Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 ï>¿The Trailer Park: The Fourth Year A Story in the Wynter/Trailer Park
Universe by Wizard CopyrightÂ(C) 2006 by Wizard

   Chapter 16

   "Any great ideas?" I asked Robbie.  She, Tami, and I were gathered by
our lockers for a few minutes before Robbie and I had to rush off to
football practice.

   "Fresh out," she admitted.

   I'd just reported that I'd talked to Paula, who said she had a great
voice, but no-way-no-how was getting on a stage and singing.  Callie Shaw
had been snagged up by Kirk, like we thought.  And Tommy had grabbed up
both Rachel Lewis and Gina Richards.

   "While you're at practice, I'll ask Mr.  McCoy," Tami volunteered.  "By
the way, I got a B-plus on my Spanish quiz."

   "That's great," I said and hugged her.

   She smiled.

   "You know, you owe big thanks to Paula."

   Tami nodded.

   "Since you probably don't want to kiss Paula, you can kiss me, and I'll
pass it on to her." I took a quick look around and, seeing no authority
figures, gave Tami a long kiss.

   "That was nice, but there will be no passing anything on to Paula."

   "Awww," I said with a pout.

   Tami kissed me again.  "Isn't he cute when he pouts?" she asked Robbie.

   Robbie grinned.  "How long do you think it will take to break him in?"

   Tami shrugged.  "It's a lifetime project.

   I took the snap, faded back, and checked out the field.  I looked for
Chad, but he was too well-covered.  Then I spotted Zach.  I fired the ball
twenty-two yards right into his waiting arms, just before three of the
defenders all hit at once.  God, I love football.

   Larry Gordon, one of the linemen who'd hit me, reached out his hand. 
"Good hit," I told him as he pulled me to my feet.

   "Not good enough," he muttered, looking down field to where Zach Hissman
was dancing in the end zone.

   "When you're hot, etcetera."

   He slapped me on the back and headed back to the line.

   "A waste of time, if you ask me."

   I looked behind me.  Mike Reed was standing with Coach Branson.  Mike
was a junior and the starting quarterback.  He'd gotten nominated for
all-state last year, though he didn't make it.  Mike was also full of
himself.

   "You got me, and that's all you need.  The girl's around if I need a
break."

   "Nice pass, Tony," the coach said, ignoring him.

   "Thanks, coach.  And the girl has a name, Mike.  And better stats than
you last season."

   Mike strode forward until his face guard was almost touching mine. 
"That's cause she didn't play as much, and she got the easy assignments."

   "Unh huh."

   "Enough.  Mike, let's run a couple plays with you in the hot seat."

   "'Bout time."

   The coach stepped back as the two lines got setup.  I walked up to him.
"Coach, can I work some defense?"

   The coach gave me a funny look, but nodded.  "Take Jimmy's place."

   I trotted over to Jimmy and sent him to the coach.

   I grinned to myself.

   The first two plays, I did my job covering receivers.  I blocked the
first pass and intercepted the second.  Mike was not happy as he stomped
back to his starting position.  There are advantages to scrimmaging against
your own team.  One of them is knowing everybody's habits.

   Mike took the snap and faded back, looking for a receiver.  I went
through the hole I knew Billy would leave me.  I took about three steps and
launched myself into the air, landing on Mike with a satisfying thud.  The
ball rolled loose.  Larry scooped it up and raced for the opposite end
zone.

   I rolled off Mike and stood up, holding out my hand to him.  "Damn, man,
no wonder you didn't get all-state.  Sacked and fumbled."

   He ignored my hand and climbed up.  "What the fuck was that all about?"

   I grinned.  "It's called football, man.  You're supposed to get rid of
the ball before you get hit."

   "Problem boys?" the coach yelled.

   "Not here," I yelled back.  "You know me, Coach.  I love the world.  You
got a problem, Mike?"

   "Just a line that doesn't know how to block."

   I was tempted to add something like, 'life is rough, ' but I was good.

   "Having trouble with Mike?" Robbie asked as she trotted over to the
defense.  She'd been trying her luck as a kicker.

   "Mr.  Wonderful?  Not me."

   "Figure roughing him up will make points with his new sister?" Darlene
was sitting in the stands again, watching the cheerleaders.

   "Nope.  Messing with Mike's its own reward." We smiled at each other. 
"Has he ever called you by name?"

   "I don't think so.  When he talks about me it's always 'the girl.' He
really wasn't happy about having a girl on the team."

   "And a freshman girl at that."

   "Well, at least I outgrew that."

