Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:40:11 -0500 From: JOHN C Subject: Pops & Josh 7 This story contains sexually explicit scenes of a boy discovering his Sexuality with an adult male. If this sort of things offends you, you are under 18, or is illegal in your location, leave now. Be advised that this is a work of pure fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. Also all locations mentions herein are fictional. I love to hear from readers. Comments or criticisms may be sent to Jamcam@Gmail.com Please donate to Nifty.org at http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html. Your donation will allow stories such as this to be published. ****************************************************************************** Pops & Josh Installment VII Josh got a couple calls during the day. The reporter for the Oakville Tribune called and asked if Josh had seen the article about Dan Short, the Madville coach. Josh said no they were pretty busy today with visitors and he didn't get a chance to read it. The reporter, John Reiley said no problem but could he interview Josh tomorrow. He wanted to get a follow up from Josh's perspective before the story went cold Josh said "ok what time." John said "you tell me; you're helping me out. " "I have therapy from 10:00 till 12:00 and Jesse comes over about 3:30 with my school assignments." "How about you let me buy you lunch, Chili's, Olive Garden, The Outback what do you like to eat" "Gee I don't know about those places but I like burgers." "Burger's it is then, we should do the Outback. Do you know where it is on Rt. 70 in Orange? Can you meet me at 1:00? "I think I've been past it. Let me check with Pops...... Pops the Tribune guy wants to buy me lunch and meet me at the Outback at 1:00 can we go." "Yeah that'll be ok" Pops yelled back. Josh told "John it was ok but he gotta feed Pops too." John readily agreed and apologized for not asking Pops. So the appointment was finalized "Pops, do we have today's Tribune. The reporter guy said there was an article in it about the game and stuff." "Check on the table by the couch I think I picked it up from outside and put it there." "Thanks Pops" Josh found the paper. There on the bottom of page one was the story. "Doctor Accuses Madville Coach of Intentionally Hurting High School Player". The story went on to tell how Josh was one of Hopewell's most valuable players, how he got knocked down 12 times during the second half. How the referees made bad calls against Hopewell and how one was the cousin of Coach Dan Short. How Josh had made the winning shot after being elbowed in the ribs and elbowed in the forehead. How Josh had blocked out the pain and continued to compete at a super high level. How Doc Brown said it was physically impossible for anyone to raise their hands over their head with the type of damage Josh had to his ribs. Doc Stated "How that boy was able to make that shot is a medical miracle." It stated that Coach Mathews was asking for an investigation and a hearing by the state School Boy Athletic Association. People deserve to know the truth about what the Madville coach teaches his players. "Wow did you read this Pops." Josh said while giving Pops the paper. Pops read the article and said, "Ya got to hand it to Doc Brown he knows how to get the ball rolling. I'm sure glad we have him as your Doctor. A better man we couldn't find if we went to a hundred doctors." The door bell rang Billy went to get it. There was Mrs. O'Mara and Mrs. Acker as well as Mr. Acker and Mr. Martin. Billy invited them in and Pops went to the door. Pops said "come in and brought them in the living room where Josh was sitting. Mrs. O'Mara said "we saw the article in the paper and had no idea that Josh had been injured so badly in the game. We didn't know what to do so we baked you some cookies." Mr. Martin piped up "if there are too many, I'll volunteer to help Josh eat them." They all chuckled. Billy snuck one off the plate and gave it to Mr. Martin. The old man smiled at Billy and gave him a little shoulder hug . Josh said "thank you so much that was so nice of you." Pops had the folks sit down. "That was some game you played, Josh." Mrs. Acker said. "How are your ribs?" "Getting better Mrs. Acker thank you, your cookies will help. It doesn't hurt anymore when I sit down and I can get up and walk around now. I wasn't able to do that or anything after the game." "Well I'm glad you are healing. I know it is frustrating that it is so slow but you have a good long life in front of you." Mr. Acker said, "Josh I am a retired police detective and I would like to look into this coach for Madville; if you give me your permission. This way I can say I am acting on your request as opposed to being a busy body. What do you say, Josh? If that article is true and I suspect it is; he's a mean man and should not be teaching kids. " "Wow you mean you'll be my own personal investigator.... How much will you charge." Mr. Acker considered that a minute (Had visions of Josh cutting his grass and shoveling snow for free) and then said "Just the smile that you would have taken for shoveling our snow... Really, Josh I can't charge you anything. I want that man away from kids period." Mr. Martin said, "I would like to help out too can I be your partner." Mr. Acker said, "Two heads are better than one.... It's ok then I can do this." looking at Pops and Josh. Pops & Josh said they would welcome his help. "Ok I'll be at Madville High School tomorrow morning; flash my badge and ask to speak to the freshman basketball team players. I want to get to them if possible before this Dan Short has time to talk to them or influence them in any way. Josh you are a good boy, a fine young person, I am honored to know you, you should not have to endure the pain and suffering this SOB put you through. It gets me mad and I'm so happy I can do something about it. I'm gonna get that SOB for messing with my snow shoveler." Pops was impressed by Mr. Acker "Thanks Mr. Acker and you too Mr. Martin." Josh said. " Mrs. O'Mara said "Well