Team Manager 2: SPRINT!
Chapter 16
DENNIS CAUTIOUSLY LOOKED around to see if someone was waiting to ambush him, using the senior as bait. He didn’t see anyone and approached a little closer.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Humiliated beyond my endurance, lonely, still having cravings for drugs I don’t even know the names of. Yeah, I’m fine,” she said.
“There’s hope now, Carol. You’re free.”
“Why?” She turned and started slowly to stand. “Why did you bother saving me? I did terrible things to you. I hit and kicked you. I spread stories about you. I hated you. Why did you save me?”
“I don’t know. Did I do the wrong thing? It’s kind of an impulse to see someone in need and help them. I never thought about anything you’d done or said or felt. I just saw that you needed help,” Dennis said. His girlfriends had asked him much the same question after it was over and he had no better explanation to give them. They seemed satisfied.
Carol shivered. “I guess I came to say I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. Um… I usually have a little snack when I get home from school. Would you like to come in for a hot drink and a cookie?” he asked. She looked at him curiously and then up at his house.
“Thanks. I… I don’t think I’ve eaten today.” She stumbled as they mounted the stairs to his porch and he automatically put a hand out to steady her. She leaned against him as they walked into the house.
“Mom? Can I get Carol a snack? I don’t think she’s eaten anything today,” he called. Dot emerged from the kitchen as Peg pelted down the hall toward him. Both stopped short.
“Uh. Carol? Certainly. It’s a little early, but the stew I made for dinner is hot. Let me get a bowl. Dennis, bring her to the kitchen table.” Dot went back to the kitchen and immediately began getting dinner on the table. Dennis pulled out a chair for Carol and she shivered again as she sat down. He quickly pulled his jacket off and put it around her shoulders. She hugged herself into the warm garment.
“Are you a girlfriend?” Peg asked.
“Um… No. I’m just a… someone who knows your brother,” Carol stumbled. “He’s helping me… again.”
“Oh. Okay. The girlfriends are my sisters. Maybe you can be a sister, too.” Peg happily took her place at the table as Dot set bowls of a thick stew on the table with a plate of bread.
Carol tasted the stew and looked up at them. She took another bite and looked around again. They could see tears running from her eyes, but she was silent and everyone began to eat. Little was said at the dinner table, but the quiet tears continued to flow. After the meal, she helped gather and wash the dishes. They went into the living room and Carol handed Dennis’s jacket back to him as she walked to the door. She stopped and stared at the floor where Will had died and at the door where Perkins was shot and killed.
“I’m sorry,” she whimpered. “I’m sorry for what I did to you. I’m sorry about your father. I’m sorry I didn’t kill Tom somehow when he was pimping me out to all his friends and giving me drugs so I wouldn’t resist or remember. I’m sorry I have such a worthless life and that you still saved me. I’m just sorry.”
“Carol, why don’t I walk you home. Or I can call and a friend will give us a ride. Do you need anything else?” Dennis asked. His mother jumped up.
“I can drive you home, Carol. We’ve all made mistakes in our lives. We can only forgive each other and carry on,” she said.
“I… can walk home,” Carol said straightening her posture. “Thank you for your kindness and for dinner. Thank you for saving me, Dennis. I don’t understand why you are all so kind to someone who was so mean to you. I know I can never make it up to you. I’ll try to be a better person.”
“If you need something, please let me know,” Dennis said as she opened the door. “I’ll help if I can.”
“Maybe sometimes you could say ‘Hi’ to me at school. I don’t think I have any friends there anymore.”
“Come sit with us at lunch. You’ll find out different.”
She smiled and turned away. Dennis watched her as she walked down the street toward her own house.
“That poor girl,” Dot said.
“Do you think she’ll be okay, Mom?”
“I think so. Eventually. I’ll get Lily to check on her mother with me. We’ll see if they need anything. I’m once again very proud of you, son. Very proud.” She hugged Dennis and went back to her chair. Peg brought a game and they played until story time.
