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A Stepbrother's Desire - Josh and Tyson 18
Friday night was "chilly" as women would say. The last game of the season had been dynamite. By the middle of the 4th quarter, the game was undecided. The score was tied. The announcers couldn't spout off enough, all trying to get in the last word. The cheerleaders were cheering and dancing non-stop. The marching band, having played everything they knew, were just playing snippets from their repertoire including the school song. Despite the cool evening air, the coach was sweating. He maintained his perch in center field, occasionally making runs up and back to monitor the activity. The quarterback, who had performed reasonably well, was shaken by one of his (my) plays that backfired, cost us the ball, and nearly resulted in a touchdown by the Brookland Hornets.
Coach had been forgiving given other successes on the field while the defensive line had pushed with all of their might to keep Brookland from advancing. Coach stopped in front of me on his way back to Center, "Josh, it's time to wrap this thing up and go home. I want a win. Thoughts?"
"Yes sir," I said, not confirming his question.
"Oh I see," he said, smiling from one side of his mouth. "You have ideas. Ok, fine with me. Just get `er done," he said and continued back to his station. While I had thoroughly loved this role as "coach support," sometimes he made me feel like I was on the hook, that wins and losses rested on my shoulders. I guessed that was the downstream effect that coaches created by delegating.
There were 40 yards between the team and the field goal. I called Mark, the quarterback, over and asked him what he had in mind. He said if we could advance another ten yards, the time left would only allow us one more play.
"Can you do it, you know, the IT, Mark?" and he nodded.
"I mean Mark," screaming at him, "can you do it? Can you pull off the Big Dick and win this game? It's NOT a rhetorical question!"
"Yes sir! I can do it!" he yelled back. I pointed to the field and sent him back out. The next play got him several yards. I looked up at the coach who was looking down the field toward me. I nodded to him and turned back to the game. Obviously, we missed our chance at a championship game but Coach was determined to leave this season as strong as he could.
The teams were in formation. Mark called his huddle and gave the halfbacks and the full back, Bryce Chatley, their marching orders. Bryce and I had not discussed this as it was Mark's job to prep everyone. If this was to be the last play of the season, Bryce would own it, win or lose.
Mark gave his gesture and the play kicked off. It was methodical enough that I could see what was happening before it actually did. As the lines crushed into each other, a couple of runners took to foot. The area back toward the field goal was a skeleton crew. Bryce was wide open. The team had not considered this quarterback might be capable of executing my best play but he did. He launched that ball with a form that only I could have appreciated. Bryce's number 18 jersey did a light run back, then over to center, and even though the throw did not take the ball as close to the goal as I would have preferred, Bryce compensated. He caught the ball, and numbers 22 and 4 provided cover, preventing the defensive lineman from interfering with the play and Bryce took the ball over the line to score our last touchdown and win of the season.
The pandemonium broke out and everyone went wild. A 7 out of 10 game season was nothing to snot at. The coach was berserk and half the team was carrying Bryce back up the field. Mark, the quarterback, took his helmet off and stared back toward the field. It would have filmed well if it had been a movie. His hair was glued to his head with sweat. I honestly believe there had not been any other guy on a football field this season who had worked as hard as he did. He looked at me in disbelief and I raised my hands and gave him "thumbs up" gestures. He smiled, a big smile, one that showed teeth.
I remained fairly close to my seat. I was proud of my team but I didn't feel the celebration belonged to me. I can't explain that. I looked down the field at two hooded figures approaching me and I recognized them at once. Ty and Tristan started a light jog once they knew I had seen them. They came up on me fast and they launched into my arms as soon as they were close enough. This is where my celebration started and ended. They knew, from knowing me so well, how bittersweet this victory was, how incredible each of them had been to me since, well, you know. They beamed at me and I loved them both so much at this moment.
"The parents had a ball tonight," Ty said. "They hung out with the Lanes and they said to tell you congratulations." It was cool Tristan's parents came. They were not sports enthusiasts, so Tristan had let on but they enjoyed nights like this out when they weren't busy.
I put both my arms around them and led them up the field where the team had formed what looked like a pile. Helmets were lying all around, sweaty hair was in the air. Everyone was cheering. Bryce came at me like a dump truck and grabbed Ty and Tristan and me all at the same time.
"Brothers?" I asked.