we don't want to overstay our welcome; come on gentlemen let's let Josh get some rest." Josh struggle a bit to get up; they told him to stay sitting, but he got up anyway. The ladies kissed him on the cheek and the men shook hands with him. Billy slipped Mr. Martin another couple of cookies and they were out the door. Josh was impressed that they came to see him. "Wow I didn't know Mr. Acker was a cop. Do you think he can help, Pops?" "Ohh I'm sure of it Josh." Next Josh got a call from Jesse. "Hey you're gonna be famous." "Yeah the way that article reads I'm some kind of freak. The feds will be here any minute to pick me and bring me to their experimentation place. " Jesse laughed, "Yeah I guess a brain like yours needs studying." "How about we give them yours, maybe we switch, find you all normal and they'll leave me alone." "I think they might notice I don't have crack ribs, and am just a little bigger than your 5'6". "Oh how about you scrunch down a bit." "Don't think so Josh,... Say who's telephone number did you have all over your hand, Jennie? Did you call her?" Josh played it kool, "Yeah, she wants to go out with me." "Really" "Yeah I'm so sexy and masculine you know." "OK lover boy" "Actually, If doc clears me Billy and I have a double date with her and Rebecca to play monster golf this Saturday. Do you want me to ask her if she has a friend for you and you can come too." "Would you !! I've never been on a boy girl date and this would be the perfect way to do it." "I'll lay my best charms on her for you." "Just be yourself please trying to be somebody you're not will just screw things up." "Ok send me a picture of you so I can show what the other girl what she will be getting. This way you guys can still go if the doc shuts me down." "I hope not it won't be any fun without you." Jesse took a selfie, then another, then asked his mom to take his picture. "What's with the picture" She asked. Jesse smirked and was a little sheepish about it but finally said, "Josh and Billy have a date with Jennie and Rebecca . So he is going to send my picture to Jennie to see if she could fix me up with a friend and go too. I took a couple selfies but I didn't like them. Make it a good picture please mom. " "Ohhh my baby's growing up.... OK, Ok, Sorry Jesse go over to the doorway and lean against it. Jesse did as he was told. Karen started telling him he was a tall dark and handsome man that no girl could resist. She cracked Jesse up and he started laughing. She took shot after shot of him laughing and smiling. She helped him select a picture from the bunch saying, "Jesse if I wasn't married, I would go out with that guy." "Well you are married Karen," Jack came in the living room. "Who is this guy you'll drop me for" Karen showed him the picture of Jesse. "OK, OK, he's good looking and everything but I have EXPERENCE." They all chuckled. Jesse sent the picture to Josh who sent it to Jennie. She texted back " Gee you know the cutest boys. He looks tall in the picture." "Yeah he is. That's Jesse he was the high scorer in the championship game" "Well it's gonna be hard fixing him up..... Maybe I should go with him." "Jennie you are such a tease" "I have just the girl for him Valerie, she's on the volley ball team." "I'll ask her, but if she says no; sorry Josh I have to go with the high scorer." "Jennie you know what I love about you." "What Josh? Is it my hair, my face what is it Josh?" "IT"S THE WAY YOU"LL DUMP ME FOR ANYTHING THAT CRAWLS." Jennie knew she had gone too far. "I'm sorry Josh, I was just teasing, I do it too much don't I?" "Yeah kind of, I like you; really like you; It would be good if I felt you really liked me too." "I do Josh, I really do, I just never had anybody like me." "Well I do." Jennie had Valerie send a picture to Jesse and asked, "if it was true that he wanted to go out with her on the date with Jennie and Rebecca." Jesse saw the picture and recognized her from school. It was a girl that Jesse had secretly had been wanting to ask out since he started in Hopewell. Jesse texted back that "It was true and that he had laid awake at night thinking about her." "Really, I bet you use that story on all your girl friends." Jesse said "I don't have any girl friends and this would be my first boy girl date." He had learned from his dad keeping it simple and honest was the best way to deal with people. Val was not the tease that Jennie was "That's a sweet thing to say then Jess, I'm liking you already." "Can I see you during school then, but I gotta say I'm kind of stupid around girls. I never know the right thing to say." "Jesse you know what to say; if we are just ourselves and don't try to put on a show for the world I think it will be fine." "You know that's the same thing I told Josh before." They texted back and forth, getting to know each other without showing off. Jesse finally said he would see her in school on Monday. He was being called to supper. Karen asked well how was your picture. "You know mom the best thing happened this girl Valerie, she's on the volley ball team and a little taller than a lot of girls. I guess a little like me that way. Well I always thought one of these days I would ask her out but never knew how or the right way so I wouldn't get all embarrassed. And she is the girl Jennie fixed me up with. I think it's destiny." Karen and Jack both smiled at each other "Yeah I agree it must be destiny Jesse." Jack said they all chuckled. "Come on guys no teasing about this. I don't complain about it when you guys get all lovey, dovey" Karen said "You're right Jess, Jack behave yourself." Monday morning found Mr. Acker and Mr. Martin up at the crack of dawn. Mr. Acker had gotten out his retired police detective badge while Mr. Martin showed up with a little handheld tape recorder. He included batteries and extra tapes. They were off to Madville high school. Mr. Acker wanted get there before Dan Short had occasion to speak to speak with any of his players. Upon arriving at the school Mr. Acker flashed his badge and asked to speak to the principal. "Good morning