Johnny Pulaski Chapter 10

Posted: March 13, 2006 - 12:03:50 am

I was on autopilot driving home from my date with Shelia. I couldn't

stop thinking about her, or reliving our evening. I was elated and

scared witless, both at the same time. The reason I was scared was

because Shelia was the first girl I had ever dated without the advantage

of the connection thing. As the evening had progressed with Shelia I

started to get a sense of how she felt but it wasn't the clear signal I

was use to getting. I was also scared because Shelia soared with the

socially elite eagles while I scratched with the more fun chickens.

I liked Shelia a whole lot, but I wasn't prepared to sacrifice my

friendships over her. Nor was I comfortable taking her out of her

element, as it might cause her problems with her friends and family. Her

mother was already looking at me as if she'd found my picture on the

sexual predator website. Oh yeah, and throw a healthy dose of fear of

failure in there too. I was beginning to think that a second date wasn't

such a hot idea after all. Better to cut my losses before I got into

this any deeper, I decided.

The next morning we departed the high school at nine-thirty bound for

the Citrus Bowl. I was pretty stoked at the chance of playing in a major

football stadium. I purposely avoided the bus that Shelia and her

teammates got on, and took my usual seat among the lineman and defensive

backs. So there I sat feeling wretchedly noble as we convoyed to Orlando.

Once we were in the locker room at the stadium I was able to forget

about Shelia and start concentrating on football. Our opponent for the

game was Apopka High. Apopka was a perennial contender; state champions

two of the last five years. We matched up well with Apopka, Both of us

had strong defenses and solid, if uninspiring offenses. Apopka did have

one halfback with speed and good moves, but we felt we could contain him

by keeping him from running outside.

Our advantage was our kicking game. We had a place kicker that had

future NFL player stamped on his forehead. His name was Jose Luna, but

everyone called him Joe Moon. He was a soccer player Coach Boyette

recruited early in the season and patiently trained. Joe Moon was only

five-seven, and weighed about a buck-forty, but he could kick a football

a mile. Joe was a little quirky and superstitious but he was a hell of a

kicker.

I knew Joe from church; we actually took our confirmation classes

together. Joe was mega-religious; he wore a crucifix large enough to

hang in a church. He knelt on the sidelines and prayed before every kick

then kissed the crucifix. Joe also had a schlong about the size of one

of his arms. I swear it hung below his towel when he came out of the

shower. Joe had to coil that monster like a rope to get it in a

jockstrap. I figured Joe would need a two-quart transfusion to get

enough blood to get fully hard.

So anyway, back to the game. We loss the toss and kicked off, then for

thirty minutes we seesawed up and down the field. We got down to their

twenty and Joe kicked a 35-yard field goal. They scored on a fumble

recovery and runback late in the half. We went into the locker room

trailing seven to three. The second half was more of the same, Joe

kicked a field goal in the third quarter and we kept Apopka off the

scoreboard. At the two-minute warning we had the ball on our forty-five

yard line trailing seven to six. Coach put me in as the second tight

end. We ran the ball up the middle five times, once on fourth down, to

eke out twenty yards.

Coach called a time out and sent in our field goal unit with five

seconds remaining in the game. When Joe got down on one knee to pray,

Coach Boyette dropped down and joined him. Apopka was a suburb of

Orlando so their supporters at the game out numbered ours by thousands.

Every one of those supporters was on their feet screaming at Joe to

miss. When he kicked the ball it flew towards the goal as straight as an

arrow but didn't look as if it had enough leg to make it. Everyone in

the stadium held their breath as the ball fell from the sky. The ball

hit the crossbar and teetered for a second before falling into the end

zone. The referee threw up his hands signaling good and we pig piled Joe

Moon.

When we passed the cheerleaders as we headed to the locker room, Shelia

yelled, "great game Johnny." I gave her a casual wave and kept running.

Joe Moon was suddenly a celebrity. The Sunday edition of the */Palmdale

Standard/* proclaimed, "Moon shines, Panthers win." Father Donavan even

made reference to the game in his homily. Of course he cited Joe's

devoutness as a reason for our success. I dodged Shelia after Mass and

spent the day with my family.

