At supper that night, we ate with the alumni group in a huge banquet room set up with a massive buffet. Trish and Delta's folks were there about as excited as the team was. After we ate, the players were gathered at one end of the room while the banquet people cleaned up. They set up a bar for the alums but the players were warned off any liquor. Anyone violating the no liquor rule would be benched.
The coach was standing in front of everyone like he was giving a speech, telling the alums about the season and our successes. He introduced the assistant coaches, the trainers and then the players. I was the last one to be introduced. When I stood and waved, the coach told me to keep standing.
"Part of our success has been attitude and cohesiveness," the coach started up. "One of the ways we have stayed close as a team and organization is our entertainment while we are on those long rides on the bus. See this guy, this long, tall scrawny basketball player? Actually he has put on about twenty pounds of muscle this last couple of years but turn him sideways and you'll still miss him. Anyway, this guy can really play some good music. He has help though. He has two senior cheerleader girlfriends that ride with us to every game and they play some good music with him. I can't begin to tell you how great it is to sing for four or five hours straight. What do we sing? Everything. You name it; they find it in their book and play it for us. Sometimes it takes them two or three times playing it through to get it right but then we all sing along. By the time we get where we are going we are in a great mood."
The coach moved aside then pulled a cover off an upright piano. "I'm told the kid plays the piano and all kinds of instruments but we have his guitar with us plus this piano. His personal cheerleaders are here too with their guitars. So if we're lucky, we can get them to get our spirits up by playing some of these classics for us tonight."
Delta and Trish came in lugging the three guitar cases and the big fake book. The coaches and assistants were already hollering what they wanted us to play. I could hear George, Dan, Cecile and Carol hollering their selections too. The first thing we did was our now near perfect rendition of the "Roller Skate" song for George. I played the piano for that one while the girls did the rhythm. Then we started through a lot of the songs that we played on the bus but this time we switched back forth with Delta and Trish playing the piano as much as I did. After about two hours, coach said it was getting late. I told him I would play us a lullaby to close and he thought I was going to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
I was playing the piano so I actually did the first few bars of the famous kids lullaby then broke into "Lullaby of Bird Land." That must have been the right thing to do as those that were still there applauded. The girls and I had been practicing our arrangement of the piece with some good solos for each of them. We probably should have had Carol or Cecile come play with us but they usually would rather listen and I think they both had a lot to drink.
We packed up our guitars and headed up to our rooms. This time only two guys to a room with two beds. Kenny was my roommate and we always got along great. He was telling me that Susie was there and he was going to slip down to her room as soon as we had bed check. We were still dressed when the coach came by.
Coach eyed us a second before he said, "you two get some rest tonight. I won't be back by your room tonight but I want you two to promise me you will get a good rest. We don't meet for our late breakfast till ten so be there. Be careful boys and don't rub it in any of the others' noses."
As soon as he shut the door, Kenny and I looked at each other then busted up laughing. We thought we were going to pull a fast one. Ha! Coach was ahead of us. The girls were across the hall and two doors down. I called their room and told them to be at the door as I was on my way. There was no one in the hall as I walked to the opening door. As soon as it was closed, the two dynamos were stripping me. I fought back, baring their bodies as well. In less than two minutes we were cuddled under the blankets with a girl on each shoulder kissing and hugging. We were actually pretty tired from the trip and playing music so we enjoyed some real gentle tender love making then slept soundly.
I woke at eight being fondled by both beauties. "Does this thing need to use the bathroom before we use it?" Trish asked.
Jumping up, I said, "Let's take a nice slow shower and get ready for the day."
The girls grumbled till I had both of them under the water. When I started washing one then the other in a very intimate way, they understood what I had in mind. We played and touched. I knelt down and licked and sucked till their legs almost gave way then I bent both of them over and slowly thumped them both bringing them to orgasm after orgasm. When I couldn't last another stroke, I pulled free and sprayed their butts with long streams of thick juice.
I was given lots of kisses and hugs before we finished our shower and dried off. While the girls dressed, I went back to my room to find Kenny coming out of the shower. He had a big grin on his face but looked rested and relaxed.