   "Let's teach Mike why they call you Monster Girl." We grinned and found
our spots.

   Tom Brooks hiked the ball.  Mike faded back, looking at my side.  I
rushed the line.  "I'm coming for you," I growled as I crashed into Billy.

   Mike was watching me and never even saw Robbie coming, She hit him waist
high, and they went down in a tangle.

   "Get the fuck off me!" he yelled.

   Robbie climbed off and walked back to the line.  "You're right," she
said loudly, as we took our places.  "He can't take a hit." Both sides of
the line laughed.

   Mike didn't complete a pass in the next eight tries.  Robbie intercepted
one, I blocked another, and Larry sacked him twice.  The rest were just
off.

   "God damn it!" he screamed loudly enough that the cheerleaders and
Darlene all looked over.  "Would at least one of you mutha fucking idiots
try to block?"

   I think he just blew his shot at team captain.

   "One more time," the coach called, "then hit the showers.

   Tom hiked, Mike stepped back, and Billy stood up.  I had a clear hole
and headed straight at Mike.  From the corner of my eye I saw Robbie,
Larry, and Garth all through the line and headed toward the same trophy.  I
raced the last three steps and launched myself at the quarterback.  Mike
saw us coming and grounded the ball, but I couldn't have stopped if I'd
wanted to.  I crashed into his chest just as Larry crashed into me and
Mike's side, while Robbie's hit took him at the knees.  Garth landed on top
of me as we all went down.

   It took almost a minute for us to untangle ourselves.  I clapped Larry
on the back.  "Nice hit, but I hit him first."

   "Like hell you did," Robbie and Larry said together.

   "Hey Mike, can we do it again?  We're not sure who hit you first."

   "Get fucked!" he grumbled and stalked off toward the locker room.

   "Gentlemen," I said, turning toward the linemen.  "That was some of the
worst blocking I've ever seen." I grinned.  "If this was college ball, I'd
buy you all a beer."

   There was a cheer that ended as quickly as we all noticed the coach's
face.

   "Hit the showers!" he yelled, and we all took off in a jog.

   "Sims, Tate, a minute!"

   Robbie and I stopped, turned and walked back to the coach.

   "I'm not happy," he said when we were standing in front of him.

   "Coach, all I..." I started, but he held up his hand.

   "I talk, you listen."

   We both nodded.

   "You both may think you're good, but Reed's better.  That's why he's my
number one quarterback."

   "I'm not argu..."

   "I said, I talk you listen.  Because, frankly, I don't give a flying
fart if you agree or not.  Reed is my starting quarterback, and if you two
turn the team against him, we're in a world of hurt."

   "I didn't..." I tried to defend myself.

   "Shut up!  I have no problem with dumping you both right now."

   I clamped my mouth shut.

   "I know you didn't come out and say, 'Let's get him', or something. 
What you did was bait him until he lost his cool.  We have our first game
in four days, and I expect that you two will be doing everything you
possibly can to build up your quarterback and make sure this team gives
everything it's got for its school and its quarterback.  If you have a
problem with that, we can transfer you to the volleyball team."

   Inside, I was thinking that wasn't such a bad idea.  The girls were all
pretty cute.  Outside, I nodded meekly.

   "You might start with nominating him for captain at the team meeting
tomorrow."

   Robbie raised her hand.  The coach glared at her, but she stood there
with her hand up.

   "What?"

   "No."

   "What do you mean, no?"

   "I mean I won't nominate him for captain.  And I won't vote for him if
he's nominated.  Nether will Tony."

   I won't?

   The coach glared at both of us.

   "If the team is supposed to choose a captain, we're suppose to choose
the player whose the leader on and off the field.  That's Jimmy Prescott or
Larry Gordon.  In the huddle, Mike calls the shots, but I ain't nominating
him for something he doesn't deserve.  If you want him to be captain, then
appoint him, cause that's the only way it's going to happen.  If you have a
problem with that, you can have my jersey right now."

   "Get the fuck off my field."

   We turned and jogged away.

   "You made the coach swear.  I've never heard him do that before," I said
as we ran toward the gym.

   "I have that effect on some people.  Would you have nominated him?"

   "Hell no.  But I wasn't brupid enough to tell the coach that."

   "Brupid?"

   "There's a fine line between brave and stupid.  Brupid's right in the
middle."



   Chapter 17

   "I need to talk to you."

   Six words.

   None more than four letters.

   Yet I felt my eyes glaze over as Tami said them.  It was the sort of
thing girls say at the beginning of a conversation that ends with, 'We can
still be friends.'

