Cast of characters:
Paula, 18 year old just graduated high school
Adam, Paula's 18 year old high school graduate boyfriend
Paula's mother (way over 18 years of age)
The team, junior college baseball players, all 18 or older:
first base: starter Frank, relief Fred
second base: starter Stan, relief Stu
third base: starter Tom, relief Terry
catcher: starter Curt, relief Chris
pitcher: starter Pete, relief Paul
left field: starter Lou, relief Les
center field: starter Chuck, relief Chet
right field: starter Rick, relief Roy
short stop: starter Sam, relief Steve
The players girlfriends: Angie (Chuck's girl), Beth, Maggie, Peggy, Sue, Theresa (all over 18 years old)
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTIONS
Paula's single mom had gotten her an IUD for her 15th birthday. She didn't expect her to start having sex quite so soon, but she had filled out her form early, and was attracting a lot of attention from men and boys so anything could happen.
Paula had a boyfriend, who mostly kept his hands to himself. Paula started to think there was something odd about him, since her gal pals kept talking about how their boyfriends had their hands all over them on dates.
Senior prom also happened to be Paula's 18th birthday. She'd had the IUD for three years, and Adam still hadn't even tried to feel her up. The prom itself went okay, she thought, including the slow dances. When it was over, she suggested going to a secluded place to park. Adam looked at the clock, and claimed he had a curfew that would just let him drive her home and get back to his house. She pouted, but resigned herself to another night of playing with herself.
Paula had been a bit of an oddity in school. Consequently, she had relatively few friends of either gender. Adam had seemed interesting and interested at the Sadie Hawkins dance early in their senior year. They had a few study dates, which were all study and no date. They went to a Halloween party together, then a Thanksgiving party. Adam went out of town over Christmas with his family, so no Christmas party or New Year's Eve party together.
Adam's summer job was out in the wilderness, far enough from home he might get back once a month at best. Paula wished him well, and told him she might date other guys. He was fine with that, since he might date other girls.
Paula's summer job was a retail clerk, so she could live at home. She'd start at the local community college to get her footing and try to pick a major, then maybe transfer to a state university to complete a 4-year degree in something.
Paula saw an ad for the community college baseball team schedule when she went to an early enrollment session. She decided to go check them out.
It was a small team, just 18 players. Nine were starters, the rest were designated relief players for each position, with the understanding they could be put in anyplace they were needed. The first game was sparsely attended, mostly relatives of the players. Paula stood out among all the parents, grandparents, and other adults. When the game ended in a victory for the home team, the players mingled with the small crowd. A few had no relatives there, so after saying hi to some of their teammates' relatives, they gravitated to Paula.
She was surprised at the attention from the players.
"You're new to our fan club," one of them commented.
"Yes, first game I've come to," she replied. "I start classes in the fall term."
"Rising freshman, eh?" another player commented.
"Yep," Paula affirmed.
"Got a major in mind?" another asked.
"Not a clue, so I'll take a little of everything to start and see what I like," she answered.
"Most of the team are in the Industrial Technology track, basically glorified shop classes with some academics to broaden our perspectives. We'll get trade certificates and either go work in a factory or apprentice to a trades person," another told her.
"Sounds like you should wind up with steady jobs," she observed.
"That's the theory," one of the players replied. "Everyone needs plumbers and electricians, occasionally also carpenters. Welders can work in factories or construction and do well."
"What do you fellas do when not playing baseball or going to class?" she asked, hoping for something fun.
"A few of us have summer classes, but we all have some sort of job. The more advanced students have apprenticeships, for that valuable on-the-job training in how things really work."
"What do you do for fun?" she asked.
"Baseball is fun. There are some movies worth seeing. Most of us burn enough calories that eating together has become a big deal. What about you?"
"I start a retail clerk job tomorrow," she replied. "It'll keep me busy, put some money in my pocket. I may meet some interesting people."
"We've got a cookout this evening," the pitcher added. "Care to join us?"
"Sounds like fun," she replied. "When, where, and what can I bring?
"My house around five, 4321 Dodge Avenue. You can bring an assortment of chips."
"What kind of chips?" she asked.
"Potato, tortilla, pretzels," he replied. "We usually do a couple of big bags of each type."
"I think I can handle that," she affirmed. "That sounds like it's out a way. Could somebody give me a ride?"
"Sure, where do you live? It's a small town, and we're scattered all over it."
"101 Spring Street," she replied.
"Hmmm...I think Lou's on Autumn, a couple of blocks from you."