I was on cruise control at school the first three days of the next week,

classes, practice and homework pretty much filled my waking hours. I did

get the blood tests on Monday afternoon; I checked myself out of school

after lunch with a note from the nurse to get them. The nurse at the

clinic said she'd probably have the results by Thursday and would call me.

I had been thinking about Shelia all week. I decided I owed it to her to

tell her how I felt. I called her after dinner Wednesday evening. As

happens about eighty percent of the time in my dealings with women,

nothing went as I had planned or expected. After exchanging a few

pleasantries I told Shelia I didn't think another date would be a good

idea and then I told her why. I don't know what kind of reaction I was

expecting but it sure wasn't the one I got.

"That is absolute fucking bullshit!" she shouted. "You don't even know

me and you've already labeled me. You're the one that's a snob."

Oh yeah, and she also called me a jackass and an idiot before she

slammed the phone down. Shelia's vehement reaction startled me. I was

expecting some graceful socialite's cool reception to my idea. Instead,

I a got a snarling wild woman. Man, her temper was as Irish as her hair.

I called Dee-Dee on her cell phone for some counsel. Dee-Dee listened to

my story and told me that everything Shelia said was right. Then she

made me feel lower than whale shit by reminding me how much Rachael hurt

me by ditching me via the phone.

"So what do I do now?" I asked.

"You are going to have to meet with her somehow and make this right.

Grovel if you need to. She sounds like a hell of a lot more woman than

you thought."

That last sentence of Dee's was the understatement of the year. Jeez,

what a jerk I was. As soon as I finished mentally kicking myself I

picked up the phone. My father told me it was best to deal with

something unpleasant as soon as possible, so I dialed the Cavanaughs'

number. Mr. Cavanaugh answered the phone.

"Hello Johnny, hold on a sec and I'll get Shelia."

"Actually Mr. Cavanaugh I need to talk to you, sir," I said.

"Oh? What about?"

"Uh, I would rather tell you face to face, it's nothing bad about

Shelia, though," I said.

"Well you certainly have my attention; sure, come on over."

I thanked him, told Dad where I was going and trudged out to my truck. I

buzzed the call box at the Cavanaughs' gate just before eight, and the

gate swung open. Mr. Cavanaugh opened the door for me again and led me

into the big family room. Mrs. Cavanaugh was sitting on the couch, she

did not look happy to see me.

I cleared my throat and told them why I was there. Then I asked for

permission to see Shelia and apologize and explain things to her. Mr.

Cavanaugh nodded his head and turned to his wife.

"Thomas will you give me a few minutes to talk to Mr. Pulaski before you

get Shelia?"

Mr. Cavanaugh said sure and left the room. As soon as he was gone

Shelia's mom rounded on me.

"I had you checked out Mr. Pulaski, and I'm not impressed by what I

found out. I was especially unimpressed with the gang fight you were in

over some girl."

"That doesn't surprise me, Mrs. Cavanaugh, you having me investigated, I

mean. That sort of thing is one reason I felt that Shelia and I wouldn't

work. And my name is Johnny; Mr. Pulaski belongs to my father and

grandfather."

Her eyebrows arched up at my response.

"What do you mean that sort of thing? It is my responsibility to check

out who my daughter dates."

"So how many of the other boy's that she's dated have you investigated?"

Her silence was my answer.

"I thought so. You didn't check out the other guys because they all

probably revolved in your social circles. Because I don't, I was

immediately suspect. I figure Shelia will start thinking the same way

before long, that's why I don't think it's a good idea to see her again.

So see? Things are going to work out your way. I am only apologetic that

I hid behind the phone to tell her that."

Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she could think of

something to say. I don't think she appreciated being called a rich snob.

"Not seeing my daughter won't hurt you much, Mr. Pulaski, I know you are

going with at least two other girls and possibly an older woman."

I couldn't help it; I cracked up laughing.

"Mrs. Cavanaugh you sure need a more thorough investigator. You only

have part of the facts."

As soon as I said that I looked up and saw Shelia standing there looking

confused.

"What investigator Mom?" Shelia asked.

Mrs. Cavanaugh jerked around toward her daughter. "How long have you

been standing there?"

"I just got here, Dad sent me down. What are you doing here Johnny, and

what are you two talking about?"