We all went down to breakfast, again eating with the alumni. There were actually four huge banquet rooms full of people from our school. The coaches circulated among the rooms making sure that all the supporters got some attention. It was almost like eating at the cafeteria with Kenny and Susie, Delta and Trish, and of course we had Misty and Cherry. We ate then coach said for the players to ride over to the gym and start getting ready.
By the time the game started at two, we were all so excited I'm surprised we knew how to start a game. The coach was smart though as we started right off running hard then challenging their throw in for an almost full court press. The other team obviously didn't research us at all as they were stunned at how hard and fast we were playing. They couldn't keep up. The first half had them dragging while we were in good enough shape to be getting warmed up. Every one of us was hitting whatever we threw up plus we were transitioning so fast that almost every shot was a lay-up.
The final buzzer was merciful for the other team, as the lop-sided score was eighty-eight to fifty-nine. The coaches and alumni were going out of their minds with hysterical happiness as we had soundly defeated a much higher seeded team. We showered, dressed and headed back to the hotel. The second game would be Sunday. We were all elbowing each other talking about getting to the sweet sixteen.
During the after game meeting, the coach gave us the word on our next opponent. They were good. They were runners and defended similar to our scheme. He said we needed to be rested and ready for the game Sunday evening. We would practice some shooting in the morning then rest for the day in anticipation of the game.
That evening we repeated the entertainment for everyone playing mostly different music than the night before. We went to bed a little earlier and Kenny and I was bed checked by the coach again. He gave us the same speech as we had the night before. Kenny said Susie had given up her room and was going to stay with him in our room. That was good with me as I was going across the hall. I was across the hall playing with my cheerleaders' minutes after the coach left.
The next morning we had breakfast then the university chaplain held a service for those who wanted to attend. Most of the team was there along with four of the eight cheerleaders. From there we went to practice at a local high school gym. We did a shoot around and two sets of twenty-five free throws. We practiced driving to the basket over and over from every possible angle. The coach called a halt and said we were as ready as we could be.
When the game finally started, we were not surprised to find the other team running as hard as we do. They were a little put off for us guarding them so closely in the far court. That just kept them from getting an easy score by tossing the ball down court. At the half we were tied at thirty-two but not tired out. Coach had subbed us out often enough that we were in good shape. The other team looked a little tired but that didn't mean they were. They just looked like it.
Coach had seen a couple of things we might be able to take advantage of. When they posted to their center it was a little slow and a little sloppy. Coach felt like we could force a turnover at that point. He also noticed that they had not scored from farther out than fifteen feet. Anything further was either an air ball or off the front rim. And finally he stood Kenny and I up and said, "Shoot the ball. Kenny just lay it up or turn and dunk it. But shoot the ball. Chuck, you haven't been in position to make a shot from the corner the entire first half. Everything you've shot is twelve to fifteen. You're about sixty percent but you can do better than that. Get to your spots and shoot the ball."
The other team started out the same as the first half but about half way through the third quarter, they changed to a plodding pace, walking the ball up court after they got it in bounds then working to get an inside shot. We were doing pretty well on defense except that we picked up a quick three fouls on their attempts to drive the lane.
Kenny scored on two hooks and I hit two from the corner. Our point guard was nailing everything especially from the top of the circle. By the end of third quarter we were up by eight but had two guys with three fouls. Coach told us to start driving the lane hard to pick up some fouls, as the opponents were tired.
Sure enough, every time we had an opening and drove to basket, we picked up a foul. Most of the time it was in addition to the points scored. Amazingly they actually let up driving on us at their end of the court. We won by seven. Not a bunch but a win against a good team sending us to the sweet sixteen.
After the game, the alums were celebrating in a hospitality room at the arena complex. They were delirious with the win and anticipating going to the sweet sixteen. As soon as we had something to eat and drink, the staff hustled us onto the buses for the trip home. We were two hours into the trip before someone wanted to do the sing a long. We only played an hour before giving way to fatigue. We slept the balance of the ride.
We were greeted by what looked like most of the school. Someone had printed up sweet sixteen ball caps and T-shirts. Tiny Sandy met us by jumping into my arms. She was wearing a home made shirt with Sweet 16 written all over it. In tiny letters in little circles she had written "And been kissed." It was like we had won the whole thing already. We carried our stuff to Trish's car to haul back to the dorm. We were dragging. We were mentally ready for school in the morning but we were not prepared, as we really didn't get any assignments before we left.