"Hey, Lou!" Pete yelled across the bleachers.
"Yeah, Pete," Lou yelled back.
"Come on over here and meet our newest fan," Pete shouted.
"I'm Paula," she said when Lou got to them.
"Hi, Paula," they replied in unison.
"Can you give Paula a ride to the cookout tonight? She's at 101 Spring Street."
"Sure, that's only a few blocks from me. Look for a little red station wagon about quarter til 5."
"Thanks," she replied. "I look forward to meeting the rest of the team and getting to know all of you."
"How are you getting home?" Lou asked.
"Bicycle," she replied with a smile.
"Great, see you later," Lou replied.
CHAPTER TWO: THE COOKOUT
Lou was right on time in his little red station wagon. They chatted as he drove to Pete's house.
Several other team members were already there, helping Pete set up the food and drinks. The rest arrived shortly thereafter. Paula noticed that none of them had a girlfriend along, and started to wonder if she'd been invited for more than just food.
"Don't any of you have girlfriends?" she asked Lou.
"As far as I know, none of us are going steady this summer. There are some casual daters, but most of the girls have odd work schedules so can't make many of these cookouts. How about you?"
"My ex-boyfriend is working way out in the boonies this summer," she began. "Ours was a convenient relationship to have dates for things that needed a date, but nothing more than that."
"Did you ever kiss him?" Lou asked.
"A few times, but he always acted like I'd break if he kissed me too hard, or held me too hard."
"Sounds like not much fun," Lou summarized.
"Not much fun, but safe," Paula replied. "Sometimes a little too safe."
"How so?"
"I kissed him, never the other way around. Even the slow dances at prom he tried to hold me at arm's length even though I tried to close the gap."
"Way too safe, compared to my limited dating," Lou sympathized.
"Thanks," she replied.
"Come and get it!" Pete yelled to the assembled team plus token groupie.
"I'll introduce you to the rest of the team," Lou said.
"I'm terrible with names," Paula admitted.
"Don't worry, so are most of us," Lou tried to lessen her awkwardness.
They ate, drank, and made merry with a bunch of jokes ranging from the lame to lewd. Paula laughed at all of them, but blushed a bit at the bawdy ones.
"C'mon, guys, let's not embarrass our guest," Lou admonished after a particularly naughty limerick.
"It's okay," Paula said. "I need to get used to more of the real world, which I gather can be pretty nasty."
"You want nasty?" Stan asked as he walked over to face Paula at point blank range.
"Stan, be nice," Pete warned.
"Some of us aren't virgins, just so you know. The rest haven't met the right girl yet," Stan announced loudly enough for all to hear. "I'm guessing you're a virgin too, am I right, Paula?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Hear that, guys? We've got a virgin girl in our midst," Stan announced.
"I'd love to have another virgin," Curt confessed.
"Cool it, guys," Pete ordered.
"It's okay," Paula told them. "My mom got me an IUD for my 15th birthday, and my last checkup showed it still in place. She warned me to also use a condom to protect against disease, though."
"Sounds like you're ready and maybe raring to go," Curt cajoled her.
"I'd like to get to know my next boyfriend before I spread my legs for him," Paula cautioned.
"Well, how about we schedule dates for you with each of us?" Curt suggested.
"Sounds like a busy schedule, 18 athletes in a row," she replied. "What would the batting order be?"
"Guys, give Paula a break," Pete said. "Those of you with even casual girlfriends might want to think twice, since some of them may not take kindly to your dating someone else."
"Aww, Pete, you're no fun at all," Fred scolded. "As for batting order, how about a random drawing of numbers?"
Several other players liked that idea. One nerd had paper and pencil in his pocket, and soon had the numbers written. When all the numbers had been drawn, the order came out:
Stan, Chuck, Terry, Fred, Frank, Chet, Chris, Curt, Rick, Paul, Lou, Roy, Pete, Les, Tom, Sam, Steve, Stu.
"That gets my work cut out for me," Paula said, a bit embarrassed by the implied attention.
"When can we start?" Stan asked.
"I work 10-6 Tuesday thru Saturday," Paula told them. "My mom will wonder if I go out too many nights in a row, so how about Monday, Wednesday, Friday?"
"Sounds like a plan," Stan replied. "What do you like to do on a date?"
"Dinner is always nice," she began. "There are a few movies coming out that I'd like to see."
"How about a drive in the country?" Stan asked.
"Sounds like a waste of gas," she replied, suspicious of Stan's intentions.
