Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2020 01:49:40 +0000 (UTC) From: Mike Simmons Subject: It was always about the bets 146 I must have been in a deep sleep as the damn alarm woke me. I went right to the bathroom and jumped into the shower and dressed in baggy gym shorts and the loosest fitting tee I could fine. I grabbed my phone sat at my desk and started with the emails. Three, I printed thinking I need a printer up here, two went to Tim, four went to Mason and the rest were deleted after being read. Then the voicemails, I started with Carrie and they were a number of versions of we need to talk, please call. They were all deleted. There was one from Ray also simply asking for a returned call I jotted the number down and deleted that. There was the Mayor, with a cute remark about my new job at the club, which was noted and deleted. There was a call from the Major asking for a non business meeting. I immediately returned the call and he said he would like to talk with me about VT. He assured me he had had a detailed conversation with JJ. We set that up for Sunday morning after the run and shower. I made note won the other calls. The last one was from the Union President asking for a meeting Tuesday afternoon. I returned that call and it went to voicemail and I set up a 4:00 appointment at Technologies. I sat there reviewing my notes and thinking, that was more than enough for a Saturday. I was debating the call to Carrie and there was a knock on the door and it was Cole. He said he was ready to talk if I had the time. I said absolutely have a seat. I said would you like a scotch? He said absolutely and we went downstairs made drinks and went back to my room. Mike, I talked with both rents and your dad and everyone's head is spinning. I said, with that group I'm not surprised. Well Mike, I can have a new Pro, if I am comfortable with the guy and he has a couple, of touring pros he is swing coach for. The guy will be here for a week during Easter week. We will have intense lessons and practice rounds at Latrobe, Oakmont or St. Clair. Cole, what does this cost? He said this first week is paid for. I asked so who is paying and he said he wasn't sure. I asked if he minded if I found out? He said, Mike, I was hoping you would say that. Also, I was invited to play at Pebble Beach in the Pro-Am. Please don't be offended but I need a caddie and I was going to ask Liam. I said perfect and Cole, I'll pay for him, but your rents are paying for you. He laughed and said well the rents are paying for Liam as well. You are welcome to come watch if you want. Well it will take a pack of dogs to keep me away. So Cole is the Oakmont Pro driving this? He said absolutely but others are jumping in with both feet. It all stems from the 17th hole on Friday. Just then dad yelled up, I ordered ribs anyone eating. Cole yelled down of course you did, we will be right there. Cole said Mike there is more but we can talk about it after dinner. Downstairs I looked at the dinner and said, dad you got the wrong dinner, there is a salad there. Cole started to laugh and said, after today I don't care what I eat, nothing can ruin this day. Dinner was fun and we had a couple of beers and Cole got a call as we were finishing dinner and he went to the game room and then outside. He came in and said that was a teaching Pro Bill Balash and he has Oakmont roots and would like to meet and see me play. He is in Pittsburgh and we are meeting at St. Clair tomorrow. Just me and him and he will talk with the rents after. Cole is this the same guy we were talking about upstairs? Cole said, yes and the invite to Pebble came from Couples I said, I have a call to make and then we can talk some more. Cole smiled and said, quietly so dad didn't hear, that's not all we are doing. I laughed and said great. Upstairs I called Carrie and she answered saying, I thought you were busy? I said, I am but I'm really tired deleting you damn voicemails, so what is it that you want? She said a minute of you precious time. I said ok you have it WHAT DO YOU WANT? She said to tell you that I love you and that I miss you. I just started laughing out loud. She said well what's so funny? I said you know how I feel about words and your actions lately have been screaming break up. Look Carrie, we spent last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday together. This week I have had business and doctors appointment every day after school. Yes, I took the morning off yesterday, well to get ready for today. Then I was up at 5:30 today and had a great day and here I am. I was hoping to fucking relax tomorrow and dad claimed the late afternoon and evening. Just so you know next week is shaping up the same. You are driving me nuts with the mixed messages and the rest of the shit you are throwing at me. Look, go to whatever school you want, I've always said that, include me in that decision or not, I don't care. So what else do you need? She said the old Mike back. Carrie, the problem is that I am growing up and changing, I'm not that starry eyed kid any more. She said thanks for the call and I love you. I said good night and hung up. A few minutes later my phone rang and it was Sam. I said, hey dude what's up? He said Mike, don't get mad but what's up with you and Carrie. I said, Sam it is simply that we are moving in different directions in a lot of areas. It will be what it becomes. Why you asking? Well she has been locked up in her room all day and now is crying hysterically. Sam, I don't know what to say about