Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 ï>¿The Trailer Park: The Fifth Year: Part 1: Words And Music A Story in the
Wynter/Trailer Park Universe by Wizard CopyrightÂ(C) 2007 by Wizard

   Chapter 41

   "Are you totally blind?"

   The ref turned and glared at me, then turned back to the game.  On the
field, Mike Reed was climbing to his feet again.  French Park had just
logged their fourth late hit and gotten away with it again.  Not that it
did them any good.  The pass that Mike had launched seconds before the hit
had sailed right into Robbie's arms.  She made another seven yards before
two of the Legionaries brought her down.

   I looked across the field at the other sideline.  The Legionaire
quarterback was pointing at Mike and laughing.

   I was playing defense again.  I decided that I was going to clothesline
the son-of-a-bitch and take him out of the game.

   The play was already in motion before I focused on the game again.  Mike
took the hike and faded back.  A handoff to Robbie, no, a fake.  The ball
came up by his ear and sailed toward the end zone.  Luke snatched it and
the Rebels were on the board.

   I looked back down field.  Mike was on the ground again.  Two
Legionaries were high fiving each other as they walked away.  The ref was
standing a dozen feet in front of me, watching.

   "You going to call that, or did you forget how!" I yelled.

   He turned and glared again.  "Watch your mouth, or you'll spend the rest
of the game in the locker room."

   "At least I'm watching the game!" I yelled back.

   He turned his back on me.

   This was not how I pictured spending my Friday night.

   It had been a pretty good week.

   Saturday and Sunday, Robbie and I read every paper we could get our
hands on.  About half of them said the Rebels were on the road to a state
championship.  It was a big change from last year.  Even the other half
said we were the team to beat.

   Monday the school voted for the best play, then Tuesday the committee
had it's last meeting and decided better luck next year.  Wednesday Cody
had lunch with the group.  I had to admit he was a nice guy.  He told some
great stories about growing up in Phoenix.  But there was just something
about the guy.  Tami said it was jealousy; I don't like sharing.  But I
thought it was more than that.  Maybe I hoped it was more than that.

   Then this afternoon we had the pep rally.

   "Settle!" Mr.  Reed said sharply.  "Or we can go back to class."

   That got everybody's attention.

   When the bleachers had quieted, "Your Rebel cheerleaders!" Mr.  Reed
yelled and the lights went out.  From the speakers came a cackling laugh,
then "Wipe out!" followed by the familiar drumline.  I wondered if my
Colorado Cousin was feeling a twinge.

   The doors on either end of the gym opened and in came eight apparitions.

   The cheerleaders had applied some kind of glow-in-the-dark face paint
and carried glow wands.  The dance they'd choreographed to the music was
very strange with just their faces and the glow wands visible.

   "Your cheerleaders!" Mr.  Reed yelled again as the music came to an end
and the lights came back on.  The girls bowed and ran out.

   "A few announcements." Mr.  Reed looked conspiratorially over each
shoulder then leaned in close to the microphone.  "There's a chance that
Murphy hasn't heard about the dance tonight, so keep it under your hats."

   Most of the audience chuckled.  We were learning about Murphy's Law
firsthand.  The dance Mr.  Reed was talking about was homecoming.  It had
been scheduled for the first week in October, and we'd been trying ever
since.  First a water pipe broke and flooded the gym.  Then the roof leaked
during a big storm.  They'd just gotten everything dried out and one of the
big lights came crashing down, so the gym had to be closed while all the
others were checked.  Then...  I didn't even want to think about it.

   "The girl's swim team is at districts today and tomorrow.  If you're
planning to attend and root our girls on, remember it's been moved from
Lake High School to North Lincoln." Something the administration at Lake
was upset about for some reason.

   "Football's got another game, though nobody cares," he mumbled.

   "We care!" Paula yelled and the cheerleaders jogged back in and took
positions in front of the bleachers and started working up the school.

   I gave Tami's knee a squeeze, then stood and started making my way down
the bleachers.  Robbie had been sitting with Cody and some of his friends.
She hugged me when we came together on the floor along with the rest of the
team.  We formed a line behind Mr.  Reed.

   As the cheerleaders finished, Robbie and I stepped forward and did rock,
paper, scissors, though we'd prearranged who would go first.  Robbie's rock
destroyed my scissors and she stepped up to the mic.

   "Eight teams play tonight.  The Rebels are one of them!" The audience
applauded and stomped their feet.  "For the second year!" The noise from
the bleachers got even louder.  I wondered if they stress-tested those
things before they installed them.  "Last year all the newspapers were
saying that we were a mistake, that we didn't belong.  This year about half
of them are ready to give us the trophy now.

   "It doesn't matter, 'cause either way, the Rebels are going to teach
them how to play FOOTBALL!" Every word got louder until she shouted the
last one.  The audience jumped to their feet and yelled and clapped.

   I stepped up to the microphone and waited.  And waited.  And waited some
more.

   It took almost three minutes before it got quiet enough that I thought
the speakers had a chance.

   "WE'VE got four things that no other team has.  We've got Mike Reed! 
And we've got Luke Hastings!" I waited some more.  Then, "WE'VE GOT MONSTER
GIRL!" The noise reached a crescendo.  I'm sure we could have drowned out
any 747 or B-52 on the planet.  Probably both.

   "AND..." the noise quieted as everyone waited for me to include me. 
"We've got the one thing that practically guarantees a win tonight." I
waited a couple beats.  "We've got a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model
cheering us on!" As the crowd erupted into their loudest cheer of the
night, I knew behind me that Robbie was planning something dark and evil.

   Mr.  Reed took my place at the mic.  "Two last announcements.  The last
couple years have seen a lot of firsts for our school.  The first girl on
the football team." Now he had to wait for the cheers to die down.  "The
first sophomore elected homecoming queen." Next to me, I felt Robbie shift,
and I put my arm around her.

   "But now our firsts go national."

   National?  Now what?

