fucking idiots hired an asshole and don't have the guts to control
his tongue!"

   I gave the school board a half-bow, turned, and walked out as the
auditorium erupted into pandemonium.

   * * *

   I had to get the rest of the story from Tami, Robbie, and the video that
Robbie shot, a video that, I wasn't very surprised to find, included my
little tirade.  I went out, sat in my Mustang, and started reading the
first of James Patterson's Murder Club mysteries.

   * * *

   Tami and Robbie sat quietly as the board discussed a dozen items of old
business.  Robbie had changed memory cards in her camera after I left and
now kept her camera focused on the board on the stage.  The board opened
the floor for new business.  A man a few rows ahead of the girls stood up
as Robbie focused her video camera on him.  "I'm John Polaski.  I think all
of us are happy that the boycott against Lake is ending, but we can't
ignore the Coach Rich situation any longer."

   The man in the center of the board table brought down his gavel sharply.
"Mr.  Polaski.  The board certainly appreciates your concerns, but this
isn't the appropriate time for that discussion.  We will deal with it at a
later time."

   "What time?  This is the fourth time I've brought up the subject since
November.  And I'm not the only one."

   "When the time is right," the board chairman said.  "Right now we should
just be happy that our student athletes will be able to compete.  Though
one thing I can assure you is that that young man's inappropriate remarks
will be reported to his school."

   "I'm not sure his remarks were all that inappropriate," Polaski said as
he sat back down.

   * * *

   From the camera angle, Robbie had moved back several rows as the meeting
broke up.

   "Mr.  Kellerman?  I was hoping to get some comments," Tami said as she
approached the board chairman.

   "Young lady, isn't it past your bedtime?"

   'Bedtime?' I thought when I watched the tape.  Both girls had been back
in my car by a quarter after ten.

   "I'm here as a reporter," Tami explained.

   Kellerman smiled condescendingly.  "I'd be happy to talk to our school
paper another time.  Right now..."

   "I'm not with your school paper.  In fact, I don't even go to Lake."

   Kellerman looked surprised, and Tami pulled a laminated card out of her
jeans pocket.  "I've done a number of articles for the Seattle paper." She
held out a press card for his inspection.  We'd thought the Seattle press
card would be more impressive than her local one.

   Kellerman looked skeptical.

   "I'm doing a story on school boards that ignore public input."

   Kellerman's face went from skeptical to disgusted.

   "Your board has ignored eleven requests to discuss Coach Rich and his
remarks in the last three meetings and another one tonight.  Do you ever
plan to address the concerns of your constituents?"

   "Young lady, I'm getting really tired to listening to the bitching and
moaning from your school.  First your boyfriend tonight, now you." I
grinned as I watched that.  I guessed from all the columns Tami wrote about
Rich and the boycott, someone pointed out that she and me were a we.

   "Sir, I'm here as a reporter and columnist, not as a girlfriend.  I've
identified the story I'm working on and asked a simple question.  I'd be
happy to hear any or all of your views on the subject.  And the fact that
I'm young and a female isn't all that relevant."

   "I am sick and tired of you people whining about Coach Rich.  I'm..."

   "So in addition to not caring what your constituents think, you don't
want the press to have questions?  I assume that's what you mean by you
people."

   Kellerman spun and stomped away.

   Though I couldn't see it since she was behind the camera, I knew there
was a big grin on Robbie's face.  One of her patented
I-love-it-when-a-plan-comes-together ones.

   * * *

   "I guess she's one up on the rest of us."

   "Huh?" Robbie said, tearing her eyes away from a TV commercial about
beautiful Hawaii.  Outside it was raining hard.

   I patted Tami's hip as she sat across my lap.

   "Tami.  She's one up on us.  We've been on the radio, but she's on TV,"
Traci explained.

   I grinned.  "Speak for yourself, Brat-zilla.  I've been interviewed
several times after games and so has Robbie.  Plus, she has an ESPN special
to her credit."

   Robbie, sitting next to Trace on the sofa, buffed her nails on her left
breast.

   We'd been watching the local news, where the Lake school board meeting
had only been beaten out for top story by a big warehouse fire in
Wenatchee. They had used the entire video of Tami's exchange with
Kellerman. Tami came off looking professional despite her age, and the
anchorwoman mentioned that Tami was a regular contributor to the Seattle
paper as well as having three columns a week in the local paper.

   Kellerman came off looking confrontational and having something to hide.

   We knew the Seattle TV station that was affiliated with Tami's paper was
running the story, too, though probably cut down a lot.

   "You going to give up newspapers for television now?" Traci asked.

   "Not in a million years," Tami said laying her head against my shoulder.
"Television is cool, but reporting in print has one big advantage." Tami
paused, leaned up, and kissed me lightly.  "A backspace key."



   Chapter 28

   "Have you ever considered having a study hall for seventh period?"

   I shrugged as Mrs.  Connors glared at me.  The PA system had just
summoned me to the office again.  I'd expected the summons yesterday or the
day before.  I gathered my books and stood.

   "TAMI SHARP, PLEASE REPORT TO THE OFFICE."

   Tami and Robbie looked surprised.

   "I give up," Mrs.  Conners muttered.  "Anybody else want to go?  The
office?  The library?  Hell, Dairy Queen?"

   I think a few students liked the Dairy Queen idea but nobody dared raise
their hands.  I waited as Tami closed her notebook and stood.  Robbie
stared at the speaker wondering if she was next.

   "Now if it's Wasay, you're not supposed to be in-your-face," I said out
in the hallway.  "If it's a student delegation, be nice and if it's Allie's
mom you have to be polite."

   "If it's Allie's mom, I'm going to stick my foot so far up her ass that
I'll probably lose my shoe," Tami growled.  I grinned, turning my head to
the side so that Tami wouldn't see.  My Little Mustang was still pissed. 
Majorly pissed.

   Two weeks ago, after our concert, the city council had one of it's best
attended meetings in years.  And almost everyone spoke in favor of tearing
down the Sugarman house and building a youth center.  The mayor said city
hall had logged over two hundred phone calls and another couple hundred
e-mails and letters running seven-to-one for the youth center.

   The council voted unanimously to build the center.

   But Allie's mom was smarter than any of us gave her credit for.  She and
Bill Hyatt, the historical Society's lawyer did an end run, sending a
petition to the state historical buildings commission.  The commission, not
bothering with public input had slapped a protected status on the damn
building.

   "Maybe in chemistry Monday, Robbie and I can try making nitro," I
suggested.

   Tami grinned, a more natural look than the scowl that appeared when I
mentioned Allie's mom.  "As long as you don't accidentally blow up my best
friend."

   "What about me?"

   "You can be replaced.  Robbie's unique," Tami said as she slipped her
hand in my back pocket.

   * * *

   The school office sent us to the superintendent's office at the other
end of the school.  Mrs.  Price, the superintendent's secretary sent us to
the district's conference room which was in another building across the
parking lot.

   I knocked and heard a muffled "Come in".

   I opened the door, then shared a look with Tami.

   Sitting on the other side of the long conference table were three men
and none of them looked happy.  Mr.  Reed the principal sat on the left,
and Mr.  Whitting the school board chairman sat on the right and Butz had
the center.

   I swallowed.  Butz not looking happy was normal, but Reed and Whitting
almost always had a smile on their faces.  "You wanted to see us?"

   "Sit down!" Butz ordered.

   I closed the door behind us and walked to the table but didn't sit. 
Nether did Tami.  "No thank you.  I'd rather stand."

   "I said, sit down!" Butz bellowed."

   "No," Tami and I said together.