"Brothers always," he replied. We headed towards the stands where our parents had gathered on the front row. Bryce's mom had a cream colored fur coat that matched her hair. She was like something on a tv commercial. They were all there laughing and talking. They all congratulated us. Ginny and her parents came down to for the fun. I finally got to meet her mom. Wow Ginny looked just like her. She said it was an amazing game and it was a thrill that could enjoy a Friday night with her family. You see, this is what people don't often understand. Friday night football is that thing you can't but love and it makes everyone feel all warm and fuzzy. Although I have always played this off, it had a lot of meaning to me that night. Somehow my mom was able to make her way into the crowd and was soon meeting and greeting with the Tatum's.
Just as we were about to walk off, Caleb Shaw, school prep and snob, came by with his entourage. I steered clear of this bunch because I didn't come from money but was living like I did and didn't want to tangle with him. It would end in bruising his "pretty boy" face.
"Hey Josh, great game man. You all killed it," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. For him it was all about the show.
"Thanks, Caleb. Appreciate it," and he gave me that "bro handshake" like we were long time peeps or something. Then he looked at Ty and said, "Hey Tyson," in a whiny voice, "where's your paci? Baby needs his pacifier!" and his three buddies all laughed. I flinched and Tristan grabbed my arm, stopping me from interjecting.
"Suck on your own pacifier, Caleb. Sucking your own is probably the only way you are going to get it anyway!" Ty snapped back. Willis and Drake cheered at that too, indicating Ty had scored one on him. They were morons. Why is it big morons always have two smaller morons orbiting around them?
"Aw, Tyson, you used to like all the hot guys. Looks like you just like certain one's now," he said with a sneer and he gave Ty the most peculiar look, cold but regretful. I'm glad I didn't interfere. This was interesting.
My gaze was broken when Tristan yelled out, "Go on, Caleb. This isn't the time for your crap!" and the four of them started away into the crowd when Ty called out to Caleb and motioned for him to come back. Ty said softly to him, not for show or cool points, "You used to be one of those guys...until you became an asshole," and then Ty turned back to me and Tristan, signaling for Caleb that was all he wanted to say.
"A story there?" I asked.
"Oh yes," said Tristan. "We'll tell you that one later!"
I asked Ty if he was driving me home because I rode with Bryce to the game. I decided not to go back to the locker room, for some reason, thinking on how I felt the moment the game ended, I felt removed or something. This was their win and if I go back there, it will all end up as some praise for me, praise I didn't deserve. I picked up my bag from under the bench and headed to Ty's car out in the parking lot. There was a lot of celebrating going on there as well. The parents were cheering at everyone they saw. Ty and I pushed through the crowd and climbed into his mini cooper. He started up the car and turned on the heat. The radio came on, and he pulled me toward him and kissed me, so hard. His lips had a roughness and I suspected they were getting chapped. I didn't care, I let him kiss me as long as we could get away with it.
The parents turned in soon after getting home. Ty went to his room and turned on his tv. I decided to shower. My phone was blowing up with text messages and gifs of touchdowns and what not but I thought I could check those out later. The shower felt good as the warm water pelted into my skin. The cold was slowly slinking from my body. One thing is for sure, we didn't get any rainy game nights this season and I was thankful for that. No one knows until you've been out there on the field in a rainstorm how terrible a night that can be. After the last of the body wash had rinsed down, I grabbed my towel and dried off. I didn't hear anything in Ty's room except the Tv. I went into my room and there he was propped up on my bed like that's where he belonged.
"What are you doing?" I asked and as I got close to the bed he pulled me down and my towel fell off. "You're attacking me?" I said laughing as he grabbed my neck and held me down on the bed. "Seriously," I barked pretending I hated this, acting like I was being assaulted or something. He tickled me and it was all I could not to scream out! He was such a crazy ass. I tried not to laugh loudly but then he stopped and you know what happened - kissing! The kissing is what always gets me. If he were not such a good kisser, I might have cut Ty off! Yeah right! I got hard so fast. My dick was like a water hose when you turn the water on. It was full and solid. He pulled his shorts off and joined our nude bodies together.
"You little perv," I said, laughing as he licked my ear. "You're been waiting for this all night, haven't you?"
"How about all week!" he snapped. "Not like we've had much time," and he rolled me onto my back and climbed on top of me. After licking his way down my torso, he took me into his mouth and sucked me. His mouth felt so good and then, without warning, he spit on his finger and slipped it into my ass. Ok, I considered that a surprise attack. I was feeling sensations inside and out! And without further discussion, he lubed himself and raised my legs.