   It was Wednesday, and I'd just gotten home from football practice.  I'd
come over to see Tami and take our usual walk.

   "Sit down," she said, pointing at the sofa.  As I did, she sat in the
chair opposite.

   I mind raced.  I tried to think if I'd done anything wrong.  There was
flirting with Darlene after football yesterday, but that couldn't be it. 
Could there be another guy?  I didn't see how.  She spent almost all of her
time with me.  Had she decided that I couldn't share my love between her
and Robbie?  But Robbie had ended that.

   "We need to talk about something serious."

   God!  Dumped by two girls in less than a month.  Could be a record. 
Either that or I was dying.  I think I would have preferred death.

   "I don't want you to make up your mind until I'm done."

   Make up my mind?  I had a choice?

   "I know you're not going to want to, but..."

   Not want to?  Was this about Ashley's cherry?

   "It's my dad."

   "That asshole!" My first words since I'd come in, and I called Tami's
dad an asshole.

   "Yeah, that asshole," Tami agreed with a tight smile.

   "Is he bothering you and your mom again?" The D.A.  had let him go back
to Colorado until his trial.

   "No, it's not that.  It's..." Tami swallowed hard.

   I got up, crossed the room, and sat on Tami's lap.  I hugged her and
kissed her nose and eyelids.  "I hope you can talk to me about anything,
anytime," I whispered.

   She swallowed again.  "Go sit down," she said, pointing back at the
sofa.

   "But, I'm comfortable," I complained.

   "I'm not.  Besides, I want to stay apart while you think about this.  I
don't want to influence you."

   I grinned and stood.  "Tami, my love, you influence me by existing.  It
doesn't matter whether you're across the room or across the country." I
reached down, grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.  "Or in my lap."
I quickly sat and pulled her down across my legs.

   "This isn't going the way I planned," she said and sighed.

   "What does?"

   "I have to do this."

   "Close your eyes," I told her.  "How many times did you rehearse this
while I was at practice?"

   "Once or twice." I kissed the side of her nose.  "Okay, five or six
times."

   "Okay, this is rehearsal number twelve."

   She giggled.

   "Keep your eyes closed.  You're sitting alone at home, waiting for your
favorite reserve backup quarterback."

   Tami took a deep breath.  "Tony," she said, speaking to the wall.  "I
need to talk to you about my dad." She swallowed.  "I want you to drop the
charges against my dad." Tami opened her eyes and looked at me.

   Oh, God.  Now what?  The guy threatened me with a gun.  He attacked
Tami's mom.  He should be locked up.  But, if I put him in jail, what would
that do to Tami and me?

   "I don't know," I said finally.

   "I know what he did was wrong.  He knows what he did was wrong."

   "Tami, he attacked your mom.  What would have happened if I hadn't come
in?"

   "I don't...  he said, he was so mad he might have killed her." The last
two words were a whisper.

   "And you want me to forgive and forget?"

   "He's changed."

   I really wish she hadn't said that.  I'd read a lot about wife and child
abuse since that night.  One common theme in the stories of most battered
wives was husbands who had changed.  Or who'd promised to change.

   "Tami, if I ask your mom, how many times do you think she'll say that
he's promised to change before?"

   "I know.  But this time..."

   "This time will be different.  Out of the thousands of women who've died
by being battered, how many do you think used the phrase 'This time will be
different'?

   "All of them."

   I nodded.

   "You don't think people can change?"

   "I know they can.  But I don't want to bet your safety or your mother's
on that."

   "So you think he ought to go to jail?"

   "I'm fifteen.  I don't know.  I don't think jails do a lot of good, but
it keeps him away from you and your mom."

   I thought I saw a tear in the corner of her eye.  "He won't be able to
be a cop anymore."

   Not having him on the street with a gun seemed like a good idea to me,
but I didn't say that.

   "He loves being a cop.  And he's good at it."

   "I wouldn't know.  I only met him once, and he wasn't acting like a good
cop then."

   Tami dropped her head.  "I know."

   Fuck!  I was too young to be thinking about things like this.  We both
were.  We should be making out, not deciding somebody's future.

   "Tami, if you want me to..."

   "No!" she said firmly.  "I don't want you to do this because I want you
to.  I want you to do it because you think it's the right thing."

   "I don't.  Why now."

   "Dad's at home.  He's doing his job, and he's..."

   "He's still a cop?  After being arrested?"

   "I guess the sheriff didn't tell the police in Colorado about the
arrest. But when Dad comes back for the preliminary hearing, it's public
record."

