Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 21:29:36 -0500 From: Nails Nelson Subject: Chapter 11, Basketball Camp Warning! This story describes love (but no sex) between teenaged boys and between a man and a boy. If you are underage, leave now. IF you do not enjoy such stories, why did you get in here, past all the warnings and barriers? LEAVE! All others please give me feedback after you've read it. This is a rewrite of a chapter that seemed to end of the story. For those who read the other version, is this better? The Championship Game Basketball Camp, Chap. 11 by Bob Nelson The Ferocious Five have done so well they get a "by" into the semi-finals, so they are already in the Final Four for this weekend. They've earned it. I hope my past encouragement and being here today will helped them play their best. Their natural abilities plus the way they've incorporated the Coaches' training should carry them to an easy championship. "My team," with "My David" leading it, are playing well in this semi-final game -- like a team that's played together for a couple of seasons! However, Charlie and David are both acting a little different, one "up" one "down." It's easy to see that David is really hyped, bouncing around, grinning, what they call "full of himself." He's making some good, clean steals and doing some of his razzle-dazzle. Maybe some zing from our incomplete love match, last night? Charlie is acting very different; just the opposite of David. He's been all business: a little abrupt with Pete, Enzio and Tony but almost completely ignoring David except to pass the ball or help him block. Kind of mechanical. That's it. He hasn't smiled or joined in the excitement of the game. He glanced at me once as they got here, but it was a scowl. Since then, he's pointedly avoided looking at me. He's just focused on the technicals. Something's seriously bothering him. In this game they blow the other team away with a score of 29 to 16 -- in a twenty-minute game! They take a break and come over to sit with Spike and me to watch the other semi-final game with the third and fourth highest ranked teams. "Hi Bob," David greets me as he gets close, "what did you think of our game?" "Game? Wasn't that just a minor scrimmage to warm you up for a game? Those poor guys didn't know which one of you to block. You all did an excellent job blocking them, combining zone with a man-on-man defense to keeping them off balance. I told you Defense wins more games than Offense." "Yeah, and so did the coaches," Charlie answers as he comes up. Does he sound sullen, or angry? "Glad we agree, but listen to them not me, since they're the coaches and they know the game and the game they want you to play," I reply. "But you guys are probably a little thirsty from that light workout. Anyone want some water? I brought six little ones in this mini cooler that I'm sitting on." "Thanks, Bob, I would," Pete says. "Me, too," Enzio and Tony chime in. "YEAH," David says, bounding over with smiling enthusiasm.. I get off my cooler seat, open it and hand out new bottles of cool water. I'd shown them to the Assistant Coach when I brought it up, getting his OK to let the boys have a quarter liter apiece. I'd heard that ice-cold water or too much water right after exercise can cramp a guy up, and the coach agreed. "Sure, why not?" Charlie says, digging in to take one. "Thanks." He seems sullen, morose. Sad? Angry? Definitely withdrawn and so different from the happy kid of the past few days. The boys each take a drink, then ask me what I thought of certain plays they'd tried. "Did you see how David charged in then fed me the ball at the last instant when they'd triple teamed him and left me wide open?" Pete asks. "It was beautifully executed, Pete. I thought you were going to slam dunk it and hang from the hoop," I tell him. "I can't quite slam dunk and besides, the Coach told us all the first day we were NOT to slam dunk. He ran a Round-ball camp last year where they played the final games inside. When one of the tallest boys slam-dunked one, his feet swung under the basket and when he came down he hit his head pretty damn hard on the floor. Knocked him out and his breathing got pretty shallow. They called 911 immediately, of course, but by the time the ambulance got there he was OK except for a bad headache. There was no Trainer and it was real scary for everybody until he came around. They took him to the hospital for a quick exam anyway, just to make sure. So we don't slam dunk." Tony looks at Pete with new respect and a small smile, "Gee, Pete, you tell that story as good as Charlie would, and better than the Coach did. All the facts without anything extra. It's easier to remember the way you said it." Pete shrugs it off with "Well I have to simplify it to remember it." David winks at him and says with a grin, "Yeah, Pete, we know you make it short & sweet, just like Charlie