Dennis was under a lot of pressure before the meet Tuesday evening. Coach Andy wanted to experience his taping ability. That wasn’t unexpected. Coach Graves had wanted the same thing in basketball season. But it meant that half a dozen basketball girls stepped out in front of the team to lead warmups, like they’d done it a dozen times before. As soon as he’d finished taping up the coach, Andy called Leah over and had him tape her. He was impressed that he did some lymphatic massage before he taped her. Dennis was thankful this was a two-team meet and that he had more time to get to where he was needed. Both Tori and Lana wanted tape before their events, so he was kept especially busy.
Of course, he’d talked to the girlfriends at lunch and told them all about what happened the night before. The girls all started arguing about who was supposed to take him home the night before. He’d barely gotten them calmed down before he had to get to his next class. He’d never seen them so edgy with each other and wondered if they were all starting their period.
It showed even more when they reached the track. They lost the medley relay to a much lower rated team. The Masonville Hornets had simply run away from them. It was after that race that Tori asked for tape. There were no preliminary heats for any of the races, so the meet was over in less than two hours. The boys’ team had beaten their rivals, but the girls simply couldn’t put it together to win more than a couple of events. Corrine managed a third place finish and she was exceptionally proud of her white ribbon. Her throw had been a couple of inches shy of thirty feet.
After the meet, Coach Andy called a meeting of all the Wolverines and Angelines in the gym before they could hit the showers.
“We’ve got a big meet with three other schools in Edison Saturday,” he began. “It’s an important meet for two reasons. First, as we’ve all learned from Coach Graves, every game is a championship game. We’re going up against those schools and I expect a victory in every event.” Cheers met his words, even though the girls were a little restrained after their loss. “The second reason is that this will be the meet at which we finalize who is competing with whom at the Drake Relays next week. We coaches need to post the entries on Tuesday, a week from today, for the Thursday meet. I’m sorry to say not all of you will be competing. But I expect you all to be dressed and on the field to help support your team. The relays are your last big opportunity to get a decent seed at the State Qualifying Tournament in four weeks. I want a hard workout tomorrow. We’ll go a little lighter on Thursday and Friday so you’re rested and ready to do your best on Saturday. Men, who are we?”
“Wolverines!” shouted the boys.
“Women, who are we?”
“Angelines!” they responded loudly enough to compete with the noise of the boys.
“Hit the showers!”
Roberta and Daniella were waiting for Dennis when he finished getting towels out to the loading dock. He looked around, but didn’t see Natalie.
“It’s just us tonight,” Roberta said. “We’re not spending the whole night, but we’d really appreciate some tender loving care for an hour or so.”
“Sure,” Dennis said, putting an arm around each of the girls. That sandwiched the top of his head at about shoulder height. “What’s got you bothered?” he asked.
“Same as most of the girls today,” Daniella said. “The blood is rushing out of our heads and pooling between our legs.” Dennis shuddered a little at the thought of tender loving care while they were in their cycle.
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to touch it,” Roberta said. “But if you could just rub our tummies… I feel so crampy.” Neither girl had done well in her event today. For that matter, it seemed like all the girls were off. Dennis finally began to understand what had happened to the team today.
“You know I’ll be happy to hold you and rub your tummies for you,” he said. “Do you need anything else?”
“You could knock us out,” Daniella suggested.
When they got home, Dennis greeted his mother and sister and then took the girls to his room.
“Mom, they’ve got menstrual cramps and want their tummies rubbed. Is there anything else we can do?” he whispered.
“I don’t know what it is this month, but everyone seems to be having unusually hard periods from what I’ve heard. As long as you’re not naked, I’ll bring you something.”
“I don’t think anyone wants to get naked, Mom.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”
The girls didn’t get undressed, but unfastened their pants and pulled their shirts up so Dennis could get to their tummies. He brought a bottle of massage oil his mother had handed him and made sure the oil was warmed up in his hands before touching them.