   "She was the first freshman ever nominated for the Bothwell award, and
now she's the first writer ever to be nominated twice.  She..."

   Whatever else he wanted to say was lost in the roar as the crowd cheered
and Robbie and I raced back to the bleachers to hug the stunned girl.

   We were balanced on the bleachers in a group hug that would have done
the last episode of Mary Tyler Moore proud.  Robbie, Tami, and me at the
center.  Mikee, Peter, Darlene, and Allie plastered on the outside.  I
barely heard Mr.  Reed as he said, "And the final vote for the play
contest, by an overwhelming majority, Zoe's Song."

   I realized I'd missed the extra point and had to look at the scoreboard
to see we'd scored.  Then I realized that Mikee and Darlene were standing
between me and the field.

   "We've got a message," Mikee said.

   I was surprised, but nodded.

   "Don't!" they said in stereo.

   "Don't?"

   "Play your game," Darlene started.

   "Not theirs," Mikee finished.

   I love Tami cause she makes me better than I am, but I really would have
loved to clothesline the S-O-B.

   I nodded and the two girls ran back to the other cheerleaders.

   I looked back at the bleachers.  Tami was watching me, sitting between
Robbie's dad and her sister Samantha.  I gave her a quick salute with just
my forefinger.

   The coach signaled kickoff and I ran onto the field.  Robbie was running
off and our shoulders smashed together, though nether of us flinched.

   Mark kicked off, a beautiful shot that came down on their twenty.  Paul
Nettles and I were leading the pack down the field.  We both eluded several
blockers and focused on number sixteen who had the ball.  From the corner
of my eye I saw a Legionaire blocker intercept Paul, but I had a clear
field.  I launched myself catching sixteen around the waist and we went
down together.

   As I rolled off him, I saw the ball loose on the field, then Paul
streaked forward and scooped it up, heading for the goal line with nobody
in front of him.

   Go!  Go!  I heard a whistle behind me, but ignored it as I watched Paul
sprint over the goal line and throw the ball to the ground.  I turned
grinning, then saw the ref pointing at me, his flag on the ground.  I
watched as he signaled face masking.

   "Face mask?" I yelled.  "How the hell could I tackle him at the waist
and get his face mask?"

   "One more word and you're gone." I considered several words that I
thought were appropriate for the idiot, but turned and walked back to my
team, while the ref called back our touchdown and added fifteen yards to
the Legionaries first down.

   Mark ran out and tapped me on the shoulder, nodding his head toward the
sideline.

   I nodded.  "Watch those face masks," I warned him.

   "He must have been wearing it on his knees."

   I nodded again and trotted toward the coach on the sideline.

   "Cool off," he said without taking his eyes of the field.

   I started to protest that I wasn't hot but realized he was right.  I
walked over to the cooler and got a cup of Gatoraide.  I drained my cup in
one gulp and got another.

   "Face masking.  I thought I taught you better than that," said a voice
from behind me.

   "Heard about the new half-time show?" I asked without turning around. 
"I put a red-headed quarterback over my knee and spank her on the fifty
yard line."

   "Think you're up to it?" she challenged.

   I turned and looked her in the eye.  "At the moment, yeah."

   Robbie grinned and hugged me.  "Apology accepted," she said and walked
over to the coach.

   Damn!  I didn't remember apologizing.  And what the hell did I have to
apologize for anyway.  I wondered how simple my life might have been if
Robbie's mother could have kept her pants on.

   I looked back at the game.  Six plays and the Legionaries made eight
yards.  But add that to the thirty yards the ref gave them and they were
second down on our seventeen.

   "Hey, Myron," I yelled.

   Myron Austen ran over, struggling with a large video camera.  It
occurred to me that names were powerful.  Want your baby to grow up and
play football, then name him John, Tony, Mark, or even Mike.  Want him to
grow up and be president of the audio-visual club, Myron.

   "Do me a favor.  Keep the ref, the guy in the white cap, in the picture
as much as possible.  And what he's looking at."

   Myron smiled.  "Robbie told me that after the second play."

   I nodded, unsurprised.  "Thanks, buddy."

   "You have to come.  We're celebrating."

   Cody looked unsure, "Well..."

   Robbie smiled.  "What are we celebrating?  Tami's nomination?"

   "The win?" Mikee added.

   "Paula being queen?" Traci suggested, hanging on Peter's arm.  A group
of us were standing near the stage as the dance broke up, Tami, Robbie, and
Mikee still wearing their princess tiaras.

   "Much more important than that," I said pompously.

   Paula and Tami both slapped the top of my head before I could duck.

   Robbie stepped forward until we were nose to nose.  "And just what is
more important than Tami being nominated for another national award."

   "Or Paula being Homecoming Queen," Kelly added.  She'd come to the dance
with a freshman named Ryan.

   "But we're talking history here.  I talked to Dad for a few minutes
after the game, according to him, not only did I get a personal best, but I
got more penalty yards tonight than in my entire career."

   Robbie grinned.  "You're right.  That we have to celebrate."

   I looked at Cody.  "What do you say man?  Coming to the Three Blondes to
celebrate with us?"

   "How can I say no."

   I smiled but wished he'd found a way."

   "I was proud of you."

   That felt even better than the coach giving me the game ball in the
locker room.

   There was some mist hanging in the air as it tried to rain, but Tami and
I were walking the park anyway.  Peter and Traci tagged along a few yards
behind, their heads together in quiet conversation.  I grinned knowing that
Tami and I looked like that more often than not.

   "You played your game, not theirs."

   "It was hard," I admitted.

   "How close did you come?"

   "In the first quarter, I was thinking about clotheslining their
quarterback till I got your message."

   "And later?"

   "Well, if that damn ref had gotten a little closer to the play, I could
have accidentally tackled him.  Probably taken out both knees."

   "Tony!"

   "Can't I have my fantasy?"

   Tami smiled.  "Till tomorrow, then get over it."