Mrs. Cavanaugh looked at me beseechingly. So I explained things to Shelia.

"I came here to apologize in person for being such a jerk on the phone.

You mother heard some things about me that were only partially true and

I was about to give her the real story."

I turned and looked at Mrs. Cavanaugh. "I did get in a fight about a

girl last year. Her name is Caroline Hernandez. I challenged this gang

leader because it was the only way I could think of to get him to leave

her alone. He was trying to force her into a relationship with him. The

fight wasn't over her affection, I barely knew her. Afterwards she and I

became friends and we even went on a few dates, but, bottom line, we are

just friends. I *have* dated older women, I'm not ashamed to admit that,

either."

Mrs. Cavanaugh started to say something but Shelia butted in.

"Mom everyone knows about that fight, it's a school legend and I know

about the college girl he dated last year. You could have asked me

instead of hiring a detective."

I jumped in on her mom's behalf saying I thought it was good that she

checked on potential suitors. Then I asked Shelia if we could talk in

private for a minute. She agreed and we went out on the porch. Out on

the porch in the pale moonlight I raised groveling to an art form. I

apologized again, I told her I liked her and that my call was motivated

by a fear that she would reject me. Then, God help me, I asked her out

for another date. I had no intention of doing that even five minutes ago.

"I'm too mad at you to accept a date now, Johnny, ask me again next week

and we'll see."

It wasn't as good an answer as I'd hoped for but it was better than I

feared. Know what else? I couldn't for the life of me figure out when it

became so important that we went out again. I mean sure, she was

beautiful and I'd had fun on our date but I had girls and women just as

pretty. Women that also loved having sex with me, yet, I didn't moon

over them. Weird stuff, huh?

I walked Shelia back into the house, apologized to her parents for

taking up so much of their time, and then headed home. I felt better for

what I'd done.

I managed to get through the rest of the week without stepping on my

dick again, wonder of wonders. The clinic called. I verified my identity

with the code number they gave me and got a clean bill of health.

We had our semi-final football game on Saturday; we played the late

afternoon game in Tampa at the University of South Florida stadium. Our

opponent was a regional powerhouse with a perfect ten — zero record for

the year. We were leery of Tampa North High because they had beaten

their first round opponent by thirty-five points.

Turns out we were worried for nothing. Tampa North self-destructed,

starting with fumbling the opening kickoff. It was one of those days

when everything they touched turned to crap. Their offense was a litany

of dropped passes, missed blocks and poor ball handling. I also think

they set a record for penalties. I was embarrassed for them. We advance

to the championship game by winning twenty-one to nothing. If coach

hadn't slowed us down it could have been a slaughter. I guess I could

spice up the account of the game by describing my heroic play. So here

goes. I held my ground and strung out blockers when Tampa's triple

option came my way. I was in on three or four tackles. End of story.

The actual highlight of my game turned out to be giving a very surprised

Shelia a rose as the team ran onto the field. Before we left the locker

room I told coach what I was going to do. I told him it was a way of

saying I was sorry for a misunderstanding between Shelia and me. Coach

gave me his usual ration of shit. He called me a pussy hound in front of

a few of my grinning teammates.

"If you worked as hard at playing football as you did getting laid

Pulaski, you'd be a superstar," he lamented.

My teammates hooted a few comments, egging Coach on. I flipped a finger

towards Coach's Greek Chorus and filed out of the locker room with as

much dignity as I could muster. I paid dearly for the rose gesture as

Coach Boyette, then my teammates, called me Lover Boy for the rest of

the game.

On the first play we were on defense Coach yelled, "Watch for a sweep,

Lover Boy." Coach Boyette's voice carried like a bullhorn, he sent the

cheerleading squad into a giggling fit. Thank God it didn't catch on as

a nickname.

Sunday at Mass Shelia thanked me for the rose. She said it was a sweet

thing to do and she was sorry I got razzed about it. By contrast, her

teammates on the cheerleading squad thought it was very romantic. I

didn't ask her out, although I was dying to, because it hadn't been a

week since my big fuck up. (You'll notice that I am not one for cussing

much, never have been. But sometimes only one expression is appropriate

to describe something, and fuck up was it for what I had done.) Shelia's

mother treated me nicer too, and her father was his usual nice guy self.