“Oh! That’s nice. What is that? It smells like… is that cinnamon?” Roberta asked.
“Mom uses this on Peg if she has cramps. Mostly Peg takes care of it herself these days.”
“Gosh. I never thought about how tough it must be on your mom and sister,” Daniella said. “Now I feel like a baby.”
“Don’t. Mom says lots of girls seem to be having a tough time this month. You don’t usually have this kind of pain, do you?” he asked.
“No. Your mom’s right. It does feel worse this month. I don’t get it. But that oil feels nice.”
“Knock-knock,” Dot said as she pushed the door open. The girls looked up alarmed, but they were all decent, even if their pants were unbuttoned. Dot appeared not to notice their embarrassment. “Now each of you take a cup of this and sip it slowly while Dennis holds you. It will be easier sitting at the head of the bed against the pillows. Dennis, remind me that we need to get you some more pillows for your bed.” The kids scrambled around until Dennis sat against the headboard and Roberta and Daniella cuddled against him sipping their tea.
“What is this?” Daniella asked.
“Ginger tea,” Dot responded. “You see the moon is in the house of Saturn and in conjunction with Mars. It’s a bad combination for the monthlies. I keep different teas on hand, depending on what the stars say about my period or Peg’s. It was always so wonderful to sit on the sofa held by Will when we had cramps. I promise, it will be better tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Enders,” Roberta said. “You’re really smart. And kind.”
“And with that said, perhaps you should have a less formal way of addressing me. It’s been six months since you started pretending to date Dennis. I’ll never pretend to be your mom, but you could call me Ms. Dottie. Do you think you could do that?” Dot asked.
“Oh, yes. That’s so cool!” Daniella said. “It’s friendly but sounds so dignified. Like you.”
“Well, thank you, Number Eight,” Dot laughed. She winked at Daniella and left the room. The girls giggled a little, feeling better already after the cinnamon oil rub and the ginger tea. They leaned against Dennis and all three dozed a little before they got up to go home. They thanked Ms. Dottie again on their way out the door and she told them to come anytime.”
At dinner, Dennis broached the subject with his mother.
“Mom, it was really nice of you to help Roberta and Daniella with their cramps. I didn’t know you followed the stars or horoscopes or anything,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t,” Dot laughed. “But when a girl has an unexplained pain that isn’t like normal, it helps if she thinks there’s a real reason for it. There’s such a relief that it isn’t just in her head and that there will be an end to the pain. Your father used the technique on Peg when she first started her cycles. It worked wonders.”
“Wow! Is that why she’d always yell ‘Mars is in the house,’ when she missed a basketball shot?”
“Mars is in the house!” Peg shouted. Then she mimicked her basketball shot and yelled, “Swish! All gone.” The family all laughed.
“What about the cinnamon oil and the tea?” Dennis asked.
“Oh, both are known to help with stomach cramps and abdominal pain,” Dot said. “If you had cramps, I’d give you the same thing. They are home remedies that have been around for years.”
“It was really nice of you to help them. Thank you. And to let them call you Ms. Dottie. That’s really special,” Dennis said.
“You pass that on to the rest of your girlfriends,” Dot said. “And to little Lana. I already told her when I stayed at the Browns’ a week ago. Elsa and I had a long discussion about what was an appropriate form of address. When she gives you permission, you’ll call her Ms. Elsa.”
“That works for me.”
“And, you should prepare to miss school and probably track practice on Monday,” Dot said. “I’ve talked to the doctor and he plans to examine your eyes and run several tests.”
“It’s still hard to believe you’re taking me there,” Dennis whispered. “Mom, I’ve wanted to try that surgery ever since I read about it a year and a half ago. Thank you. I didn’t think we’d ever be able to afford it.”
“Well, it’s still not a sure thing,” Dot said. “Don’t get your hopes too high. The surgery is still considered experimental. It is targeted only to a very specific kind of chorioretinal fold. So, they are running all the tests on Monday to determine if you are the kind of candidate they think you are. And this will be conducted at the University hospital. It’s a teaching hospital, so you will be observed by students as well as the doctor. It’s all very risky.”