   "I'm getting real tired of your attitude," Butz said staring at me. 
"It's time you learned..."

   Mr.  Whitting whispered something from the side and I never learned what
it was time for me to learn.

   Butz looked down at the yellow legal pad in front of him.  "You took it
upon yourself to go to Lake and disrupt their board meeting," he accused.

   I smiled.  "I might quibble with the word disrupt, but yes, I went to
the Lake school board meeting."

   The look Butz gave me suggested that I was supposed to be more
intimidated.  "You used language that was entirely inappropriate."

   "I used language that was completely appropriate for the situation and
the people I addressed." All three men looked surprised.  I decided to add
insult to injury.  "And what the hell made it any of your business?"

   Butz looked stunned.  Next to me I heard a soft giggle.

   "Tony..." Mr.  Reed started but Butz exploded to his feet his fists
resting on the table.

   "Before you do something ludicrous like trying to suspend or expel me, I
went to Lake as a private citizen.  I did not identify myself as
representing this school or any school organization, though I passed on a
message from the baseball team.  The opinions I expressed were mine, they
had nothing to do with the school or you.

   "If you think you can control my actions or words outside of school,
then you are a lot more stupid than you look."

   "Tony that was uncalled for," Mr.  Whitting said, coming to his feet.

   "No sir, I think it was entirely called for," I said, looking at him. 
"One of the first things Butz ever said to me was that he was too busy to
care about my or any other student's opinion." I deliberately omitted the
honorific.  "The second was that he thought Parker's opinion of me was
correct.  I think we all know Parker's opinion of me."

   "Right now, we're both missing class for something that is none of your
business," Tami said, speaking up for the first time.  "And unlike some
students, we like our classes and resent missing them for ridiculous
reasons.  And for the record, I wasn't representing the school either.  I
represented a newspaper in Seattle and I don't think our...superintendent
wants to take them on." I had a feeling that Tami searched the right
adjective and came up blank.

   "Mr.  Reed, Mr.  Whitting, do you mind if we go back to class now?" I
asked when Tami finished.

   Both men looked blank but nodded.  Butz just glared.

   Outside I put my arm around Tami as we walked back to class.  I had a
feeling that our respite was only temporary.

   * * *

   Mr.  Reed was waiting when the bell rang ending the period.  "Mrs. 
Connors, can I borrow your classroom for a few minutes?"

   Mrs.  Connors looked at him, then me and Tami, then back at Mr.  Reed
and nodded.  The other students were already streaming past him, but Tami,
Robbie and I sat still.  Mrs.  Connors packed her brief case, nodded to Mr.
Reed again and left.  He glanced at Robbie, then closed the door.

   Mr.  Reed stepped in front of Mrs.  Connors desk, leaned back against it
and looked at us.  "I hope you don't mind if I take a couple minutes of
your time."

   "No, sir," I said since I didn't think he was being sarcastic.

   "Lake has been a hell of a problem from the moment Rich opened his
mouth. I was very proud of what your team did for Robbie."

   From the corner of my eye I caught Robbie's blush.  "We all love Robbie,
but I'd like to think we would have done it for anyone," I said.

   Mr.  Reed nodded.  "I think you would have.  And I'd like to think that
at least most of the team would have followed you if it had been someone
else." Now I could feel the heat in my own cheeks.

   "I wasn't any less proud when you talked to the WSAA after the walk off.
Though your attitude was a little too much..."

   "In your face," I supplied.

   Mr.  Reed nodded.  "While I'm handing out compliments, I was also proud
of you for what you did for Luke Hastings."

   I looked at Tami.  She smiled.  "It was the right thing to do," I said
looking back at Mr.  Reed.

   "Funny how he randomly came up for testing every week," he said with a
smile.

   I shrugged.  "You never know about random."

   "He's still coming up, even though he didn't play winter sports."

   Oops.  I guess I didn't tell Kelly to stop it after football season.  I
shrugged again.

   "Probably a good idea," Robbie said.  Mr.  Reed nodded.

   "I was happy that you decided to play Lake after you talked to those
kids."

   "Like they pointed out, Rich could care less.  He wasn't the one who was
getting hurt," Robbie said.

   "And..." Mr.  Reed hesitated.  "Tony I didn't lose any respect for you
over your visit to Lake, though your language..."

   "Was necessary."

   Mr.  Reed seemed to process that.  "And Tami I saw you on the news.  You
handled yourself well."

   Tami nodded.

   "As for Mr.  Butz..." he hesitated again.  "You're probably right that
it was none of our business, but you may not want to be as antagonistic to
the superintendent.  You're going to be in his school for another
year-and-a-half."

   I opened my mouth, but Tami beat me to it.  "Tony could have been polite
to that pickledick and we'd still be there trying to explain to him that
it's wasn't any of his business.  Tony was efficient and we at least made
it back for half the class."

   Mr.  Reed shook his head and waved us away.

   'Pickledick?' Now I have to keep Tami away from my cousins too.

   Maybe I could just declare Colorado out-of-bounds.

   * * *

   "Tony, we need to talk," Dad said quietly as I walked in the door after
practice.  "Your room?" Mom was in the kitchen.

   "Butz called?"

   Dad glanced toward the kitchen then nodded.

   I sighed.  "I'll be back in a minute." I took my bag into my room and
set it beside the bed.  I really wish there was a limit on confrontations
in one day.

   I walked back into the living room and sat down on the sofa.  "Mom! 
Have you got a minute or two?"

   "About five," she called and came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on
a dish towel.  Traci followed, eating a banana.

   "Dad got a call from Mr.  Butz today." From the look she gave Dad, I
hoped that I hadn't gotten him in trouble.  "I have a feeling that it had
two parts, the Lake school board and our meeting today." Dad nodded as Mom
settled on the arm of his chair and the brat sat in the dining room.

   "The meeting today, he wasn't too happy when I explained that what I did
off school property and off school time was none of his business."

   "It's spring.  Are you suspended?" Mom asked.

   "Not yet.  It really isn't school business, and he had no right to call
Tami and me in to discuss it."

   Mom and Dad both looked surprised when I mentioned Tami.

   "Is he going to pursue it?" Mom asked.

   "Well, he called Dad, but I think that's as far as it's going."

   "And this was about a school board meeting at Lake?"

   I nodded.  "Tami, Robbie, and I went on Tuesday.  I, uh, wanted to tell
them that we'd decided to play them in baseball."

   "That's all?"

   "Butz felt that some of my language was inappropriate."

   Mom exchanged a look with Dad.  "What language?"

   "I said that we'd decided to play 'cause it wasn't the kids fault
that...that a bunch of fucking idiots hired an asshole and didn't have the
guts to control his tongue."

   Traci gasped.

   "I see," Mom said narrowing her gaze at me.  "That doesn't sound like
you.  You thought it was appropriate?"

   I stood.  "For that situation and that audience, yes I did."

   "Why?"

   "Uh, you saw the news Wednesday night?" Mom nodded.  I'd thought they'd
seen Tami on the eleven o'clock news.  I knew they hadn't seen it at five.
We only saw it 'cause practice was rained out.  "We, uh, I kinda wanted to
get Mr.  Kellerman in the right mood to meet Tami."

   Dad laughed.  "Tony, remember what I said about you and Sergeant Bilko?
I withdraw the comment."

   Mom looked down at him like he'd lost it.  "Go wash up, I'm putting
dinner on the table."

   I tried not to grin as I walked away.  I was glad I hadn't mentioned
that Robbie wrote my script.



   Chapter 29

   "Remember this summer?"