The next day, there really wasn't much teaching going on. All anyone could talk about was our school going to an even bigger tournament. We were given assignments for Tuesday through Thursday and told that assignments would be suspended for the coming weekend for the sweet sixteen. This was definitely a situation where sports became more important than learning.
Wednesday night the country club was having a reception and dinner for the basketball team. I was thinking this was a little over the top but Dan assured me that it was just alums showing their appreciation.
Coach had us working hard. Our first opponent was going to be really tough. Our little school was playing Kentucky. They were icons of college basketball with a coach known for his winning abilities. Coach felt like we should run, run, run to win. We practiced shooting from everywhere along with being perfect from the free throw line. Coach had me setting up in the corner, feinting toward the bucket then driving the base to the basket. He also had me crowding to the boards on every shot to help out Kenny.
The sweet sixteen was being held in Chicago so we had a four-hour drive to get to there. Again we left a day early so we would be rested and practiced. The alumni association was in full force. There were even more folks here than in KC. After our meal, the coach did his thing, introducing the players and staff along with the cheerleaders. Again he left me till the end then asked me if we could entertain for a little while. I smiled that no, we couldn't entertain but we sure could help make a sing a long.
We all partied till ten then we were shooed off to bed. Kenny and I waited an hour for someone to come by to do a bed check on us then we decided we would do what we needed to do. Susie was knocking on our door while I was leaving to go to the girls' room. We had a pleasant loving hour or so then we slept soundly snuggled together. I felt like I needed to get ready early so I showered then went back to the room. Kenny was already up with Susie in the bathroom. Coach came by to check on us and was happy to see us both up, showered and dressed. He said we should go to breakfast early so we could practice.
The coach walked out, pulling the door closed and Susie came strolling into the room stark naked, with a towel over her head. She heard me gasp and pulled the towel off her head. She turned an instant red and tried to cover herself with the towel. I turned my back to her and told her that I was leaving for breakfast so I would see her later. Kenny was cracking up laughing.
When the time came for the game, the team felt ready and we felt we had a chance. We ran and scored. Kentucky would get the ball in bounds, get down the floor and shoot from anywhere making the basket. They didn't score on every possession but darn near every one. I think they were fifteen for eighteen in the first quarter while we trailed them thirty to twenty-six. We kept up with them through the half and went in trailing my two points. Coach wanted us to keep running but we were being beat down the floor before we could set up or drive the lane.
We did pretty well against a great team. The problem was Kentucky did really good. They were flat out better than we were. They didn't miss a free throw. We missed two. I don't think they missed a shot in the forth quarter, we missed three or four. They were winners at ninety-two to eighty-three. We were disappointed but didn't feel that bad against a team that good. The alums celebrated anyway giving us all applause and good luck for the next season.
The trip back to campus was somber. No one wanted to sing or listen to music. All of us just wanted to sit back and think of what could have been. Trish, Delta and I spent the time planning our spring break. It was to be similar to last year except that it was just going to be the three of maybe another couple and us if we found someone compatible. We needed to get ready, as the break was only a week away.
We were surprised to have a ton of people meet the buses when we arrived. We were cheered and applauded even though we lost in the first round of the sweet sixteen weekend. It made us all feel a little better even though we lost.
Monday's workload was a catastrophe. Every Prof. had a big assignment for us in preparation for midterms before spring break. The girls and I focused on our homework so we would be excused from midterms.
Before spring break, I talked to the baseball coach. The guys had been practicing in the cold starting in February. Jack, the baseball coach/manager said his team looked pretty good for the spring season and he really would not have a place for me except on the junior varsity team. He suggested I give the golf coach a holler.
When I went downstairs to the basement of the athletic building to the golf team's offices, I was surprised to find Terry from the country club working with a couple of guys on their swing. Fred Weathers, the golf coach saw me walk in and came out to meet me.
"I wondered if you might stop by. Jack and I were talking and he said he really wouldn't be able to use you. Our season has started already but we are pretty slim this year and could use a few more players. Want to join us?"
"You mean try out, don't you?" I asked.