"Oh no you don't," I exclaimed, trying to push my legs back down. I always thought the same about my legs as I did my hands. Both of them belonged pointing downward, not over my head! "We didn't discuss this," I said as he put the head of his upturned cock right at my entrance. I lost my train of thought the second his head slipped in and I couldn't think of anything else as he guided himself into me. Once he was all the way in, he lowered his body down onto mine. Since I had been watching sex, I had built a an idea that the bigger always belonged on top of the smaller. Perhaps it was the man on woman image and perhaps it did look best that way. But I couldn't see what we looked like. I could only feel and while my hormones were raging and I was so turned on by the feel and weight of Ty's body on mine, I couldn't help but remember who the body belonged to. It was so hard to believe that I had him inside of me. It felt good too. Really good.
"You didn't think that the first time was going to be the last did you?" he asked, looking like he had taken down the giant. I didn't know what to say, except the feelings were coming over me like waves. "You're doing good, babe," and his cocked felt so big inside me. I heard a wet plop as he came out, more suddenly than I preferred. You can't just plow a booty like mine. It's not experienced enough. I didn't fuss though. I pulled him close to me and allowed his cock to find it's own way back in.
He fucked me, partly with his body glued to mine, then by raising himself up by his arms. He thrusted gently, then like a man on a mission. He kissed my mouth, and pressed forward to keep my legs spread. I reached behind him and felt his ass muscles expand and contract. Ok, I didn't realize how sexy that felt. I could only imagine how incredible his fit, smooth ass must look like in this position. Then, I felt a gasp of air push from his mouth into mine, and he uttered, "I'm cumming baby," and I felt it. Warm spurts filled my ass as sensations traveled to my cock. It only took a few strokes to unleash my cum which blasted my body and I looked at him for a second. He had a very strong look on his face, difficult to make out. We were only thirty minutes into it. We cum too fast, I thought. I wanted one of those things that lasts all night. Christmas was coming, maybe we could pull it off. In the meantime, he was laying on my shoulder, as always, with my left arm wrapped around him and the fact that he ran the play told me I wasn't the only quarterback in the room and never underestimate the guys with flair. You don't know what they are capable of.
"Hey Ty, what was the deal with Caleb? That seemed out of the blue. What kind of history do y'all have?" I asked.
"Uh, it's not a big deal. When we were all young, like 12, Tristan and I used to go to the pool everyday and Caleb was always there. We would swim and play in the water and it was so fun. You know how you can play in the pool like you can't play anywhere else?"
"Yeah, dunking and wrestling and stuff, yeah I know what you mean," I said.
"Well, we all loved it. It was almost like he was waiting for us everyday. You know Josh, I was just becoming aware and I loved the way his body felt in the water. It was all innocent but it was, like erotic. Anyway, Tristan and I both adored him. He was a little bigger than us and it was like a "big brother" thing. He could lift Tristan completely out of the water and throw him. It was so fun," he said and I could hear the reflection in his voice. "If he even thought he was going to swim away from us, we would jump him and pull him back into the game. His skin felt so good, we just wanted to touch him. He didn't seem to mind, either, but that's the pool."
"I know this thing Ty because I had a guy across the street that I "wrestled" with too. He looked good in jeans and I wasn't sure why I thought so. We would roll around the living room floor because our parents were at work. I would get so hard but nothing ever came of it. He moved away and it really made me sad so I'm with you," I told him. "What happened? Why did it change?" I wanted to get off the subject of Cam. I hadn't texted with him in a while and I couldn't explain to him why.
"Well, it was obvious all that action got to us. We all had hardons and though it was funny we couldn't get out of the pool until they went down. It was really funny. We would laugh so hard it was tough to get them to go down. And then because we got comfortable we started egging each other on. I think Caleb was on the verge of peeing in the pool once because he couldn't get out," and I started laughing. That was a hilarious image. "Tristan kept sticking his tongue out and making fish lips and Caleb just about drowned him," and I was trying so hard to keep from laughing out loud.
"Then about the time my mom died when I was almost 14, Caleb changed. He got kind of mean with us. We stopped talking and hanging out. I never knew what happened unless it had to do with me coming out. I didn't think he was gay I just thought the playtime was fun for him. He didn't have to get so angry so we just left him alone. Every now and then he flares up at me to show off for those jerks. He never says anything to me when he's alone," Ty said.
"So maybe something else happened that changed him, nothing to do with you?" I suggested.