   Warning bells.  Hell, more like an air raid klaxon.  "Of course."

   I turned off the highway onto the road that led to Robbie's house.  I
was driving Darlene home after school.  Tami had stayed after to work on
something for the paper, and I had the afternoon off because of the rain
pounding down around us.

   "Remember when we..."

   "Something I'm not likely to ever forget," I said quickly, remembering
her self-esteem issues.  "A sexy cheerleader losing her virginity in my
tent is one of those stories I'll bore everyone with in the old folks home
ninety years from now."

   "I wasn't a virgin," she giggled.

   "Might as well have been."

   Damn, I hoped she wasn't horny.  That would be all I needed, along with
Tami still bugging me about Bobbi's virginity.

   I parked and shut off the car.

   "I just wanted you to know that you were right."

   "I usually am," I said pompously.

   "Not according to Robbie," Darlene said and giggled again.

   "What was I right about this time?" I asked, ignoring her comment.

   "Afterward, when we were talking, you said there were guys out there who
knew how to do it right."

   I remembered our talk.  We were walking, just enjoying the quiet of the
morning and Darlene was telling me about her first time.  Her real first
time.  "I'm glad."

   During the play, I'd thought she and Luke were about to hook up, but a
week or so later I found out that she'd been dating Clay Willingham. 
"How'd you hook up with the enemy anyway?" Clay was a senior and had been
the quarterback on North Lincoln's football team.

   Darlene smiled.  "During the home basketball game with them, I kind of
got into it with one of their cheerleaders.  It was his little sister.  It
just kind of happened."

   I decided for the eight-thousand-three-hundred-and-sixteenth time that
the world was a strange and wondrous place.

   "And he treats you right?"

   Darlene reached over, cupped my face in her hands and kissed me gently.
"Almost as good as you."

   * * *

   "I want you to listen to something," Robbie said as Darlene and I ran
dripping into the house.

   "Can I dry off first?" I asked sarcastically.

   "Nope, just shake like a dog." Robbie got out of her chair and headed
for the stairs.  Lying on the floor in front of the chair, the twins
giggled.  I decided that I needed to speak to their dad about spanking them
more often, or maybe Robbie's dad since they hung out here as much as their
own house.

   I shook like a dog, then followed Robbie up the stairs.  I grinned when
I saw the drops of water that had landed on the entryway mirror.  Robbie
had complained more than once about constantly cleaning it.

   Robbie was sitting at her computer when I walked in her room.

   "This is a seventies song I found.  I wanted you to hear it."

   I cocked my head in question.

   "Just listen," she ordered and clicked something on her computer.

   [girl singing]

   Ah-ah, ah-ah.

   Daddy please don't, it wasn't his fault.

   He means so much to me.

   Daddy please don't, we're going to get married.

   Just you wait and see

   [boy singing]

   Every night the same old dream, I hate to close my eyes.

   I can't erase the memory, the sound of Julie's cries.

   She called me up late that night, she said, "Joe don't come over.

   My dad and I just had a fight, and he stormed out the door.

   I've never seen him act this way.  My god, he's going crazy.

   He says he's going to make you pay, for what we've done,

   he's got a gun,

   so run Joey, run Joey run."

   [girl singing]

   Daddy please don't, it wasn't his fault.

   He means so much to me.

   Daddy please don't, we're going to get married.

   Just you wait and see

   [boy singing]

   I got in my car, and I drove like mad,

   till I reached Julie's place.

   She ran to me with tear-filled eyes, and bruises on her face.

   All at once I saw him there, sneaking up behind me.

   [girl, shouting]

   Watch out!

   [boy singing]

   Then Julie yelled, "He's got a gun."

   and she stepped in front of me.

   Suddenly, a shot rang out, and I saw Julie falling.

   I ran to her.  I held her close.

   When I looked down my hands were red,

   and here's the last words Julie said:

   [girl singing]

   Daddy please don't, it wasn't his fault.

   He means so much to me.

   [voice fading]

   Daddy please don't, we're going to get mar-ried.

   Ah-ah, ah-ah.

   [both singing]

   Run, Joey, run Joey, run Joey,

   run Joey, run Joey, run Joey, run.

   "What's your very first thought?" Robbie asked as the song faded.

   I shrugged.  "If he'd listened to her and stayed home, Julie would still
be alive."

   "And your second thought?"

   "With the bruises on her face, they could have put Dad away and lived
happily ever after."

   Robbie smiled.  "Good, I thought I was getting cynical in my old age."

   "You?  Never." I paused waiting to see if I needed to dodge.  "Who was
that?'

   "The guy was David Geddes.  No idea who the girl was."

   I'd never heard of him.  "One hit wonder?"

   "Two, actually.  He did a song called Last Game of the Season."

   I smiled.  "That was the first thing you ever sang to me."

   Robbie looked startled, then remembered the afternoon in the bleachers
our eighth grade year, when our last game of the season got canceled
because of snow."

   "You said you didn't know I could sing," she said, smiling wistfully
herself.

   "And you said you were Supergirl and could do anything.  My life's been
downhill ever since." I didn't move fast enough and her fist punched me in
the side of the thigh.  "Thinking about that song for one of our duets?"

   "Nah.  I wouldn't do love-struck naive waif very good.  Maybe you could
do it with Traci."

   "I don't think so.  Might send the wrong message."

   "To who?"

   "The love-struck naive waif."

   Robbie turned her head quickly but not in time to hide her grin.  "One
of us should do Last Game sometime."

   "I've never heard the whole thing," I said, happy to change the subject.
"Just the little bit you sang me four years ago."

   "You know, it's hard to believe it was only four years ago when I
knocked on your door and said I needed a favor."

   "And I took one look at you and hoped that the favor was helping you
with your nymphomania."

   "That sounds like my Tony.  You know..." Robbie's eyes flicked toward
the bed.

   "Have you got that other song?  I'd like to hear it."

   Robbie sighed.  "That's what I thought." She clicked her mouse several
times and a piano started playing.

   "He's just the blind man on the bleachers..."



   Chapter 30

   As I walked in the door, I looked at Dad's empty chair.  I closed the
door and made a beeline for the chair, sinking into it with a sigh. 
Thursday, practice had been rained out, so the coach pushed us twice as
hard yesterday.

   Today, I worked at the gym club all morning, but now, I could just veg
out for the rest of the weekend.  Life was good.  It'd be better if Tami
hadn't gone to Seattle with her mother, but life was good.

   I picked up the remote and flicked through channels, finally settling on
something on the Sci-Fi Channel: a giant snake was eating someone.  Not
exactly great television, but sometimes mindless entertainment was just
what I needed.

   The movie ended and another started.  Apparently giant snakes were the
theme today.

   Traci wandered in and sat on the sofa.  And fidgeted.

   I watched the snake eat a cute blonde, then took pity on my sister.  I
clicked off the TV and looked at her.

   Traci took a breath.  "I think it's time to talk to Peter."

   "Okay."

   "He doesn't want to talk to me." She took another deep breath.  "You
said..."

   I remembered our talk when I'd said that when she was ready, I'd make
sure that Peter would be there.  "I'll see what I can do."

   Reluctantly I got out of the chair where I'd planned to spend my
afternoon.

   It took a couple minutes to walk to Peter's trailer.  He was outside
with Mikee and Kelly, unloading groceries from their mom's mini-van.

   "Ladies," I said as I walked up.  The two girls smiled at me, then
picked up a couple bags each and walked into the house.

   "Traci wants to talk to you."

   Peter shrugged.  "Not interested."

   "I really think you should," I said as the girls walked back out.

