It Started With a Coke
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2011 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 4   

Bitter Injury

I don’t think the Coach said anything, not even goodbye as I heard the front door close.  I quickly showered, pulled on my underwear and pajamas and crawled into bed.

In the morning, I was driven to school after I packed lunch as usual.  At lunch time I went to an empty table in the cafeteria.  Just as I started opening my lunch, someone asked, “Can we join you?”

I nodded and looked up and saw that it was Mark.  He introduced Matt, and we were about to sit down when Cindi came up with two of her friends and asked, “Guys, can we sit with you?  She introduced everyone after they were seated.  I finished my sandwich and was listening to all the banter that was going on.  About half way through lunch, Cindi asked, “Aren’t you going to eat anymore than a sandwich?”

I answered quietly, “That’s all I could find to pack.”

One of the other girls asked, “Why didn’t you buy lunch?  You’ll be starved before school is out.”

“I don’t have any money.”

“Here.”  Matt said, as he flipped me an apple.

“Thanks.”

I watched as Mark got up and left.  When he returned he set down a container of ice cream and a carton of milk.  He said, “I just remembered that I was supposed to meet Dad during lunch period.  Seth, why don’t you eat these, since I can’t take them with me?  You know how strict they are about taking food out of here.”

Mark came and slapped me on the back, “Good luck, tonight, Seth.  Show them what you can do.”

I ate the ice cream and drank the milk and finished the apple as the bell rang.  We disposed of our trash, and as we were leaving, Cindi yelled, “Go Hawker, show them your claws tonight.” 

(I need to explain that our school mascot was a black hawk, and we were referred to as the Hawkers.)  That set off a round of well wishes as I departed the cafeteria for my afternoon classes.  People I didn’t even know were wishing me good luck.  When I went into my seventh period class, Mr. King motioned for me to come and talk to him, “Seth, Coach Richmond would like for you to meet him in his office as soon as possible, with your gear.”

I went to my locker to get my clothes and racquet.  On the way to the Coach’s office, I was wondering, ‘Why are we leaving so early?  My match isn’t scheduled until seven o’clock.’

The Coach was waiting for me.  We went to his car and he turned the wrong way when he left the parking lot.  I asked, “Where are we going, Coach?”

He stopped in front of a Dairy Queen restaurant.  He got out of the car and motioned for me to do the same.  We went in the restaurant and he motioned for me to sit down at a table.  He placed an order and came and sat beside me, “Mark came to me at lunchtime.  He was upset because of what you had for lunch.  He was sure that you wouldn’t have the energy to make it through your match, and made me promise to get you to eat something before your match.”

Our conversation was interrupted by a young waiter who brought a hamburger and two milk shakes.  The Coach put the hamburger and a shake in front of me, “This should give you enough energy to get through your match.”

There weren’t any eating utensils and I had no idea how to eat the hamburger, since I had never had a hamburger at a restaurant before.  My parents thought they were unhealthy.  I looked at the Coach, “How do you eat a hamburger?  I’ve never had one before.”

The Coach’s eyebrows rose, “Seth, you’re kidding, aren’t you?  Everyone has had a hamburger.  We have them at least once a week at home.”

“My father says that hamburgers were the invention of the devil.  He says that they’re made from the left over part of the cows and the pigs.  You should hear what he says about hotdogs, and heaven help us if anyone should bring us anything that resembles Mexican food.  It is thrown out before we can eat it.”

“Seth, are you saying that you’ve never had a taco or a burrito?”

“I’ve never had a taco, hotdog, or a pizza.  If my Father gets word that a youth group at the church is having a pizza party, I am forbidden to go.  He claims that these fast foods are a waste of money.”

Coach was shaking his head as he took me to the condiment table and showed me how to use the pump for catsup and the other condiments.  ‘I know, I know, you’re thinking that this kid is a real dork.  Remember, I told you that I was the world’s biggest dork, right at the beginning of the story.’

After I had eaten my first real hamburger, we left for the stadium.  The Coach stopped at a 7 Eleven Store.  He went inside and returned with a sack.  All he said was, “That’s for later.”

When we arrived at the stadium, the boys’ doubles final was just starting.  As the second set started, the Coach suggested, “Seth, go get dressed for your match, and do some stretching exercises.”

I returned to the center court in time to see the doubles team from Huntsville Central score the match point.