does, but it isn't because KISS applies to either of you. Defiinitely not!" He looks at Charlie after looking at Pete. He has a worried look, wondering where he's at. We can all hear David's emphasis on the key words, like he's pronouncing the capitals, and Enzio responds, "You keep it simple, Pete, but Stupid sure doesn't apply to you or Charlie!" "Naw, sure doesn't," replies Enzio. "Nope," adds Tony, "you clarified some of the coaches' instructions. I like that word, clarify. I just learned it a few weeks ago and I think it fits here, doesn't it Bob?" he says as he turns to me. "Exactly right, Tony. Clarify means you make something clear, like cleaning mud off a window." We chat a bit more, and three of the boys head off to the gym to take a whiz and wash up. They say they want to check out the trophy case, too, as this is their last chance. That leaves Charlie, David and me alone for five to ten minutes, which is what I was trying to figure out how to do. Just goes to show that if we let things happen naturally, they usually turn out better than anything we force. We three are on top of the grassy bank above the basketball courts. David moves closer, almost leaning against me, as Charlie sits five feet away with his arms around his knees. I figure this may be the only semi privacy I have with them before they leave and say, "David, Charlie, I'm glad we have a few moments alone. I have really important things I want to clarify." "Gonna clear some mud off the glass?" Charlie says, sullenly. He's glowering, now. "Yes, Charlie. But why are you angry? You played pretty well in that last game, but nowhere near your potential or as well as you've played all weekend. What's your problem?" He leans forward with his jaw tensed, eyes squinting in a terrific scowl as he says in a heavy whisper so he won't alert the staff, "YOU'RE the problem, Bob!!! You and your damn seduction of David!!! I know what you did last night, after you'd told us, especially him, that there would be no sex this weekend. At least none between you two!" David's mouth and mine drop open. We're stupefied, but David recovers first, "What the Hell do you mean, Charles David Winchester? How do you 'know' that we had sex? Where and when do you THINK we did?" "When you went over to his house, last night, of course. Just a little love nest, handy to campus," he says to David, vehemently. "He's probably had dozens of college guys -- and boys from these basketball camps -- over there." Turning back to me he says, "You lead 'em on with praise, sweet words, and promises, then bang 'em and throw 'em away! Isn't that the way you do it, Doctor Bob?" The hate, anger, and disgust in his voice cut right through me, but before he's through, I get angry at his putting a few pieces together all wrong. I take a deep breath to get ready to reply, but David's already jumped in. "No WAY, Charlie! No - FUCKIN' - WAY!!!" I see the Head Coach look up at us with a frown. I wave to him, nod Yes and frown back, trying to show that I have the problem under control. I turn my hands palms down and move them up and down to signal the boys to "Hold it down," mostly so the Coach can see it. David glances at me then down at the Coach. He nods and continues tight and angry at Charlie, but in a much quieter voice, "What gave you the clue, Sherlock? What makes you so damned sure?" Charlie glares back at him and in an equally low, intense, growling whisper, answers with a scowl, "The strong smell of your CUM on your shorts when you came in -- at midnight! I told the Coach twice on his bed checks that you had an upset stomach or a case of the shits and were in the john, but you'd been in bed except just when he checked. I don't think he believed me. Then you come in all happy, almost giggling, and smell like a cheap whore who's just been laid!" Whirling toward me, Charlie continues, "You BASTARD! You two-faced, self-centered, Son of a Bitch! You kept leading him on, pretending that you were falling for him as fast as he was falling for you, just so you could pop his cherry! I know that up until last night David was a virgin. Guess he's not, any more. Do you keep score? How many does this make for you?" There's only one way to get his attention. It's called "white rage." I learned it in my Master's studies, when learning to work with emotionally disturbed, retarded, and autistic kids, or teens in highly charged emotional states.. It's one of the few ways to break through whatever problem or intense emotion keeps them from hearing a parent, Counselor or Teacher. I lean forward toward Charlie, tense my fists and arms, breathe in and out like I'm getting ready to pound him into the dirt, give him the fiercest glare/snarl/sneer or hateful look that I can. Then in the most intense, quiet voice I can manage -- as though I am barely holding myself in check -- I say, "What makes YOU all wise, all seeing, Charlie? Did God step