principal Dean, I'm here on behalf of Josh Fitzpatrick to investigate allegations that your coach deliberately instructed his players to hurt Josh during the state freshman basketball championship game and to see if criminal charges are warranted. Do you understand the seriousness of the situation." Principal Dean was visibly upset that something of this nature was being charged against the school. "Yes, I do understand. Of course I'll help in any way." "Thank you very much, if these allegations are true your coach Short could be facing assault charges. What we need to do is to interview all the boys on the freshman team. Can I ask you to assemble them and provide a space where we can interview each one privately." "Yes of course Mr. Acker. Give me 5 minutes to get that done. Should there be someone at the interview to protect the boy's rights? " "I don't have a problem with that. If you have the time to be present or your vice principal or one of your student advisors; I don't think it would be appropriate for any of the athletic department to be present. I am not here to investigate the boys, they are minors and if my information is correct were only acting on the instructions of Dan Short. We will record the interviews and you may have a copy if you like. I would like to keep this as inconspicuous as possible. I'll instruct each boy not to discuss the situation with anyone and I would appreciate you making sure they go directly to their assigned class without talking to any of the other boys." "I'm sure I can do that" The boys were assembled and put into one office with a large reception area as well as a private area. Principal Dean had the vice principal there to maintain order and have the boys use the time as a study period. She, Mr. Acker and Mr. Martin were in the other office. The interviews followed the same script. Each boy was asked his name, whether or not he was at the title game, did he get a chance to play, what did he think about the play of the point guard for Hopewell. They almost to a man said he "was killing them, yeah the big kid scored a bunch of points but all off of passes from the little kid, the one they called grammar school. If we went to double team the big kid the grammar school kid would hit a 3 point shot. Jeeze he was good." Did they know he had suffered an injury while playing, he was very lucky and if he got hit again in wrong way, he could have gotten his lung punctured and possibly have died. Principal Dean was very saddened to hear about the seriousness of Josh's injury. Mr. Acker finished off the interview with the same question. "I'm not here to investigate you or any of the players on your team. Films of the game show Josh getting hit 12 times before his final basket; in some football games individual players don't get hit 12 times and knocked down that much. I've never seen it in a basketball game or even allowed in a basketball game without the referees putting a stop to it one way or the other. Very important now and you need to be 100% honest. Young man you need to tell it how it was. Was the team told to deliberately run into Josh and knock him down by coach? Were you told to do that by coach? " Each boy answered "yes, the team was told to knock Josh down and hit him in his ribs." Those that played in the game said they were told specifically by coach" to knock him down; get him out of the game." One boy, Jeff Stewart, said " I ran into him once, not hard and was yelled at by coach to hit him harder. I told coach no. I wouldn't do it. He benched me. In a way, I'm glad the kid stayed in there; jeeze he must have been hurting; I didn't want to win that way, that's no way to win. I told my dad I don't want to play for coach Short ever again." Mr. Acker and Mr. Martin thanked Principal Dean for her cooperation. She said, "No ,thank you, thank you very much; Dan Short doesn't have a lot of friends around the school. He is very demanding, a hard man, mean at times. I very much want a copy of that tape. I want to present it to the school board. I don't think he should be teaching or coaching these kids. I give Jeff a lot of credit for standing up to him. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I hope that boy Josh heals well without complications. Would you have his address? I want to send him a note on behalf of our school apologizing for his treatment at the game and wishing him a speedy recovery." Mr. Martin provided Josh's address. The old timers left feeling quite satisfied with themselves. Their trip was a complete success. . Mr. Martin congratulated Mr. Acker on his interviewing techniques. Principal Dean called the team together again. "I want to thank you all for being honest and forthcoming with the interview this morning. I think some of you probably feel bad about losing and also for what you did trying to get the "Grammar School" kid out of the game. I know I do. I'm going to send him a note congratulating him on winning and apologizing for being part of having a coach who would make a decision like that to get him out of the game and to wish him a speedy recovery. I think you boys should do the same. I know you only did what you did because of coach. Jeff said he didn't want to win that way and won't play for coach again. Well I'm here to tell you I don't want to win that way either and I don't want Mr. Dan Short to coach you anymore and I'm going to find another coach to teach you how to win the right way. Jeff stood up and clapped quickly joined by the rest of the team. They asked how to address the note. Principal Dean said his name is Josh Fitzpatrick. They asked if they could do it right now. One boy made a get well card signed by the team with a note apologizing. They all said they should have done what Jeff did and told coach no. It wasn't the way to win and it was only right that they lost. A half hour latter the notes and card was delivered to Principal Dean. She smiled and told the boys they did good trying to make a wrong into a right. John Rieley called asked for a comment on the Sunday article. Principal Dean at