Ch. 04 Coaches and Parents
Personally, I like Parts 1 through 3, but you don't have to read them before reading this. Thanks to all who have given me feedback, it's gratifying to know you're enjoying these flights of fantasy.
School on Monday was terrible. I could think of nothing but Kelly and our weekend. I saw her only in English class, and I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was so beautiful. I remembered how much I loved brushing her hair. I remembered all our sweet lovemaking. At the end of class I had to think about calculus to let my boner subside.
But gym class was the worst. The guys knew something was up. I told them I'd taken Kelly out, and it was instantly mayhem.
"You took Kelly Morgan out? Lucky duck!"
"She's gorgeous!"
"Is she as oversexed as I think she is?"
"Didja get any?"
"Whadja do? Wheredja go? What's she like?"
"I've heard she's a stuck-up bitch."
"Yeah, she doesn't give any, so I'm told."
"Did Big Justin wield the one-eyed lizard?"
"Did she get scared away by it?"
"Did you choke her with it?"
There were gales of laughter as they were completely gross at my expense.
I let it all flow over. Then I said simply, "We had a nice time. She's a nice lady."
"Gonna take her out again?"
"Yeah. In fact I hope to see a lot of her."
Hoots and hollers, screams and yells. "Justin's in looove!" Little did they know. On the one hand, these were my friends, and in a certain way I wanted to stand on top of the lockers and scream out my love for Kelly as loud as I could. On the other hand, I felt it was extremely private, and I didn't want to tell them anything.
"Hey, back off. Justin needs our help. He needs our advice on how to treat Kelly like a lady. OK, guys, during class everybody has to give Justin a suggestion about what he should do with Kelly." Cheers and affirmation greeted this idea. And they did. Every minute during class somebody would whisper "advice" about my dealings with Kelly. It was awful. It was crass. It was also very funny. They were coaching me. My coaches.
That night I had tons of homework. I called Kelly.
"Hi!"
"Hi!"
"How was your day?"
"Awful, Justin. I can't stop thinking about you."
"Same here. And I told the guys at gym about us."
"Really? And what happened?"
"It was awful. They said the worst things. They tried to pry stuff out of me, and then they decided to give me advice all through class. So every minute or so somebody would whisper a suggestion about what I should do with you. They thought they were coaching me."
"What did they say?"
"It's way too crass to talk about. I'd rather just tell you how much I love you."
"You're changing the subject. They were really foul, huh?"
"Amazingly so."
"Jerks."
"In a way. But they're also my friends, so I can feel some affection behind it. And some envy, I think. Just not a lot of maturity."
"Are you going to take their suggestions?"
"Truth be told, I already have taken some."
"Oh, really." She didn't sound pleased, "And did you brag?"
"No, Kelly. I told them we'd gone out, that we were going to go out again, and that I hoped to see a lot of you. That's all."
"Are you sure that's all? You didn't brag a little?"
"They know what Kelly Morgan looks like. I don't have to brag when the evidence is right before their eyes. That you would even go out with me brags without my saying anything."
"You didn't even brag a little about what we did?"
"Not a word," I said, starting to get a little angry, "I told you that all of that is between you and me alone. To tell would cheapen it. I didn't even tell them a word about you making dinner. No details at all."
"I believe you," she said, but not convincingly, "When can I see you again?" There was a plaintive note in her voice.
"Too much homework tonight. Can I take you out for ice cream tomorrow after supper?"
"OK. About seven?"
"OK. See you then."
Tuesday couldn't go by fast enough. It was another day of torture, from not seeing Kelly to getting loads more "advice" from my "coaches."
I was fifteen minutes early to pick up Kelly. Bad idea. She wasn't ready, and was annoyed. I spent the time talking to her parents. Her dad was almost my size, and looked like he'd been quarried from granite. Her mom was tiny like Kelly, and very pretty. It was clear where Kelly got her looks. They were nice to me, but inquisitive. It wasn't quite the third degree, but I was being interrogated. Her dad, in particular, seemed very protective. If my daughter looked like her, I would be, too.
Soon enough, I opened the car door for Kelly, took my place behind the wheel, and we took off for ice cream. Her parents watched us leave.
"Good move opening the door. Mom'll like that."
"Will you tell her that I do it all the time, and not just for her consumption?"
"Yeah. It'll be part of the sales job."
"Sales job?"
"Do you realize how important it is for me to convince them to like you?"
"I hadn't thought of it. But you're right."