I really liked Mr. Cavanaugh and he seemed to like me. I'm guessing that

I was a change from being surrounded by four women all the time.

Elaine and Ellen, Shelia's twin sisters, were unusual girls. They were

so identical in looks and mannerisms even their parents had a hard time

telling them apart. For thirteen year olds they were also very quiet.

Shelia said they were some kind of geniuses and no one quite knew what

to do with them. I guess that's why everyone was so surprised when one

of them said, "We want Johnny to go to lunch with us and we want to ride

with him."

Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh exchanged glances and Mrs. Cavanaugh shrugged and

nodded. I found out later that the twins seldom asked for anything, but

when they did want something, it was almost impossible for their

parents, or anyone else, to say no. I told them I'd have to ask my

father first about the lunch thing; if it was okay with him I would join

them. Dad gave me the okay and the twins bracketed me as I walked to my

truck. What followed was about the weirdest things I've ever encountered.

As soon as we were in the truck and I had started the engine the twin

sitting in the middle touched my arm. I actually shivered at the strong

connection we made. If that wasn't weird enough, as soon as she touched

me I knew it was Ellen. Then the other girl touched me too and I had a

moment of vertigo. I was thankful they weren't sending out sexual

feeling, or I would have come in my pants. Just as quickly as they

touched me they took their hands away. I put the truck in gear and

carefully steered out of the parking lot.

"What was that?" I asked.

"Experiment," said Elaine, "We thought you might be like us, you are the

only person besides Mom, our aunt, and each other that we ever tingled

with."

"Yours is a lot stronger than Mom's," added Ellen.

"But not as strong as ours," finished Elaine.

The girls told me about themselves while we were driving. They were too

damned smart for words. To top it off, they said they were reticent to

show most people how smart and talented they really were. That's why

they were quiet so much. With me they had found a kindred spirit of

sorts, so they let it all hang out. By kindred spirit, I don't mean

their intellectual equal; I wasn't even in the same ballpark that way. I

mean the 'tingle' thing. They laughed when I asked how they came up with

tingle to describe the connection. Ellen explained that they started

calling it that when they were five and never gave it another name.

I wonder aloud why I could suddenly tell them apart. Ellen speculated

that it must have something to do with the tingle because their mother

and aunt was the only other people who could. She said they insisted on

dressing and grooming themselves alike just to add to the confusion,

they liked fooling everyone. I asked why their mother didn't like me

even though we shared a connection, too.

"Mom thinks you are going to use the tingle to get into Shelia's

panties," Elaine giggled.

I almost swerved off the road. "I couldn't do that even if I wanted to,

I have to have a connection to the girl first."

The twins looked at each other then back at me.

"Have you even tried anything with a girl you didn't tingle with?" ask

Ellen.

I stopped to think about it for a second and realized that I had not.

Rachael was the weakest connection but even that built as we became more

intimate. Hmmm, built as we became more intimate, why hadn't I seen that

before? I told the twins that, no, I had at least a faint 'tingle' with

every woman I'd ever been with.

"We could teach you how to get people to do things, Johnny, we do it all

the time. Mom even does it to Dad."

"I don't know if I really want to do that, Ellen. I'm pretty happy the

way things are for me already. I'm going to have to think about all this."

They both nodded then Elaine got this impish look. "Does that mean that

when we're older you'll do things with us cause we tingle together?" she

asked all innocent.

Now I'm not anywhere near as smart as them, but I knew when someone was

yanking my chain.

"It sure does, in a year or two both of you will be my love slaves and

part of my harem."

Instead of recoiling in horror, Elaine's eyes got all big and round,

"Really? Both of us? That would be way cool."

I was saved from further torment as we pulled into the parking lot.

Lunch was really brunch at the Palmdale Country Club. No Denny's or

Mama's diner for the Cavanaughs. We were immediately seated at a round

table. I tried to sit next to Shelia but Ellen aced me out of the chair

so I ended up between her and Elaine. Mrs. Cavanaugh was not amused by

Ellen's antics. Ellen just gave her Mom a beatifically innocent smile

and went to serve herself at the buffet. When everyone else got up to

get some chow, Shelia took Ellen's seat.