When it was time for the men’s final match, Troy and I stood together with our racquets and towels.  We weren’t talking since we didn’t really know each other, and I was so nervous that I was sure that people could see my knees shaking.  When the chair judge was satisfied that everything was in order, he called the two of us to center court and introduced us to each other.  “Gentlemen, I will be as fair as possible.  Shake hands and show the spectators the meaning of sportsmanship.  Mr. Matthews, you will start on my left and Mr. Morrison, you will serve first.  Do not begin until after the announcements and the introductions and the playing of the national anthem.“

I began to get very nervous and started to move around.  I could feel my muscles tightening up.  I looked over at Troy and he seemed to be as nervous as I was. 

When I was introduced, there was a loud cheer from the section of seats directly in front of me.  I looked up saw a large contingent of familiar faces.  To my surprise, Mrs. Martz was right in the middle with the principal, Mr. Pierce, and the Richmond family.  They began to chant, “Go Seth. Go Seth.”  That made me more nervous than I already was.

Finally, the public announcement system went quiet and the judge in the chair motioned for me to begin.  I had two faults on my first serve and lost the first point sixty to love.  I looked at the coach and he took a deep breath.  I did the same.  He shook his arms and legs and I did the same thing.  He picked up a ball and was staring at it.  I got the message, ’Pay attention to the ball.’  He put his hands on his ears and I got the message, ’Forget the crowd.’

I began to relax and as Troy began to serve, I paid attention and took the point.  I went on to win the first set 6 to 1.   I was ahead in the second set 3 to 1.  Troy returned my serve right inside the right line.  As I rushed to return it, I slipped and fell on  my right ankle.  It started to hurt immediately but I tried to continue.  I kept getting slower and slower and lost the set 6 to 4.

I limped to the side to get a drink.  The Coach made me sit in a chair and take a drink of Gatorade.  The Coach looked at my ankle and it had really started to swell.  Coach shuddered, “Seth, I think you should withdraw before you do any permanent damage.”

I shook my head no.  I saw Troy start back to the court.  I tried to stand but my ankle couldn’t hold my weight and I crumbled to the floor.  There was a groan from the fans in the stand who observed what was happening.  Troy came running to help the Coach get me up.  Troy placed my arm over his shoulder to hold me steady on my right side.

Coach Richmond asked, “Troy, would you hold Seth steady for a minute?  I’m going to speak to the chair judge.”

“Sure, Coach.”  Troy responded as he put his left arm behind my back and held me.

Even with the awful pain in my ankle, I was having jolts of energy going through my groin area and my penis was becoming aroused.  I was sure that it was beginning to show.  I prayed that no one noticed.

Troy looked down at my pubic region, “I hope the people aren’t looking at your genital area.”

I glanced down and saw that Troy’s penis was beginning to show too, “There would probably be a riot if people noticed what’s happening.  You seem to be having the same problem I am.”

We both started to laugh.  Troy hugged me tighter, Seth, you were kicking my butt all over the court before you slipped.  I was beginning to think that I wasn’t going to score another point.”

The public address system interrupted our conversation, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Morrison has been forced to withdraw from the match because of injury.  I would like to introduce this year’s state boy champion, Mr. Troy Matthews.”

Coach came to support me so Troy could get his trophy, but Troy shook his head no.  Instead he walked slowly unto the court where the presentations were being made, forcing me to hobble with him.  When he had gotten me so that the spectators could see us. He whispered, “Raise your left hand and wave.”

I did as I he wanted.  He raised his right arm and was waving.  He slowly turned us around so we had a chance to wave to all of the people who were in attendance.  The spectators were standing and applauding.  Even the judge in the chair was standing and applauding.

After the presentations, Troy and I went to take a shower and get dressed.  That was an experience.  Even though I was naked, Troy helped me into the shower until I could grab onto a safety bar.  It was still difficult to reach all parts of my body but I refused Troy’s offer to help me, since I was afraid some one might see us.

It was a real chore getting dressed, but I was finally dressed except for my right foot which I didn’t even try to put on my sock and shoe.

We were met at the entry to the shower by Mark and Matt.  “Seth, man, are you going to be okay?” they asked in unison.

I looked at them and shrugged my shoulders and Mark really began to razz me, “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your boyfriend?”

Matt laughed, “Yeah. It’s a good thing the match ended when it did or you would have broken your athletic supporters and people in the stadium would have been drooling.”

I was so shook that I thought I was going to crumple again.  I looked at Troy and he was white as well.  I looked at Coach Richmond and he was standing there laughing.   All five of us started laughing.  We were standing there laughing when the chair judge approached us and asked, “What’s so funny?”

Coach spoke up, “John, you wouldn’t even want to know.”

The chair judge turned to Troy and me, “You two young men sure gave the fans a tremendous demonstration of the true meaning of good sportsmanship, tonight.  I’m glad that I had the opportunity to be in the chair tonight.”