"Maybe, but I don't know. But when he snots at me I give it back to him. I'm not scared of him. He would never try to hurt me. He's just a showoff."
"I was about to break his nose but Tristan stopped me," I said.
"I could tell. Tristan knew I could handle it. He typically leaves Tristan alone. It seems he only comes at me."
"Maybe he had a crush on you and it scared him," I said.
"Maybe but he made his choice. He cut us off."
"He's hot," I said.
"Yes he is but he can barely keep a girlfriend for more than a month," he said giggling. "He's a jerk to them too."
"That was an interesting story," I said. "So you like the erotic feel of boys in the pool huh? A pool fetish," I suggested, teasing him. As he pulled in closer to him, he lowered his hand down to my cock and gripped it. I started to get hard again.
"Any more teasing me about Caleb and the pool and you lose this," he said and I chuckled, but didn't make any sudden moves.
The next day mom caught Ty coming out of my room and quickly told him that she was just about ready to go out to our storage facility. Since I had mentioned it at breakfast, there were things in there she was looking for as well. In particular, she wanted a certain pair of shoes. I was like, "seriously mom? All our memories are stored in here and you want some shoes?" She laughed. "They are memorable, Josh, and particularly comfortable," which made me laugh.
I found the photo albums and the framed pictures. She asked me why I was so interested and I told her I had some artistic ideas that would come to light at Christmas. She knew I wasn't giving away my game plan so she left it and we continued looking for miscellaneous things. I pulled up one of the pictures when I was little and I said, "Hey mom, did you think I was a pretty baby? Back then, that is?" and she laughed. "Oh God, Josh, you were a beautiful baby. I couldn't take you in public for people wanting to hold you and scoop you out of your stroller. That dark hair and those blue eyes just crushed the other moms." She giggled and said, "don't worry honey, you're still a pretty baby. I'm sure everyone thinks so," and I gave her a smirk.
"Hey mom," I said, leaning up against the side of the storage room, "I think there is something to be said for a pretty baby who grows up and can look at his mom and be thankful he has such a beautiful mom. Kinda makes the circle complete, you know?" Her eyes welled up almost instantly.
"Josh, that is the most amazing thing I have ever heard you say. Thank you," she said. "You don't know how many moms would love to hear that just once in their life and I'm the lucky one who has that son. I'm speechless," she said.
"Mom, well, let me tell you this," and I paused trying to figure out how to get it out. "If I ever do something that makes me look less than that pretty baby, if something happens and you don't think I'm that pretty baby anymore, just remember I told you that. Will you? I might need some grace," I said, with humility I couldn't explain. She squinted her eyes and grabbed my chin.
"Josh, are you ok? Is something wrong?" I nodded that there wasn't. "You're scaring me. Something must be on your mind. Are you sure you're ok? Is it your hand? Your father?"
"No, nothing's wrong. Except to say there has been a lot going on since we moved here and well, I just don't know what might happen from one minute to the next. I don't have places to hide like I used to. I don't have the same friends like I did back home. I just need to know you will stay on my side no matter what happens. That's all I'm saying." She nodded to me.
"Josh, you and me, well, I think we're pretty well connected. You were never a "momma's boy but you are your mother's son. You understand what I'm saying? I don't see anything changing how I feel about you," and she gave me a big hug. "You men are so emotional these days. Worse than your granny when she went through menopause!" and she laughed, thinking that was so funny.
"Thanks a lot mom. Not a pretty picture, thank you!" I replied, laughing with her.
We finished gathering up the collected items and she found some clothing and a lamp and so on to bring back to the house. I found a couple of things that I could put on display now that I know my room. I hadn't brought much because I wasn't sure what would look nice. We loaded up the back of the wagon and headed through Midtown where we stopped and got some lunch. She was like a reporter from WRAM news about my dinner with Ginny. She was already planning when we could have her over for dinner but I reminded her I was just getting my evenings back and I had one thing I wanted to discuss with her and Bill.
While Ty's time with Ricky had been really great for them, this thing where Jordan Rose was picking up Ty and dropping him off was under my skin. I know why Bill didn't want Ty driving out there by himself so I offered to drive him once and check it out to see if it was dangerous for him in any way and then determine if he should be allowed to do it on his own. Mom thought it was a brilliant suggestion. I didn't want to get into my politics about Rose but it would have to be something worse than a South American jungle that Ty could not drive it himself. He was very safe and it was only like twenty miles. This would simplify things a great deal. She suggested I bring it up with Bill.
