INSTALLMENT
FOURTEEN
from
THE FATHER
CONTRACT
By Arthur Arrington
Edited Paul Scott
Please help Nifty out with a donation so that we can keep this wonderful story of PJ and his quest for a father alive and well! The kiddo needs your help!
As PJ listened and tried to relax, thoughts kept jumbling about in his head. He hoped Travis could win his event. He could guess how much it must mean to his friend. He would have to help him relax. But he wanted to win a medal too. He just had to win one for Jack! Jack had come all this way. He'd snuck out of his training camp just to see the Championship race. He pictured himself once again handing a medal to Jack. And then he had a great idea! I'll ask Jack to put that medal in his trophy case at his house! He can put it down in the corner, right by his Little League trophy.Then he and I will have something in there together!
Suddenly, he realized that Erik was talking to him. "PJ?" Erik asked again. "PJ, how are you going to swim your race tonight?"
"Um-m, I'm gonna take it out just as fast as I did this morning, faster if I can. On that second half, I wasn't really pushing. But tonight I will so I should be faster on the finish. I hope to do a better time."
"Okay," Erik said. "How `bout you, Travis?"
"Guys," said Travis, a little uncertainly, "I know Jack said not to get too nervous. But right now, I gotta tell you, I'm scared absolutely shitless about this race."
PJ glanced at Erik and winked. "No problem, Big Brother. That's exactly why we're here. Your little bro's are on the job." Without warning, he leaped from his bed to Travis' and started tickling the older boy unmercifully.
"Aaahh!" Travis cried. He curled up into a ball. Erik piled on, too. "Oh, no!" Travis yelled. "Aauughh! Help!" He curled up tighter, but PJ and Erik wouldn't let up. "Oh, help!" Travis shrieked. "Come on, guys! You're killin' me. I'll never be able to race. Help!" By now the two other boys had their hands under his shirt and had practically ripped the buttons off. PJ and Erik finally let up on him. Travis sat up, breathing hard. "Oh, man! Oh geez! How did you know I'm ticklish? I may never recover." He pretended to die and sprawled on the bed.
"Somehow I think you might live, Travis," Erik assured him. He returned to his chair and started to read again from The Nebraska Kid.
Just after five, as Erik was getting to an exciting part of the book, Jack and Coach Drew came up the stairs and into the room carrying shopping bags. "Hey guys!" Jack said, grinning. "Here's a training meal guaranteed to please. Tonight, for one night only, you get to eat all the stuff your mother told you never to have for dinner." He and the young coach pulled out cold soda, bags of potato chips, bags of Cheetos, boxes of malt balls, Chuckles candy, popcorn, and Hershey chocolate bars.
"Cripes!" Erik exclaimed. "It's junk food heaven!"
"Right," said Travis' coach. "You can have what you want. Just not too much. This is all instant energy food. Enough sugar and carbs to send you guys right over the moon."
The boys eagerly dug in. PJ homed in on the Cheetos, which he washed down with a Coke. "Jack, remember the first meet you came to? You gave me a bunch of lifesavers to chew on. It worked, too."
"Yup," Jack told him with a grin, "we use those in the dugout, along with big packages of sunflower seeds."
"Jack," Travis said, as he dug into some potato chips, "don't you guys just hate it when the TV guys put their cameras on the dugout and show everybody chewing and spitting and all that stuff?"
Jack laughed. "Oh man, do we! Charlie--that's my next-door neighbor's kid--he's got a video clip from a game that's got me picking my nose. And he shows it to everybody!" The three boys cracked up at that.
Jack told them a few more funny stories that got them all relaxed while they ate. Then Coach Drew put his arms around PJ and Travis. "Jack and I are going over to get some good seats. You guys stay here and come over in about a half hour. Erik, you stay with them. We'll hold a seat for you." He looked at PJ and then Travis. "You're both ready. As ready as anyone could be. You've trained for this all season and you're going to do great. I can tell. PJ, you're in a perfect position. Just by making the Finals you've already made your goal. Just go out there tonight and do your very best. Whatever happens, happens. You'll have two more chances at this meet when you're twelve and thirteen. Travis," he continued, hugging the boy he'd trained for so many years, "your race is tougher. You've qualified first and you want to win. It's your last year before you move up. That's a lot of pressure. I know PJ will try to help you with it, and I know you'll handle it. You've got the experience to do that. Go out there and win, Travis. We're all with you."