I could see Mark getting ready to say something, but the Coach looked at him and shook his head no, so Mark remained quiet

Mr. Dunlap, the chair judge, shook Troy’s hand, “Congratulations, Troy.”

He came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder, “Seth, take care of that foot.  I want to see you at the tournament next year. Good luck!”

After Mr. Dunlap had departed, the Coach asked, “Troy. Will you help me get Seth to the car?  I think I need to get him home as soon as possible.”

“With pleasure, Coach Richmond.”

The Coach threw his keys to Mark, Son, bring my car to Gate Three and wait for us.  The car is the second one in Section C.”

He turned to Matt, “Matt, will you please get Seth’s gear?  His racquet and clothes are in the back with the Blackhawk on it.”

Mark and Matt took off in different directions.  We were progressing slowly toward the exit when Mr. Pierce, my principal, and Mrs. Martz approached us.  When we got to Gate Three, Mark hadn’t arrived, yet  Mrs. Martz came to where Troy and I were standing, “Good match, you two beautiful men.”

She gave me a hug and a kiss.  I introduced Troy to Mrs. Martz and Mr. Pierce, I said, the comedian there is Matt Mullin and his buddy who is getting the car is Mark Richmond, the Coach’s son.”

 Mrs. Martz asked, “Seth, what were you and Mr. Matthews laughing about on the court?”

“Oh, Troy was telling me a joke to get my mind off my ankle.”

Mrs. Martz had a very serious look, “Oh, that was nice of him.  I thought I saw something else that was up, that might have been the cause.”  She winked and gave Troy and me a hug and a kiss.

“Seth,” interrupted Mr. Pierce, “I have never seen anyone who just lost a championship seem so happy.”

Before I could say anything, Mark piped up, “You people don’t even want to know what they were laughing about.”

Troy was helping me get in the car and put his hand on my right thigh as he was lifting my foot into the car.  His fingers had slid inside the leg of my shorts.  His touch was so soft that I was getting hard again.  It was a good thing that I was wearing my athletic supporter.

He leaned in and mouthed, “I wish there was more time for us to get to know each other.”

I blinked and said, “Me, too.”

He totally surprised me when he leaned in and ran his tongue across my lips.  He pulled away, “I’m sorry that I will never get to know you better, Seth.  I’m sure we might have been special friends.  My father has been transferred and my family will be leaving for Germany the day after I’m graduated.”

I looked at Troy and he had tears in his eyes.  That made me want to hold him.

He pulled away, “I have to go find my parents.  They’re probably wondering where I am.  Good night, everyone.  It was a pleasure meeting you.”

Troy moved back toward the arena.  I watched his departure and as he reached the entrance.  I saw him turn around and put his hand to mouth and then hold it front of his lips and blew over it as if he was sending me a kiss.  My eyes began to water.

The Coach looked at me and noticed, “I think I had better get Seth home.  I think his foot is really bothering him.”

We said goodnight to everyone.  When we arrived at my house, the Coach stopped in a no parking zone in front of the manse’s.  He got out of the car and supported me, as I hobbled to the front door.  He opened the door and called out, “We‘re home.”

My parents were sitting and reading.  Neither on of them looked up.  Coach said, “I had to withdraw Seth from the match for a sprained ankle.  I was afraid that he would cause more damage if he continued.”

Dad shook his head no, “Seth was never meant to waste his time playing tennis.  Sounds to me as if he wasn’t trying too hard.”

The Coach shook his head, “Come on, Seth, I'll help you get upstairs and wrap your ankle.  You will need to immerse it in cold water to get of the swelling to go down and then alternate with wrapping it tight.  If it’s not better by Monday, we’ll need to take you to the doctor.”

You need to stay off your foot as much as possible.   If you need anything at all, just give me a call.  I’ll stop by tomorrow and check on you.  I’m leaving now.  I still need to eat something more than a milkshake.

The Coach went down the stairs and exited without even saying goodnight.  My dad’s only comment was “I wish that Marv Richmond and his family would transfer churches.  I’m sure he won’ be satisfied until I have been relieved from duty.  He’s not going to win that battle.  I’m going to find a way to smear his family and him through the mud.

“Bill, you need to be very careful, because you’ve already caused us to lose Mrs. Martz.  Losing another major financial giver to the church is going to provide reason for people to be concerned about what’s happening to our church.” 

My father boasted, “The people will be clamoring to come.  We’re one of the few churches who follow the old ideas and traditions.  People always come back to the tried and true. 

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I certainly hope that the stinking bastard is wrong about that.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who feel the same way he does.  That is a very sad thing.  Jesus never taught that people should hate one another.  His message was very clear; we should love one another. 

I am ready for more!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/14/11