   "Or what?" Peter said, looking straight at me for the first time.  "You
going to beat me up if I don't?"

   "Yeah, I think I will."

   Peter looked surprised.  So did the girls.  But I don't think any of
them were more surprised than me.

   Peter glanced over at his sisters, then looked back at me and nodded.

   We walked back to our trailer.  Traci wasn't in the living room, so I
lead Peter down the hall to her door.  I stopped and looked back at the
kid.

   "You know Peter, I can make you be here.  I can make you hear what she
has to say.  But I can't make you listen.  But as long as you're here, you
might want to consider it."

   Peter looked stubborn as I knocked on Traci's door.

   Inside, Traci was sitting on her bed.  I pointed at her desk chair, and
Peter sat.  I started to leave, but Traci shook her head, so I leaned
against the doorframe.

   There was a long silence.  Traci couldn't seem to focus.  Her eyes
wandered from the floor to Peter, to the wall, to me, the ceiling, and back
again.  Finally, Traci sighed and looked at Peter.

   "Peter, I've wanted to talk to you.  But it's taken awhile to figure out
what I had to stay.  You were, you are, very special to me.  And I never
wanted to hurt you, but I have.  I may not be as smart as my brother,"
Trace gave me a small smile, then looked back at Peter, "but I'm smart
enough to know that I can't take it back.  I'm not asking forgiveness.  I
don't need forgiveness.  But I want you to understand.  I want you to
really know who I am.

   "The simple fact is, I've had more sex than you.  A lot more.  We both
know you were a virgin when we..." Peter turned red as Traci left the rest
of the sentence unsaid.

   "I was kissing guys, I mean seriously kissing them, in the fifth grade.
The next year, in sixth grade, I gave Kyle Thomas a hand job.  I probably
shouldn't have, but he worked so hard for it.  We'd been making out and he
kept saying that an unattended hard-on could do permanent damage.  I knew
he was lying, but...  It was pity and curiosity that finally got him what
he wanted.  There have been a few others."

   Traci glanced at me, then looked straight into Peter's face.  "Maybe
you'll think I'm a bad girl, a slut, but that's part of my history, part of
who I am." He looked away indifferently.

   Traci sighed.  "Then last year, I kinda fooled around with Robbie," she
continued.

   Was it just last year?  It seemed like a lifetime ago.

   "We were at a slumber party.  Our sleeping bags were next to each other.
She tickled me and I tickled back.  We could hear Tony and Tami making love
a few feet away and...  I guess one thing kind of led to another.  We
slipped away, back to my bedroom, and I had sex with her.  There were a few
more times after that."

   'The road trip,' I thought.

   "I never wanted to be a lesbian, and I'm not.  I just...  Robbie made me
feel good, and I hope I did the same for her.  And there's nothing wrong
with that."

   Peter looked back at Traci for a second.  The look on his face was
interesting.  He was still trying hard to look indifferent, but I think
there was some lust there as he pictured Traci and my favorite redhead
locked in sexual frenzy.

   "This summer, on Tony's road trip, I met a guy and we went all the way."
Traci paused and seemed to think about it.  "I mean we had sex.  We fucked.
There was nothing special between us, but Gary was a nice guy, and it was
safe.  I knew I'd never see him again.

   'That explains a lot,' I thought.

   "It was also on the road trip that I had sex with Tony."

   I really wished she'd left that part out.  Peter glared at me
accusingly.

   "He was asleep and I...  I...  kinda took advantage of him.  I'm not
sure why I did it.  I know Tony was way freaked.  It was just...  just...
it was stupid.  And it almost ruined the best relationship a little sister
ever had."

   Mental note: Talk to Mom about raising the brat's allowance.

   From the look on Peter's face, it had never occurred to him that sex
with me hadn't been all my idea.

   "After we came back," Traci was looking at the ceiling as she talked. 
"There were a couple guys and...  another girl." Traci looked at me, and I
smiled.  She was trying not to violate Kelly's privacy.  The girl can be
taught.  "The girl was just experimenting.  Two friends making each other
feel good.

   "Then there was you.  And there hasn't been anyone since you.  I just
didn't want anybody else.

   "And now, I don't know."

   Traci tried to swallow the lump in her throat.  I sent her all the good
vibes I had.  She looked down from the ceiling and looked straight at
Peter.

   "I know when I told you before, you were all weirded out.  I'm sorry if
I disappointed you.  I'm sorry if you thought you didn't know me.  But this
is who I am.  Warts and all, as the Colonel would say.

   "I hope someday you understand me.  Understand who I am.  'Cause I like
me and I wouldn't change anything, even..." she looked at me, "even my
mistakes.

   "But until then, you are the best friend I have, and you always will
be."

   Traci stood quickly, squeezed past me, and a few seconds later I heard
the front door.

   I watched Peter.  After a minute, he stood and left, not looking at me.
His expression hadn't changed much the whole time.

   I made another mental note to be extra nice to Trace.



   Chapter 31

   The ball took one hop and seemed to home in on my glove.  I'd been
playing up close, right on the edge of the grass.  I pulled the ball out of
my glove and tossed it backward.  As I turned, I saw Robbie take the toss
from just behind second base.  She stepped forward onto the bag and made a
hard throw to first as the runner slid into the base.  Ricky, his foot on
first, leaned forward.  The ball slapped into his glove a good second
before the batter got there.

   I grinned at Robbie.  Two pitches and two outs, this was the way to
start a season.  The first batter had bunted the first pitch and just
barely beaten the throw to first.  The second batter swung at the first
pitch too, one-hopping it into a double play.  Now let's see what number
three can do.

   A few seconds later it was all over.  The third batter popped up his
first pitch and Ricky caught it easily.  A three pitch inning, you can't
beat that.

   Four innings later, it hadn't gotten much better for the Bulldogs.  They
hadn't gotten past first base, and we'd scored at least three every inning.
After the third out, another pop-up, the ten-run mercy rule ended it.

   We were in Idaho for a tournament.  Everyone said we had the toughest
bracket, but the first game had been a walk in the park.  Ours was the
third game of the day, so counting the Bulldogs, three teams were already
in the loser's bracket of the double elimination tournament.

   It was a great way to start spring vacation.  We'd left school about one
for the two-and-a-half hour drive to Coeur d'Alene.  If we could have left
a little earlier and skipped the taco pizza lunch, the day would be
perfect.

   Our second game was going to be with the Warriors, but we wouldn't know
for a couple hours whether it was the Warriors from Southern Washington or
the Warriors from Oregon.

   "You going to scout the competition?" I asked Robbie as we walked across
the infield.  The two Warriors teams had been warming up on another field
and would start their game as soon as we got off and they had a short
infield practice.

   "Aren't you?"

   I pointed to the gate next to our dugout.  Robbie saw Tami and waved. 
"So much for the dedicated athlete."

   I shrugged.  "Think you'll miss anything if I'm not there to keep you
straight?"

   Robbie made a rude noise and walked over to Ricky and his dad.

   I went in the dugout, slapped a few backs, and stuffed my glove and bat
into my equipment bag.  Outside, I caught the coach's eye and pointed to
Tami.  He nodded, then went back to his conversation with Robbie and Ricky.

   I let myself through the gate and hugged Tami.  "I didn't know you were
coming."

   "I wasn't sure I was," Tami said after a long kiss.  "Had to talk Mom
into it.  I told her that with you gone for the weekend, it's be a good
chance to check out some colleges."

   "And she bought that?"

   "Officially, I'm checking out the University of Idaho and Lewis and
Clark State College."

   "Did your mom happen to remember where our tournament was?"