He and Jack packed up the leftover food and Jack handed out one more candy bar apiece "for later in case you need it." Then they left.
The three boys looked at each other. "Well guys, this is it," Erik said.
"Finish the last chapter, Erik," PJ told him. "This is a good book. You can' leave us hanging in the middle of it."
"Yeah," Travis said. "I wanna know what happens." They all laughed, and Erik picked up where he'd stopped. When he got to the end, he closed the book and announced, "Chapter's over. It's time, now."
PJ and Travis got their bags. As they stood together in the middle of the room, PJ suddenly put his bag down and gave Travis another hug. "Win it tonight, Big Brother. I just know you can!" Erik came over and gave Travis a hug, too, patting the older boy on the back. "Do it, Big Brother. Just do it!"
None of them talked again until they all got to the Field House, where Erik told PJ and Travis, "I'll double-check the event sheets for your lane assignments. Come over to where we're sitting when you get changed and I'll give them to you. That way you'll be sure to warm up in the correct lane."
On the way to the locker room, PJ told Travis, "I'm glad you're here with me, Trav."
"Same here, PJ."
They got changed. PJ felt pretty tense, even more than he usually did for dual meets, and he was afraid that Travis must be getting really wound up as well. "Gotta stay a little loose, Trav," he warned.
"I'm trying." Travis smiled nervously.
As they came out onto the pool deck, PJ's coach, Mr. Bernard, spotted them and came over carrying his clipboard. "PJ," he said, "we've got a chance to finish third or fourth overall. It could be our best finish in years! We need every point. Try to finish as high as you can in your event."
"I'm third qualifier, Coach," PJ reminded him.
"Some of those other kids may have been holding back, PJ," the coach warned. "Watch out for them. You've got a good lane. Just do your very best." He gave PJ a pat and moved on. Travis led the way over to where Coach Drew was sitting with Erik and Jack. "Erik checked your lane assignments, guys," the young coach said. "Travis, you're in lane four, same as you were in your heat. PJ, you'll be in lane three. Get a good warm-up and then just stay loose. These finals will move right along. It will be more like a dual meet."
Jack leaned over and told PJ, "Show those big kids what you can do, PJ. And don't let Travis get wound too tight. Good luck."
PJ shook Jack's hand, trembling with excitement. He just had to win that medal and get points for his team! He and Travis found their lucky spot to sit, left sweat suits and towels there, and went to find room in their lanes to warm up. "Our lanes are right next to each other," Travis said, "so we can swim side-by-side." They did their usual kicking and pulling to get the kinks out. Then they did some starts and half sprints to release tension. "I'll try a breaststroke start against you, Trav," PJ suggested. "Show me how good you are."
They both went off on Travis' count. PJ took as strong a kick and pull under the water as he could, but when he came up, Travis was almost a full body-length in front of him! "Man!" he said, looking at Travis admiringly. "You are good!"
Travis just grinned.
They got dried off and sat quietly as warm-ups ended. The events went in dual-meet order, so the first event was a medley relay. Gordonsville had a team in the finals, qualified sixth, and PJ made sure that Travis got up to cheer for it.
"Why aren't you on the relay?" Travis asked.
"Blake and I have almost the same times, PJ explained. "It's his last chance to get anything this season, so coach is letting him swim the fly leg in the medley."
The meet moved along quickly, as Coach Drew had said it would, so before PJ had a chance to get too nervous again, his butterfly event was called. Travis walked up to the blocks with him. PJ felt tremendously proud as he went up with the other swimmers. He wanted everyone to see his Gordonsville sweatsuit so they would know what school he was from. He didn't take it off and give it to Travis until he was standing right by the block. Then he put his goggles on, adjusted them, and Travis shook his hand.
"Good luck, Little Bro. I'll be cheering for you!"
PJ got up on the block, looked to either side, and felt another thrill of pride. He was by far the smallest kid in the final. He hoped everyone noticed! Right next to him, in lane four, was the first qualifier: who else but Brad! Compared to PJ, the Foxton ace looked his usual huge self. Forget that, PJ thought as he adjusted his goggles. Just stay with him as long as you can! If he wants to win, let him earn it! Maybe he'll miss a turn. Anything's possible! PJ took a deep breath to settle himself down and shook his arms to stay loose. Then he focused on the empty lane stretching in front of him. Take it out hard! Push it! Get that medal for Jack!