least could say "The actions of coach Short do not represent all of Madville and it's high school. She said the boys were interviewed and each told of being instructed by coach Short to knock Josh Fitzpatrick down and get him out of the game. She and the team had just written letters of apology wishing a speedy recovery to Josh as well as congratulation on winning the game and championship. To a man her boys said it wasn't the way they wanted to win, it was wrong and they were ashamed off being a part of it." Principal Dean went on to say she was bringing the boy's statements to the school board to see if coach Short would continue as coach of the team. John Reiley was elated by her comment. It showed a responsibility to play the game with integrity while teaching the boys the qualities of fair play and sportsmanship. He said he would report her statement fairly and honestly. Principal Dean was very happy to have had the visit of Mr. Acker and Mr. Martin first thing in the morning. She was not caught off guard by John Reiley's call. Monday afternoon, Josh and Pops had their meeting with John Reiley of the Tribune. Once they ordered thick juicy burgers for all John went to work. "Josh I'm going to record the interview so I make sure I get everything 100% correct." Josh looked at Pops who asked "can we have a copy of the recording as well." "That's only fair. ... So Josh, you had quite a game against Madville." "Well the whole team did." "But your basket won the game?" "No, I don't think so if any of the other baskets we scored hadn't gone in, like Jesse's 27 points. my basket wouldn't have meant a thing." "I can see you are very much a team player but some would disagree with you....Josh did you hurt your ribs during the game?" "Yeah" "Do you know when?" "They hit me pretty hard during the 3rd quarter but it was at the beginning of the 4th when I got hit again and felt a real sharp pain and a crack. If you make me guess that's when I think they got broken." "Yet you played the whole rest of the game. Doc Brown said that's pretty much impossible to ignore that kind of pain. How did you do that? Why didn't you tell your coach?" "Well, I don't really know how I did it. Except I was very focused on the game and I didn't want to give Madville the satisfaction of getting me out of the game. I didn't tell coach because I wanted to finish the game. I was pretty sure if I said anything he would pull me. He would never let any of his players get hurt just to win a game." "Do you like coach Mathews?" "Yeah. Sure he is a fair man who listens to his players as much as he tells us what to do. He cares about us. I like playing for him." "Coach says you got hit two more times just before your last basket; is that true." "Yeah." "Didn't it hurt I mean a lot." "Well, I couldn't let it. I had to make take the shot." "One boy hit you in the head the other in the ribs....It shows on the film. You staggered some when the boy hit you in the ribs " "I guess so." "What were you thinking." "I was concentrating on getting the pass and around the triple screens coach had set up. I had to get as a good a shot up as I could. There was no time for another play. I just had to do it." "Coach says you played ball with Jesse before." "Yeah he is a great player and a better friend; let's talk about him." " Maybe some other time when Jesse is here we can talk about him... Coach told me Jesse said you have never missed with the game on the line. Is that true? " "Ohh I don't know about that." "When was the last time a team that you played on lost a game?" "Ahh I can't remember I always played with Jesse. He is real good. Before playing for Hopewell we played CYO basketball 5th & 6th grade. We were champions and undefeated. Jesse was the big reason." "What do you think about the Madville coach and players?" "The players weren't mean; a couple told me they were ordered to hit me. One got benched because he refused. The coach, I have no use for. I wouldn't play for him. I mean I love playing basketball but I wouldn't play for that man. He is mean!!" "What about the refs; do you think they were fair?" "No sir, I've been in games where if the refs suspected there was a deliberate hit an a player the kid was tossed out of the game. .. It's not my place to say anything but I thought we were fighting two teams out there Madville and the refs." "Really" "Yes sir I don't like to talk bad about anyone but that's what I felt. You might want to do a study of all the calls in the game. See how many questionable calls went against Hopewell. Get another ref to identify the questionable calls. I'll bet that anything they could call against Hopewell they did and only the most obvious calls went against Madville." "How are you ribs, Josh." "They'll heal, a lot slower than I want but they are slowly getting better." "How did you enjoy the rally last week?" "That was wild I had goose bumps most of the time." "They gave you some special treatment." "Oh you mean the chair. Yeah Doc said that was the only way I could go." "Why was that?" "Well he doesn't want me back in school yet, a bump to my ribs could be real bad and kids at school wouldn't mean it but they could accidently bump me." " How would it be real bad? " "I guess I could get a punctured lung and if not treated right away could die." "We sure don't want that. Is that why the basketball team was always around you?" "Yeah Doc said they had to be my body guards" "You made a speech was it rehearsed? Did you know you were to give one?" "Ohh no, I wasn't told about it. I think it was just a spontaneous thing from the assembly. Coach pointed to the podium like I had to do it or there would be a riot or something. So I just said what came to mind. I'd like to know who it was that started the speech chant." "I have to make a confession. It was Doc Brown and I was right there with him." "Wait until I see him. He owes me now and so do you." "I'll be glad to repay you anyway I can. Josh I want you to know I think you're a very special young man." "Josh, I understand you were recently homeless. Can you