Later that afternoon, I put on my new navy blazer with the gold buttons, grey pants that Bill bought for me, a striped tie from his collection and he and I headed out to the player/parent football dinner. It was held at the Rotary Club Banquet Hall which was old but wasn't bad. It was pretty fun. A lot of mentions and honors were bestowed on players for different actions on and off the field. The only thing I will mention from this event, and I'm not bragging, but it wasn't just thoughtful, it was actually noble.
The coach gave the Most Improved Player Award to Mark Reston, Quarterback. The rest of the awards had been predictable. Yards Run, blocks, tackles, etc. Metrics is an important part of game analysis. Mark took the podium and offered some words.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have to be the one to say this because no one knows better than me what has gone on here. First, you have a quarterback that's like the best anywhere around. Then, through no fault of his, you get me as a quarterback. As you know, I'm stubborn and hardheaded." The team laughed and someone shouted, "you're kidding!" Mark continued, "secondly, I'm a little lazy which is why my grades got me in trouble last semester, and better not anyone say a damn thing!" and everyone laughed. "And so there I was standing on the field like a kid. No direction and no focus. And then there's Josh, who didn't beg to come and coach us, to give up his time for a place on the sidelines. He didn't feel so desperate that he would have just died if he were not part of the team. Nope, he was perfectly content to walk away and let us run the show." He looked directly at me and said, "Josh, I know how you think. You are the kind of guy that would be happy to prove that no football team revolves around just one person, that no one person is the star. You would prove that we would be fine without you and the game would carry on." The room was dreadfully quiet now.
"Well, we did need you and we did ask a lot of you. We all noticed that Coach had you in his sight through every game! We relied on you, man and it was because we had the good sense, although not at first, to listen to you, and follow your lead, that we had a GREAT SEASON! Josh, this season has been the best time of my life and I owe it to you," and there was applause from the players. "I feel like I should say thank you in front of all these people because if you hadn't been so patient, and hadn't kicked my A double S the way you did, we would not have "got `er done" and I hope the team feels the same way I do!" and everyone stood and applauded. "And let me conclude by saying in the words of Joshua Warner, it has been a pleasure to play with you and serve with you out there on the field!" There were cheers and whistles. I know my face was beat red. He did a pretty good job with that. It was a good perspective. Bill tapped my arm signaling for me to stand up. I did and they applauded louder. As Mark left the podium, the coach took him by the arm and gave him one of those hugs, the proud fatherly kind. What I hoped was that Mark was over the hump and would be a star quarterback next year. And, ok, it was an esteem boosting moment for me as well. I had worked hard for them and I did give them my best from the sidelines. It wasn't so bad being called out for it. Perhaps I would never be king but I could be a kingmaker. That was something for me to ponder later.
The moment was cut because music started blaring through the speakers. It was the old song by Tina Turner, Simply the Best, and the cheerleaders came out in dresses and gowns and started a show of their own. They dragged all the players up front and they did a lip-sync sort of performance and we danced with them and each other and it was a blast. They were all so gorgeous in their dresses. All in all, a fun night. I was glad I went. Sharing the table with Bryce and his dad was cool. His dad was a bit more hyper than Bill but I could see why he and Bill got along so well. They were on the same page on most every topic. Bryce was really just like his mother.
Sunday we went to church, and yes although I don't get into here as part of the story, we go. Bill has not insisted on being devout given how little free time we've had but he likes to go and with getting closer to the holidays, he said he would like for us to be more thoughtful. I was standing in the kitchen, having eaten some toast, pretty much wearing the same blazer and dress pants from last night, when Ty came down. He was wearing a plaid shirt and khakis and I snapped, "You're wearing that?" Bill cracked up from the surprise of it and mom rolled her eyes at me. It was pretty funny because he turned without saying a word and walked back up the stairs. He came back down a few minutes later in a grey patterned coat with a small flap on the lapel and patches on the elbows.
"What's that?" I asked. "That `s a nice jacket," I said.
"It's a herringbone coat," Ty said. "Classic wear for church" he snapped, walking out the door and climbing into the car.
"Chalk one up for Ty," mom said laughing at my blank face.