The starter called for quiet. He sent them to their marks. His gun fired!
PJ flew off the block, strong legs uncoiling like steel springs. His body stretched over the water in a perfect racing dive. After hitting the surface, he glided underneath for an instant, then powered to the surface with a hard kick to begin stroking down the first lap.
Take it out! Gotta take it out!
PJ swam the first two laps just as if it were his leg on the relay, taking no breaths, stroking as hard as he could while holding perfect body position. He hit the wall, got a quick suck of air on the turn, and pushed off into the second lap, forcing the pace, gliding over the top of the water on every stroke.
He took two breaths on the second lap. One halfway down and the other just a few strokes away from the wall, sprinting all out, fully extended, holding nothing back. On the turn, he took another bite of air and saw Brad in lane three next to him, ahead by at least half a body-length! But PJ was right with the rest of the field! He couldn't tell what place he was in, but he knew he was right up with everyone.
Now nail the second half of this race!
PJ was starting to hurt, finally feeling the pace. The sprint on the first two laps had taken its toll, but he had tremendous reserves and he called on them now, pushing the pace hard on the third lap. His body was screaming for air. He took a breath every fourth stroke, then every third.
Keep pushing it, keep pushing it!
A quick look on the last turn showed him still right with the field! Except for Brad out in front, everyone else was still close together! The older boys in the race were stronger, with a longer reach than PJ on each stroke. He countered with stamina and heart, sprinting desperately as he went down the last lap, giving it everything he had.
Do it! Got to do it! For Jack!
Ruthlessly he suppressed his body's frantic demands for air and stroked the last third of a lap without a single breath, driving furiously toward the finish. He nearly blacked out just before he hit the wall with outstretched fingers. Desperately, he struggled to raise his head and clear his vision. He took a gasping breath. His eyes sought and found the electronic scoreboard. His time was the best he'd ever done!
Then his heart fell. Next to his lane number was a huge red "5."
It had been a very close finish, but the big kids who had been holding back in the heats had come through in the final. They'd beaten him by a touch. PJ had only outraced one boy. He'd failed to get third-place points for his team. Even worse, he'd failed to get a medal for Jack!
The disappointment was so overwhelming that PJ came very close to tears. But he was a survivor. He was strong. With an effort he controlled himself, hearing very clearly Jack's voice telling him, "If you lose, you lose gracefully." He reached over and offered his hand to Brad, who'd of course won. This time the big kid took his hand and shook it. Then PJ got out and shook the hand of every other boy in the event, saying, "Nice race" to each one.
He made sure to conceal his aching disappointment when he saw Travis waiting for him. There was no way he was going to upset Travis before his friend's biggest race.
"Beautiful race, PJ!" Travis told him, handing over a towel. PJ gave the older boy a quick hug. "Thanks, Big Brother." He forced a smile. "It's my very best time. I really came close to getting those big kids."
"I'll say!" Travis still looked excited. "You were all bunched together! Second place to fifth was within a half second! You might win that race next year!"
"I'll do it," PJ told him. "Now, you win your race this year! That's the most important thing!"
Once PJ had pulled on his sweat suit, they walked to where their friends were sitting. Jack had a big grin on his face, waiting to shake PJ's hand. "Great race! Great sportsmanship! Champ, I'm proud of you. You were the youngest kid out there and you behaved just like a pro." PJ thrilled as he always did to Jack's praise. It helped him hide the terrible disappointment he felt.
Erik was beaming. "All your best splits and times," he triumphantly announced. "What a perfect way to end the season!" He leaned down close, eyes shining. "Now it's baseball for you and me! We're gonna tear 'em up!" Coach Drew shook PJ's hand as well. "I sure wish we could have you on our team this summer, PJ. You were just terrific in that race."
As PJ and Travis walked back
to their lucky spot on the other side of the pool, PJ was determined to do
everything he possibly could do to help Travis win his race. He wasn't going to
fail at that, too! There was a break for awhile, as the divers competed, and PJ
told his friend, "I'll be right back, Trav."
He searched along the pool deck until he found Randy and explained quickly what
he wanted. The older boy's face lit up. "Sure, I remember that kid. That's
a nice idea, PJ." He gestured to Trent and some of the other Gordonsville
swimmers nearby, who all followed PJ back to where Travis was sitting, looking
a little lonely. Travis glanced up in surprise as they gathered around him.