   "Cops protecting cops," I muttered.

   "My dad loves being a cop," she repeated.  "It'll kill him."

   "I..."

   Tami put her finger across my lips.

   "My dad went home and started counseling.  And he promised me that he
wouldn't come back without an invitation."

   "Tami, guys promise..."

   Tami put her hands on the side of my face and turned me so that I was
looking her in the eye.  "My dad has never lied to me."

   "Tami, I..."

   "Never!"

   "Okay."

   "You mean it?" she asked and kissed me before I could answer.

   I nodded.  "I can't believe your mom agreed, though."

   "Well..."

   "Your mom hasn't agreed?"

   Tami shook her head.

   "It won't do any good if I drop my charges and she doesn't drop hers."

   "I know.  I was going to talk to her tonight."

   "Well, if she goes for it, I will."

   "I was kinda hoping that you'd talk to her."

   "Me?"

   "You're so good at talking her into things."

   "No!"

   "But you..."

   "No!"

   "Okay."

   "Tami I'll sit here and give you moral support.  Hell, I'll even hold
your hand and smile.  But if you think this is the right thing to do,
you're going to have to convince your mom."

   Tami nodded.  "I think you're just chicken."

   I grinned.  "You got that right."

   Tami relaxed.  "Thank you.  It's the right thing to do." She leaned back
against me and I just held her as we waited for her mom to come home.

   I wasn't sure it was the right thing, but it made Tami happy, so I knew
it wasn't the wrong one.



   Chapter 18

   "What the fuck are you doing here?"

   I looked up from where I was sitting on the sofa watching TV.  "Hi,
Mike. I was just hanging with Darlene.  Great game yesterday."

   Mike had really shown why a sophomore would even get nominated for
all-state.  Almost every pass he'd put in the air connected.  He'd thrown
four touchdowns and just missed the school record for yards passed.

   "What do you mean by that?" he growled.  "Get out of my chair." He
reached down, grabbed Darlene's upper arm and yanked her roughly to her
feet.

   "I meant, you played good," I said, watching.

   Darlene moved over and sat on the sofa with me.  Mike reached over,
grabbed the remote out of her hand and started flipping through channels.

   "I was watching that," Darlene complained.

   "Tough."

   "Steve," Darlene whined.  Mike's Dad, Steve Reed, had come in the house
behind him.

   "Mike's had a hard day.  Let him watch some TV."

   "But, I..." Darlene sputtered.

   Her step-dad ignored her and stepped toward me.  "Do I know you?"

   I held out my hand.  "Hi, I'm Tony Sims."

   "Tony Sims." He repeated, ignoring my hand.  "I think it's time for you
to go."

   "Honey, Tony was staying for dinner," Darlene's mom said from the
kitchen.

   "I see." He obviously wasn't thrilled about the idea.

   I stood.  "That's okay, I'll take off." I stepped around him and headed
toward the door.  "Darlene, it's been fun."

   As I was closing the door, I heard the words 'cheap shots'.  Evidently
Dad was telling Mom why I was persona non grata.

   Mental note, make sure Mike got a few shots on Monday.  None of them
cheap.

   "I went over the songs with Darlene."

   "How'd it go?"

   "Pretty good.  She's got a nice voice, though she needs to learn to
project more."

   "Then what'd you do?" Tami asked with just a hint of suspicion.

   I liked that Tami trusted me, but the hint of potential jealousy felt
good too.

   "We sat and talked for awhile and watched some ice skating on TV.  Then
Mike and his dad got home, and his dad threw me out."

   "Threw you out?"

   "Well, not bodily, but he made it clear I wasn't welcome.  Too bad,
because Darlene's mom had invited me to dinner, and they were having ribs.
I love ribs."

   "It must be weird to wake up one morning and have a new dad, new
brother, and new sister."

   "Yeah.  Especially since..." I changed my mind about what I wanted to
say.  "Very weird."

   Tami looked at me quizzically, but didn't press.

   "Where do we stand?" Robbie asked.

   "Well, actually, I'm sitting in my father's chair.  Mikee's sitting on
me.  Tami is..."

   "I can hurt you."

   "Yes ma'am.  Sorry ma'am.  Humor, ma'am.  Feeble attempt, ma'am."

   Robbie looked skyward and shook her head.  Tami grinned.

   "Well, I dropped our proposal off with Mulino on Friday afternoon.  He
said ours was the sixth, which is kinda what we figured.  He told me that
he and the school board had had a meeting about the plays, but it would be
unethical to talk about it."