   Tami grinned.  "Probably."

   I kissed her again, then we moved off to the side to let other
ballplayers use the gate.

   "What time do you play tomorrow?" Tami asked as I hoisted my bag and we
started toward the parking lot.  Tami had been to so many of these, she
could probably have drawn the double elimination tournament bracket for
them.

   "Since we won, tomorrow at one.  If we lose, we play again at five,
otherwise Sunday."

   "So I can check out colleges in the morning and be good with Mom."

   I nodded.  "You should also check out Headmaster's School of Hair Design
just in case.  We saw it when we drove in."

   Tami stuck out her tongue, and I pulled her into another kiss, her
tongue sliding easily into my open mouth.

   Tami led me to her motel, which was just up the road from the field. 
Ours was across the street.  In the parking lot I kissed her again.  As we
broke apart again, a suspicion flashed across my mind.

   "How did you get here?'

   Tami smiled coyly.  "There was this cute Little Mustang just sitting
there." Tami tried to look sneaky as she looked over each shoulder.  "And I
knew where the guy kept the keys."

   "You can be replaced you know," I said as Tami unlocked her door and
opened it.

   She grinned.  "With who?  Robbie just started going out with Troy
Benning."

   "How about with her," I said, pointing at the girl on one of the double
beds.

   Bobbi blushed.

   Tami shrugged.  "You didn't expect me to drive all the way here by
myself, did you?"

   It wasn't the first time my beloved had set me up, so why was I
surprised.  "Let's take a walk."

   Tami looked startled.  "We can't just leave her..." Despite the fact
that Tami had left her while she went to the field to collect me.

   "Not you, her." I held my hand out to Bobbi.

   Bobbi looked like she'd rather be anywhere else, but after a few seconds
hesitation stood and took my hand.

   "Robbie should be at the field till at least nine.  Watching the
Warriors and the Warriors go at it.  You might as well keep her company."

   * * *

   "I'm sorry," Bobbi said as we walked through the little park behind the
motel.  There were three paths, and I took the one that led toward a stand
of trees.

   "Why?"

   "I, uh..." Bobbi stammered.

   "Relax, I know it wasn't your idea to ambush me."

   Bobbi blushed.

   "Tami thinks she knows how to run my life better than I do.  She
probably does, and someday she probably will.  But right now, I want to at
least pretend to be independent and make my own decisions."

   Bobbi giggled.  "I understand, I guess.  Are you mad at Tami?"

   "No.  You know, I don't think I've ever gotten mad at Tami.  I was
really disappointed once.  And right now, I'm mildly annoyed.  But I've
never been mad."

   Bobbi nodded.  "So when she comes back, do you want me to pretend...?"

   We'd been following the dirt path through the mini-forest and came to a
clearing.  I stopped and turned Bobbi till she was facing me, then gently
kissed her.  When she didn't resist, I kissed her longer and harder.  "When
Tami asks," there was no if about it, "tell her that a lady never tells."

   Bobbi nodded.  I took her hand and led her back down the path to her
motel.  I was glad that the team was in the motel across the road so I
didn't have to try explaining the pretty freshman.  We let ourselves into
Tami's and her room, and Bobbi flopped onto the closest bed on her back and
looked up at me expectantly.

   How do I get myself into situations that almost any guy would kill for,
but that I dreaded?

   "First rule," I said looking down at the beautiful teenager.  "Just
because you thought you were ready, doesn't mean you are.  You can change
your mind."

   "But I am."

   "Repeating first rule, just because you think you're ready, doesn't mean
you are.  You can change your mind."

   Bobbi nodded, but I doubt I penetrated.

   "Second rule.  There is no right way or wrong way to have sex.  What I
like, what's-his-name may not and vice versa." I hesitated, considering
whether to mention fetishes, S&M, water sports, or other--in my humble
opinion--unfun stuff.

   "Third rule, and it's important, so repeat after me.  Sex is supposed to
be good for both partners."

   Bobbi had a funny look on her face.  "Sex is supposed to be good for
both partners," she repeated.  "I thought you were supposed to be seducing
me.  This is like school."

   I grinned.  "I'm not what's his name, your boyfriend, so I'm not
seducing you.  This is a kind of a sex school.  Want a different teacher?"

   "Never."

   "Okay.  Then listen and learn.  Rule three is important because there
are girls out there who don't, who've never gotten off during sex.  Some
guys think it's all about them and quit after they've gotten their jollies.
I don't know if what's-his-name..."

   "Josh.  His name is Josh."

   I grinned 'cause I'd known his name.  "...if Josh is one of those, but I
want you to know that you're entitled to have fun too."

   "I think he's a virgin."

   "So this is your chance to train him right.  Future girlfriends will
thank you."

   "Any more rules?" she asked after a few seconds.

   "No."

   Bobbi grinned and reached for the snap on her cut-offs.

   I smiled.  "Slow down, girl.  The rules are over, but now we get to the
good stuff.  Question-and-answer period, where I see just how red your face
can get.  First, have you ever given Josh or anyone else a handjob?  Or a
blowjob?"

   "How could you ask that?"

   "Because I'm trying to figure out how advanced you are.  Well?"

   "I've given Josh some handjobs.  And there was a boy last year."

   "How about blowjobs?"

   Bobbi's red darkened.  "Josh has hinted, but I...  It just seems kind of
yucky.  Marcy says it's no big deal--she's been doing it since fifth
grade--but..."

   "Remember rule two?"

   Bobbi's brow furrowed as she thought, then nodded.

   "This is a great example.  Some girls love giving blowjobs, some hate
it. Some do it just to make the guys happy.  You have to find what's right
for you and Josh.  And it won't always make sense.  A lot of guys who love
getting BJs think going down on a girl is major gross."

   "Do you?"

   "Think it's gross or go down on girls?" I asked with a smile.  "Yes, I
like going down on Tami and other girls.  'Cause I like the girls to get a
lot out of it, and that's a great way to do it."

   Bobbi smiled.  From the look on her face, I think she was imagining a
tongue in her goodie box.  My tongue.

   "Do you play with yourself?"

   "Tony!" I think her face hit a ten point oh on the redness scale.

   "I know that's embarrassing, but if you have, it will make things
easier.

   Bobbi nodded almost imperceptibly, maybe a millimeter and a half.

   "Good, though I imagine with all those sisters hanging around it's not
the easiest thing to do."

   "You got that right."

   "Speaking of sisters, you look a lot like Betty."

   "I'm the big sister.  She looks like me!"

   "Speaking of your big little sister, when's she going to want to lose
her virginity?"

   Bobbi sighed.  "About half-an-hour after she finds out I've lost mine."

   I was suddenly very happy that I had a sister and not a brother.

   "You ready for this?" I asked after several seconds.

   Bobbi grinned.  "I've been ready.  You're the one who's been stalling."

   I really wish girls would stop reading my mind.  Though in retrospect I
guess in was obvious.

   "Sure you don't want to wait for Josh?"

   "I'm going to tell Tami you're stalling," she threatened.

   I stepped up to the bed, reached down, and gently caressed her shoulder.
I smiled and stroked her hair.  Then flipped her over and brought my hand
down hard on her denim covered ass.

   "Hey!  That wasn't nice."

   "THAT was for threatening me with Tami.  Besides, some girls get turned
on by spanking.  So it's all part of your lesson."

   Bobbi, still on her stomach, reached back and rubbed her right cheek.

   "Want me to kiss it and make it better?"

   "Oh, yeah," she moaned.

   I knelt on one knee on the bed, leaned down and kissed her right cheek,
then her left, and finally the middle.