One-by-one, the Gordonsville boys introduced themselves. "I know you're
the only kid from your school in the finals tonight," Randy said.
"It's tough being by yourself. Since you're PJ's friend, we're making you an honorary part of our team.
We're your official cheering section." "Yeah,"
"See, Travis?" PJ grinned. "You can't lose now. Your coach is cheering for you. You've got the whole Gordonsville team cheering for you. You've got Jack Canon, the greatest baseball player in the world, cheering for you. And best of all, you've got your little brother who thinks you're the best older brother in history cheering for you! How can you lose?"
Travis grinned. "Thanks, fellas. Thanks a lot!"
Soon the breaststroke event
was called. Travis got up and took a deep breath. "Well, here goes." PJ, Randy,
The Gordonsville swimmers waited on the side while PJ went with Travis to the starting block in lane four. He took Travis' sweatsuit, handed him his goggles, and solemnly shook hands. "Good luck, Big Brother."
Travis nodded. "Thanks, Little Bro."
Randy waited for PJ to get back before telling all the boys, "Okay. `Let's go, Travis' on three. Ready? One, two, three!" They screamed "LET'S GO TRAVIS!" Their yell made so much noise, everyone in the whole pool area could hear them. Then they all waved their towels and cheered some more. "Go get 'em Trav! . . . Get that gold, Travis! . . . Let's do it, Travis!"
Travis looked over at them and grinned. The Gordonsville boys did not stop calling encouragement until the starter ordered quiet. Then suddenly the pool was hushed. The starter's gun fired and Travis' race was underway!
PJ thrilled as he saw his friend get an excellent start. Travis took an extra-long glide and came up stroking powerfully. But then PJ noticed that the boy in lane five next to Travis was right with him! "Come on, Trav!" PJ yelled. He twirled his towel frantically.
Travis and his close competitor both executed smooth turns. As they came back down the second lap, PJ saw that his friend had a slight lead. "Go, Travis!" PJ yelled, "you can do it!" The other Gordonsville boys, including Randy and Trent, were all on their feet and cheering for Travis too, twirling towels and chanting, "Go, Travis, go!"
PJ could now hear cheering coming from all over the pool. Since he knew his friend could see that he was in the lead, he was sure that'd give him courage for the second half of the race. "Go, Trav, go!" PJ screamed as Travis hit the second turn. He pushed off into the third lap. The kid next to him was falling back! Trav's gonna do it; he's gonna do it! PJ frantically twirled his towel and yelled as loud as he could, "Go! Go!"
Travis stroked harder and faster, as if he was getting stronger the longer the race went! His head dipped up and down, surging ahead with each tremendous pull of his arms. He hit the last turn fully extended, snapped his body around in a blur of speed, and with a tremendous push-off, surged up to the surface to begin his final sprint to the finish. His lead was now a body-length over the boy in second place, and he was pulling away!
"He's gonna do it!" PJ yelled. "Bring it home, Trav. Bring it home!" he began to chant in his high-pitched voice. "Trav-is! Trav-is! Trav-is!" Randy and the boys next to he took it up. "Trav-is! Trav-is!" They were still wildly swinging their towels. Now the whole Gordonsville team took up the chant, and then people in the stands. Soon the huge pool space was rocking with sound. "Trav-is! Trav-is! Trav-is! Trav-is! Trav-is!"
Travis came sprinting into the final yards, head down as he made the last few strokes in a tremendous finishing kick. He must hear us cheering, PJ thought. He must! With outstretched hands, Travis touched the wall . . . his head came up for a glance at the scoreboard . . . his arm went up in a victory salute! The air was thundering with the chants of "Trav-is! "
Randy was staring up at Travis' time on the scoreboard. He grabbed PJ's arm and screamed over the noise, "That's a new meet record! Travis set a new record!"
"Oh Yes-s-s-s-s-s!" PJ yelled. He leaped up into the air with joy and practically danced over to the block to help his friend out of the water. "You did it, Big Brother!" he babbled happily. "You did it! You did it! You did it! You won! It's a new meet record!"
He gave Travis a huge hug. Other Gordonsville boys crowded around, congratulating him too. Travis was grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks," he kept telling everyone. "Thanks!"
"Could you hear us cheering for you?" PJ asked.
"Oh, yeah!" Travis shook Randy's hand, and then the hands of all the others. "Thanks! You can't believe what that meant to me . . . for you all to be cheering like that!"