   "And you bought that?" Tami asked.

   "Well, I tried to tell him that ethics were in the eye of the beholder,
but he didn't buy it."

   "You're losing your touch," Robbie said dryly.

   I cocked my head and clicked my tongue.  "Darlene Carter is on board as
girl number two.  She said she doesn't really know any guys yet, so she
didn't care about guy number 2.  I thought we might rope Ricky into it."

   "Ricky would work," Robbie mused.  "But I have a better idea."

   "You usually do."

   Robbie stuck her tongue out.

   "You high schoolers aren't setting a very good example for the middle
school students," Traci said with a grin.

   "You be good or we'll send you out to play on the see-saw," I
threatened.

   "It's raining."

   "I know," I said with a threatening grin.

   My sister stuck out her tongue too.

   "What's your better idea?" Robbie asked.

   "Well, Darlene's kinda short."

   "She's not a candidate for one of Snow White's dwarves, but yeah."

   "Daryl Tabler."

   I pictured it, then cracked up laughing.  Daryl was about nine feet
tall. Okay, he was only six eight, but it seemed like nine feet when you
were looking up at him.  If he had even one coordinated bone in his body,
the basketball coach would be in heaven.

   "I like it," Tami said.

   "Me too," I agreed.

   "All in favor?" Robbie said.

   "You mean we get to vote?" Kelly asked sarcastically.  She was sitting
between Tami and my sister on the sofa.

   "Only if you vote yes," Robbie told her.  "And remember, that see-saw is
built for two."

   Robbie's threatening grin is a hell of a lot scarier than mine, I
realized.  Probably more practice.

   "So we need girl and guy number three, then we're set."

   "Assuming that Daryl says yes, we are."

   "Did Mulino give you any idea about timing?" Tami asked.

   "Probably Tuesday or Wednesday."

   "So, tomorrow at school, we talk to Daryl."

   "Here's the list of names McCoy gave me for girl singers." Tami handed
the list to Robbie.  "I crossed off the three who wouldn't fit the roll.  I
think the rest are cute enough for Tony to kiss."

   I stuck my tongue out at her on principle, but I'd seen the list and
agreed.

   "Since girl number one..."

   "Sabrina," Mikee interrupted.  "I've always loved that name."

   "Since Sabrina is sitting on my lap, we could get in some kissing
practice," I volunteered.

   Traci looked surprised and glanced at Tami, but nobody else batted an
eye.

   "I'll let you know when to rehearse," Robbie said.

   "But she's only a freshman.  I don't know if her technique is theatrical
quality."

   "I have a feeling," Robbie said with a sigh, "that her technique is just
fine."

   "You're the director."

   "Am I?  We never talked about it."

   "Sorry, you're stuck with it.  I put your name on the proposal."

   "We should have talked about it."

   "Why?  I agreed, Tami agreed, Mikee agreed.  That's a third of the cast
right there.  Besides, if we had somebody else, you'd be telling them what
to do."

   "Are you calling me bossy, Tony Sims?" Robbie said, erupting out of her
chair, fists on hips.

   "Pretty much."

   Robbie stalked over and towered over me.

   "Move," she ordered Mikee.  Mikee got up and Robbie sat down.  "I don't
even like you."

   "Ditto."

   Robbie kissed me.  "Will you be my assistant director?"

   "Do I get to talk sometimes?"

   "At least once a week."

   "Deal."

   Robbie got up.  "You can have him back now," she said to Mikee and went
back to her chair.  Mikee sat back down, giving me a quick peck on the
cheek.

   Traci looked confused, but hell, so was I most of the time.



   Chapter 19

   "Tony, could I ask you a favor?"

   Even though it was Tuesday, Allie Smidt was in her cheerleading uniform.
I knew the varsity cheerleaders were doing something at the JV game
tonight, but I didn't know what.

   "Depends, can you sing?"

   Allie's eyes went wide in surprise.  "Of course I can sing.  What does
that have...  ?" Sometimes you can see a brain make a connection in a
person's eyes.  I saw it in Allie's.  "No.  I don't want to be in your
play."

   "But you said you can sing."

   "I can sing, but I ain't gettin' up on stage to prove it."

   "Why not?  You get up in front of a crowd every Friday."

   "It's different."

   "What is it with you cheerleaders.  You can sing, but you won't
perform." My voice was almost a whine.  I'd talked to all five girls on Mr.
McCoy's list yesterday or today, and none of them were available.  Two
weren't interested, and the other three had already been signed by Kirk or
Tommy."

