Shelter Kid
By:
Jon Stewart
(© 2021 by the author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent. Comments are appreciated at...
jstewart@tickiestories.us
Chapter 21
Josh got a couple calls during the day. The reporter for the Oakville Tribune called and asked if Josh had seen the article about Dan Short, the Madville coach. Josh said No they were pretty busy today with visitors and he didn’t get a chance to read it. The reporter, John Reiley, said no problem but could he interview Josh tomorrow. He wanted to get a follow up from Josh’s perspective before the story went cold.
Josh said “Ok, what time?”
John said “You tell me; you’re helping me out.“
“I have therapy from 10:00 ‘til 12:00 and Jesse comes over about 3:30 with my school assignments.”
“How about you let me buy you lunch, Chili’s, Olive Garden, The Outback. What do you like to eat?”
“Gee, I don’t know about those places, but I like burgers.”
“Burgers it is then, we should do the Outback. Do you know where it is on Rt 70 in Orange? Can you meet me at 1:00?
“I think I’ve been past it. Let me check with Pops. Pops, the Tribune guy wants to buy me lunch and meet me at the Outback at 1:00. Can we go?”
“Yeah, that’ll be ok.” Pops yelled back.
Josh told John, “It was ok but he gotta feed Pops too.”
John readily agreed and apologized for not asking Pops. So, the appointment was finalized
“Pops, do we have today’s Tribune. The reporter guy said there was an article in it about the game and stuff.”
“Check on the table by the couch, I think I picked it up from outside and put it there.”
“Thanks Pops” Josh found the paper. There on the bottom of page one was the story. “Doctor Accuses Madville Coach of Intentionally Hurting High School Player”. The story went on to tell how Josh was one of Hopewell’s most valuable players, how he got knocked down 12 times during the second half. How the referees made bad calls against Hopewell and how one was the cousin of Coach Dan Short. How Josh had made the winning shot after being elbowed in the ribs and elbowed in the forehead. How Josh had blocked out the pain and continued to compete at a super high level. How Doc Brown said it was physically impossible for anyone to raise their hands over their head with the type of damage Josh had to his ribs. Doc stated “How that boy was able to make that shot is a medical miracle.” It stated that Coach Mathews was asking for an investigation and a hearing by the state School Boy Athletic Association. People deserve to know the truth about what the Madville coach teaches his players.
“Wow did you read this, Pops?” Josh said while giving Pops the paper. Pops read the article and said, “Ya got to hand it to Doc Brown, he knows how to get the ball rolling. I’m sure glad we have him as your Doctor. A better man we couldn’t find if we went to a hundred doctors.”
The doorbell rang, Billy went to get it. There was Mrs. O’Mara and Mrs. Acker, as well as Mr. Acker and Mr. Martin. Billy invited them in and Pops went to the door.
Pops said “Come in” and brought them in the living room where Josh was sitting.
Mrs. O’Mara said “we saw the article in the paper and had no idea that Josh had been injured so badly in the game. We didn’t know what to do so we baked you some cookies.”
Mr. Martin piped up “If there are too many, I’ll volunteer to help Josh eat them.”
They all chuckled.
Billy snuck one off the plate and gave it to Mr. Martin. The old man smiled at Billy and gave him a little shoulder hug.
Josh said “Thank you so much, that was so nice of you.”
Pops had the folks sit down. “That was some game you played, Josh.” Mrs. Acker said. “How are your ribs?”
“Getting better Mrs. Acker, thank you. Your cookies will help. It doesn’t hurt anymore when I sit down and I can get up and walk around now. I wasn’t able to do that or anything after the game.”
“Well, I’m glad you are healing. I know it is frustrating that it is so slow but you have a good long life in front of you.”
Mr. Acker said, “Josh, I am a retired police detective and I would like to look into this coach for Madville; if you give me your permission. This way, I can say I am acting on your request as opposed to being a busy body. What do you say, Josh? If that article is true, and I suspect it is; he’s a mean man and should not be teaching kids. ”
“Wow you mean, you’ll be my own personal investigator, How much will you charge?”
Mr. Acker considered that a minute (had visions of Josh cutting his grass and shoveling snow for free) and then said “Just the smile that you would have taken for shoveling our snow. Really, Josh, I can’t charge you anything. I want that man away from kids, period.”
Mr. Martin said ”I would like to help out too, can I be your partner?”
Mr. Acker said “Two heads are better than one. It’s ok then, I can do this?” looking at Pops and Josh.
Pops & Josh said they would welcome his help.
“Ok, I’ll be at Madville High School tomorrow morning; flash my badge and ask to speak to the freshman basketball team players. I want to get to them, if possible, before this Dan Short has time to talk to them or influence them in any way. Josh you are a good boy, a fine young person. I am honored to know you, you should not have to endure the pain and suffering this SOB put you through. It gets me mad and I’m so happy, I can do something about it. I’m gonna get that SOB, for messing with my snow shoveler.”
Pops was impressed by Mr. Acker.
“Thanks Mr. Acker, and you too Mr. Martin.” Josh said.
“Mrs. O’Mara said “Well, we don’t want to overstay our welcome; come on gentlemen, let’s let Josh get some rest.”
Josh struggled a bit to get up; they told him to stay sitting, but he got up anyway. The ladies kissed him on the cheek and the men shook hands with him.