"You're PJ's friend," Randy told him, as if that were the only
explanation needed. Next to him,
Tired and very happy, Travis pulled on his sweat suit. Then he and PJ went over to where Coach Drew, Jack, and Erik waited. "Told you!" Erik kept saying as PJ watched Travis and his coach hug. "Told you my system would work, PJ!"
Jack leaned over the railing and put a hand on PJ's shoulder. "Having all the Gordonsville kids cheer for a friend, even though he was on the other team. You did that, didn't you?" PJ nodded and Jack's grip on his shoulder tightened. "I'm even prouder of you, Little Champ."
Little Champ! PJ thought. I'm still Jack's Little Champ, and I couldn't win a medal for him! He had to make a concerted effort to keep smiling and not cry.
The meet announcer was calling the first three finishers to come up for the medal presentations. Travis went up to get his award. As he stepped onto the stand, shaking hands with the second and third-place finishers, the announcer told the crowd about Travis' new meet record, and there was a storm of cheering and applause. Travis waved to PJ, Erik, and then to the other Gordonsville swimmers who'd cheered for him. After the presentation when he came back with his medal and passed it around, Erik examined the big gold medallion. "Man, that is nice!"
PJ stared at the medal enviously. I could have had a medal, too, if I'd at least gotten a third in the finals! Then I would've had something to give to Jack .Disappointment welled up again, though he was happy for Travis. "It's the greatest, Trav," he said. "I'm really glad you won." And he was sincere about that.
"I won because you helped me, PJ," Travis told him gratefully. "And you, too, Erik. You can't imagine how much your help meant to me."
"You helped me a lot, too, Erik," PJ added. "Thanks."
"Hey, what are roommates for?" Erik said with a grin. "When you have a best friend, you take care of him."
PJ and Travis went back and sat with the Gordonsville team for the rest of the meet. They cheered for all PJ's teammates and cheered again at the end of the contest when Gordonsville came in fourth overall. "That's the best we've done since I've been here," Coach Bernard told them, beaming.
The mood in the locker room was upbeat as Travis and PJ got dressed. But inside, PJ was feeling worse and worse and couldn't help dwelling on the thought that my team might have gotten third place if I'd finished higher in my own race! Holding his frustration inside so as not to spoil Travis' victory, he managed to keep a smile on his face when Randy and Trent came by to shake hands with Travis again.
When PJ and Travis went upstairs, they found Jack once more in the middle of a crowd, signing autographs. "Gee, the poor guy never gets a break, does he?" Travis said sympathetically.
Coach Drew and Erik spotted them. "Better get your stuff together, Travis," his coach said. "We have a long drive back tonight. We should get started."
"Me an' Coach Drew can stay here with Jack," Erik told PJ. "You go take care of Travis." He put out his hand to the older boy. "Will you be playing baseball this spring, Trav?"
Travis shook with him. "Nah," he answered, "I'll still he swimming for another month. I have some age-group meets I'm gonna enter. But I'll be running some track on our school team. We're coming up here for a meet."
"Then your little brothers will be there," Erik assured him. "You have to eat with us. And if it's an overnight meet, you have to stay with us."
"Yeah, Trav," PJ said. "And don't forget, our baseball team is coming to play yours. We want our big brother there to cheer for us."
"I will be," Travis promised. He said goodbye to Erik; then PJ led him away to escort him back to the House. After buttoning up their jackets on the steps of the Field House, they walked across campus through the darkness, carrying their swim bags. The many lights shining in the windows of the Quads made the night seem warmer than it really was. Beside the stone pathway, the last remnants of winter piled up by the snow blowers awaited the coming spring.
The two boys walked in silence for awhile before Travis said, "PJ, I hope you're not too disappointed in your race. You did a fantastic job just to make the Finals. You were the only eleven-year-old to do that. You're gonna do even better next year."
"I know, Trav." PJ turned his head to look over at his friend. "Thanks. I'm okay." Travis was right. PJ knew it, but. . . he tried to force his disappointment away, determined not to let it show.
They went upstairs and packed all of Travis' gear. "I'm really gonna miss you guys," Travis said as he took a last look around. They went down and found Erik and Jack waiting with Coach Drew at the car. "Until next time," the coach said, shaking PJ's hand. "I hope it won't be too long." He said goodbye to Erik, and turned to Jack. "Mr. Canon, I want you to know it's been an honor to meet and get to know you. I've admired you so often on television. Now that I've met you in person, I admire you even more."