   "Who else?" she asked.

   "Paula."

   "She's got a fantastic voice."

   "That's what she tells me."

   "You'll never get her on a stage," Allie said, shaking her head.

   "She told me that too."

   "You should talk to Bambi."

   Bambi?  There was no Bambi in our school.  I'd know.  I'd had fantasies
about that name ever since I accidentally ran across Bambi-Model dot Com.
Pure accident.  Bambi was a little younger than me, with long brown hair
just like Tami.  And Bambi just seemed to be a name that screamed sexpot.

   "Bambi?"

   Allie giggled.  "Diana.  Diana Coleson.  Bambi's her nickname."

   I knew Diana.  Or knew who she was anyway.  A cheerleader and a junior,
she used to have long blond hair, but it'd turned black and gotten really
short over the summer.  Hot bod.  "Why Bambi?"

   "Her best friend in third grade was Jennifer Spalla.  Jennifer was a
gymnast, and her nickname was Thumper.

   A wet dream waiting to happen.  A cheerleader and a gymnast.  Except...
"Jennifer's a gymnast?"

   "Was.  She quit when she started putting on weight."

   Jennifer was an inch or two shorter than me, and probably outweighed me
by a good twenty pounds.  It must be like that line in the old James Garner
western, 'Puberty hit her hard.'

   "So Diana sings?"

   "Better than me.  Almost as good as Paula."

   I smiled.  Things were looking up.  "Do you happen to know where she is
now?" It was lunch period, though I hadn't gotten near the cafeteria yet.
Probably lucky, considering they were serving their version of meatloaf
today.

   "She usually skips lunch and plays basketball in the main gym."

   "Thanks," I said, giving Allie a wave and turning toward the gym.

   "Wait.  What about my favor?"

   I stopped and turned around again.  "Sorry, you won't sing."

   "Tony!" she said, starting to pout.

   I grinned.  "Allison, oh fairest of all leaders of cheer, what boon may
I grant thee?"

   Allie giggled.  "You're being strange again."

   "Pretty harsh for someone who wants something."

   Allie giggled again.  "Will you help me?"

   I considered offering to help her to a quick orgasm, but I was afraid
she might take me up on it.  My life didn't need more complications. 
Besides, Tami and Allie had actually been friendly lately.  Not friends,
just friendly.

   "What?"

   "Algebra."

   I'd taken algebra last year and aced it.  This year I was in geometry.
"What about it?"

   "I'm flunking."

   "You can't be.  It's only the third week of school."

   "Maybe I'm not flunking yet, but a trend is forming.  And Mr.  Singara
said I may get kicked off cheerleading if I don't get my grades up."

   "I took it from Mrs.  Wayne.  She's better."

   "That's what I heard, but I'm stuck with Singara."

   "What's the problem?" I asked, conscious of the minutes ticking away,
along with my chance to corner Diana.  Bambi.

   "Everything.  I thought letters belonged in English and numbers belonged
in math.  I just don't get it."

   Variables.  Shouldn't be a problem.  Actually the problem was
scheduling. After school, I had football and Allie had cheerleading.  After
that was my Tami time and getting ready for the damn play.

   "When's your next quiz?"

   "Friday, unless he pulls a surprise.  I need at least a C."

   Damn!  That lets out the weekend.  "What do you have third period?"

   "P.E."

   "Tell you what.  Let me think about this, and I'll get back to you."

   "Promise?"

   "Have I ever let you down?"

   "Not once." Allie pressed up against me and kissed me on the cheek just
as Tami came down the hall.  Allie didn't notice.  She let go of me. 
"Thanks," she said as she disappeared down the other hall.

   "What was that all about?" Tami asked as she came up.

   "Cheerleader motivation.  They really want us to win this Friday."

   "Right."

   "C'mon.  There's another cheerleader in the main gym." I took Tami's
hand and started pulling her down the hall.

   It had been a good day.  Diana was on board to be girl number three, and
her boyfriend, Jimmy Martin, was signed as man number three.  So the play
was cast.  Now all we had to do was wait for word from Mr.  Mulino.

   I'd talked to Mrs.  Kennedy, the girl's P.E.  teacher, and Mr. 
Calloway, my history teacher, and they were both cool about Allie and me
skipping class for some tutoring.  Mrs.  Kennedy said with all her
cheerleading, Allie could afford to miss a couple classes.  And Mr. 
Calloway made a joke about giving the other students a chance to catch up.