“Mom, if there is any chance that it would make my eyesight better, I’d want to take it.”
“Is it so bad as that? I’m sorry we never had the resources before. This is a gift from the senior class for your contributions to the girls’ sports program and to the class as a whole. They want to thank you for making their school a better place.”
“Carol asked me last night why I saved her. I don’t think I did anything that extraordinary. I wasn’t trying to be a hero or anything. She just needed help.”
“I wish everyone saw situations the way you do,” Dot sighed. “So many people want to wait and see—not get involved. Or they want to make sure a person deserves their help. Or has earned it. Or can do something for them. I’m proud of the kind of young man you’ve become, Dennis.”
“I love you, Mom. I hope I’m just behaving the way you and Dad taught me.”
The best thing about the weekend was Brenda and Amy taking Dennis out on Friday, and Natalie staying over on Saturday. After school and practice Friday, Brenda, Amy, and Dennis went to Incredibowl for the Friday night fish fry. After stuffing themselves on the fish and chips, they bowled a game. It was the first time bowling for all three and Dennis discovered he had as many balls that stayed out of the gutter as his dates did. One of the bowling alley’s supervisors came to their lane and after talking to them for a minute set up bumper guards that would keep the balls out of the gutter. Then he told them about the arrow markings on the floor and the proper way to hold and roll the ball. Gradually, they began hitting the bumpers less and the pins more. Rather than risk being too sore before the meet on Saturday, they limited themselves to just one game. When they turned in their shoes at the counter and paid for their game, the manager gave them each a ticket for one free game on their next visit.
“We can’t stay out late or stay over tonight,” Brenda said. “We have a meet tomorrow and have to be at school by nine to catch the bus.”
“Don’t forget we need to pack a lunch,” Dennis reminded them. “I don’t know why they schedule meets that run over the lunch hour. We always have to take a break in the middle.”
“That’s probably why they do it that way.” It was a ninety-minute drive to Edison and the meet started at eleven. Everyone was expected to arrive at the bus in their uniform and track suit. They wouldn’t be going into the school to change before they left.
“Um… We could go parking for a while,” Amy suggested. “I mean if anyone thought like an orgasm would help them get a good night’s sleep, you know.”
“I know it would help me,” Brenda said. “How about it, Dennis? Would an orgasm help you sleep tonight?”
“Oh. Yeah. I mean, sure. That would knock me right out.”
“Don’t get knocked out before you give us each one,” Amy giggled.
“We’ll head for the old barn, just for old time’s sake,” Brenda suggested. They drove out into the country to where the abandoned barn stood and Brenda backed into it. Then nothing happened. The three kids just stared out the window as memories washed over them.
“Uh… This isn’t working for me,” Dennis said. “Could we just… go to my house, instead? Ms. Dottie is okay with us being there.”
“Yeah. Let’s go,” Brenda said as she put the car in gear again and pulled away from the barn. “Too many ghosts here.”
“When did you start calling your mom Ms. Dottie?” Amy giggled. “It’s cute.”
“Oh, she said you were all supposed to call her that now. She said she talked to Lana’s mom about it and that’s what they decided on,” Dennis explained.
“Cool,” Brenda said. “I love your mom.”
After greetings, the teens made themselves a cup of tea and went back to Dennis’s bedroom ‘to talk’ where they wouldn’t bother Dot.
Once they were in the bedroom, they found it as difficult to get romantically involved as they had at the barn. They did talk and drink their tea. Of course, they fooled around a little after they’d finished their tea, but it didn’t quite get as far as goodnight orgasms around. There were whispered ‘I love you’s around the triangle as they kissed and petted. By that time, it was nearly ten and the girls agreed they needed to get home so they weren’t out too late the night before a meet. Dennis kissed them goodnight again at the door and watched them drive away. Then he washed their cups and kissed his mother on the cheek before retiring.
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