Sunday afternoon was quiet because Bill was "peopled" out. When he got tired of people, he took to yardwork, some light reading, and a football game which pretty much put him to sleep. Sounded like a great day to me. Ty was working with Tristan on the last photographs and item descriptions and he was going live that evening. I talked to Bill during the game about taking Ty out to Ricky's this week in place of Jordan. He said that made sense and if the drive seemed uncomplicated enough, then he would consider letting Ty drive out alone. You think these prosperous parent types don't pay any attention to their kids but they do. Bill was very protective of Ty "hitting the road" and kept him on a short leash as far as driving around the city. As Ty was not prone to recklessness and speeding, I thought Bill would start lightening up, especially where habitual visits might be concerned, like going out to Ricky's. I was honest when I told him I would be happier without the "Jordan influence". Bill's response? "Well, yes, that too."
So I drove Ty out to Ricky's and yes, it was out in the country. It was, without trying to sound like a snob, a place time forgot. The houses were old, the driveways dirt paths. This of course is just visual. It doesn't have any bearing on the type of people who live there. Ricky and his mother were really good people and hanging out with Ty and Ricky was kind of fun. The only problem with that visit is that it irked Ty that Ricky wanted me to be a part of everything. Jordan had been dropping Ty off and then visiting his friends and "associates" out there. I had nowhere to go. I didn't blame Ty as I had preferred to just hang out and watch some tv or something while they did their thing. They practiced the pieces on the piano that Ricky had chosen as he had indicated he wanted his school to let him play in the Winter Talent Show they hosted each year in January. It was a big move for Ricky and his mom couldn't thank Ty enough for pushing him. She said he was showing interest in possibly returning to school altogether.
On the way home, driving down the old road, Ty asked me to pull over in a clearing where there wasn't much of anything around. I did so.
"You have to pee?" I asked and he laughed.
"No, silly! I just want to stop for a minute. This is a good spot," he said.
"How do you know this spot? Did you and Jordan stop here?" I asked suspiciously.
"Well, we have a couple of times. To shoot the breeze, you know," he said, trying to be casual. I was about to get hot.
"Ty, have you and Jordan been up to something out here? I mean, it's very private and all," and he interrupted me. "Stop it Josh. No, Jordan and I have not been fooling around out here. You should know by now he's not into boys for Christ's sake!"
"Well what did you do? We talked. We just talked. He tells me things he doesn't want to say to his friends. He shows his gentler side," Ty said, respectfully. I could almost appreciate what he was saying and I cooled down.
"I wanted to stop here with you, well, because of the privacy and to get a few minutes with you. That's all," he said quietly. I got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. I opened his door and he looked frightened like I was going to pull him out or something. I climbed in on top of him and used the automatic seat adjuster to push the seat back and to recline him.
"Oh fuck, Josh. You picked up the message fast," and just then I sucked his cock into my mouth. Honestly, I had pictured making out with a guy and even fucking someone in the car, in the country, just like this so many times where I used to live. I got a huge excitement out of this. If it had been a Friday night, it would have been a dream. Ty and I enjoyed several pleasures in my front seat and a few minutes in the back seat as well. It had gotten dark and I knew time was not on our side but this was so exciting. He laid on top of me in the back as we came down from our high. No, I didn't get to fuck him but we sucked each other off and it was crazy fun. Funny how scenery can add to the fun, you know?
We discussed the drive situation with the parents and they agreed as long as Ty was going out and back during the daytime and not staying late, they would let him go on his own. Ty pointed out the reality that the music and the talent show had become the focus of their get togethers and this would not be an ongoing thing long term. They would get in some practice between now and Christmas and give it the heavy lift during break so that Ricky was prepared in case the school permitted him to play in the talent contest. Ricky's mom had talked to the school and she felt like he would be. It would be hard to say no to someone who had been through what he had.
It was amazing how life changed for us in November with Ty's tennis being completed. I was using Bill's membership to Gold's Gym to get back to lifting weights and to work on my hand therapy. They had given me specific exercises which would have been fine at home but were better in the gym. I took Ty to get him acclimated to working out regularly. He had areas he wanted to build to improve his tennis performance. Having watched his matches helped me gauge where he needed emphasis since I didn't know anything about tennis on my own. I learned that it was a more challenging sport than previously thought. The strong guys definitely had advantages over those who were just fast.
Having some Friday nights free gave me some time with friends. I went out with Ginny a couple of times and got to hang with Bryce and some guys from the team and Ty and I helped Tristan schedule a "playdate" with Micah. So Micah would come to the city under the pretext of hanging out with me but would see Tristan instead. His parents didn't care if he had anyone over as long as they weren't doing drugs and stuff and Micah's weekend was coming up so we were all really excited.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and feedback! More exciting things to come!!