down and tell you to take over, to jump to conclusions then judge and punish the wicked? You, the know-it-all who has it all wrong? I just TOTALLY resent what you just accused us both of, and demand an immediate apology, because we did NOT have sex last night! Yes, Charlie came -- so did I -- but with our clothes still on! JUST from hugging which became rubbing up against each other in an intense way!" David, who looked damned scared when I puffed up like a Komodo Dragon to use "white rage," quickly figures out it's a tool, not a danger to Charlie or to him. In a damned good imitation of "white rage," he adds, "DAMN it, Charlie! He's telling the TRUTH! Yeah, we got carried away in a sexy hug, but neither of us reached for the other guy's cock, so there was NO sucking or fucking! I am STILL a virgin!" Then David seems to deflate, as he runs out of the tremendous emotional strain of pretending to have that much anger. It's a lot of work! Adrenaline lets us act that way when we really are upset or scared, but not when we're acting. Now he sinks back down onto the ground, looking up at Charlie with the saddest eyes I've ever seen, "Don't you remember all those times we've talked about sex? The times one or both of us were SO turned on it looked like we'd do it? But one or the other of us always said 'Not yet.' YET was the operative word, Charlie! We'd reached some kind of understanding about age twelve, and put it in words two years ago that we'd have sex with each other the first time! We pledged that our virginity to each other. You might not have meant it, but I did! Yeah, I got all silly, fluttery, happy and crazy with Bob this weekend, thinking yesterday that I was in love with him enough that I wanted him to pop my cherry -- but not really. I held back, even last night when we both got so hot we came, just by rubbing our bodies together! Hot? Yeah! Sex? Maybe -- but not real sex. My Dad read the UCMJ to me last year when I asked him about crimes in the Navy. The part on rape of a woman, or sodomy -- anal sex -- specifically state, "Penetration, however slight, is enough to convict." Penetration, Charlie! We didn't even have skin-to-skin contact! Yeah, I was late. Yeah, I came in happy and smelling like cum. We tried to wash it out with weak tea, but we didn't have time to get my shorts dry. You know these canvas shorts take forever. BUT, you lunk-head," and here, David's eyes fill with tears and overflow -- he either doesn't realize it or doesn't care -- "you're still my Main Man! The guy I've loved for eight years, the one I want to start with, to sample, to find out together what sex is all about -- even if we don't become a pair of Fruits of the Loom! I just realized from your intensity that you thought I'd forgotten you or thrown you away, but I haven't! When you got so angry at Bob, so intense and irate, I realized I'm in love with YOU, not him! PLEASE believe me!!! Don't throw me away! Don't throw away all that we've been through since second grade! Please, Charlie, my Bud!" Charlie and I both have tears running down our cheeks at David's anguished plea, but the boys are focused only on each other. Charlie leans over, pulls David up, and gives him a bone crunching hug as he says, "Oh, Davie! I could never throw you away, or walk away from you! I was just so scared that Bob razzle-dazzled you and then took advantage of you. Yeah, he seems like a helluva swell guy, but we've only known him two days! How could you fall in love -- or think you had -- in just two days?" David sniffs, wipes his eyes, and answers, as he eases out of Charlie's arms, but stands close, "Charlie, it was just so ZINGY! I felt just like Cinderella must have. You and I have had a lot of great times, but Bob is a handsome man. A grown man, interested in me! You know one of my fantasies has been making it with an older guy. He spent time with us all, but 'specially with me! I felt like I was at the Palace Ball with Prince Charming! Then last night, I guess it struck midnight and I didn't even notice. I wore the glass slipper home, 'cause the Prince knew where I lived, here, and was going to come take me away and we'd live happily ever after. Now when you accused us of having sex, and got so mad at him for taking my virginity - - more mad at him than me, though you knew he didn't rape me -- THAT'S when I realized I really love you and it would never work for Bob and me! It was my silly schoolboy fantasy. You have been my Prince all along, always there for me -- not just for two whirlwind days. You never cussed me out, even now. IF it had happened, it would have been because I gave Bob my virginity and you still didn't get mad at me! Oh, Charlie, please forgive me. I'm sorry I let Bob make me feel all tingly, while I ignored you for two days! But now, seeing how it tore you up, I just want you! Can we start over? Will you have me back? Will you come back to me? I