   Chapter 42

   "I have a lot to be thankful for.

   "I think foremost I'm thankful that I have a very understanding mom
since this started as a quiet dinner for four, and I kept inviting people."
I smiled and looked around the table.  My mom and dad sat at one end of the
long table while Robbie's dad and Tami's mom sat at the other end.  I stood
in the center of one side, Tami and Traci on either side of me.  Peter sat
next to Traci and Mikee and Kelly next to Tami.  Across from me was Robbie.
Bobbi Bradley and her parents were on her left.  Her other adopted sisters
on her right.

   "I'm also thankful there's no kids table, 'cause I'm pretty sure Mom
would have banished me there."

   "You got that right," she said with a stern look that only lasted a
second.  "Next time you can cook for seventeen people."

   "I'm also thankful my mom is a good cook, and that Mr.  Tate let us
borrow his house and kitchen when I crowded us out of ours."

   Thanksgiving had started with just the family, though no one was
surprised when I invited Tami and her mom.  Since Robbie and her dad were
planning dinner alone her sister had gone back to New York I invited them
too.

   Then things got interesting.  Mrs.  Temple told me that she and her
husband were going to Green Hill so they could have Thanksgiving with
Kenny, so naturally, I invited Kelly and Mikee to join us since I knew they
wouldn't want to go.  A day later Peter decided that he'd rather join us
than have Thanksgiving with his brother.

   That's when I got the brilliant idea to move everything to Robbie's
house.  Robbie's dad had no problem with it, and Mom, after some initial
grumbling, loved the idea when she saw the huge kitchen that had been
remodeled shortly after Robbie and her dad moved in.  Then I had my second
brilliant idea.

   "I'm thankful that the Bradleys could join us and that they have a brand
new house and, hopefully, fire insurance.  And that Mr.  Bradley could stay
here and be with his family."

   "I'm thankful for the best foreman I've ever had," Robbie's dad added.

   "Then you should give him a raise," Bobbi blurted, then looked
embarrassed.

   Robbie's dad smiled.  "You're right, I should."

   The look on Robbie's face when they showed up had been more than worth
the bruise she left on my shoulder.  "And I'm especially thankful that I
got to see Robbie's face when she opened the door.

   "I'm sorry that Darlene couldn't be here with us but thankful that she's
having dinner with her family, and I hope it can lead to more."

   "Amen," Mom said softly.  I think it was harder on Mom than any of the
rest of us seeing Darlene living away from home.  Darlene's mother had
invited Darlene for Thanksgiving dinner, and Darlene said no.  Then her
mother called my mother, and my mother talked me into talking Darlene into
at least giving it a chance.

   I didn't think it would help, but I've seen too many happily-ever-after
Christmas movies not to want to try.  Robbie let her drive her Rodrigo so
that she could make a quick getaway if she had to.

   "I'm thankful for a little sister who decided that brat wasn't her true
calling."

   Traci stuck her tongue out.

   "And that she's found a very special friend who keeps her out of my hair
when they're supposedly doing homework."

   Peter turned bright red, and Mom hid her giggle behind a napkin.

   "I'm thankful for friends too numerous to count, especially my best
friend." I grinned at Robbie, and she grinned back.  Then I rubbed the
shoulder she'd punched, and she shrugged.

   "I'm thankful for the new cousins we met this summer.  Along with
adopted cousins and cousins-in-laws, both present and future." Mom had
gotten a kick out of my stories of Wynter and Jimmy, who seemed just as
destined for each other as Tami and I.

   "I'm thankful for Tami, the love of my life.  I'm thankful that I found
her early, 'cause she makes me be a better person whether I want to or
not."

   Tami's hand was on the back of my knee, and she gave me a squeeze.

   "And I'm thankful for a Mom who's finally stopped cringing when I say
the L-word."

   Mom smiled and gave me a small nod.

   "I'm thankful for a mother-almost-in-law who's been like a second mom,
and who's just as accepting.  I'm thankful that we're all healthy and that
those who aren't here with us tonight my grandparents, Tami's dad, Mikee,
Kelly, and Peter's mom and dad and brother are safe and healthy too.

   "And finally, since Mom always said I only used to be thankful for
football and baseball, I'm thankful that the Rebels are on their way back
to the Tacoma Dome for the state semi-finals.

   "It seems like every time that I think 'life is good' that fate drops
something on me, but I have to say, I've got a good life and I wouldn't
trade it for anyone else's.  Happy Thanksgiving."

   Robbie and I were in the side yard working a passing drill.  Mostly we
were working off dinner.  Tami had thrown the ball with us at first, then
retired to a lawn chair to watch.  The idea was simple.  We started about
five yards apart, and each of us threw the ball to the other.  If we both
caught it without taking more than one step, then we both moved back a step
and did it again.

   We were on our third round.  Robbie had lost the first one with a bad
throw from about thirty-five yards.  And I'd messed up at thirty the second
time around.  Now we were in the rubber match and nether one of us wanted
to lose.  Robbie dropped one into my arms from about fifty and we both
stepped back.

   Fifty-one.  The good news was the side yard only had about seventy yards
of open space.  If we got that far, we had to call it a draw or move to the
road.

   I took a deep breath then drew the ball back by my ear and launched.  I
let out the breath as the ball spiraled right into Robbie's arms.  She
looked annoyed.

   "In the spirit of the day, you could call it a tie," Tami suggested from
her chair.

   Robbie ignored her and sailed a perfect pass right into my gut.

   We took another step back.

   I took another breath and threw again.  Right on the money.

   Robbie shook her head and adjusted her grip on the ball.

   "Wait!" Tami yelled.  She got up and stepped to the front corner of the
house looking down the road.

   I couldn't see the road from where I was, but I could see the dust
rising and knew somebody was coming fast.

   "It's Darlene," Tami said, and I heard the car pulling into the driveway
way too fast and screeching to a stop.  I walked up next to Tami in time to
see Darlene burst from the car and run to the house, not even closing the
car door.