tell me about that? Josh looked at Pops who just smiled and nodded. "I guess so there's not a lot to tell." "How did it happen." "My grandma made a bad loan with one of those bankster fellows. Lost her house and we had no place to go with only her small Social Security check to live off of. We would up in the NY Shelter system." "You say your grandma. Where were your parents?" Josh's head went down to the floor. "They died in a car crash when I was 8." "Ohh I'm so sorry Josh, I didn't know.... We can stop here if you want." Josh looked hard at John Reiley, "I'm not looking for the whole world to know my story but I think folks in the shelter need people to fight for them. Help them get decent jobs to be able to afford a home or an apartment of their own. If you promise to help me fight for them using your paper to advocate for them I'll tell you anything you want to know." John Reiley was taken a back because at that moment he saw Josh's intelligence, caring, understanding, compassion, modesty and quite confidence all on display. He didn't know it but he had just joined Josh's life long quest to help the homeless. "Ok I promise to do whatever I can to help" Josh told his life story about the deaths of his parents and grandmother. About Luke and being in the shelter with Billy; even about practicing to get help from the weirdos in the showers; about Luke asking Pops to take him and him praying that Pops would keep him. He told about getting Billy's mom in the blizzard and the coat drive at St Francis. John Reiley thanked Josh & Pops immensely. He promised to have a story in the paper in a day or two at most. "Hopewell Player Mugged In Title Game Tells His Story"; was the headline. "I was lucky enough to have an interview with Josh Fitzpatrick an exceptional young man who played point guard on Hopewell High School championship basketball team. The thing about Josh that most impressed me was his modesty and quite confidence. As I brought the conversation to him that he made the winning shot Josh said, No we only won by one point. His was just the last basket if his teammates hadn't scored earlier it would have meant nothing. He said after getting hit early in the 4th quarter he felt his ribs crack. In a display of courage I have never witnessed as a sports writer he continued to play and play at a high level. You see the Madville coach had instructed them to hit Josh as often as possible to get him out of the game. One player refused and was benched by coach Dan Short. For sure as I watched and re-watched the game film I saw each Madville player that hit Josh hang his head after hitting Josh, certainly a sign of embarrassment. As I reported in Sundays paper one of the refs was a cousin to coach Short. How he got the assignment to referee any of Madville's games never mind the title game should be the subject of an investigation. With the help of the school boy basketball association referee director, we reviewed the game file. We came up with 41 questionable calls during the game, 38 went against Hopewell not including 8 non calls where Madville players deliberately ran into Josh to hurt him. I asked Josh what he thought about the Madville coach. He said he was mean and as much as he loved playing basketball he would not play if coach Short was his coach." The story went on and told about Josh being homeless and losing his parents and then his grandmother. It went on to praise Luke for being proactive and Pops for his courage in taking on the responsibility of raising a teenager at his stage of life. Besides the miscarriage of justice of the basketball game it raised the question of how many other Joshes were there in shelters all across the country?... Boys and girls, mothers and fathers talented folks that the country would rather forget than give a hand up out of their hopelessness. It spoke of Josh's tremendous drive and motivation not only on the basketball court but to help all people especially, his own homeless friends. For sure it painted Josh as a hero and Dan Short as a villain for in John Reiley's eyes there was nothing more true. When Mr. Acker and Mr. Martin brought their interviews of the boys to Pops, he called Doc Brown and coach Mathews to listen. Mr. Martin made the copies for Mrs. Dean to present to the Madville school board. The evidence was brought to the state school boy athletic association. The hearing was held at Hopewell high school. Coach Mathews presented the evidence the interviews, the game film and doc Brown's report. Dan Short and the referees were barred from participating in any school boy state athletic event for the rest of their lives. John Reiley reported the decision and the discharge of Dan Short from the Madville school system. He also reported the response of principal Dean, which he thought was a fair an honest response. He held Jeff Stewart up as an example of the youth of Madville. Every once in a while Josh would read what the players wrote. In essence they all said the same thing but a little differently. One read "Hey, I don't know why your team calls you "grammar school" you played like an NBA all star against us. I'm ashamed for my part in hitting you to get you to quit. I don't know how you kept getting up but I'm glad you did. None of us wanted to do what coach said we had to. One of our guys tried to tell coach no and he benched him. We all worked hard to be there in the final game and we wanted to play. Coach ruined it for us. In a way I'm glad you made the last shot; I know because of it we lost. But I wouldn't want any part of winning that way. Now because of you, we'll have a new coach who won't use dirty tactics to win. Thank you, I hope you'll get well soon and I'll see you on the court next year. I'd like to take another shot at beating you guys, the right way but before we play I want to shake your hand and apologize in person. I never saw anyone play like you." Flash Forward It was poetic justice that the first game the following year was against Madville. Josh, of course was on the Hopewell team. Every player came over to Josh