do love you, you know... or did you?" Charlie is smiling through his tears. A big smile of relief! "Of course I want you back, ya big lug! I was so afraid I'd lost ya, and was gonna fight Bob or have him fired, to get you back -- but you've come to your senses! Now the big question is can you forgive me for all those terrible things I thought and said about you? I was so torn up, and the smell of your cum drove me over the edge! Oh, I knew it was yours! How many loads have we shared, either using our own hand or the other guy's? It broke my heart and the only way I could play ball that first game was to get cold and angry inside. But afterward I was gonna GET him, or get even if I couldn't have you, my Davie-boy!" They were standing close. Now they get closer, leaning toward each other. If we weren't outside, where the other boys and the coaches could see, I think they'd hug and kiss to make up. They sink to the ground and sit close. Spike and I are between them and anyone on the courts. Not much cover, but enough that they lean even closer. "You can -- no, you DO have me, Charlie-bud! I didn't really go away, just took a little side path, but I'm BA-A-ACK! Just like Freddie, I'm BA-A-A-AAACK with you, Charlie my boy! And no, I'm not gonna let you go, either! If we weren't out here, I'd kiss you! We never have, but I would!" They are both elated that the little problem has been settled, that their friendship is NOT over, and that they have admitted their real love for each other. So elated and intensely tuned in only to each other that the other three boys are there slapping them on the back before they realize they're back. They stand up, a little embarrassed and brush off their butts. Very nice butts, I notice, again. "Hey, looks like whatever it was between 'em is over!" Pete hollers. "Yeah! HOORAY!", shout Enzio and Tony, almost in unison. "You guys ready for the Final Game, now?" Pete asks with a big grin. "ARE we? We're gonna blow them away!!" David and Charlie say with big grins, in synch. "Hey, David, Charlie -- don't we have to go talk over our game plan?" "No, we'll use the same plan as last game, but Charlie and I will pass off to you, Pete, or you can pass to either of us who are open. We'll depend on you two, Enzio and Tony, to be our main defense, keeping our goal safe from sneak attacks. OK?" David says clearly, but without the giddy joy he had in the semi-final game. He has his real happiness and enthusiasm back, instead. "Sounds like a plan," Pete says, with an eyebrow cocked. He knows something has happened while they were in the gym. Something has brought their star players back online. He looks back and forth between them twice, then smiles so big I'm afraid it'll meet in the back and the top of his head will fall off! "Yeah," agree both Tony and Enzio, apparently unaware of any change. "We just wanted to make sure you two weren't adding any razzle dazzle at the last minute," Tony adds. "No way -- last minute changes would foul us up more than help us," Charlie replies. Pete gives Charlie a double take then a secret smile. Charlie's back on track, too! "Yup," David adds. "But let's go loosen up and warm up for our Championship Game." I look from David to Charlie, with a feeling of love and affection for them both. Better than just cute boys. Handsome -- but so young! They lead their team over to the open court for last minute review and practice. Just as they get onto the court, both David and Charlie flash me a look at me that it's OK for now; that they can handle it. Can they? As I look at them I wonder what they're really like, way down inside, not just their boy-beauty. Pete has more perception than I'd seen, too. I go deep inside, think and muse: {They seem so mature and resilient, but my behavior overloaded them. Now I drop a bombshell on them just before their Championship Game -- but I had to find out why Charlie was in a tailspin!! Glad I did; it let him vent his frustration, his anger at me, and his fear that he'd lost David. David sure picked up quickly on "white rage" to confront Charlie, though! I hope they both got it out of their system, but there are probably vestiges that will surface in the next weeks. Hopefully they'll stay open and honest, talk it out instead of stuffing their feelings. Stuffed feelings always come out sideways, and always hurt somebody -- often someone not even involved}. The Championship Game starts off with my team a little ragged, missing a few passes and several shots. The other team jumps off to a 7 -2 lead. Coach calls time out -- first time I'd ever seen that -- talks to them briefly, then lets the game resume. My boys settle down then get into their groove. Their total integration is back. They switch from competent play to good, then to the razzle-dazzle and flash they showed in the semi-finals. They start playing better than ever. Their most spectacular play is when David