   "This isn't going to work," I said and reached beneath her and
unfastened and unzipped her cut-offs.  I slipped them slowly down her legs.
I repeated my kisses on her barely panty-covered ass.

   I grabbed the waistband of her panties, pausing for any objection, then
slipped them down and dropped them on the floor next to her cut-offs.

   Her ass was cute, but about as white as a ghost, especially compared to
the dark tan that covered the rest of her body.  I leaned down again and
kissed her right cheek.  Though she knew it was coming, she still jumped as
my lips touched her skin.  I quickly kissed her left cheek and the crack of
her ass.

   "All better?"

   "No.  Do it again." So I did.

   I pulled her up to her hands and knees, then positioned her so that her
knees were on the edge of the bed and her feet hung off in the air.  I
stepped between her feet then used one hand to caress her warm--and very
wet--pussy, while I unfastened my pants with the other.  Bobbi purred.

   I let my pants fall around my ankles, then put my right foot on the back
of my left shoe and stepped out of it.  I repeated the process for my other
shoe, then stepped out of my pants as well.  A second later, my underwear
had joined the pile of clothing all while I hadn't missed a beat working
Bobbi's pussy.

   Tami--bless her sneaky little heart--had left a small pile of rubbers on
the night stand, and using one hand and my teeth I got a package open.  I
rolled one onto my iron rod just as Bobbi's back arched and her head, eyes
closed, lifted to the ceiling as her orgasm hit her.  I pulled my hand from
beneath between her legs and slipped my cock into the valley.  As Big Tony
rubbed against her opening, I lifted my fingers to my nose and sniffed. 
Every girl I'd known smelled different and tasted different.  I was pretty
sure that even blindfolded I could identify each with my nose or tongue.

   "That was so goo..." I think she just realized that it wasn't a finger
at the gates anymore.

   I kept rubbing.  I'd been hard before I'd even gotten my clothes off, of
course.  This may not have been my idea, but I wasn't stupid enough to
think I wouldn't enjoy it.

   I reached down and used both hands to open her up, then bent my knees to
increase the angle and eased Big Tony's head against her inner lips.  She
wiggled against it, getting used to the invader.  I moved my hands to her
hips and pulled her slowly onto my shaft.  There wasn't much resistance,
just her natural tightness.  She must have already lost her cherry either
from playing with herself or some other activity.

   I had about half my length inside her when she grunted.  I stopped and
let her adjust, taking the opportunity to reach forward and tease her
t-shirt covered nipples.  Her breasts weren't even half the size of her
little sister's, but perky.  And damn, did I like perky.

   "Is this...?"

   I grinned to myself.  "Nope.  This is just getting you ready.  Trust me,
you'll know when we're fucking." I eased another inch into her.  "Has
anybody ever told you, you have nice tits?"

   "No." Her voice was in-between a groan and a purr.

   "Not even what's-his-name?"

   "Ha!  Josh is always sneaking looks at Betty's."

   "The boy's obviously mentally challenged."

   Bobbi didn't argue but pushed her ass back against me, swallowing
another inch.

   I moved my hands back to her hips, pulled back to the head, then slammed
forward to the hilt and stopped.

   "That felt..." a long pause, "goooood."

   "I'm guessing you want me to do it again?"

   "Yes, please," she said politely.

   I pulled back, and this time as I slammed my shaft forward, Bobbi pushed
her ass back to meet it.  "This is fucking," she declared.

   "We're getting there," I agreed.  I started building a rhythm, and soon
she was moaning as her second orgasm started building.  My balls ached as
my own climax neared, but I used every ounce of willpower I had to hold it
back as I increased the pace.

   "Oh, God!" Bobbi moaned and started to slump forward just as I drove
forward one last time and released my load into my protective sheath.  I
pulled out and collapsed next to her.  "That was the best ever," she said
weakly, lifting her head and looking at me.

   What do you say to that?  Thank you?

   "Why did I wait so long?" she asked rhetorically.

   I smiled and kissed her nose.



   Chapter 32

   "You dog, you."

   I didn't recognize the voice, but it had a touch of envy, so I looked
around.  Calvin Bateman was coming out of a room three doors down.  I
guessed that he'd seen me kissing a half-naked Bobbi saying goodbye.

   He walked over and clapped me on the back.  "I heard you were a player,
but I have to admit I'm impressed."

   Calvin was the only sophomore to make varsity and hadn't been my pick
for the job.  Robbie said he had potential, and I wasn't going to argue.

   Calvin grinned.  "If she's any good, maybe you could set me up."

   I wondered how much potential he'd have with two broken arms.

   "Not going there," I said simply.  I hoped there was enough edge in my
voice to shut him down.  I thought about saying that she had a boyfriend,
but under the circumstances, didn't think that would help.

   "I just thought that you had enough that you wouldn't mind sharing with
a buddy." Calvin was still grinning.

   "I was never big on sharing." We'd crossed the road and were in front of
our own motel.  My room was upstairs, and I thought his was on the ground
floor, so maybe I could end this without blood.

   "I just thought...  I mean, everyone knows you're doing Tami and Robbie.
And those cheerleaders, Mikee and Darlene.  And last year, you took that
seventh grader to the dance, you must have got some action there."

   I'd heard a few people on television talk about the whole world turning
red just before they killed somebody.  I understood, 'cause my world was
getting darker by the second.  Last year when I'd taken Kelly to the dance,
it was to find out what was wrong with her.  And what was wrong was she'd
been raped.

   "Tony!"

   The voice dispelled the darkness that had been starting to surround me.
Tami and Robbie were coming out of the burger joint that shared the parking
lot with our motel.

   "We've been looking for you," Tami said as she ran up and gave me a full
body hug.  "And you don't want to kill anybody," she whispered in my ear
proving yet again her mind reading ability.

   "How about maiming?  Just a little?" I whispered back.

   Tami grinned, shook her head and kissed me.

   "You do realize that I'm here too," Robbie said after a minute.

   I stopped kissing Tami for a second.  "And I care why?" I went back to
wrestling with Tami's tongue.

   Robbie pouted.  Something she doesn't do well--not enough practice. 
"'Cause I'm a redhead and you have a thing for redheads."

   I stopped kissing Tami again and pulled back enough to look my love in
the eye without going cross-eyed.  "She has a point."

   Tami grinned.  "A pretty good one."

   "If only she hadn't cut off all that long beautiful hair," I lamented.

   "You said the other day that you'd gotten used to it," Tami reminded me.

   "Yeah, but..."

   "One more crack about her long-gone hair and I'll dye mine pink."

   I cringed and said, "Yes, ma'am."

   "Now kiss her before she tries to pout again."

   "Yes, ma'am."

   I let go of Tami, turned, pulled Robbie close, and kissed her hard.  I
believe in following orders.  Well, as long as they're fun orders.

   Tami noticed that Calvin was staring.  "Close your mouth already.  We've
already seen your tonsils."

   Calvin followed orders too.

   "Calvin, just a suggestion," I said when I'd let go of Robbie. 
"Concentrate on baseball.  It's all you can handle right now."

   Calvin stared.

   "And Calvin," Robbie added, "drop another easy fly ball 'cause you're
one-handing it, and I'll kick your balls into your sinus cavity."

   I put my arms around both girls and walked them toward the stairs up to
Robbie's room, which, coincidentally, was right next to mine.

   Calvin was still staring.

   * * *

   Top of the seventh.  Down by two.  Two outs and nobody on.  And Sims
steps to the plate.