   I'd suited up and was waiting outside the door to the girl's locker
room. Robbie came out, dropped her shoulder, and butted me.  I grinned and
we jogged toward the football field.

   "Sims, Tate," the coach yelled after we'd finished conditioning and
drills with the team.

   "Yes, coach," I said as we trotted up.

   "Good game, Friday."

   "Thanks, coach."

   "Do you two see now why Reed is my quarterback?"

   "We didn't argue that Mike is the best quarterback on the team," I said
quickly, before Robbie could open her mouth.  "At the moment."

   "He's just not captain material." Robbie added.  Evidently the team
agreed, Jimmy Prescott and Larry Gordon had been elected co-captains last
week.

   "But you'll take it easy on him this week?"

   Robbie and I looked at each other for several long seconds.

   "If that's what you want, we won't touch him," I said after I looked
back at Coach Branson.

   "That's not what I said.  Just go easy on him."

   Robbie looked at me again, then shrugged.  "If we don't practice full
out, how are we going to get better?  For that matter, if we take it easy,
how's Mike going to get better?"

   The coach opened his mouth, then closed it.  He opened it again, and
closed it again.  He was looking a lot like a sturgeon.  "Get out there,"
he said finally, waving in the general direction of the field.

   We jogged away.  "How'd I do?" Robbie asked when we were away from the
coach.

   "What do you mean?"

   "Did I cross the brupid line?"

   I grinned and kept jogging.

   The way it worked out, Robbie was on defense while I took my turn in the
slot.  And the very first play, she showed the coach that Mike wasn't the
only one she hit.  I'd taken the hike and faded back, looking for a
receiver.  Larry was rushing toward me, so I jumped and fired the ball down
field, just as Robbie hit me in the air.

   She must have knocked me ten feet.

   It takes a real effort to jump up, smile and say, "Good hit," when what
you really want is your mommy.

   When Robbie took the QB position, I moved to defense.  I'd like to think
I gave as good as I got, but it was nothing like that first hit of
Robbie's.

   Mike moved into quarterback, and Robbie and I moved into the backfield
with him.  I guess that was the coach's solution to letting Robbie and me
practice full out but not cream Mike.  I reminded myself that I owed Mike a
couple of good hits.  Not cheap.



   Chapter 20

   "Where were you?" Tami asked as she came up behind me at my locker.

   I put my old math book in my locker, closed it, and turned.  "Depends on
when you mean.  At six this morning, I was asleep in my bed.  About eight,
I was on the bus with you.  And by nine, I was sitting next to the sexiest
reporter in the Western United States in journalism class."

   Why is it that the girls I love frequently look like they want to grab
me by the throat and squeeze and squeeze?

   "You know what I mean.  Where were you last period?"

   "Did Mr.  Calloway ask?"

   "He didn't even call your name in the roll."

   "Hmm." I hadn't planned to keep my tutoring sessions secret, but I was
having too much fun torturing my beloved.

   "I know a secret too."

   "Do you?"

   "Unh huh," Tami said with a grin.  "Tell me yours, and I'll tell you
mine."

   "There's one problem with your plan," I said as I slipped my arm around
her, my hand sliding into her back pocket.

   "What?  You don't know my secret.  I know you don't."

   "Probably not," I agreed.  "That's not your problem." We walked down the
hall toward the cafeteria.  I kept quiet.

   "What is?" Tami asked as we got into the line by the door.

   I grinned.  "If I tell you, you'll get mad."

   "No, I won't.  What's my problem."

   I looked around.  No teachers or vice-principals in the immediate
vicinity.  I pulled Tami around in front of me, my hand still in her back
pocket, and kissed her.  "The problem is, you want to tell your secret.  I
don't."

   Tami kissed me.  "Damn you."

   I kissed her again.  "Life's a bitch, ain't it."

   "Damn you," Tami repeated and kissed me again.

   "If you two aren't going to eat, could you get out of the doorway?"

   I glanced back at the guy behind us.  "You're a freshman, aren't you?"

   He nodded, warily.

   "Don't you know that freshman are supposed to be seen and not heard?"

   "Mikee is a freshman," Tami pointed out.

   "Your point?"

   "Tony!" Tami said, punching me in the shoulder.  "Be nice."

   I grinned at the freshman.  "Sorry, guy.  Just kidding.  I'm Tony Sims."

   "I know," he said.  I wasn't surprised.  Between football, baseball, and
my clashes with Mr.  Parker, I was fairly well known.  "My brother's on the
football team with you."

   "Do you know Mikee?"

   "I know who she is."

   "Tony!" Tami said warningly.