"Naw," he said waving expansively and Terry demonstrating a proper swing, "all you have to do, is get back into the swing of things."
"I'm going home for spring break for a couple of days then down to Ft. Lauderdale for most of a week. Will that mess up the team?" I asked.
"Nope," Fred stated, "not this year. We have no matches till the last week in April then one match a week till after the semester is over. We have a few invitations for matches over the summer but I haven't committed to any of them yet."
Terry walked over to us and shook my hand, "good to see you Chuck. Want to try your hand at some drives. I have a special driving range down here for you guys that will really help keep you in form during the cold weather."
He took me into a very wide, high ceiling hallway next to the golf offices where there was a patch of carpet on the floor with what looked like a golf ball tee on a rubber mat. The ceiling was about fifteen feet high with lots of lights that were caged with heavy gage wire. About twenty-five feet down the hallway there was a line painted on the floor and both walls. There were additional lines about every ten feet till you reached what I guessed to be forty-five feet. There a net like a baseball back stop was constructed except it had a hole in it about six feet wide and six feet high. Behind that was another net that went completely across the hall.
Fred picked up a driver that was standing against the wall and put a golf ball on the tee. He shuffled his feet to a good stance then brought the club back the swung through the ball sending it rocketing down the hallway dead center through the hole in the first net.
With a smile he handed me the club saying, "now remember when I first taught you to swing a driver. Go through the steps I taught you one at a time. Do a couple slow swings telling yourself the steps before you try a normal swing."
I set my feet, presented the club to the empty tee then slowly brought the club back to the full back-swing then brought the club around through the tee to follow through till my arms were over my left shoulder.
"Excellent. You remembered the steps. Do it a couple of more times and describe each step while you do it and what you want your body to do."
I did what he asked, telling Terry's swing story at each step. I repeated it then at Terry's suggestion I swung the club at near normal speed a few times letting the swing speed increase each time.
"Okay, tee up a ball and see where it goes." Terry said, "go ahead and talk while you do it. Tell me about the swing."
I teed up the ball, got into position, presented the club to the ball a couple of times then while telling myself the steps out loud, I hit the ball. Just like I had been practicing for months, the ball sailed down the hallway and followed Terry's ball right through the center of the hole.
"Holy shit!" Came a voice from behind me.
I turned around and there were five guys plus coach Weathers standing by the doorway.
"Have you been coming down here to practice at night?" One of the guys asked. "No way you're going to hit a ball that straight your first try. Do it again, see what happens."
Terry nodded to me and whispered for me to talk my way through the swing again. I did the step by step approach and again sent the ball right through the center of the hole.
Terry turned to the guys standing by the door, "now see what I've been trying to teach you? You have to practice the steps of the swing on every swing. It may become natural but you still need to talk yourself through the steps. Chuck has not picked up a club since early last fall and you just saw an example of a very good swing while he recited the steps it takes to make that swing."
The five guys were shaking their head while going back into the golf offices. Fred came over to me and asked, "could you come out with us for the spring season? We could really use you. We're not good enough to win many matches but the guys you just saw are learning."
"Sounds like fun coach. I'll try to stop by every day for some driving practice and your coaching," I said thinking golf might be fun. "Just tell me your practice times so I can work out my schedule. I'm still required to do a work out daily along with the weight room so I have to do some planning."
Terry asked me, "Are you going to Ft. Lauderdale for spring break this year?"
"I'm planning on it," I said happily. "We have reservations and my folks are saving up their money to buy food for me when we stop by."
He laughed, "listen Chuck. I want you to take your clubs with you. Check your shoes to make sure they still fit and pack some nice looking golf clothes. Fred and I are going there too with our wives and will be playing golf every day. I know you will want to be on the beach as much as possible but how about a round in the morning for some practice. We will play a different course almost every day. Two of them are courses the PGA uses for tournaments. It will be good for you to see how you do on a strange course."
Terry looked at Fred then back at me, "you know George and Dan are both going to be there with us this year. Perhaps their daughters should bring their clubs as well because their wives are going to be playing too."
All I could do was nod my in agreement as I was thinking of the coming vacation.
Later when I told Delta and Trish what Terry had said, they agreed that they should take their clubs. They also said they might have a surprise for me down there as well.