Billy slipped Mr. Martin another couple of cookies and they were out the door. Josh was impressed that they came to see him.
“Wow, I didn’t know Mr. Acker was a cop. Do you think he can help, Pops?”
“Ohh, I’m sure of it, Josh.”
Next Josh got a call from Jesse. “Hey you’re gonna be famous.”
“Yeah, the way that article reads, I’m some kind of freak. The feds will be here any minute to pick me and bring me to their experimentation place.“
Jesse laughed, “Yeah I guess a brain like yours needs studying.”
“How about we give them yours, maybe we switch, find you all normal and they’ll leave me alone?”
“I think they might notice I don’t have cracked ribs, and am just a little bigger than your 5’6.”
“Oh, how about you scrunch down a bit.” “Don’t think so, Josh. Say, whose telephone number did you have all over your hand, Jenny? Did you call her?”
Josh played it kool, “Yeah, she wants to go out with me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m so sexy and masculine you know.”
“OK, lover boy.”
“Actually, If Doc clears me, Billy and I have a double date with her and Rebecca, to play monster golf this Saturday. Do you want me to ask her if she has a friend for you and you can come too?”
“Would you !! I’ve never been on a boy / girl date and this would be the perfect way to do it.”
“I’ll lay my best charms on her for you.”
“Just be yourself please. Trying to be somebody you’re not, will just screw things up.”
“Ok, send me a picture of you, so I can show what the other girl what she will be getting. This way you guys can still go if the Doc shuts me down.”
“I hope not, it won’t be any fun without you.”
Jesse took a selfie, then another, then asked his mom to take his picture. “What’s with the picture?” She asked. Jesse smirked and was a little sheepish about it, but finally said, “Josh and Billy have a date with Jenny and Rebecca. So, he is going to send my picture to Jenny to see if she could fix me up with a friend and go too. I took a couple selfies but I didn’t like them. Make it a good picture, please mom. ”
“Ohhh, my baby’s growing up. OK, Ok, Sorry Jesse, go over to the doorway and lean against it. Jesse did as he was told. Karen started telling him he was a tall, dark. and handsome man, that no girl could resist. She cracked Jesse up and he started laughing. She took shot after shot of him laughing and smiling. She helped him select a picture from the bunch saying “Jesse, if I wasn’t married, I would go out with that guy.”
“Well, you are married, Karen.” Jack came in the living room. “Who is this guy you’ll drop me for?”
Karen showed him the picture of Jesse.
“OK, OK, he’s good looking and everything but I have EXPERENCE.”
They all chuckled. Jesse sent the picture to Josh who sent it to Jenny.
She texted back “Gee you know the cutest boys. He looks tall in the picture.”
“Yeah, he is. That’s Jesse, he was the high scorer in the championship game.”
“Well, it’s gonna be hard fixing him up. Maybe I should go with him.”
Jenny, you are such a tease.”
“I have just the girl for him, Valerie. She’s on the volleyball team.”
“I’ll ask her, but if she says no; sorry Josh, I have to go with the high scorer.”
“Jenny, you know what I love about you?”
“What Josh? Is it my hair, my face? What is it, Josh?”
“IT’S THE WAY YOU’LL DUMP ME FOR ANYTHING THAT CRAWLS.”
Jenny knew she had gone too far.
“I’m sorry Josh, I was just teasing, I do it too much don’t I?”
“Yeah, kind of, I like you; really like you; It would be good if I felt you really liked me too.”
“I do Josh, I really do, I just never had anybody like me.”
“Well, I do.”
Jenny had Valerie send a picture to Jesse and asked “Is it was true that he wanted to go out with her on the date with Jenny and Rebecca?”
Jesse saw the picture and recognized her from school. It was a girl that Jesse had secretly had been wanting to ask out since he started in Hopewell.
Jesse texted back that “It was true and that he had laid awake at night thinking about her.”
“Really, I bet you use that story on all your girlfriends.”
Jesse said “I don’t have any girlfriends and this would be my first boy / girl date.” He had learned from his dad keeping it simple and honest was the best way to deal with people.
Val was not the tease that Jenny was “That’s a sweet thing to say then Jesse, I’m liking you already.”
“Can I see you during school then? but I gotta say I’m kind of stupid around girls. I never know the right thing to say.”
“Jesse, you know what to say; if we are just ourselves and don’t try to put on a show for the world, I think it will be fine.”
“You know that’s the same thing I told Josh before.”
They texted back and forth, getting to know each other without showing off. Jesse finally said he would see her in school on Monday. He was being called to supper.
Karen asked “Well, how was your picture“ “You know, mom, the best thing happened. This girl, Valerie, she’s on the volleyball team and a little taller than a lot of girls. I guess a little like me, that way. Well, I always thought one of these days I would ask her out but never knew how or the right way; so, I wouldn’t get all embarrassed. And she is the girl, Jenny fixed me up with. I think it’s destiny.”
Karen and Jack both smiled at each other “Yeah, I agree it must be destiny, Jesse.” Jack said they all chuckled. “Come on, guys no teasing about this. I don’t complain about it when you guys get all lovey, dovey.”
Karen said “You’re right, Jesse, Jack, behave yourself.”
To be continued...
Posted: 01/07/2022