that and yes we had yet another fight. Mike, she says she loves you but doesn't know how to show it. Sam, I know and as you know words don't mean that much to me. He said, thanks and hung up. I thought either he is sick of this crap or he is growing up. I was laying on the bed sorting thing out when Cole came in and handed me a beer. I said thanks and moved to a chair and he sat down sipping his beer. He looked at me and said, MJ I'm confused. This month started with me being a very good high school golfer and now I'm a sought after, world ranked amateur, how did that happen. I laughed and said that's exactly what happened to me. You are a couple of months ahead of me. Just go slow, know what you want, make what you want perfectly clear, but most of all study as you are one injury away from being a student. He laughed and said, I'll remember that. We sat drinking the beer and chatting and he got this silly grin and said, dude suck my cock. I laughed and got on my knees, grabbed his shorts and pulled them off. He was already hard so I started on the tip and was tonguing his piss slit and then swallowed his tip. I sucked on it and slowly let it all slide in till I was feeling his pubes. He pushed my head and held it in place and I started to gag. He let me move off and I started licking and sucking his balls. He said, MJ cock not balls and I went at it as best I could and damn I thought he would never shoot. He was giving directions and was just laying back enjoying it. Then he said you are a pretty poor cocksucker, you better doo better or your jaw will hurt. I started to bob up and down increasing the suction and he moaned saying fuck I'm going to shoot. He filled my mouth and said don't swallow, just keep it in your mouth. I just knelt there and he smiled and asked, so how does that taste. All I could do was shrug. He laughed and said ok, swallow. I got up and sat in the chair and took a big gulp of beer. Remembering the shit I had sent to the printer in dad's office I went downstairs and met dad on the steps. He handed me the papers and said have Kyle get you one for your room and figure out how to connect it, you ran me out of paper. I said, dad I was thinking the same thing, is there anything interesting and he laughed and said, Mike I didn't look. I returned to my room and started to read and they seemed less important now than when I printed them. Then I remembered Riley Carson, grabbed her resume and went to find dad. He was in his office and smoking and reading something for work, I sat down and waited until he finished. When he looked up, I said dad please look at this. He started to read and said well this is impressive. I said I know, my dilemma is how will I deal with a woman assistant? Mike, a better question is how will she deal with you and secondly why is this a dilemma? Then he said, look Mike, be your self and she will adjust or quit. Just keep it professional besides a woman would be good for you, well one you are not fucking. I said thanks and Tim is running a background check and yes she is aware. I'll wait till I see that and then order a drug tested. As I was leaving, dad said Michael she gets paid the same as Mason did when he started. I was laying in my bed thinking about things and decided to call Carrie. She answered immediately saying, Mike thanks for calling. I said Carrie, I don't want to fight so please listen. Tomorrow I am getting up early and going for a run, then working out. I need to do that. I am free all afternoon and if you are free, I would like to go for a long walk, just the two of us, can we do that? She said a picnic lunch? I thought for a minute and said sure. She said she would, pack a basket. I said good night and while you have been frustrating the shit out of me, I do love you. Now just say good night Mike. She said good night Mike and hung up. Laying there I thought damn, I haven't talked to JJ in days and fuck, I promised his dad we could chat. I thought about the morning and figured a run and no workout and I would check in with the major, late morning. Suddenly, I was tired and horny. I stripped got back in bed and decided to play with my junk and see where that went. It went hard right away and I started fondling my balls with one hand as stroking my cock with the other and dam, I almost immediately shot a big load. I grabbed a Kleenex cleaned up some and fell asleep. I woke to find Cole standing there, with his hands on his hips, staring at me. I smiled and said good morning, see anything interesting? He laughed and said a bunch of dried cum on your diminishing 6 pack. So you running or not? I got up, threw some clothes on and off we went. The 6 miles flew by and it was the morning paper and coffee. Cole grabbed the sports and I grabbed the business section. There was an article, that caught my eye as it was an company considering expanding and looking for office space in Pittsburgh. I immediately called Mason. He said Mike, I'm reading the same business section you are, please relax, I got this. I said ok have a fun day. I went upstairs and jumped into the shower and Cole came in almost immediately. He said no games, I'm in a hurry. I laughed and said, what's up? He said golf at St. Clair and that the ride was on the way. He was in and out and I was just letting the water run on my back. In my room, I looked in the mirror and saw Cole was right, my 6 pack is vanishing. I dressed in jeans and a sweat shirt and sat at the desk. I set a schedule for the week, run every day and workout Monday (after school), Tuesday (after work), Wednesday (after work) and Saturday. Would be in the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Having finished that I called the Major. He said, Mike I was just going to call you. I'll be right over, if that's ok? I said sure and went downstairs and put some coffee on and was looking at the Sports. I was only a few minutes and the Major came in and asked, where can we talk in private? I said follow me and we both grabbed a coffee and went to my room. He said, I hope this doesn't get you mad and I know it is more than a bit awkward. I'm looking for help in figuring JJ out. I asked, so did you sit down with him and just have a talk? He said well, yes but he is holding shit back, which is a bit unusual. What can you share about your VT trip? I said, Jim please ask what you want to know and I'll answer if I can. He smiled and said, I get rules 2, 3 and 6. I just started to laugh saying well he does share something with you. The Major said, especially rule 6. I said ok, ground rules accepted. Mike what do you know about the VT verbal he gave last week? I said, well he had that official visit, I assume you were alone. Then he pushed me hard to get there again. My first inkling was when he came out of the bookstore with a VT hat. Honestly he never said a word. What did you know? He said nothing till his coach from Houston called and congratulated me. Then he asked, can he play there? I said, I don't know, I haven't played a down with or against him and shit I might not be able to play there. Look, Jim I have had almost no conversations with him about college. I don't even know what he wants to study? The Major said aeronautical engineering. I said fuck, I thought Comp. Sci was an adjustment for them. Then, the Major said, Mike you are so good for him and he has changed so much being around you, all for the better. I said, Jim we are good for each other and while we bend a lot of rules we keep each other out of big time difficulty. Look, Jim I have no idea why he choose VT but it's a good school and a very good education is obtainable, if you want it. I walk on water there and will continue to do so until, I sign that letter of intent. At that point, I'm any other freshman. I thought for a minute and said, how about I send a slap to the head and see if I can get him to, level with you, totally? I'm thinking about 4 sentences In Spanish. Jim laughed and said, thanks. I said, it will take me some time as I suck at Spanish but he will get the point. We shook hands and I walked him to the car. Then I remembered, Major I need that airplane. Cole, will be traveling all summer and his parents can afford a reduced rate on the jet. Please get one, it will be very helpful if JJ indeed ends up at VT. Also, I need that same trip you set up earlier, depart Palm Sunday, return Holy Saturday and a rental car/SUV waiting. JJ, Cole, Jim and the guys we met at VT are spending the week at my place in the outer banks. I'm not sure about Cole. Cole as he has a meeting with a new swing coach that is more important. Oh, Dad and Megan might want a trip there this week, please ask. He said, I'll get on all of that, and thanks again. I looked at the time and decided to call Sean. He answered with shit, you were on my call list. I'm in for the outer banks and so is Rod and Alex. The other two are pussy whipped. I laughed and said that we would be flying in Sunday and leaving Saturday and that there would be 4 cases of beer there when we arrived. He laughed and said, of course you have a private jet. He said, we could talk later in the week. It was time now for Carrie and all that shit. I was determined to have a nice afternoon. At the house, Sam answered the door and screamed, CARRIE ITS FOR YOU. She came down the stairs and jumped into my arms and gave me a big hug. Sam laughed and said, dam a hug, you guys used to need a room. Then he mouthed, Thank You. I just shook my head and Carrie left and returned with a picnic basket. We put it in the back seat and I lowered the roof and drove to South Park. I headed to the animal reserve and parked. First was the ducks and she laughed and said what's with you and ducks? I smiled and said they are cute and don't cause me grief. She laughed and said, well I'm cute and I said, exactly. I took her hand and we walked around the pond and started to look for the Buffalo. Luckily they were easy enough to find. I thought they were dirty, ugly and massive. I couldn't even imagine herds of them roaming freely. I knew she was wondering what the fucking point was, and to be honest there wasn't one. We headed back to the duck pond and to the car. I had left the roof down as were were walking and when I saw the car there was duck shit on my seat. Carrie laughed out loud and said, well I guess they are cute and drama filled. I cleaned the seat and we drove around until we found a secluded spot and I got a blanked out of the trunk, grabbed the basket and found a sunny spot. So far it was a nice day for me and I sensed she was starting to relax. The sandwiches were ham and cheese with lettuce and tomatoes and very good. There was iced tea to drink and when I tasted it, it was actually an Arnold Palmer. I said, babe, thanks that my favorite drink. We ate and talked about school and things we were doing. I told her all about the all dude's spring break. She said she was working and they continued to be very busy and she really liked it and might do Architecture in college. I said whatever make you happy. I looked at the time and said, babe, I'm