"Hey," Jack said, grinning. "The pleasure was mine, believe me. You gave me a seminar on swimming and coaching I couldn't have gotten anywhere else." He turned to Travis. "We were all very proud of you tonight," he told the lanky boy. "I think PJ and Erik are lucky to have you as a friend. Before you go, there's something I'm supposed to give you." Jack reached into his pocket and brought out an envelope emblazoned with the team logo of the Philadelphia Phillies. "I think you once told me you're a Phillies fan, right?"
Travis was staring at the envelope. He looked up wide-eyed and nodded.
"Well," Jack said, "I told a few friends of mine on the Phillies about you, Travis. And they thought you were just the kind of fan they'd like to have. So, they have instructed me to give you and your coach this." He handed Travis the envelope. PJ along with Erik peered over their friend's shoulders while he opened it. Inside were two season tickets, good for every Phillies home game.
Travis looked up at Jack, stunned. Wordlessly he handed the tickets to Coach Drew so he could see them too. "We play the Phillies in the Interleague schedule this year," Jack went on. "As a season ticket-holder, you're allowed on the field before the game for autographs. I want you to be sure to come to see me that day, Travis, so you can be my personal guest in the dugout and meet some of my friends. Will you do that for me?"
Travis eagerly nodded. "Y-yeah, Jack," he finally stammered. "You bet I'll come!"
Coach Drew looked at Jack gratefully. "Jack. This is incredibly nice of you. Thank you."
"Not me," Jack protested. "Thank the Phillies. They gave you the tickets. I'm just the messenger. All I ask is that you use them. Let this boy have some fun at the ballpark this summer."
Travis took Jack's hand. "Thanks, Mr. Canon."
"Thanks for being PJ's friend," Jack told him.
After they all said their last goodbyes and Travis and his coach drove off, PJ and Erik kept waving until the car turned the corner toward the gate. "You two should be very proud of yourselves," Jack told the boys. "I think you really helped Travis a lot. He's a good kid."
The three of them walked up the sidewalk toward the front of the House. "Erik," said Jack, "you guys are starting baseball now, right?"
"Tryouts are in two weeks," Erik said.
"If you both make the team, I hope I can get to at least one of your games. If I don't see you until then, good luck."
"Thanks, Jack." Erik turned to PJ. "I'm going in. I wanna try and call my mom and dad tonight."
"Sure," PJ said, nodding. "I'm gonna stay with Jack for awhile."
With a last wave to Jack, Erik left them and trotted toward the House door, while PJ and Jack started walking slowly around the Quad. Lights were on in all the windows of the different houses, and a steady stream of cars went by, filled with people leaving the meet.
Every other time Jack had visited, PJ had wanted more time alone with him so they could talk. But now . . . now he still wanted that . . . but at the same time he was ashamed and a little scared. He had begged Jack to come to the Championships. Just about forced him to do it! And Jack had come. Sneaked away from Spring training! And what had he gotten to see after going to all that trouble? He`d seen his Little Champ blow his race, miss winning a medal, and not get points for his team, that's what! He was probably mad, and just being nice in front of Erik, Travis, and Coach Drew! PJ walked in apprehensive silence, afraid of what might be coming.
"I'm really happy I came to this thing, PJ," Jack finally told him. "But you seem kind of down. Do you want to talk about it?"
"I'm okay, Jack." Jack wasn't mad! PJ was so relieved, tears came to his eyes. He brushed at them hastily with his coat sleeve and looked up. "I'm really glad you came too!"
They'd made their way all the way back to the Field House. There were still some people milling around and the lights were on. Jack led PJ back inside the huge building. They passed through the brightly-lit foyer into the vast darkness of the indoor arena where the enormous space was illuminated only by the dim glow of the fire-exit lights above the doors. After peering around for a moment, Jack, with PJ close beside him, walked all the way to the far side where he sat down on the end of the bleachers by the wall where Erik and PJ had spent so many hours practicing their baseball skills. He drew PJ onto the bench next to him. "Okay, Tiger," Jack said quietly. "Talk to me. I know something's bothering you. Tell me what's wrong."
PJ just could not pretend any longer. Not to Jack. All the disappointment he'd been trying to ignore the whole evening came welling up. A tear trickled down his cheek and he dropped his head.
"I'm sorry Jack." He brushed at his eyes. "I let everybody down."
"Why is that?" Jack put his arm around PJ's shoulders.