   Normally a good thing, but not this weekend.  I think I was batting
about one-twenty-five for the tournament and that might be optimistic.  And
the pitcher for the Warriors--the Oregon Warriors--threw a wicked fast ball
that had already burned me twice.  Though my last time up I got a piece of
it and beat out a slow roller to third.

   I took a couple cuts with my bat, then waited.  The pitcher wound up,
then seemed to grin as he sent me a fast ball that just cut the bottom
inside corner.  I knew it was a strike even before the ump yelled.

   I nodded to the pitcher and took another practice cut.  You had to
admire an artist.

   The pitcher wound up and fired again.  I watched the ball, and it was
coming straight for that low inside corner.  I swung just as the ball
dropped away.  Strike two.

   I backed out of the box and looked at the coach.  He smiled
encouragingly and mimed swinging the bat.  Easy for him, standing there in
the third base box.  I stepped back into the batter's box.  I didn't bother
taking a practice cut.

   The pitcher sent me another fast ball on the outside corner, and I
fouled it off.  The next pitch was perfect, middle of the plate belt high,
but all I managed to do was to foul it back, bouncing it off the catcher
and the umpire.  This was getting ridiculous.

   I was hitting good last year.  And fair to middlin' in practice.  The
pitcher fired another one, and I fouled it down the third base line, making
the coach jump.

   At least I was hitting the damn ball.

   Three more pitches and three more fouls.  My personal record was
thirteen foul balls in a row, and I really hadn't planned to beat that
today.

   The pitcher was getting frustrated--he wanted to finish me off and get
the game over--and he let loose with another fast ball, this one just a
little inside.

   I turned my body, brought the bat in front of me, and let the ball
bounce off it and roll down the third base line.  I dropped the bat and
took off for first.  The Warriors were caught flat-footed.  Nobody expects
a bunt with two strikes.  It was too stupid.  If the ball rolled foul, it
was strike three.

   Their coach started yelling from the dugout, and the Warrior's pitcher,
catcher, and third baseman all charged the ball, but I was safe on first
before anyone got a hand on the ball.

   I grinned.  My batting average just jumped almost a hundred points.

   The pitcher was back on the mound and looked at me.  I stepped off the
bag and smiled.  He threw the ball from his hand to his glove.  He was
still staring, so I took another step.  He stepped onto the rubber, looked
at the catcher, and took his sign.  I took another step.  He slowly brought
his hand and glove together over his head, lowered them in front of his
body, and came set with his hands in front of his sternum.  Then he turned
and fired to first in one fluid motion that I would have admired if I
wasn't busy diving back to the base.  I lay on the dirt, my left hand on
the base and waving at him with my right.

   The first baseman threw the ball back, and I climbed to my feet, dusted
myself off, and took three big steps again.

   The pitcher glared, so I took another small step and he fired back to
first.  The first baseman took the throw and slapped a tag down on my
shoulder--a little harder than necessary, I thought--but again I was lying
on the ground with my hand already on the base.

   The first baseman walked to the pitcher and handed him the ball,
whispering something, then walked back.  I stood, dusted myself off again,
and took three big steps.

   The pitcher watched me.

   I took another step.

   "Sometime today!" Robbie yelled from the plate.  The pitcher glanced at
her, then back at me.  He stepped onto the rubber.  He took another look at
me, and as he did, I took another small step toward second.

   The pitcher came set, then spun and fired to first, but I was already on
my way to second.  The first baseman caught the ball cleanly and fired to
second, but the throw was high.  It went over the second baseman's head and
into the gap between left and center fields.

   I hit second without stopping and headed for third.  I had no idea where
the ball was, so I went down, sliding headfirst, my hand outstretched
toward the bag.  Just as my hand clamped the canvas bag, the third
baseman's glove slapped down on top of it.

   "Safe!" yelled the umpire who'd run up behind me.  I held my other hand
in the air and he added, "Time!"

   I stood and dusted myself off for the third time.

   "I guess the memory is really the first thing to go," the coach said
from his box.

   I shrugged.

   "I don't even remember giving the signs for bunt or steal."

   I grinned.  "Seemed like a good idea at the time."

   I looked at the pitcher, who seemed frustrated.  I considered
curtseying, but he seemed like a good guy and I didn't want to rub it in.
Robbie ain't so nice.

   "Can I bat now?" she yelled.  "Or did you two want to play one-on-one
some more."

   The pitcher went from frustrated to mad.

   I decided that Robbie wasn't the only one who wasn't nice.  I caught the
coach's eye and gave him a signal.  He thought about it, then nodded,
though not as enthusiastically as I'd hoped.

   The pitcher stepped on the rubber.  Now, as he came set, he was looking
straight at me.  I took a big lead.  I could see him thinking about me and
smiled.

   "Go ahead and windup!" his coach yelled from the dugout.  The pitcher
stepped backward off the rubber with his right foot, then back on with both
feet.  He glanced at me, and I waved.  He made a face, then started his
windup.  As soon as he was in motion, so was I.

   Someone behind me was yelling, "He's going!"

   I'd had a big jump, so the ball and I were going to get to the plate at
the same time.  I went down, sliding head first again as Robbie laid down a
perfect bunt and took off for first.  I lay on the plate and watched as she
beat the throw by at least a step-and-a-half.

   Okay, life was getting better.  Still two outs, but only down by one,
and the tying run was on first.  And the tying run was Monster Girl.  I got
up and started walking toward the dugout, then changed my mind.  Ricky was
coaching first.  I went over and took his place, giving the pitcher another
friendly wave.

   Robbie took a big lead off bag even before the pitcher stepped on the
rubber.  He glared at her.  Then me.  "Another step," I said loudly as he
stepped on the rubber.  He ignored us, turning his back and coming set.  I
caught Robbie's eye and shook my head, then yelled, "Big step!"

   The pitcher turned his shoulder and looked.

   "Balk!" the umpire yelled.

   Robbie gave me a grin and trotted to second.  I'd swear her ass was
wiggling more than usual, but maybe it was my imagination.

   The pitcher was obviously shook up.  He glared at Robbie, but she was
standing on the bag chatting with the shortstop and second baseman and not
even looking at him.  Then he glared at me, and I shrugged.  Then he
stepped on the rubber with both feet facing the batter.

   'He's not going to throw from the windup,' I thought, but a second later
he'd started his motion.  Robbie had seen it too and was heading for third
before I could even yell, "Go!".

   The pitch to Chet was outside.  The catcher snagged it and fired to
third, but Robbie was already there.

   Their coach was yelling traditional coach things from the dugout. 
"Settle down." "Get the batter.  He's the one we want." "Three strikes and
we're out of here."

   The pitcher glared at me again.  I'm not sure why.  I'm not the one who
told him to windup.  He took a deep breath and focused on the batter. 
Robbie took a big lead but he ignored her.  He started his motion and
fired.

   The ball hit the dirt and bounced to the side, though for some reason
Chet had swung at it.  The ball was past the catcher, and he scrambled
after it.  Robbie was halfway and Chet was waving her home.  The catcher
got to the ball, turned, and...  there was no one to throw to.  The
pitcher, instead of covering home, was stomping around the mound.

   Robbie crossed the plate.

   Their coach was out of the dugout and yelling about a foul ball and
Robbie going back to third.  The plate ump looked confused.  "Did you see
it touch the bat?" I asked the base ump who was standing on the foul line a
dozen feet from me.

   "It never came close," he said.

   "You might want to point it out to them," I said pointing to the plate
umpire and Warrior's coach.

   And life was good again.  We were tied.

   The pitcher threw four pitches that weren't even close and walked Chet.
Then their coach called time, put the pitcher on third, the third baseman
in center field, and the center fielder came in and started throwing warmup
pitches.