   Robbie had walked closer.  She underhanded the ball to me.  "I'd
better..."

   "No!" Tami said firmly.  "Tony."

   Robbie nodded.

   As I climbed the stairs I wondered what it would be like to be shallow
and not have to worry about anyone else's problems.

   I sighed.  I knew that wasn't me.

   Darlene had taken the room next to Robbie's.  I hesitated outside the
door, then reached for the knob without knocking and opened the door. 
Darlene was face down on the bed they'd gotten her.  From the small
convulsions, I knew she was crying.

   I stepped in, closed the door behind me, walked to the bed and sat down
beside her.

   "Go way!" she mumbled, her face pressed into a pillow.

   "Not happening," I said softly.

   Darlene rolled onto her side, raising her fist to hit me, but then she
pressed against me, holding on and sobbing.  "Oh, Tony.  It was so wrong."

   I held her for a long time.

   "It started so good," Darlene said as we walked down the road that led
to the highway.  "Mom hugged me like she hadn't seen me in a year.  Steve
said it was good to have me back."

   Darlene hugged my arm as if it was a lifeline as we walked.

   "Mike and Steve were in the living room watching football.  I stayed in
the kitchen helping Mom.  The rugrats floated in and out.  It was like a
family.  A real family.

   "We sat down to dinner and Steve gave a nice blessing.  Then we each
stood and said something we were thankful for.  Teresa, my sister was
thankful she'd passed her BIG test, though I don't know what it was.  Dana,
my step-sister was thankful that some boy named Reese didn't like some girl
named Winnie any more.  Mike was thankful the Rebels made the semi-finals
again."

   Thankful for football.  The nerve of some people.

   "We started eating and Mom asked about the play.  Then Steve asked if
they needed to take me to the doctor.  'Why?' I asked.  'Well, you spent a
week in Tony's bed, ' he said so smugly.

   "'Not the first time Sims has had a cheerleader in his bed, ' Mike
added.

   I looked at Mom.  She just sat there, looking down at her plate."

   We got to the highway and turned around.  I pulled my arm free and
wrapped it around her shoulders.  Then I took her hand in my other.

   "Then Steve stopped laughing and said he was glad this nonsense was
finished and I was back home where I belonged." Darlene started to cry
again.  "My mom just sat there.  She didn't say a word.  That's when I got
up and left.  I don't know why I thought today would be any different."

   "Do you remember when we were first staging Zoe's Song?  The meeting we
had where we talked about the characters and their motivations?"

   Darlene looked up at me, nodding slightly and looking confused.

   "Robbie called her character 'the bitch from Hell'."

   Darlene nodded again.  "And you said she wasn't.  She was a mother in an
impossible position."

   My turn to nod.  "Your mom is kinda in the same place.  She has a
beautiful intelligent daughter who she loves very much." I kissed Darlene
gently on the tip of her nose.  "But she also has a new husband that she
loves." Though Lord knows why.  "And she doesn't want to choose between
them."

   "So what do I do?"

   I kissed her again.  "I think you've done it.  You're living your own
life.  Robbie and her dad are happy to have you.  Just keep going, one day
at a time.  Don't burn any bridges.  Keep living your life, talk to your
mom when you can.  Try not to put her in the middle."

   Darlene pressed her lips to mine.  The kiss lasted a long time.  "I
couldn't have made it without you."

   "That's stupid, and you know it.  You're stronger than you think, and
you have a lot of friends.  Besides..." I grinned and kissed her again. 
"Mike was right.  I just like having cheerleaders in my bed."



   Chapter 43

   I looked at Peter, curled up in his sleeping bag on my floor almost like
a puppy.  I think he really missed his mom and dad today, though being a
grown-up freshman he couldn't show it.  But on Thanksgiving even grown-up
juniors feel just a little closer to their families.

   Peter and Traci had taken to following along when Tami and I took our
walks.  Not intruding, but creating their own little ritual.  I wondered if
they'd last.  They were awfully young.

   Damn, now I knew what Mom felt like when Tami and I talked about being
in love.

   Still, I could do worse for a brother-in-law.  Peter was good people. 
And that'd make Kelly and Mikee sisters-in-law, or sisters-in-law once
removed.  I wasn't sure.  And Alana.  I'd be related to Alana.  Since she
was a goddess, I wondered what that made me.  Out of luck, probably.  Alana
had decided not to go back to school, at least not this year, and was in
New Zealand doing a lingerie photo spread for Vogue.  I made a mental note
to pick up a copy.

   Maybe I could get Robbie's sister Samantha to write Alana.  She seemed
to combine modeling and school and had a lot of fun doing it.

   Of course, that would make Kenny a relative too.

   I sighed, 'cause I knew I was stalling.  Tami and I had talked about the
letter on our walk, but now...

   I swivelled in my chair and looked at the blank screen on my computer.
It would only take a few minutes, and I needed to do it.

   I had a little extra money saved up.  I could log onto Buy dot com real
quick.  Check out their specials.  They had some great buys.  Maybe I could
pick up one of those flat LCD's.  I'd have so much more room on my desk. 
Or...

   I was stalling again.

   I put my hands on the keyboard and started typing.

   Mrs.  Morganthal.

   I'm tempted to write, "Hi.  How are you?  I'm Fine.  Tony "

   This is one of those times that there's so much to say and no words to
say it.  But I'll try.

   I've been thinking a lot about Zoe lately.  No, that isn't true.  I
think a lot about Zoe everyday.  She was an amazing girl and made an impact
on me and everyone who knew her that can't be measured.  But lately, she's
been even more on my mind.

   You may remember that last year, just after you moved here, the high
school had a play contest.

   We performed three plays, then sent the winner, Leslie Villier's Inherit
the Wind, to the state competition, where she won.  Our group performed an
original musical that came in second.  Zoe talked a lot about going to all
three and the differences in how we staged them.  She loved the theater,
and it's too bad we didn't know or she could have been part of our
production.  She also told me that she voted for Leslie's play, but I never
held that against her.  It was better.