sorry but we have to head home, I promised dad we would spend time together and have dinner. She leaned in and kissed me and we started to make out some. We packed up and headed home. On the way she said Mike we never talked and I said, and yet you had a great day, correct. I said actions not words. She said, asshole I get it and smiled. At her place, I kissed her good bye and drove home. In the driveway, I put the roof up and went inside. In the game room I found dad and Megan. I said hi, judge good to see you. She said well, I'm glad to see you in a good mood. I smiled and said, well seeing a sexy judged effects me that way and dad, said Michael that's enough. I smiled and asked, so where is Cole? Megan said on his way here. Dad, so where we going to dinner? He said, relax it's not formal and I promised no country clubs. I said great, I thought with Megan here that might have changed. He said, well it's an small restaurant in Peters township. I asked the classroom? Dad said yes, how do you know about that place and I said rule 6, but that's perfect. I said, I'll change and be back in a few. I jumped in the shower, blew dried my hair and changed into preppy upscale clothes and went downstairs. Cole had joined the rents and I asked dad who was driving and he said that he was driving. I smiled and said perfect and poured myself a scotch. Cole asked where is my drink? I said in the bottle till you take a damn shower. Megan looked at me and quietly said, thank you. Cole, quickly returned all cleaned and dressed in preppy clothes. I poured him a scotch and asked about his golf game today? He said it was ok, but the greens were slow. I said really, or were they not Oakmont speed. He said yes. I laughed and said, so did you complain? He said you don't do that you play what you get and move on. Megan smiled and said, where did that come from? Cole, said mom not now please. Dad said, ok enough let's get going. The drive was about 30 minutes and Cole and I were in the back seat. I quietly asked him not to fight with his mom and he said, he would try. He asked, wasn't this to be a night with your dad. Cole, just go with it, they are leaving tomorrow. At the restaurant, which was a converted one room school house, we were seated immediately and drink orders were taken. Once the drinks arrived I shocked everyone when I ordered 3 appetizers, a giant meat ball, zucchini and calamari. Dad asked, Mike you that hungry? I said just experimenting. When the appetizers came they were all delicious. Everyone ordered and I ordered an Italian melody. Megan looked at me and smiled and gave a slight nod. I thought shit she has this figured out. The food came and it was outstanding, mine was pasta, lasagna and veal par. We were having a good time and Cole was actually having a good time and not sniping with his mother. When we were finished, I asked for the desert menu and Megan laughed out loud. Dad shook his head and Cole said we are running tomorrow, if you can. I just looked at the desert menu and ordered a cappuccino. I was completely stuffed and the ride home was quick and uneventful. At home, I went straight to my room and was working on a Spanish message to JJ when there was a knock at the door and Megan came in asking for a minute. I said, sure what do you need? She asked, is this shit with Cole's golf for real? I said well, Fred Coulpes, Arnold Palmer and the people at Oakmont think it is. Megan he has a world ranking and it is the highest ranking for a 15 year old. That's pretty impressive. She said and pretty expensive. I said and he can pick the college of his choice and it will be free. Mike, he says he will be playing all over the country this Summer, is that correct? I said yes. Mike, how will this happen? Well, I know this isn't good for you and your career right now. Some of this I can help with, but I have responsibilities. Here is what, I'm working on, just listen and when I'm finished we can talk. First of all, we are buying or leasing a corporate jet. My PR guy is Major Jim Messer, the astronaut, he will be the pilot. We will also have a backup. There is a caddie a few years older that him that I'll pay to have him caddie and travel with Cole. There will be an expensive teaching pro, who will also travel with him. I'll make trips with him and it will help business. Megan, I like you son like a brother, but I am very capable of tough love. Again, I'm not his parent and you and Jay will need to be around. I said, the jet is also to get dad to Houston and me and the Majors son back and forth from VT. Cole is an add on. There are expenses but they won't be much more than commercial flights and his clubs being shipped all over the place. I smiled and said, your turn, I'm done. She said, thanks but I need to talk with Jay and think about all that. I said, well he is that good, help it happen. She got up and said thanks. At the door she stopped and asked, so are you buying that restaurant or hiring the chef? I smiled and said, it will be what it becomes and she laughed. I called JJ and when he answered I said, rule 1& 4. Then I said los Padres son blue is si los dejas. to a el Camino dificil se es necessarily. Creo que eat as de tu Aldo, coopera amigo. Bunos nachos. (Parents are good if you let them.Take the difficult path if necessary. I think they are on your side, cooperate, amigo. Good night). Then I simply hung up. I thought 3 minutes and my phone would ring and it was not quite two minutes. I answered and JJ said or rather screamed WTF. I said settle down and grow