   I moved Tami and me just inside the doorway.  "Why don't you go on
ahead," I told the freshman.  "Take your friends with you."

   I pressed my lips against Tami's, and my tongue wormed it's way into her
moist warm mouth as lunch-goers moved past us.  My hand moved out of her
pocket and started rubbing along the crack of her ass.  My other hand
cupped her breast and massaged her hard nipple through her shirt and bra.

   "I believe there's something about this in the rules," a deep voice said
behind me.  I pulled my mouth away from Tami's, and looked over my
shoulder. Mr.  Calloway was blocking the doorway.

   "Tami thought her tonsils might be inflamed.  I was just checking," I
said with a grin.

   Mr.  Calloway shook his head and pointed toward the serving line.  I let
go of Tami, and we got trays and silverware.

   "So you ready to tell me your secret?" I asked as we held out our trays
for servings of lasagna.

   "I shouldn't."

   "But you want to."

   Tami turned and glared at me before adding a carton of milk to her tray.

   "You know you want to."

   Tami sighed.  "There's going an assembly this afternoon.  Mr.  Mulino is
going to talk about the plays."

   "Cool.  How'd you find out?"

   Tami smiled enigmatically as I paid for our lunches.  I figured one of
the office aides had passed on the tidbit.

   "So what's your secret about?"

   "You know," I said, as I cut a piece of lasagna with my fork.  "Lasagna
is one of the few things the kitchen people get right."

   Tami didn't talk to me for the rest of lunch.

   "I can't believe that Kirk didn't make it," Tami said.

   "I have a feeling he would have, but they didn't want three musicals."

   During the assembly, Mr.  Mulino had praised all six proposals and said
what a tough decision it was, but the school board had decided that they'd
only allow three productions because that would stretch the school to the
limits.  Tommy Sands, Leslie Villers, and us.

   We had four weeks to prepare a run-through.  The student body and
faculty would get a chance to see all three productions and vote.  Then the
school would submit its candidate to the contest, and we'd have another
couple of weeks before we had to be ready.

   "I'll bet Kirk is bummed," Robbie said.  "I know I would be.

   "On the other hand, at least he'll have some free time in the next
month," I pointed out.

   "You can be replaced," Robbie threatened.

   "No I can't.  I'm the star," I said pompously, just before her fist
caused all the air in my lungs to leave quickly.

   Wednesday, I met Allie in Mrs.  Wayne's classroom.  It was quieter than
the library, and since the teacher had a free period, she let me use it. 
Allie was starting to get the concept of variables and how they could be
used, but she had a lot of work to do.

   "If I show up on your doorstep after football practice, is your mom
going to have me castrated?"

   Allie giggled, though I really didn't see anything funny about the
image.

   "No, she doesn't like you, but she knows you helped me out of a jam. 
And I'll make sure she knows you're helping me out of another one.  But I
thought we couldn't do this at night.  I thought you were busy."

   "I am, but we need the extra time.  So after cheer practice, get home
and get any other homework done.  I'll be there after six, and we'll spend
a couple of hours pounding this into your cute little skull."

   "You make it sound like I'm hopeless."

   "Not hopeless, handicapped," I said, enjoying the shocked look on her
face.  "Handicapped by a teacher who doesn't know how to teach," I added.

   Mrs.  Smidt opened the door when I knocked.

   "Hi," I said, though her face was less than welcoming.

   "Hello.  Allie's upstairs, I'll call her."

   I decided to put all my chips on lucky thirteen and spin the wheel. 
"Actually, we'll be more comfortable studying in her room.  If that's not a
problem."

   I could tell it was, but she nodded.  "I'll come up later, to see if you
need anything." I took that as a threat.

   "You know," I said as I walked toward the stairs.  "If I wanted to take
advantage of your daughter, I could find a more convenient time and place."
I didn't look back to check her reaction.

   I walked to Allie's door and knocked.  I waited a few seconds and opened
the door.

   "Tony?" she said, looking up from her desk.  "Mom let you come up here?"

   I just grinned.  "Ready for some math?"

   "Two minutes," she said and put her head down and typed on her computer.
She was a touch typist, the lucky girl.  I had to hunt and peck.

   As Allie finished what she was working on, she looked up and smiled
warmly.  I had closed the door behind me.  "You know, Mom will be up here
to check on us."

   "I'll bet that she'll hang around outside for an hour or so, then knock
before coming in."

   "No way.

   "A kiss against a dollar."

   "You're on."

   Three hours later we finished for the night
   It was a hell of a kiss.