and shook his hand, "asked how he was and apologized for the team's dirty play in last year's final." Bobby Edwards started at point, Josh played some shooting guard. The game was tight though out at the beginning of the 4th quarter Hopewell was down 6 points. Coach went over to Bobby, "what do ya think Bobby let Josh run the point for a little?" "If you do that coach he'll win the game, I'll be happy to sit and watch" Josh took over the point, took a 3 point shot as it left his hand the team was all back on defense. No one watched it go though the net; except Bobby and Coach and the boys on the bench who were cheering wildly. Hopewell was energized ; the defense came alive, Madville `s shot was rebounded by Jesse who passed to Josh and Jesse raced down court. Madville wasn't back on defense. Josh hit a wide open Jess in stride for an easy layup. Hopewell was only down now by 1 point. Madville called time out. Their coach reminded them they lost the title to this team. Coach Short cheated you out of an honest win. You can beat this team. He set a play for a 3 point shot for Jeff Stewart off of a screen. Then he said on defense we double team "grammar school". If they are going to beat us, it's not gonna be him. Don't foul and no rough stuff just clean double teams. Jeff Stewart had some heart in him as well and he made the 3 point shot. Now down 4 Hopewell called time. 3 minutes were left. Bobby Edwards was back in at point Josh at shooting guard. Josh was running his double teamers crazy out at the 3 point line. Bobby drove to the basket. No one challenged him and he made the easy layup. Hopewell now down by 2. Madville ran the same play and Jeff Stewart made another 3 point shot putting Madville up by 5 with 2 minutes left. Bobby brought the ball down again this time Madville blocked the basket leaving Jesse open for an easy jumper but the Madville center tried to get back to Jesse and fouled him. Jesse made the foul shot and the Madville lead was now 2 points, with a minute left. Coach Mathews called time. "First use the trap defense then when they don't score; Jesse and Mutt set screens for Josh out at the 3 point line. Josh you run your friends into those screens. Bobby you are the feeder. If Josh is open get him the ball; if not look for Jesse who will roll toward the basket to tie this thing up. We Good" "Yes Coach" The trap confused Madville and they missed their shot. 20 seconds left. Jesse rebounded passed to Bobby and set up his screen in the center of the 3 point line. Mutt set up at the angle on the right side. Bobby got across mid court and held his dribble Josh was running like the wind around the key and came up to Jesse so close they could have kissed. Jesse stood still as the first of Josh's 2 defenders bounced off him; 10 seconds left; he cut toward the basket and then back out and the 2nd defender ran right smack into un-moveable Mutt. 5 seconds left. He was open; Bobby then raced to the top of the circle and passed to Josh in the corner. 2 seconds left. The ball was in the air; the end of game horn sounded. Everyone watched except Josh who was running back on defense then he heard the Hopewell crowd roar and the chant of Josh, Josh, Josh went up from the stands. He smiled to himself and went running over to the Madville bench congratulating them on a great game and shaking everyone's hand. He was shortly joined by the rest of the Hopewell team. Jeff Stewart came up to him and said "Hey, Grammar School don't you ever miss." Josh said, "Hey you guys played great!! Your three pointers almost got us. You have nothing to be ashamed of in this game. Jeeze it was close. I love games like this. You guys are so good." Jeff said, "I hope we meet you in the play offs." Bobby, Jesse, Mutt, Josh and the rest of the Hopewell team stayed together throughout the rest of high school. They won a total of 4 state championships. Played together for a total of 82 games. Their record of 82 wins and no losses was the longest consecutive winning streak in the state and was only rivaled by a California School who played 5 more games for the longest streak in the country. Wednesday rolled around and Josh was feeling pretty good as him and Pops were heading over to see Doc Brown. When Doc saw them he was elated, ten years of anguish against coach Short and Madville had been vanquished. "Who were those investigators you sent over to Madville high school." Doc asked. "Oh that was Mr. Martin and Mr. Acker, I did snow shoveling for them. Mr. Martin is a retired police detective. Mr. Acker held the tape recorder and kept him company." "Well that was outstanding work.... Now lets see those ribs." Josh peeled off his button down shirt and Doc took off the bandage. "It's looking a lot better Josh... yes a lot better. The black and blue is subsiding. How is the pain does it still hurt?" "Not near as much and after the therapy with Bobby's dad; it doesn't hurt at all for a couple hours." "So give it few more days and keep up with the therapy but I'll clear you to go back to school on Monday. No Gym of course and no rough stuff or running. I'll give you a note to give to your teachers so you don't rush between classes. OK??" "Great thanks Doc... say Doc do you know who started the speech, speech thing at the rally?" "Gosh Josh everyone was yelling it." "But who was the first to yell it." "Umm well I wanted to hear you tell about the game so it might have me along with John Reilly." Josh was smiling now "That's what Mr. Reilly told me. Kind of selfish of you don't you think Doc. So Doc me and some friends want to play monster golf this Saturday...I can go right?" Doc said "You are a smart one Josh. I guess I owe you one; so ok. But no swinging hard and don't be bending down to get the ball out of the cup. One of your friends will have to do that." Josh smirked, "Doc, it's my first boy girl kind of a thing I don't want to look stupid." "How many are going." "Well six of us" "So I'm guessing 3 boys and 3 girls" "Yeah" "Ok just tell your buddies you have to keep score and while you are doing that they kind of