   This year, our group again put together an original production.  A
musical drama called Zoe's Song.  We won.  Not so much because we were
wonderful or anything, I think mostly we won because it reminded people of
Zoe.

   I'm enclosing a video cassette of our performance.

   This is not Zoe's story.  This is Zoe's tribute.

   The girl in the play (played by my sister Traci, you may remember her)
isn't Zoe, and isn't supposed to be.  She's a girl like Zoe who's going
through something that Zoe had to go through.  The character's mother
(played by Robbie Tate) isn't you, and isn't supposed to be.  But she's a
mother in the impossible position of watching her own daughter die a little
every day.  And finally, the boy (played by Peter Temple, I don't think you
ever met him) isn't me.

   Like I said, this isn't Zoe's story.  This is Zoe's tribute.

   I wrote it after Mikee suggested it.  And I think that in writing it I
understood a little more who Zoe was.  And who you were.

   I hope that being back in New York has helped.  Zoe loved New York and
talked about it endlessly.  I almost feel like I know the city myself, and
I've never been east of Wyoming.  I know being closer to family and old
friends has.  Zoe told me enough about her aunts, uncles, and cousins that
they feel like family to me.

   Remember that she'd want you to be happy.  She loved you very much.

   Tony

   Who knew her too short a time.

   I sat back and looked at the screen.  It wasn't perfect, but I hoped it
would help her know how much we all cared about Zoe without opening any new
wounds.  It was important that she saw the play.  But it was more important
that she realized that we didn't think of her as, like Robbie once called
the character, the Bitch from Hell.

   I printed the letter, then put it and the video cassette into a padded
envelope and sealed it.  I couldn't remember if there was mail service the
day after Thanksgiving, but Mom would know.



   Chapter 44

   Since there was no school Friday after Thanksgiving, Coach Vickers made
it very clear that everybody had to be in the parking lot for the bus by
ten.  No exceptions.  Still, he didn't sound very surprised when I called
and said that Robbie and I were running late, and since we didn't want to
hold everybody up, we'd drive ourselves.

   "My Tony, who doesn't lie," Tami sighed from the seat next to me as I
put my cell phone back in my pocket.

   "I didn't lie.  There's no way we can make the high school by ten." It
was ten till now, and I was just getting back on I-90.  We'd stopped for
breakfast in Ellensburg.

   "Of course if we hadn't left my house at eight..." Robbie suggested from
the back seat.

   "Look who's come up for air," I said sarcastically, more to change the
subject than anything else.  Robbie giggled, and in the rear view mirror I
saw her lips mold themselves to Cody's again.

   "Eyes front," Tami said softly, and I focused back on the road in front
of me.  I drove for several minutes, then smiled.  "What?" Tami asked
suspiciously.

   "I was just thinking that if I was a crook, I'd be planning to heist the
whole town tomorrow."

   Tami smiled and nodded.

   I wondered how many people would actually be left in town tomorrow. 
Mom, Dad, and Traci were driving to Tacoma later this afternoon, bringing
Kelly and Peter, too.  Mikee would be on the team bus with the other
cheerleaders.  Robbie's dad drove over yesterday after Thanksgiving dinner.
He had some kind of meeting today.

   Last night when Tami and I had been taking out evening walk, with Traci
and Peter trailing a few yards behind somewhere along the line they'd
become our shadows we'd met Dan Boyd, the deputy who lived in the park. 
He'd said that almost every cop in the county city police and sheriff's
deputies was conniving and scheming to get this Saturday and next Saturday
off to get to the game.  The ones who didn't have kids in school were
football fans.

   "You have a criminal mind," she accused.

   "Thank you."

   "Maybe I better have Daddy run a background check before you propose
again."

   I grinned and kept driving.

   We'd been relaxing in the indoor pool for almost three hours when the
team showed up.  We'd checked Cody and Tami into their rooms Robbie and I
were supposed to check in with the team and I'd asked the front desk to let
us know when the rest of the group got there.  A housekeeper stopped by to
tell Robbie just as Tami and I came out of the sauna and jumped in the
pool.

   We toweled off quickly and were standing in the lobby as the team came
in.  Some of the looks Robbie got in her bikini were a hell of a lot more
than team comradery.

   "Tate, Sims," the coach greeted us.  "I thought you were running late."

   "Tail wind," I said.

   "I don't even want to know how long you've been here, do I."

   It wasn't a question, so I decided to do the smart thing for once and
keep my mouth shut.

   "Poor Peter," Tami said, then moaned.

   "Poor Peter?" I asked, pulling my tongue from Tami's pussy and looking
up her body.  "Woman, I'm trying to work here." I gave her a lick from the
bottom to the top of her slit.  "And why poor Peter anyway?"

   "You're doing a good job.  Two, three more hours and I'll be all relaxed
from the long drive."

   "I do what I can."

   "I was just thinking of Peter.  You and I have each other.  But Peter
has to sleep all by himself."

   I laughed into her pussy.  Tami must have liked that, 'cause her back
arched and her pussy tried to swallow me.

   "What's so funny?" she asked as I scooted up and lay next to her.

   "I kind of screwed up."

   "You?"

   "Yep.  It happens, you know.  Actually I screwed up twice."

   Even in the dim light of the room I could see the suspicion on her face.
Or maybe I just knew her so well that I knew it would be there.

   "And just how did Mr.  Anthony Marion Sims screw up?  Twice?"

   "Well, I volunteered to make the hotel reservations for Mrs.  Hancock."
Mrs.  Hancock was the president of the PTO, the Parent-Teachers
Organization.  "I got all the team rooms on the same floor except two."

   "Would that be the room that you're supposed to be sharing with Mark at
the moment?"

   "Yeah," I admitted.

   "And Robbie's room?" \ "You should be a detective.  That's pretty good."