"Sorry about my little sisters," she said. "They are acting even

stranger than normal. I don't know what they are up to but you better be

careful."

I decided to tease Shelia a little. "They told me they want to get us

together. They think I'm the perfect guy for you."

"They said what!"

"Yep, Ellen said we'd have beautiful babies," I said, trying desperately

to keep a straight face.

Shelia's mouth opened and closed a couple of times as a burning red

blush engulfed her face. I couldn't help it I burst out laughing. Her

parents and sisters gave us a strange look when they returned to the

sight of me laughing, and Shelia sputtering and pounding on my arm with

her small fist.

I escorted Shelia up to get some food when we had both stopped laughing.

I gotta tell you the food was a lot better than Mama's or Denny's. I

loaded up a plate and walked Shelia back to the table. The twins were

again sitting on either side of me. I noticed immediately that they had

pulled the old switcherooski. I turned towards the twin between Shelia

and I.

"Elaine, will you pass me the pepper please?"

"You can tell them apart?" Mr. Cavanaugh asked, incredulous.

"Sure," I drawled, "it's easy. Elaine's nose is bigger and Ellen's buck

teeth stick out more."

I was pretty darned funny that day. My comment and the twins' indignant

reaction had everyone in stitches. With the ice broken, we all had a

nice time eating and talking. When I came back to the table with seconds

all three sisters teased me about my appetite. I told them I was a

growing boy and needed the nourishment.

I was talking to Mr. Cavanaugh about football when Ellen put her hand on

my leg and tried to send me some sexual vibes. It was kinda cute how she

did it. She obviously didn't have much experience about sexual feeling

so she sent me this big mushily romantic glow. I waited until she was

taking a drink of orange juice and returned the favor. I slipped my

right hand off my lap and put it on Ellen's knee then shot her a bolt of

sexual arousal. I might have overdone it, because she put her glass down

with a kathunk, shivered and started coughing as the OJ went down the

wrong pipe.

Mr. Cavanaugh invited me over for the afternoon to watch football with

him but I had to beg off. My Dad and I already had plans for the

afternoon. I offered to drive Shelia home and she accepted. Her sisters

were a little miffed that I wasn't taking them but hid it from everyone

but me. Shelia and I talked all the way to her house. I was euphoric

when she agreed to a date as soon as Christmas break started.

The last full week before Christmas break was filled with reviews for

midterm exams, the exams themselves and football practice. I had a full

plate that left little time for my social life. My only break came

Tuesday night when I went to Amanda's to study for our Chemistry exam.

We sat down at her dining room table at six and for an hour and a half

quizzed each other off the tests we'd taken during the semester. We were

both confident we were ready when we closed our books at seven-thirty. I

packed up my books and notes in preparation to leave when Amanda stopped me.

"Johnny, I need to run over to the library for an hour or so. Why don't

you keep Mom company while I'm gone, she's missed you."

I told her no problem and got a kiss for my troubles. Amanda took me to

the living room where Jane was curled up on the couch reading a book.

One of the Brandenburg Concertos was playing at low volume on the

stereo. When I had arrived at six Jane was dressed in her usual sharp

looking work clothes, but now she was in a coffee colored silk bathrobe.

"Mom, I'm heading to the library; it closes at nine so I'll be home

around nine-thirty, okay?"

"Sure Honey. Is Johnny going with you?"

"No Janie," I answered. "I thought I'd hang out with you for a while if

that's okay."

"Sure, you can help me solve this weeks case on */NCIS/*," she said.

Amanda kissed her mother on the cheek and departed. As soon as the door

closed behind Amanda, Jane uncurled herself and stood up. She stepped up

to me and pulled my head down for one of her searing kisses. She broke

the kiss without a word, took my hand and led me to her bedroom. When we

walked into the bedroom, only a few scented candles lighted it. Her

fancy clock radio was tuned to the same classical music station as the

stereo had been.

"Romantic enough for you?" she asked.

"Perfect," I replied.

Jane stepped between the bed and me and turned to face me. She united

her robe and shrugged it off her shoulders. Under the robe she was

wearing a matching negligee that trailed to the floor. I could go on for

a paragraph about how good she looked artfully posed in the flickering

candlelight. When I started to get undressed she stepped forward and

batted my hands away.