PJ brushed his eyes again. "I should have held my place in that final! If I had, Gordonsville might have come in third instead of fourth. I tried as hard as I could, but I should've tried harder! Erik and Travis did everything to help me and I still didn't do it."
Jack nodded. He drew PJ to his chest and gave his shoulders a quick squeeze. "Yeah. You feel bad. It's the competitor in you. You'll never be satisfied with second best, Little Champ. Not you. Not ever. I know how it is. I'm the same way."
PJ lifted his tear-stained face. Jack understands! Jack always understands!
"One thing you have to learn, PJ," Jack said, looking into the boy's eyes, "there's gonna be times when you do your very best and still lose. It happens to me, it happened to you tonight
--it happens to everybody. If we could win all the time, life wouldn't be too interesting, I guess." He sighed and gave PJ another quick hug. "When that happens, the thing to do is find all the good things you did. Don't let the disappointment get you down. Don't let it beat you! Tonight, you swim the best race of your life. You did the best time you've ever done. And PJ, you did make the finals. You were the youngest kid out there. It was a tremendous accomplishment. When I saw you standing up there on the starting blocks, I was so proud of you. . . ."
PJ buried his face in his hands. "But the medal, Jack. The medal. I didn't win a medal." His little shoulders shook with sobs. Jack hugged him tightly.
"There'll be lots of other medals, PJ."
"No. No." PJ shook his head violently. "Not like this one. It was supposed to be for you, Jack. I wanted it for you. Travis won a medal for his coach! I wanted to win one for you! I was gonna ask . . . put it in your trophy case . . . by your Little League trophy . . . so we could have it . . . together." PJ was sobbing as if his heart would break.
Jack watched him for a moment, got down on one knee in front of the boy, put hands on PJ's shoulders, and gently shook him. "PJ, PJ, listen to me! You really think I care about some little medal more than you? You think I need that to prove what you are? You're still trying to buy me, kid. You're still trying to buy my friendship. Don't you believe I care about you? Your heart, your courage--that's worth more than any medal, any trophy, any dumb little trinket in the whole world! Son, you don't have to give me anything to make me like you."
He sighed and shook PJ again. "What am I gonna do with you?" With a smile, he stroked the boy's hair. "You don't have to win anything, PJ. If you'd never won a race, if you were the worst swimmer in the world, it wouldn't make any difference to me. You'd still be my Little Champ. Son, the things I care about are all inside you. They have nothing to do with winning or losing!"
PJ stared at Jack through blurry, tear-filled eyes, his brain whirling. Jack Canon called me 'Son'! He'd almost fainted from the joy of it. With a soft little cry he threw himself into Jack's arms and clung tightly, burying his head in Jack's shoulder. He was still sobbing, but now he was sobbing with happiness!
"Whoa!" Jack said with surprise. He stood up with PJ clinging like a monkey and walked up and down, patting the shuddering boy's back. "Okay, son," he soothed. Finally he sat down again and just let PJ hold him. "You know it's true, don't you, PJ? You don't need to win stuff or give me stuff to make me like you."
PJ nodded vigorously. "I know it, Jack." He hiccupped a little. "I know it `cause that's how I feel about you. If you never won the World Series, or never got a home run, I'd still think you're the best!"
With a faint smile Jack held him, patting and rocking until the boy calmed down. "Feel better?"
PJ slowly nodded.
"Good." Jack tried to untangle himself, but PJ shook his head, clutching even tighter, so Jack settled back and patiently waited. After awhile, PJ relaxed his grip.
"My Christmas wish!" PJ whispered.
"What was that?" Jack softly asked, a little puzzled.
"My Christmas wish . . . it came true!" PJ gently pushed away from Jack and sat on his lap, looking wide-eyed up in his face. "Wishes do come true, Jack. They really do."
Jack smiled. "Sometimes."
PJ climbed off Jack, stood up, and Jack got up too. "Okay, now?" PJ nodded. He went over to the baseball wall and asked dreamily, "Remember when you and I played here and you coached me?"
"Sure, I remember."
"I really, really like it a lot when you teach me stuff." PJ thought for a moment, and then looked up. "Jack, do you know what I've wanted to do since your very first visit and we've never done it?"
"What's that, PJ?" Jack smiled fondly at him.
"I've wanted us to go
have dinner at the
"It's a little late, PJ."