As spring break came closer, Sandy was like a pogo stick bouncing all over the place in anticipation of going with us. I had not known whether the girls were going to include her but they just assumed Sandy was coming along for the ride. Her friend, Steve, was going home to somewhere in cold North Minnesota.
We were planning on taking one of the girls' mothers' station wagons. If we took three bags of golf clubs plus some of our instruments, there wouldn't be enough room in the car for us to sit. As it was, the back area would be full.
All four of us were excused from semi-finals with assertion from the Prof.'s that we all had firm A's going for the semester. With an entire extra week off, we decided to get an early start. I called home and asked my mom if we could come early and stay a few days longer. She agreed quickly saying it would be fun to have us all there for longer than a night. The girls' folks said they would meet us at the hotel in Ft. Lauderdale a week from Sunday. We were on the road Friday at three in the afternoon. We were driving a giant Buick station wagon that was like a luxury bus. Between Delta, Trish and myself we were able to drive straight through, reaching the homestead by Saturday evening.
We were welcomed with open arms by my family. It was good to see my brothers, Danny and Carl. Danny was graduating from high school and Carl would be going into his senior year. They had both made up their minds that they wanted to be farmers. Danny was very serious about a girl and I think he wanted to be a husband as much as he wanted to be a farmer. Farming would facilitate his goal so I applauded him for it.
My three traveling companions had arrived in pants but in short order the three had changed into some short shorts and halters. The boys were drooling all over the place. My dad was rolling his eyes telling me the two cheerleaders were just too good looking to wear clothes like that. Not to be outdone, my sisters changed clothes with the girls, shucking their jeans and work shirts to match the visitors. Dad even suggested Mom might want to dress that way too, as he would enjoy it.
We ate then all of us said we wanted to go to bed early, as we were tired. It was not a school night for my siblings but they usually couldn't be up past ten anyway so we were off to bed. The girls had two rooms and were able to bed every one down comfortably while I slept in one of the bunk beds in the boys' big room.
Sunday we did chores quickly then dressed and went to church. After church we drove two cars to Winter Haven to eat at a new restaurant Mom and Dad wanted to go to. We met our grandparents there and had a nice dinner. Both sets of grandparents were in a sort of assisted living housing. They had nice apartments but had people look in on them every day. I know my grandfathers were happy, as there was a large lake right at their door so they could go out fishing every day.
By the time we finished visiting it was time to go home for evening chores. After the evening milking, we visited for a while. I was still worn out from our busy school schedule so I was ready for bed early. It was a school night for the kids so they didn't object to an early bedtime.
Farm life begins at four thirty in the morning for Mom, Dad and the boys. The girls got up at six to help with the milking and some other chores. I was up dressed and chasing cows by four forty-five, getting them into the loafing shed ready to be milked. Dad got the milking equipment ready while the boys were spreading hay for the cows and the beef stock in the fields then worked on graining the beef stock that was getting ready to be shipped, the horses and the other animals. By the time I let the first group of cows into the milking parlor, my sisters were there ready to do the milking. We were finished milking, finished cleaning up the equipment and milk house plus scrubbing the milking parlor by six-thirty. An extra set of hands helps a lot. Dad could have had the farm labor do the chores but he always thought it was our responsibility to do the regular chores.
The kids all headed to their rooms and bathrooms to clean up for school. My brothers showered out in the barn where they had water from the milk house hot water heater piped to an outdoor shower. It really speeded up the process when they didn't have to share the bathroom with the girls.
By seven-fifteen they were scrubbed, dressed, fed and waiting for the school bus.
Delta, Trish and Sandy had woke up and dressed to help Mom with breakfast. Sandy had helped Sissy feed the chickens, ducks and turkeys. It had been the first time she had witnessed a rooster getting aggressive around a stranger. Sandy got a kick out of gathering eggs.
After the rush, Mom, Dad, the girls and I sat down for some coffee and a visit. We talked for over two hours then Dad said he needed to go to the grain elevator for some feed supplement to mix in with the grain he fed the cows. He was also going to go into to town to the equipment dealer for some parts. He wanted me to go with him and suggested the girls would have a good time with Mom at home.