   "And that was your two screw-ups?"

   "Nope.  That was just one." I grinned.  I knew even if Tami couldn't see
it, she'd know it was there.  "I also volunteered to make the reservations
for Mom.  Somehow, I got one room on the second floor and one on the
fourth. They were supposed to be adjoining."

   "So your parents are down on the second floor, and Traci, Kelly and
Peter are up here with us?"

   "Yep.  Traci and Kelly are supposed to share one bed and Peter gets the
other."

   "And your mom bought that?"

   "They're just kids.  What could happen?" I said and pressed my mouth to
hers to end the discussion.

   "You've got to be kidding!"

   I don't lose my temper often, but I could feel my blood getting hot,
though I knew I had to be in control.

   "You're here to play football.  Nothing more.  Teams don't pick their
officials."

   "But..." I stopped and counted to ten under my breath.  "It's just our
school has lodged a formal protest against him.  I don't think it's
appropriate..."

   "You think guilty until proven innocent is more appropriate?"

   "No, but..."

   "Dan Blakeman is one of the most senior officials in this state." The
guy smiled, one of those painted on politician type smiles.  "Your school
filed a protest, as is it's right.  The WSAA is investigating.  Until then,
Blakeman is still on the roster and he's earned this game." His tone was
the same as he'd use on a first grader.

   "He could do the second game," I suggested.  The two semi-final games
were today at the Tacoma Dome.  Ours was first.

   "Scheduling is not your responsibility.  You play football.  Or forfeit
and go home.  I think you have some experience in that area."

   Tami said that Wasay wasn't happy with me.

   The man turned and with his two flunkies started to walk away.  I
wondered what the penalty was for clipping the president of Wasay.

   The president I'd already forgotten his name had come to the locker room
to wish us luck.  As one of the captains, I'd followed him out into the
corridor, and he'd given me the Grizzlies' official roster and the list of
officials.

   I wondered how bad Robbie was going to hurt me when I told her as I
looked down at the offending paper in my hand.  A familiar voice brought me
back to reality.

   "Mr.  Trout?"

   I looked up.  Tami was standing by the door to the field.

   "Young lady, you're not supposed to be down here."

   Tami smiled.  I decided that smile was part of her arsenal of weapons.
It could disarm anyone.  "It's okay, I have a pass."

   "A pass?"

   "A press pass.  Here." She handed Trout that was the honcho's name a
laminated card.

   He looked at it, then handed it back.  "I'm impressed.  What can I do
for you Miss Sharp?  I'm in a little bit of a hurry."

   "I've got a story that's going in tomorrow's paper.  I was hoping to get
a comment." Tami handed him a sheet of paper.

   What story?  What was Tami up to?  I moved closer, then heard the locker
room door open.  I motioned Robbie to join me, and we hovered about ten
feet from the group.  I handed Robbie the papers I was holding, and she
spotted Blakeman's name immediately.  At least today he was head linesman
instead of referee.

   I could feel Trout tense up as he read.  "You can't print this."

   Tami smiled again, not disarming this time; more like a shark might
smile at a salmon.  "My editor's already approved it.  It's running
tomorrow."

   "This is lies.  This is slander."

   Tami smiled a third time.  This time I was reminded of my third grade
teacher when she used to correct my English.  It was...  was condescending.
"We're going to print it, so it would be libel, not slander.  But if any of
the facts are wrong, please tell me.  We checked carefully, but we might
have missed something.  We'll also add a paragraph or two about today's
game, if it applies."

   "So that's what this is about.  You're trying to blackmail me."

   Robbie and I looked at each other, mouthing the word, "Blackmail?"

   "Blackmail?" Tami said in complete innocence.  "All I want is a
comment."

   One of the flunkies was trying to read over Trout's shoulder.  He
crumpled the paper into a ball.  "I suppose if I pull him, you won't run
this?"

   Him?

   "THAT story is running tomorrow in my column.  All we need is your
comments and today's results." Her voice was hard as granite.  Mental note:
NEVER, repeat and underline, never get on Tami's bad side.

   Trout threw the wadded ball on the floor and brushed by Tami and out to
the field.

   I started toward the ball of paper.

   "Never mind, Tami said, her real smile back on her face.  "Here's your
copies."

   Robbie finished reading before I did.

   "She's too good for you."

   A Question of Facts

   by Tamerone Sharp

   Fact 1: The Rebels accumulated a total of three hundred and fifteen
yards of penalties in last Friday's game.

   Fact 2: The Rebels previous high for a single game this season was
thirty-five yards.

   Fact 3: The Rebels had accumulated one hundred and seventy-five yards in
penalties during the entire 2005 season (seven season games and one
play-off).

   Fact 4: Three hundred and five yards in penalties were assessed by one
official (Referee Dan Blakeman).

   Fact 5: The Legionaries accumulated a total of thirty yards in penalties
in Friday's game.

   Fact 6: The Legionaries previous low for a single game was fifty yards.

   Fact 7: The Legionaries have incurred at least two penalties for rushing
the passer in every game this season, yet on Friday had none.  (This
penalty is usually assessed by the referee.)

   Fact 8: Referee Dan Blakeman went to school with Alan Rich, head coach
of the Lake High School Panthers.

   Fact 9: Alan Rich was best man at Referee Dan Blakeman's wedding.

   Fact 10: Alan Rich has been embarrassed by the reactions caused by his
remarks about girls in sports.  The first reaction was the Rebels refusing
to play the Panthers.  Several other schools have refused to play Lake in
other sports, and the district Girl's Swimming Championship was moved to
North Lincoln High School after protests.  There is a petition circulating
the Lake district for Rich's dismissal.

   Fact 11: Dan Blakeman was originally scheduled to officiate a different
play-off game, but he was changed to the Rebels/Legionaires game the day
before.  Washington School Activities Association (WSAA) had no comment as
to why.