take turns picking up the golf balls... But I'm sure they would all help you out if you said I told you not to be bending over and you'll not look stupid. You really have to get over that idea. I know you think you need to be invincible but you're not and you don't have to be. Go and have a good time and let the guys help you out and don't worry about every little thing. You don't have to impress you just need to be yourself. Most girls will like you better for it. " "Ok thanks doc." Josh texted Billy about what doc said . "Sure you won't look dumb if you are keeping score and we collect the balls. Jeeze, Josh let's just go and have fun. Imagine how dumb you'd look if your hurt yourself and had to leave early." "Yeah you're right Billy; that would be way worse." Pops and Josh picked up Billy on Friday night. Josh said, "Billy I don't think I wanna do sexy game stuff, tonight." "Yeah I was wondering about that. I guess we might find out if we like girls or boys or both." Josh - "Hey, I still love you buddy, you are my best friend in the world. I just don't feel right like I'm cheating on Jennie or something" Billy -- " I understand maybe I'll feel the same way after I meet Rebecca in person." Saturday saw them take 4 showers during the day and try on 10 shirts with different jeans. Both asked Pops if they needed to shave. "Well that peach fuzz under your nose is pretty dense he told each one. You can use my electric razor if you want. " Pops figured it's dang near impossible for them to cut themselves with the electric razor. Jesse was going through the same thing over at his house. His mom and dad trying their best not to laugh at his going on. It was decided that Pops would drive the boys. They were to meet the girls at a Panera Bread place about 2 blocks from monster golf. When they went to get Jesse Karen had them all get out of the van and took a picture of them together. Tall Jesse with his short spiked hair and athletic build in the center with his arm around Josh on one side with his page boy blond hair (he had washed it 3 times during the day) and Bill on the other side with his dark curly locks. Pops said a handsomer group of young men he had never scene. Karen and Jack concurred with much enthusiasm . Off they went for the short ride to Panera Bread. Jesse asked "did Pops think it was alright to kiss on the first date. " "Well Jesse, I don't think there are rules like that anywhere. If the girl is attentive to you and get real close or hanging on you, grabbing you arm. It's a good sign. If she is giggly and laughs at anything you say that's another good sign that she likes you. I understand Jennie kissed Josh on kind of a dare. So sometimes you might play kissing games. If you make a putt you get a kiss. But if you miss, you say I need encouragement for the next hole. Stuff like that." "Thanks Pops" was the response of all three. Billy asked "Any ideas of what we can talk about" "Sure people usually like to talk about themselves or stuff they know. So ask questions about their family, school, what they do for fun, after school activities, music. If you like the girl you are have to show you are interested in them. " "Gotcha Pops" The parents had set a time limit of 11:00 to have the kids picked up. Pops reminded the boys again; asked if they were ok for money and dropped them off. They waited outside in the spring air for the girls. Who arrived a couple minutes later. Josh let out a gasp as Jennie got out of the car. Her pretty blond hair in a pony tail that just begged to be tugged. Her tight fitting white sweater highlighted her firm young breasts. Her perky little button nose lit up her face. He thought she was drop dead beautiful. His arousal was growing in his pants. Jesse swooned over Valerie. She was just the right height for his 6'2" frame at 5'8". Her wavy dark hair was at shoulder length and shimmered in the street lights. Her young and sexy teenage body accentuated her long legs which he had the strangest feeling that he needed those long slender legs wrapped around him. Just like Josh his teenage boy parts were growing with a mind of their own. Rebecca for sure was the prettiest girl of the three. She had wavy dark hair in a pony tail with bangs just about touching her eyes. Her full lips and sparkling brown eyes begged to be kissed. She had a slender figure with perky young breasts. Although, Billy could recognize her beauty he didn't seem quite as aroused as Josh or Jesse. After the hello's and how are Ya's the boys asked whether they wanted something to eat. All three girls said maybe after the golf. So they walked the couple blocks. Jennie immediately when to hold Josh's hand. Josh looked at her and smiled and readily held her. Val a conversation questioning what it was like in the shelter. Josh and Billy exchanged stories and told of the weirdo's in the showers. Billy gave a demonstration of the way they practiced running to get help. The girls and Jesse were just about falling down laughing at how he cupped his privates and ran like a penguin. Billy said well let's see you guys do it imagine you are in the shower and a wacko is trying to grab you and you run out into a bunch of people. They are tried running and covering their privates; they all looked like penguins doing it. By the time they got to monster golf; all six were fast becoming great friends. Josh asked how they wanted to play everyone for themselves or partners or boys against girls. It was decided that it was couples against couples with the winning couple giving dares or truths to the other two after each hole. They were lucky as they didn't have anyone right behind them and they could take their time. Josh and Jennie , Billy and Becky lost a hole lost a hole and the truth question to Josh was who gave him his first French kiss. Josh did a lot of stammering on that and the others laughed except Billy who knew the answer. "Wwwell that's hard you see there wasn't any opportunity to see girls in the shelter and kids from school didn't want anything to do with us homeless kids. Sso Bbilly and I