a set. Talk with your dad, like a man and fucking ask for help. JJ, No man can be a s success it he does it by himself. JJ laughed and said don't you dare use a Carnegie quote on me. Fair enough, then grow the fuck up and share with your rents. They love you and you push them away. Your dad is thrilled by your choice and just needs to be included. Why the fuck is that so hard? He was quiet for a while, then said Mike, you had me with the fucking Spanish, thanks. I said, deeds not words and yes that is Carnegie again, well in my own words. See you in school. It was late and damn, another good day, two in a row. I turned off the lights and fell asleep. I woke to a totally shitty weather day and Cole and I decided to skip the run and we were sitting in the kitchen reading the paper and drinking coffee when Megan appeared. I got up and went upstairs leaving mother and son alone. I was in the shower when Cole stuck his head and said, he was going to breakfast with his mom and to school late and would see me tonight. He said that she was leaving around 1:00. I got out of the shower and Cole went in and it was the quickest shower possible. I dressed and found dad, wished him a great trip. I asked that he call on occasion and requested that he not mess with my special spot. He laughed and said, Mike the usual rules, when I travel. It was off to school and it was a tad early, I went looking for Jim. He was with Ash and I asked if he was working out today after school. He said that he was and I suggested dinner and catching up some. He said that was a great idea. I was thinking, we might need all night. The day went along in a quiet and uneventful way. Lunch was great as Jim was finally relaxed and Rob was returning to normal. Carrie was friendly and yet kept her distance. I was wondering how she was going to react to me being home alone and her not being invited over. I signed out of study hall and went to the stadium to work out. Jim and JJ were a few minutes away and it was like old times. We spotted for each other and clowned around but managed an intense workout. As we were getting dressed after the shower, JJ said Mike, when dad gets back tonight I promised him a long talk. I said where is he? Flying your dad and Megan to your place at the Outer Banks. I said, where the fuck did he get the airplane? JJ shrugged and said, ask him. I asked, Jim if he could spend the night? He said, Mike it's a school night and I'm not sure I can pull that off. I said, well please try and we will be drinking and we won't miss school or my morning run. He said, whatever but he would check and be right over, even if he could not spend the night. At home, I looked in the refrigerator and found the Cheese, Spinach, Chicken and Macaroni casserole, which was perfect. Then a saw a note from Cole saying he would be home late as he was going to play golf as the weather had improved, again perfect. Up in my room I took the picture of Jim and I off the wall and that just left the picture of me and Palmer, I set the picture on the desk and went downstairs. There was a rap on the door and it was Jim, I said what the fuck just come in, you never knocked before. I handed him a beer and asked, so you spending the night? He laughed and said, I didn't ask I simply told them. He drained the beer and got up and got another one. The oven beeped, indicating the food was ready and I got two plates and said, I know this is strange but fuck it is good. We started to eat and next year football was the topic. As we were cleaning up after dinner, I asked about college and football. He said Pre-Law and it would be Pitt. I asked, when did that become official and he said, Mike that's the first time I've said that out loud. I'll tell them in a few days. I laughed and said, dude we will play against each other. He smiled and said, just don't hurt me and we both laughed. Upstairs in my room Jim looked around and went to the desk and picked up our picture with the metal, he put it back on the desk and looked at me and said, have we grown that far apart? Jim, we haven't grown apart we are growing up. We both made mistakes in that process and tried to do it alone. That is definitely the path more difficult. Carrie's picture is down and we are really struggling. You picture is down for a different reason. You gave me that picture and I added the metal and a wild assed frame and you have a matching one. We both hung our pictures and moved on. I'm hoping for more. He asked what could be more? I said you grab a corner and I grab a corner and we hang it together, in the true spirit of wingmen. He got up picked up the picture and said, what the fuck are you waiting for grab your end. I smiled and we hung it back on the wall. We talked about all kind of shit, some fun, some serious and I though I needed to check on Cole. He was not around and finally I knocked on his door and he said, Mike not now. I laughed and said, ok how is she getting home? He said she is here for the night, see you in the morning and I'm not running. I thought damn, he is something else. Back in my room, Jim asked, so where we sleeping and I said well, you are here, I'm in dads room and Cole and his woman are in his room. Jim laughed and said, that sounded good to him. Jim and I continued our conversations for a couple, of hours and we hugged each other and I started for dad's room and Jim said Mike can we please just be together. This has been a great night and I don't want it to stop. I said sure and we both stripped to our underwear and fell asleep.