   Fact 12: A protest has been lodged with WSAA over Blakeman's game
conduct, yet he is still scheduled to officiate a game in the state
semi-finals.  A game with the Rebels.

   Fact 13: Dan Blakeman is married to the former Julie Trout, sister of
WSAA president Bill Trout.

   Those are the facts.  You can add them up any way you want, but as
anybody who's ever watched an episode of Perry Mason, Matlock, or one of
the CSI's knows: the facts don't always add up to the truth.

   So what is the truth?  Decide for yourself, but I know what I think.

   When Robbie and I went out for the coin toss, the referee explained
there was a change from the officials roster we'd been given, and that Dan
Blakeman would be head linesman in the second game and James Pickett would
move from that game to ours.

   He didn't explain why.



   Chapter 45

   "Feel like we've done this before?"

   After the referee flipped the coin, I was shaking hands with the Grizzly
quarterback.  "Now that you mention it, it does feel familiar," I said with
a grin.

   "Yeah, but last time was just a bad dream.  This time we'll get it
right."

   I shrugged.  "I thought it turned out pretty good last time." Last year
we'd met the Grizzlies in the semi-finals and beaten them, though all the
sportswriters had predicted they'd have an easy game.  This year, we were
the favorite.  I hoped that wasn't a bad sign.

   He gave me what I assumed was a Grizzly growl, then walked back to his
sideline with his co-captain.

   "Stirring up the natives?" Robbie asked as we walked back.

   "It's a gift."

   The ball sailed through the air.

   "It's yours!" I yelled to Robbie, then moved in front of her to
intercept the Grizzlies heading our way.  Robbie caught the ball on our
five yard line, then fell in behind me.  We fought our way to the forty
using what any good Roman would recognize as a phalanx, but then it started
falling apart as Grizzlies broke through.

   Robbie dodged one and leap-frogged over another.  Then she was clear
and, in a burst of speed, headed toward the goal.  I blocked a Grizzly who
was trying to catch her.  There was only one defender with any chance, and
he was coming from the side.  He launched himself at her legs, but they
weren't there as she jinked out of the way.  I watched in amazement as she
almost glided the last twenty yards to the end zone.

   I knew she was good, but sometimes I forgot how good.

   Coach Vickers pulled us for the extra point, but Mike sailed a perfect
pass into Luke's arms to put us up by seven less than a minute into the
game.

   "Missed by two," I said as I pulled my helmet off.

   "Two what?" Robbie said, pulling off her own headgear.  She shook her
head, and I again missed her long hair.

   "Two yards.  The record for a kickoff return in the play-offs is
ninety-seven.  You got lazy and only made ninety-five."

   "It's not about records."

   I cocked my head and looked at her as our team set up for the kickoff.

   She shrugged.  "Okay, records are nice.  What did you want me to do,
take two big steps backwards before I started running?"

   I grinned.  "Maybe we can talk to the Grizzlies about kicking harder."

   "You know what I hate about being on the team?"

   "I know I'm going to hate myself for asking, but what?" Robbie asked
with a hint of a smile as we walked toward the locker room.

   "I always miss the cheerleaders' halftime show."

   "Poor baby," Robbie said with a laugh.

   "But they have short skirts and they kick so high."

   Robbie looked like she was debating where to hit me, so I changed the
subject.  "How's the elbow?"

   "Sore." She'd banged it pretty good against a Grizzly helmet halfway
through the second quarter.

   Robbie had taken them by surprise on the kickoff, but the Grizzlies were
a good team, better than last year, and they made us fight for every yard.
Mike and Luke were on fire, and we'd come within five yards three times,
but the Grizzlies fought us back.  The Grizzly offense had scared us a
couple times, but hadn't penetrated our ten.

   "Settle!" Coach Vickers yelled as we got to the locker room.

   "Good first half," he said as we all found spots on the benches. 
"Robbie, great job on that kickoff." He looked around at us.  "There isn't
much for a coach to do.  The offense is working great."

   I couldn't argue with that.  Mike was really in the zone with his
passes. He'd completed about fourteen out of twenty attempts.  He probably
had a good two hundred yards in the air and another forty or fifty on the
ground.  Robbie had completed six passes out of seven attempts, and Luke
was looking like the star he thought he was.

   "Defense," he continued.  "You're looking like a wall.  The Grizzlies
can't get around you."

   I stood.  "On behalf of the defense, I thank you," I said with a half
bow.  "We will be wanting to renegotiate our contracts before the next
game. We feel we don't get the appreciation and accolades that the offense
does.  We want more accolades."

   "I don't know what an accolade is, but I'm with Tony, I want more,"
David Jackson said.  If anyone deserved them, he did.  The junior who'd
been on second string until this week was having the game of his life. 
He'd racked up an interception and a fumble recovery in addition to a half
dozen bone-crushing tackles.

   The coach laughed.  "We'll worry about dividing the accolades after the
game if you don't mind.  Everybody relax for a minute, then let's see if we
can't get a few more points on the board." He walked toward the door, then
paused.  "And somebody get David a dictionary."

   The third quarter followed the same pattern as the first half, except
the coach pulled me off of defense and started rotating me with Luke. 
Though he'd never admit it, I knew Luke was taking a beating out there and
needed the breather.

   We almost scored once on a Mike-to-Luke pass that got called back on a
penalty.  The defense, even without me, managed to keep the Grizzlies
outside our ten.

   With seven seconds left in the third quarter the Grizzlies tried a field
goal from the fifteen, but it hit the crossbar and bounced back just as the
clock ran out.

   "Get the fuck off him now!"

   Robbie grabbed a green jersey and pulled.  I was several yards away but
ran up and grabbed another jersey and pulled another player off the pile.
By then the refs were helping untangle the dog pile.

   I searched the look on Robbie's face.  "What's wrong?"

   "When he went down, I thought I heard...  I mean...  I..."

   I ran for the sidelines and one of the medics.  Robbie without words
wasn't a good thing.  Not now.