drives down, passes to Pete who's entering the lane, then Pete passes to Charlie who has come up behind David. The opposing team quickly shifted defense from David to Pete, but they're caught flat footed when Charlie gets the pass in mid air on his way up, and drops it in for a clean basket. You could tell he wanted to dunk it, but remembered the coach's rule. My team bursts into a cheer as David, Charlie and Pete high five each other under the basket and Enzio and Tony repeat it at mid court. The other team can't pull it together and struggle till it's over. The final score is the Ferocious Five 36, their opponents 25. My guys are gracious in victory and compliment the other team as they pass single file past them, shaking hands with each one; some high fives, but their best looking player gets three butt pats from my team: one each from David, Pete and Charlie. The guys on the other team give a sportsmanlike round of applause to my guys before the teams file past. Good! The Head Coach calls all the boys to the center court, sits them down, quiets them and then presents the awards and trophies, ending with the Championship Trophies. Five individual, silvery plastic trophies to the 2nd place team's members and a Second Place plaque. They get nice applause from all the boys. Then he gives a small brass trophy to each of My Guys, followed by the team's Championship Cup Trophy. HUGE applause from all! I internalize, again: {I'm SO proud of them, and feel better now about confronting Charlie and David before the game. It seems to have cleared the air. Damn! I hope it stays clear! They're both smiling and look totally happy and relaxed. Maybe I lucked out and didn't catch the .45 caliber slug in the gut, this time. Maybe they survived my "friendship."} The Coach blows his whistle, quiets all the boys, then says loudly, "The Dining Room has a special lunch for all of us to celebrate the end of the BEST Basketball Camp we've ever had!" Cheers by all the boys, happy to hear what they felt is now official from the Head Coach, with all his Assistant Coaches nodding agreement with big smiles. "Yeah, you get a nice piece of baked fish, with lots of veggies," the Coach continues, trying to keep a straight face. He can't, so says "No, that's for us. YOU guys will just have to suffer with PIZZA!" All the boys cheer and start jumping around, slapping each other on the back. Then I notice the Head Coach is heading over to me. He nods at me, and says, when he gets close, "Dr. Nelson, as the Main Fan of this Basketball Camp, will you join my Staff and me for lunch? Or, if you prefer, you can join the boys on Your Team. Yes, I know that you have claimed them as yours and your encouragement helped them play their best. I'd like you to join us -- or them." I'm surprised, but quickly recover, with "Thank you, Coach. I really appreciate the invitation, and I do prefer to join My Team at their table. They played exceptionally well, though I didn't have anything to do with it." "Yes you did, Dr. Nelson. You acted like a Dad or favorite Uncle who was here whenever they played and focused on what they were doing. You helped them focus more and learn more. They played better in the semi-final game than they ever had, then rose above that in the Championship! That's the reason for these camps. Once boys realize they CAN play this well, they will carry at least part of it home and be awesome leaders of their school's teams next season. I was afraid they might lose their edge or their momentum in the Final Game, but whatever pep talk or insight you gave David and Charlie before it started sure brought them back! There has been something special in the way you handled those boys -- some special closeness." I almost choke on his choice of words, wondering how much he's guessed, but I keep my face serene as I say, "I'll just walk Spike home, give him a treat, then come join you all in the Dining Hall. Are the boys and your staff going directly there?" "No, we told the boys to go wash up and change their shirts. Some may shower, so it will be about half an hour. See you there, then." "Fine. See you then," I reply, then "Come on, Spike, let's go home. Want a chew bone?" That gets him all bright eyed and eager. He pulls me downhill to our home in less than two minutes. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> What ARE David and Charlie feeling? What are they thinking? Is David pissed off that Bob decided Charlie should be his First? Does Charlie think it's even better than it was, with David in love with him after he said it? He didn't look very convinced when Bob almost forced them both to reveal all of that.. Will Bob keep acting like he can decide their feelings and their future? Will David and Charlie have enough of Bob's meddling and get rid of him? If so, how? Send me feedback and suggestions, please: NailsB69@hotmail.com -- and thanks for reading it ! ~..~ !