Note to reader: What if you didn't know what kind of sexual persona you were, until you were put into a situation where the path wasn't clearly defined, and you had to adapt? The further down that rabbit hole you traveled, the harder it was to turn around? Is that the real you? Or, is it an exploration, an experiment that will run it's course and leave you different than you were? In this next story, I try to explore this situation, in greater detail, while still empowering the reader's imagination, to make the people and situations more relatable. Enjoy!
"Wanna Bet?" I heard my wife of two years say, and I inwardly groaned. She kind of resented Coach, she felt he didn't play me enough. I felt that way too, but if you wanted to play at all you didn't cross him. Or, challenge his pride by arguing baseball with him.
I looked over, and she was staring into his cold blue eyes, waiting for an answer. He stared back, momentarily shifting his attention from the practice, and the game he was watching on his phone.
"Stakes?" he asked, almost condescendingly.
"If the MudCats win, my husband Mike gets to drive your car home." She looked over at me and winked. I winced again, Coach's one prized possession was his classic Mustang, jet black, roaring V8 engine, he doted over it like a prized bull, always polishing it, waxing it, and working under the hood. Even if Jeanie won, Coach would never forgive me for taking that car for a ride. Jeanie's stakes were designed to humiliation him. I know she was trying to do me a favor, but, oh, no..
Coach seemed to growl at the idea, but wasn't backing down. "Alright. My stakes: If the Durham Bulls win, you will be my personal, obedient servant for the entire next game, all nine innings, on Saturday." he said. "In my home." He added, a sinister edge in is voice.
"Whoa!" I thought, that was pushing things pretty far. My wife Jeanie was very sporty, she played Beach volleyball for the college team, field hockey, and was a coach herself for junior softball. She was demanding and determined, and very proud of her knowledge of sports; hardly the housewife-type, and proud of her independence. Not prone to subservience or to accept humiliation lightly. As my wife, I didn't like the implications around her "serving" my coach, even if it was innocent fun. I thought for sure she'd decline.
She put out her tiny hand, her stance, even at 5'2, was defiant and strong. Coach stood up slowly, his heavily muscled 6' frame almost covering Jeanie in shadow, even for a man his age (mid 50s I'd guess) he was fit and agile. He took her tiny hand and shook it.
"Done" Jeanie said. I had a bad feeling about this, even as Jeanie looked gleeful, as if she'd put one over on Coach; the Bulls were getting their asses handed to them, the MudCat's pitcher was on his game. A no hitter, by the third inning. It seemed a safe bet. I held my breath.
I turned and loaded the gear into our van, and helped the team pack, watching as they each drove off, seemingly abandoning me to my fate. I got back to where Jeanie and Coach were watching the game, just in time to see the momentum switch and the Bulls started scoring. They won, Jeanie looked white as a ghost. She never liked Coach, called him "Walrus-face" behind his back due to his handlebar mustache, and always joked that he was so mean that certainly he must have killed his wife and buried her body in his backyard. This was not going to be pretty.
Coach used his phone to playback a MudCats pitch in the 5th inning: "See here?" he showed her, "He lost his balance, he does that on every fastball pitch." He explained, "Now, watch the 'Cat's batter. Look at his eyes. He's sneering, focused on the pitcher, instead of the outfield. That particular batter is a hit man, he'll try to take out the pitcher, but the pitcher doesn't see it." he fast forwarded to that moment. "The batter line-drives right at the pitcher's head, but the pitcher is off balance and tied to dodge! He winds up falling over, and if that ball connected to his skull, it would have ended his career. At that moment, he lost his nerve, and the game." Coach explained. "Your husband has the same problem; His fastball is better than anyone I've ever seen, but he does not read his opponent. He misses clues that might give him and edge."
Coach stood up. "See you both Saturday." He revved the engine of his car a few times to make his point, and sped off.
I didn't like this. Coach was an authority figure, having my wife serving him felt, uncomfortable, like I was being cucked or something. It wasn't cheating as much, but it felt like it was, maybe on a spiritual level or something. I wasn't happy. Jeanie seemed angry at me for some reason, the next few days were uncomfortable, to say the least.
Well, we survived until Saturday, and true to the wager arrived at Coaches home to pay up.
His "Man cave" was a double garage, one side an alter to Ford and all things Mustang, the other side a couch, big screen TV, an overstuffed easy chair, a classic mechanical pinball machine and a vintage Vegas slot machine, and of course a lifetime collection of baseball memorabilia. He met us dressed in sweat pants and hoodie, flip flips on his feet, fresh from a workout. The game was just starting, he looked over at me and said "Make yourself comfortable" pointing to a cooler of beer. Then, turning to Jeanie, said "Ready to pay up?"
She glared at him, silently nodding.
He shook his head. "No, baby-doll. For the duration of this game, you will address me as 'Sir" or ...."
He paused.
"Daddy"
Jeanie looked scandalized, her face red with fury. But she met his eyes with fierce defiance, and replied "Yes, sir.", in a low growl, almost spitting the words out.
The first pitch was thrown, Coach had Jeanie stand next to his chair, and called her attention to the game. "See the pitcher here, he's getting ready to throw a curve ball? Do you see it?"
"Yes Sir" she spat.
"How do you know it's a curve ball, not a fast ball?" He asked her. She studied the screen, and shook her head.
"Answer!" he said.
"The catcher's signal, he's..." she forced the words out.
"Don't look at the catcher! Everyone does that. Look at the pitcher! See his trailing foot, he digs in for a fast ball, but stands on the ball of his foot for a curve ball. Watch!" he said. This went on for the first inning, Coach pointing out tiny details and eventually Jeanie relaxed a little, taking in the lessons and trying to see what he told her to look for. At the next inning, Coach indicated he needed a fresh beer, and when Jeanie returned to hand it to him, he said "No. Come over hear and sit on my lap!" Grinning like a devil, and glancing over at me.
Jeanie looked like she was going to chuck the beer can at his head, but took a deep breath and gingerly sat on his knee, as if she was sitting on barbed wire. Coach grinned and turned his attention back to the game, calling out things that either team telegraphed about upcoming plays or exposing weaknesses. I was fascinated, he was a genius at detecting these things. I sat nearby and listened eagerly, Jeanie's humiliation was almost forgotten as she took in the knowledge Coach was sharing freely.
Then, by the third inning, he tested Jeanie "Describe what you see on the field" as the batter took his position. Jeanine started "The infield is moving in, they expect a short drive or a strike?" She said. "No, the batter will pop up to right field!" he corrected her, "Look where he's looking, checking out the position of those infielders..." and sure enough, he called it.
Jeanie looked frustrated that she didn't catch that, and I saw her physically relax on his lap, getting more comfortable even as she focused on the game. Coach said "See if you can anticipate the next play, Baby doll, if you get it right you can take a one inning break, if not, you call me "Daddy" until the end of the game."
Jeanie scowled at the suggestion, but ever eager to beat him as his own game, nodded her agreement. No matter how angry she was, she was eating up his lessons and coaching. The pitcher nodded at the signals, and was winding up, the batter glanced at first base.