   "For Mike," I said simply in the huddle.  We clapped and ran to the
line. I stepped up behind Jeffrey at center and looked around.  I nodded to
Luke.  I leaned forward, my hands between Jeffrey's legs.

   "Seventeen!  Fourteen!" I looked at the chainsmen on the sidelines. 
Fourth down with twelve to go.  "A smart quarterback would punt.  "Seven!
Hut!"

   Jeffrey snapped the ball back into my hands.  Luke was in motion.  I
slapped the ball into his stomach but didn't let go.  I took a step back
after Luke passed, brought the ball up by my ear, and fired it to Robbie.
Robbie pulled the ball in tight, making a third tit, and somehow slipped
between two hurtling blockers.  She weaved around another and made fifteen
yards before they brought her down.

   "For Mike," she said as she came back to the huddle.  We had our first
down.

   It was nobody's fault, just one of those things, but on the last play,
three of the Grizzlies had managed to slip through the line and all hit
Mike at the same time.  I don't know if Robbie actually heard the bone in
his arm snap, but as the medics led him off the field I knew his season was
over.

   The coach decided that I was fresher than Robbie and put me in the worry
seat.

   "Good job," I said back in the huddle.  "This is Mike's drive, and we're
going to score." Everyone nodded.  I didn't like Mike, especially for the
way he treated Darlene, but he was my teammate, and he'd played his heart
out for the Rebels.  "Same play, flip side."

   We clapped and took our place on the line.  I wiped my hands on the
towel that was draped behind Jeffrey.  "Seventeen!" I shouted and took a
quick look at both sides of my line.  "Fourteen!  Seven!  Hut!" The ball
snapped into my hands.  I took a step backwards.  Luke was in motion.  I
slapped the ball into his stomach.  Then he was past me, and I faded
further back, bringing my empty hand up by my ear to pass an air ball to my
best friend.

   Luke found a hole in the line and surged through, making several yards
before the Grizzlies realized he had the ball.  Two defenders tackled
Robbie, not realizing that she didn't have the ball.  Then the Grizzly
monster back brought Luke down on their twenty.

   "Okay, can't let Luke and Robbie have all the fun.  Twenty-nine right,"
I said back in the huddle.

   "For Mike," Robbie added, and we all nodded.  As we walked back to the
line, I brooded.  I knew half-a-dozen colleges at least were looking
closely at Mike.  I hoped this didn't ruin it for him.  Sometimes it was
hard to accept: one bad hit and your life changes.

   "It's no one's fault," Robbie said, snapping me out of it as she stepped
next to me.

   I smiled.  "Tami been teaching you to read my mind?"

   Robbie grinned.  "She didn't have to." She slammed her open palm down
hard on the back of my shoulder pad.  "Now throw the damn brick, and let's
go to state."

   I called the count, took the snap, then backpedaled looking for Kelly,
but he had a Grizzly all over him.  What the hell, time to get dirty.  I
squeezed the ball into my side and plunged through the line.  A Grizzly hit
me, and I smashed sideways into Jeffrey but managed to stay on my feet.  I
got five more steps before two Grizzlies hit me at the same time and
brought me down.

   "Having fun?" Robbie asked back in the huddle.

   "God, yes!  Maybe we can cancel basketball and do it all over again."

   "Works for me."

   "Okay, guys," I said to the team.  "We're going to try it again.  Kelly,
if you can't get clear this time, I'm siccing her on you," I said hooking
my thumb at my pal.  Kelly nodded.

   "For Mike," someone said and we broke the huddle.

   This time as I found the threads on the ball I saw Kelly streaking
toward the end zone several steps ahead of a lone defender.  I sailed the
ball straight toward the goal post, Kelly snatched it out of the air, the
Grizzly leaped, but Kelly nimbly avoided him and danced into the end zone.

   Touchdown.

   For Mike.

   The coach had shooed the press out of the locker room.  For the moment
it was just team, cheerleaders, Tami, and parents.  Technically Tami was
press but the coach knew she could draw a line between reporter and
girlfriend, or maybe he was afraid Robbie would hurt him if he tried to
eject her best friend.

   "Great game!" he shouted to get everyone's attention.  Most of the team
surrounded him and Mike.  I stood with my arm around Tami's shoulders next
to Robbie and the Darlene.  The other cheerleaders stood behind us.

   "For anyone who hasn't heard, Mike's arm IS broken, but it's a clean
break and should heal good as new." He clapped his hand on Mike's shoulder.
Mike's arm had already been cast, one of the benefits of playing in a
stadium with a fully equipped medical room.

   "This is one of my favorite parts of being a coach.  The presentation of
the game ball to the player who best encompassed the spirit of Rebel
football.  I don't think there is any question who that's going to be, and
not just because he sacrificed an arm for the team.  Mike completed
twenty-two passes, one short of the state play-off record.  I don't think
there's any question that he would have broken the record if his arm had
stayed in one piece.  The most valuable player for today's play-off game,
Mike Reed!" He handed the ball to Mike to loud applause.

   Mike took the ball in his good hand and looked at it.  I noticed Steve
Reed in the crowd of parents behind him looking proud to the point of
bursting.  I was glad I wouldn't be having dinner at their house tonight.
Or any night for that matter.

   Mike looked at the ball for a long time.  Then he looked around the room
until his eyes locked on me.  He looked back at the ball.  "This is almost
worth breaking my arm for." A couple people chuckled.  "But if this is
supposed to represent the spirit of Rebel Football, I think someone else
deserves it more."

   I wondered if Mike had gotten a crack on the head when he broke his arm.

   "I think today, the person who most encompasses the spirit of Rebel
football and if somebody found that dictionary for David, he can look up
encompasses too is..."

   With his left hand he underhanded the ball toward me.  Then I realized
it wasn't for me.

   "...  Tami Sharp."

   Tami caught the ball, looking stunned, and I wondered if just maybe
there was more to Mike than I thought.