   The new pitcher walked Ricky, but that might have been a plan.  Ricky
had two ground rule doubles already today.  That put runners on first and
second and brought up...  Calvin.

   Calvin hit the first pitch into deep center.  The center fielder caught
it on the bounce and fired it to the shortstop, who turned and fired home.
Chet was already across the plate, and Ricky was getting close.  The
catcher was straddling the plate.  He caught the ball and slapped down the
tag as Ricky slid.

   There was a lot of dust and...

   "Got him!" the ump yelled.

   There was enough dust that I wasn't going to argue, even though I wanted
to.

   Not the worst position to be in going into the bottom of seven.  Up by
one.

   We hold 'em and win, or let 'em score one and we play another inning, or
we let 'em score two and move to the loser's bracket.

   "Hey, coach," I said as I joined the team in front of the dugout.  "Got
a wicked idea." Even without hearing it, Robbie grinned.

   Rickie was grinning too as I explained.  The coach just nodded.

   "Play it up," I said as we put our hands in the center of the circle and
yelled, "Hold 'em!"

   We ran onto the field.

   "Hey, Robbie, you should pitch," Rickie yelled.

   "Okay!" Robbie yelled back and ran to the mound and picked up the ball.
She stood on the rubber looking real serious then did an exaggerated
wind-up and pitched the ball.  The ball flew slowly right into Chet's mitt.

   "Strike one!" Ricky yelled.  "Hey, Jake, we don't need you."

   Jake, who'd pitched the first six innings, blew Ricky a raspberry.

   Robbie threw another easy pitch as Jake and the coach walked out to the
mound.  The coach held out his hand and Robbie dropped the ball that Chet
had thrown back into it.

   Ricky at first was throwing a grounder to Jimmy at third, so I checked
out the Warrior's coach.  Just as expected, he was in conference with the
plate umpire.  A second later, as Robbie trotted to second, the plate
umpire signaled the base umpire to join them.

   "Uh, coach!" the ump yelled a few seconds later as Jake was taking his
place on the mound.

   Coach Calloway joined them.

   I walked over to Jake.  He glanced at the conference, then at me.  "You
have an evil mind."

   I shrugged.  "Monster Girl has the evil mind.  I just try to stay
competitive."

   The coach was gesturing frantically.  "You want her to pitch?"

   I grinned and slapped Jake on the back before walking back to shortstop.
"Ham it up," I said to Robbie as I passed by.

   A minute later, the coach was back at the mound sending Jake to the
dugout and calling Robbie over.  She threw three more practice pitches.

   Before the game I'd been talking to some of the parents in the stands.
One of the Warrior's parents happened to mention that their coach liked to
play the rulebook.  I happened to know that there was a rule that if a
pitcher threw even one warm-up pitch, he or she had to face at least one
batter before they could be replaced.  I also knew that Jake had told the
coach at the end of the last inning that his arm was getting sore.  Put
that all together, and Robbie was going to pitch to their best batter.

   The umpire called "Play ball!" and their first baseman stepped to the
plate looking like Christmas had come early.  Robbie looked nervous.  She
looked around as if waiting for the cavalry to ride to her rescue.  The
batter grinned.

   Then Robbie started her wind-up, not so exaggerated, and blew a fast
ball right through the high inside corner.

   It was my turn to grin.  Robbie might not be as fast as some of the
other pitchers, but man, could she place the ball.

   "What the hell was that?" The warriors coach yelled in amazement from
the third base coaches box as his batter just stood and looked at the ball
nestled in the catcher's glove.

   "That was a strike," I yelled back.  "Didn't you hear the ump call it?"

   The batter kept looking at the ball, then back at Robbie, then back at
the ball.  Ricky laughed, which probably didn't help.

   Chet, our catcher, stood up, then pulled his mask up leaving it propped
on top of his head.  He looked down at the ball.  "Damn, how'd that get
there?" he said with a grin before throwing it back to Robbie.

   Robbie smiled at the batter, then fired another fast ball, middle of the
plate, right across the letters.

   Strike two.

   My plan was to get their clean-up hitter off-balance and it seemed to be
working.  He'd expected easy meatballs like she'd thrown in warm-ups and
was having trouble making the mental adjustment to Robbie's pitching.

   Robbie and I had both noticed that he liked low pitches, so she was
keeping them above the belt.  Fortunately we had a good ump who called the
high pitches too.  Some umps didn't.

   Robbie glanced at me and I--as nonchalantly as I could--stuck out my
thumb and swiped it across my neck.  Robbie nodded and stepped on the
rubber again.  She wound up and fired, the ball was high and inside, about
six inches in front of the batter's throat.  He backed out swinging.

   The ump rung up strike three.

   The choke pitch is mean.  It's almost a complete reflex to back out
swinging when you think the ball is targeted on your Adam's apple.  Plus,
if the pitcher doesn't have great control, he, or she in this case, could
really hurt the batter.

   One out and still up by one.

   The second batter went down swinging.  Robbie had rung up a pair of
strikes on two fastballs, one on the inside corner and the other just
catching the outside.  Then she gave him her curve.

   Two down.

   The next batter was taking her seriously.  I'd watched him timing her
pitches in the on-deck circle.  He stepped into the batter's box, and
Robbie sized him up.  She started her wind-up and fired a fast ball on the
outside corner.  The batter swung and fouled it off the face of the first
base dugout.

   Ricky jogged over, picked it up, and tossed it to Monster Girl.  Robbie
stepped onto the rubber again.  She took her sign from Chet, but shook it
off.  She nodded at the next one, wound up, and fired.

   I recognized her curve, but unfortunately, so did the batter.  He
waited, then swung as the ball started to break.

   I heard the crack of the bat and was already moving toward left field.
Calvin was playing left and was running backwards, trying to get under it.

   The ball hit the top of its arc and was coming down.

   It was going to stay in the field at least.

   Calvin was camped under it, waiting.  I heard Ricky yell, "Second!"
which meant the runner had rounded first and was on his way to second base.

   The ball came down to Calvin's left, and instead of moving under it he
reached over.  The ball landed in the top of his glove.  I waited to see if
it popped out.  If it did, they'd never find the body.

   The base ump was running beside me and signaled a catch and the third
out.  We won.

   Robbie, Ricky, and I jogged to the dugout, while the rest of the team
ran out to hail Calvin as the hero.  The coach watched the three of us and
the rest of the team as the Warriors slunk off the field.

   When the team gathered round and quieted down, the coach looked at me.
"Tony, who are you thinking for MVP?"

   I was startled.  The last two years he'd announced the
Most-Valuable-Player by just tossing him the game ball.  I glanced around
the team, I know a lot of them were thinking Calvin.

   "Chet.  No question.  He did a great job behind the dish and with the
deep backstop they have, a few passed balls and we could have gotten
pounded.  He was hitting pretty good, too.  A lot better than me anyway. 
Of course my aunt's chihuahua hits better than I did today."

   Annoying how many people nodded agreement about Aunt Patti's chihuahua.

   Coach Callahan looked at Ricky and Robbie, and they nodded.  He smiled
and tossed Chet the game ball.  "Good job."

   "What about me?" Calvin whined.

   I looked over at him.  "I'm not the captain, but if I was, you'd be
running laps until next week for that catch."

   We hadn't voted a captain yet, but my money was on Ricky.

   "If I was captain, I'd trade you to JV," Ricky added.

   "And if I was captain, you'd be going back to T-ball," Robbie said,
having the last word.

   * * *

-- 
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