"Let me do that," she said huskily.

And that's the way it went all evening. Jane was a woman who loved

taking care of her man. She denied me nothing and gave me everything. I

wanted her naked so she stripped off the gown. I wanted to taste her, so

she laid on the edge of the bed and let me kneel on the floor between

her long legs. I took an exploratory lick of her neatly trimmed slit and

tasted heaven. She rested her hands on my head and squirmed as I tongued

her to a roaring climax. When she had calmed down some she scooted back

onto the bed and I crawled up after her. I levered myself up into a

pushup position and she reached down and seated me at her entrance. We

were looking into each other's eyes as I slowly sank into her steaming

depth.

Jane was built for comfort not for speed, so our lovemaking was

unhurried and sweet. Jane loved to kiss and she loved me paying

attention to her large breasts. Her breasts sagged to the side some but

were amazingly firm for her age and their size. The second time I came

Jane orgasmed with me. When I tried to get my weight off her she held me

in place.

"Stay right there Johnny, you have no idea how good you feel to me and

how much I've missed this."

We lay like that for a few minutes then Jane rolled me off and went into

the bathroom. When she came back she had a warm washcloth she used to

lovingly bathe Kong. Her tender loving touch caused him to twitch back

to life. To speed his recovery up Jane took him gently into her mouth.

As she ministered to my dick I tugged her hips a little. She let go of

Kong and looked at me quizzically.

"Sixty-nine with me Janie."

She smiled, threw one of those impossibly long legs over my head and

went back to work on my shaft. Once again, because of how tall she was,

we fit together perfectly. Jane's had douched while she was in the

bathroom, she smelled like strawberries and was clean as a whistle. I

started to lick and kiss around her clit when I felt this indescribable

feeling grip my cock. I glanced down my body just in time to see her

lips reach my pubic hair, Kong wedged in her throat. What a woman!

Jane showed me out at nine-fifteen dressed in just the loosely belted,

coffee colored robe. It took all my will power to leave. She gave me a

sweet kiss at the door and gave me something to ponder on the trip home.

"Johnny, thank you for tonight, and thank you for being you. Before I

met you my soul was a hard lump of coal. Now I see that it was too soon

for me to be that way. I see now I can miss Walter and still have

happiness for myself with out feeling guilty. I know you and I aren't

anything permanent, and I'm not going to demand anything from you. But

right now, you are my man, and I will do absolutely anything for you,

that's my nature. Whatever, whenever, however and wherever, you tell me

and I'll make it happen."

I thought about Jane's little speech until I feel asleep that night. My

thoughts weren't all salacious either. I was happy that she had regained

her passion for life. It would only be a matter of time before she found

someone worthy of her, someone who would be around her all the time so

she could dote on them. Whoever he was he was going to be one lucky

S.O.B. Until she found Mr. Right I was going to let Jane practice her

doting on me. Every girl or woman I met taught me something, some of the

lessons were unpleasant, but in the main, I was a fortunate young man

just for having had them in my life.

Amanda was waiting by my locker the next morning. As soon as I walked up

she grabbed me in a bear hug and gave me a kiss that broke every Public

Display of Affection rule in the school's code of conduct.

"Pulaski," she said, "thank you for giving me my mother back. When I

came home last night she was acting just like she did before Dad died. I

almost cried when I saw her with that contented little smile and her

hair all mussed. We sat up and talked until midnight. She talked about

you and she talked about getting on with her personal life. I could even

open up to her about my feelings. It was wonderful Johnny."

Now that's the way to start a day. I was incredibly happy for Amanda and

for Jane. It sure makes you feel good when you do something for someone

else, doesn't it? I took my last midterm Friday morning; my trigonometry

teacher let me take the exam in the library early so I could catch the

team bus to Gainesville. All five divisional championship games were

being held in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida. Ben

Hill Griffin Stadium, home field of the Florida Gators, was

affectionately known as the Swamp because only Gators thrived there. The

Swamp was a huge stadium, seating almost ninety thousand.