"That's okay. We don't have to eat a lot. Can we go, Jack? Please? All the other parents take their kids."
Jack patted him on the shoulder. "Sure we can go, Champ."
"All right!" PJ tugged at Jack's arm, pointed him toward the front of the Field House, ran excitedly ahead of him, turned a cartwheel, and came running back again!
"Feeling pretty happy now, are you?" Jack said with a grin.
PJ nodded. "I feel . . . oh, like . . . I could win the Olympics, or hit a homer every time . . . like the kid who only hit homers! Like I could play the outfield for the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park! Or pitch in Yankees Stadium!" He gave Jack an excited hug. "Jack, I feel like I could live forever, like I could race the wind. . . ." He let Jack go and danced around joyfully. "Jack, are you coming to my baseball games?"
"You have to make the team first, PJ," Jack said, chuckling.
"I'm gonna!" PJ said confidently. "I just know it. Erik and I are both gonna make it. You'll come, won't you, Jack?"
Jack sighed and gave him a rueful smile. "The regular season will have started by then, PJ. But yeah. If you make the team, I'll try to get to at least one of your games."
"Hurray!" PJ yelled it into the vast dark space of the huge Field House, and turned another cartwheel. "Jack!" he yelled again. "During Spring vacation in April, I want to spend every day with you!"
"Now look, PJ," Jack protested, "I'll be playing ball almost every day. I wouldn't be able to spend that much time with you. You'd be bored."
"No-o-o-o," PJ protested. "I want to be with you every day. I won't get in your way. I won't be any trouble. You'll see. Please, Jack. Please, please, please!" He took Jack's hand and looked up at him adoringly.
"Yeah, well--lemme see. Let's get into the light so I can check something." They walked through the big double doors into the foyer where the lights were still on. Jack dug out his wallet and PJ saw with a thrill that it was the one he'd given Jack for Christmas. He could tell he was using it, too, because the wallet was starting to look worn. While Jack opened it, PJ hung on his arm, watching. There was his picture, still on top of the stack of credit card holders!
"You know what, Jack?" PJ told him delightedly. "When I got your wallet, the saleslady helped me put that picture in right on top so you'd see it every time you opened it up."
"I do see it every time," Jack told him. He gave PJ's shoulders another hug. "What are the dates of your Spring vacation?" PJ rattled them off. If there was one thing he knew, it was vacation dates.
"Okay, that's ten days.
. . ." Jack consulted a Boston Red Sox schedule card. "What about
Walter Harris?" he suddenly asked. "Didn't he want you in
"I'd rather be with you!" PJ said frantically. "You can buy me the clothes with my money."
Jack continued to study his schedule card while PJ hung on his arm, bouncing anxiously on the balls of his feet. He was bursting with so much joy his head was whirling. All he could think of over and over was I'm Jack's son! I'm Jack's son! I'm Jack's son! He wanted to shout it or sing it out loud. His eyes danced with exhilaration!
At last Jack sighed and
said, "Okay, Tiger. Here's the deal. The Red Sox have a one-week home
stand against the Yankees and White Sox during your vacation. You can spend
that week with me in
"Deal!" PJ told him joyfully. His heart leapt.
"Now let's see this
"Come on, Jack," PJ said as he tugged at his sleeve. "Let's hurry. I wanna steak, an' french fries, an' apple pie . . . an' you gotta wear a tie! Didja bring your Red Sox tie, Jack? I'll wear mine. I want us to look alike, so everyone knows we're together!"
Babbling excitedly, he led
Jack off toward the House, all disappointments forgotten, aware of only one
thing. He was going to dinner at the
PJ thought of his book. The sports-adventure book Jack had given him. The book PJ had read over and over in the secret watches of the night. At the end, the baseball coach hugs the young boy and tells him, "You're safe now. Save forever. Safe at home!" He ran up the sidewalk toward the House almost crying in his happiness. Then he ran back to the big, rangy man coming along the path behind him and jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Whoa!" Jack said, laughing. "Take it easy."
I'm safe! PJ thought exultantly, the man's strong arms hugging him. Safe! Safe at last! Safe with my new father!
He wished with all his heart that Jack would say it just like the coach had in the book--because now that he thought about the words "home" and "forever," he just hoped that Jack had meant "Son" in the exact same way. . .
* * *
CONCLUSION OF INSTALLMENT FOURTEEN
Editor Paul K. Scott's e-mail: paulkdoctor@gmail.com