experimented but my real best French kiss was Jennie." Billy was a little red in the face as Josh told. Jesse knowing his first kiss was with Josh was nervous too. The girls just giggled. Becky had an older brother who was gay and out so she wasn't bothered by it at all. The best dare and the one they all liked was having each of the couples kiss. Score of the game got to not matter as much as the dares. They all had a good time although Jesse and Josh had to keep adjusting their boy parts. Billy not so much. Jeanie teased "hey your boy parts being stupid again. " All that Josh and Jesse could do was a silly smirk. Billy came to their rescue by saying " girls should have a button on something that pops up to show you are ready. Kind of like the one on the chickens when you roast them." They all laughed at that imagining a button popping out on the girls. Jeanie said "Better buttons than spears." Val said that should be the name of their group "Buttons & Spears". Back at Panera they had coffee and pastries while waiting for their rides. They talked over the events of the night laughing at all the stuff that happened. All too soon, Rebecca's mom was there to get the girls and Jesse's dad drove the boys home. Pops asked how the evening went. Josh said "it was great fun he never laughed so much in his life and Mr. Happy was excited the whole night." "great Josh, what did you think Billy." "Well like Josh said it was a blast, the girls were a lot of fun and Jesse is real cool too. I enjoyed myself." "What was your date's name?" "Rebecca, they called her Becky most of the time; she was nice, real nice. She has an older gay brother." Josh said, " we are going to go take a shower now Pops before bed." "Ok boys this show will be over in 10 minutes then I'm gonna take my meds and lock up. Good night" With that, the boys each came over and gave Pops a kiss on the cheek and a hug before going up stairs. Billy asked Josh "Hey you want me to help with Mr. Happy?" Josh was caught off guard a little. He had these images a Jeanie in his head and wanted to keep them there. Billy was his best friend ever but Jeanie well, she was the girl of his dreams. "Ahh I don't know Billy, I just want to think of Jeanie right now and that would be hard if you were helping me get off.... Did you have a good time with Becky... I mean when you kissed didn't it turn you on." Billy frowned, "Jeeze not so much, I mean she is very, very pretty and so nice but nothing happened when we kissed. I saw you go gaga and the same thing with Jesse but all the time I kept thinking I would rather be kissing you, Josh." Josh went over and hugged his best friend. He understood that what he had just said was so very hard for him. "No labels, Billy, maybe you just need more time with Becky. Maybe with not a lot of other people around." Sad with his head down, Billy said "yeah maybe that's it." Inside he knew it wasn't it. He knew he was different from his best friend and pretty sure he didn't have to wait till he was 18 to know who he was. He went into the bedroom and said "you go ahead and take your shower first." And plopped down on his bed and fell asleep. Josh took his shower and went to bed naked. Jeanie texted him with a selfie of herself. She said "she wanted to sleep with Josh and this was the closest she could get." She said "she knew they were too young to do "IT" but that didn't stop her girl parts from wanting Josh." Josh sent a selfie back showing his naked torso but did not include his raging hard on. He told her, "His stupid boy parts wanted to make babies with her picture and it was thinking it would work." She laughed and sent a picture of her puckering up to kiss his picture. This went on for about 30 minutes until Josh finally exploded and they said good night. Sunday morning, Billy tried to put on a brave face but inside he was a depressed as could be. Pops sensed something was wrong and while Josh was out of the room texting to Jesse and Jeanie and Val; he put an arm around his should and asked "what's wrong". "Nothing Pops" "Hey don't nothing me. I wasn't n born yesterday you know. I think you need to talk about it." "Maybe" Billy said. "So" "OK, I know you said that you should put labels on yourself.... But last night didn't go so great for me.... I kissed Becky, really kissed her and I didn't get turned on.... If I get just a little peck from Josh the juices start to flow big time. So I'm thinking I'm gay... that wouldn't be so bad if Josh was the same but he's gone gaga over Jeanie and it's obvious he's straight and I love him but can never have him ." "Wow yeah I guess that can be a bummer. Sounds like you are pretty sure of your sexuality. So do you not want to be friends with Josh?... Is he no longer your brother?... would you not go through a wall for him or him for you?...." "Ohh no I loved Josh and want him to as happy as he can be and I would do anything to help him." "Good, so you know when one door closes another door opens." "What does that mean." "Well tomorrow, I'm going to take your mom to PHS, Mr. Harvey's company. Chances are she's going to get that job.... Then an apartment... and maybe you'll go to school right here is Hopewell. So the shelter door closes and a new door opens here in Hopewell. ..... So Josh is straight and sexy games with him have closed so another will open for you.... You just have to wait to see what it or who it is.... You are a very smart and handsome young man with a real caring attitude about people .... For sure you'll find someone to love you the way you are. " "Ya really think so, Pops." "I'm sure of it." "I forgot all about mom and her new job. And I did make some really swell new friends already, last night. Didn't I." "Yes you did Billy, and I'm sure they will love and support you just the way you are." "Thanks Pops you made me think of all the good things I have got going for me. " "Anytime, Billy" Billy came over and hugged Pops like there was no tomorrow. " You're the best grandpa in the whole world. Thanks for the talk; I'll never tell you nothing when there is something. "