We arrived in Gainesville at four in the afternoon. Coach had the bus

take us directly to the stadium so we could walk around on the field. We

all gaped in awe at the cavernous stadium then Coach Boyette held an

impromptu team meeting on the fifty-yard line. We all knelt down as

Coach stood in front of us in his Knute Rockne mode.

"Look around all you want today, boys, because tomorrow I want you to

focus just on the playing field. It's nicer grass, and better

maintained, but it is the same size and shape as what we practice and

play on at home."

There was more, but you get the drift. Coach Boyette wanted us motivated

for the game, not awed by the venue. We went directly from the stadium

to the Best Western. The other busses with our band, cheerleaders and

chaperones were already there. An assistant coach handed out room

assignments; I was in room 214 with the defensive end that played on my

side. His name was Creole Sipes. I was playing on Creole's side because

he was the anchor of our defensive line and I was the less skilled of

the outside linebackers.

Creole was six feet, seven inches tall and weighed around two-sixty. He

was a quiet, introspective man and a student of the game. Next year he

would be playing on this very field having already signed a letter of

intent to play for the Gators. I liked the hell out of Creole and for

some reason he had taken me under his wing. My play improved every week

because of his guidance and advice. And by now he and I worked well

enough that running plays were generally away from us. Creole and I sat

together with a couple of other defensive players for a huge spaghetti

dinner. After we stuffed ourselves to the gills we went back to our room.

I flipped on the television but I was to keyed up to watch it. Creole

was as calm as an undertaker as he sat on his bed reading the Reed Arvin

novel I had loaned him after I finished it. I grabbed the phone when it

rang, happy having something to do. It was Shelia Cavanaugh asking if I

wanted to join her and some other people sight-seeing. The motel was

only a block from the university so we could walk and see some of the

campus. I jumped at the chance. I asked Creole if he wanted to go.

"Naw, been there, done that," he drawled. Then the big man added, "Don't

miss curfew Pulaski, I'm use to your smelly Polack butt behind me."

I told him I'd be back by ten, no sweat, then grabbed my jacket and

bolted. Shelia was waiting in the lobby with two of her teammates and

two of mine. The six of us set off, me smiling like a donkey because

Shelia took my hand as we walked. Shelia's teammates were two other

seniors, Heather Thorpe and Miranda something or other. My teammates

were also seniors, Troy Vining, a halfback, and Chazz Reynolds our

quarterback. (Have you ever noticed that rich kids all have cool names?

I mean there is not a Homer or a Clyde amongst them.) As we walked and

looked at buildings, everyone but me talked about their plans for

college. It was all pre-law this and business management that. It sure

was a conversation I couldn't participate in, I didn't even have plans

for next week, let alone the rest of my life.

"So Pulaski, I'm guessing you are going to be a scientist or something

geeky like that," Chazz said.

Shelia tried to come to my defense. 'There's nothing wrong with getting

good grades Chazz, I do."

Chazz shrugged, "I guess not. Sorry Pulaski, no offense."

"None taken, Chazz." I said evenly. "If it wasn't for us nerds, nothing

would work."

That remark drew a laugh from everyone. This was exactly the

conversation I expected, hanging with Shelia's friends. I looked at

Shelia and she dropped her eyes in embarrassment. I squeezed her hand

and winked at her. Suffering Reynolds' condescending ignorance wasn't

that big a price to pay for being with her. Chazz was one of those

people my grandfather said weren't worth the effort to get mad at.

We made it back to the motel in plenty of time. Shelia and I went out by

the pool and stood in an alcove out of the chilly breeze. She tried to

apologize for Chazz's remarks but I wouldn't let her. I told her I

considered the source and automatically dismissed anything he said.

"The only person who I care about liking me is you," I said.

She smiled at that and when I kissed her she kissed me back. As we

kissed I tried to send her a little of the arousal I used on her sister.

I didn't get any sensations from her but she upped the steaminess of the

kiss. I sent her another little packet, this one stronger. She shivered

and whimpered into my mouth as she rubbed her crotch against me. I broke

the kiss and hugged her to me as I concentrated on sending her feelings

of contentment and trust.

"Wow, Johnny, that's the best kiss I ever had," she said.

"You inspire me," I replied.
Joe J
Chapter 11