The voice mails were almost all congrats and I needed not to return those. One was from Charlie and I needed to deal with that. There was also a VT call from Coach B and I would also return that. First however, I needed to call JJ. I asked if him and Mia wanted to hang out at my place, watch the Steeler game and then drive to Greentree to meet Ray. He laughed and said, I bet we don't get to see much of the game. JJ, if they want they can come to greentree. He said he would be at my place at 1:00 with Mia. I called Winnie and asked if she wanted to joint JJ and Mia and me and watch the game. She laughed and said Mike, based on last night, well early this morning, we won't see much of the game. I laughed and said JJ said the same thing. Then I asked if she remembered Ray. She said sure and I told her about meeting him and a couple of guys in Greentree for dinner. She seemed pleased with that and I told her I would pick her up at 12:45 and she was good with that.
Next I called Charlie and was told that Chuck's mom was flying in and that they would spend a couple of day at the Winery and then they would fly back to DC. She was giving David a couple of days to get his shit out of the house. She has filed for divorce and told David that if it wasn't over soon she would make it all very public. Ok Charlie, how is the kid? Mike, he is having a hard time understanding his dad cheating on him and his mom but the gay for pay thing has him confused. Mike, I'll have a long chat with him but at some point you are the best one to do that. You have no idea how much he idolizes you and what you and JJ mean to him. Ok Charlie, put him on for a minute. Chuck screamed into the phone, "Awesome game" Mike. I said thanks but how are you doing with the shit with your mom and dad. Mike, dad and I are not close and he cheated. Chuck, does how he cheated matter to you? He laughed and said fuck I go to an all boys private school and I get the gay thing and none of that bothered me. What bothers me is that he cheated and that he had to pay for sex with guys. That's just wrong on too many levels for me. I thought, damn the kid has it together. Then he said Mike, I'm making mom take me to Hershey to see you play. With this thing with dad she gives in a lot more. I chuckled and said Chuck, don't abuse that, she is having a tough time with much of that. Chuck laughed and said, I get it with dad gone there is no one left to fight with. I said dude, call anytime and I'll see you in Hershey and we hung up.
I called Coach B back and he said Mike, you had an outstanding game and it was good to see that. Not wanting to get into anything I simply said thanks. Mike, I am staying till Tuesday morning and I'm meeting with Josh and his parents tomorrow evening any chance you can meet up sometime Monday? Coach, I'm off all day from school but have an OPEN HOUSE at the building, celebrating an award and sending a message. He laughed and said so when will you be free? Well before 10:00 and then after 3:00. He thought for a minute and asked if 8:30 would work? I said, sure if it's at my office. He said, that's fine and then added that it would just him as he was traveling alone. At first I didn't think anything about that but as we chatted my radar started to chirp. Finally, he said make sure you tell JJ how pleased we were with his efforts last night. Coach, he would appreciate it more if you told him that himself. Mike, you are right and I'll call him now and there are two coaches fighting over him. So coach will he have a say in any of this? Mike, all I'll say is that we will need help starting his sophomore year at safety. We will work with him on all that. With that we hung up and I left to get Winnie.
Winnie was ready and Uncle Ken's car was there but I didn't see him and I was glad that was the case. In the car I asked what was Ken's story. Mike, he is dad younger brother and he works hard and we don't see a lot of him. Winnie, does he have a family other that you guys? Mike, he has a partner that he has had for years but he rarely brings him here. Winnie, thanks and now things seem to fit. Mike, what are your thoughts about all that. Winnie, I'm not a dumb jock and I accept all that as long as it is what they want. What upsets me is when people weather gay or straight or something else pay for sex. It is degrading to everyone concerned and simply disgusting. With that we were at my place.
Inside I asked what she was drinking and she asked for a beer, so I grabbed 2 beers sat beside her and turned the game on. JJ was a bit late and he said that Coach B had called and that they talked for 10 minutes or so and that he was late because of that. I told JJ that I had a meeting with him tomorrow morning and that I had no idea what he wanted. JJ said well after last night he might want to clone you. I shook my head and said get your own drinks. Winnie was determined to make watching the game difficult. I finally gave up and pulled her into a tight embrace and we were making out like mad as it got more and more intense I picked her up and carried her to my bedroom, closed the door and sat on the bed and asked so is this what we are doing and she didn't answer simply put he arms around me and kissed me and then there was no stopping. It was romantic and I was amazed at how we instinctively knew what the other needed or wanted. We returned to the game early in the 4th quarter. I don't know if or when JJ and Mia hooked up but they appeared about the same time as we did.
We finished watching the game and simply hung out chatting and it was just a good time. I asked JJ to drive and he wasn't up for it and needed gas. I agreed but wanted some time alone with Winnie to simply talk. The girls went to fix their hair and I asked If he was ok for money? He laughed and said yes and I just didn't stop for gas as this was a complicated week. JJ, was it an ok chat with Coach B? Mike, it was better than OK. He said that both of us need to get there soon after the holidays. It looks like it will get serious sooner than I thought. I laughed and said JJ, I'm not starting work earlier than I have to. Besides I need to get back in shape. Mike, if it's all work for you it's simply is a waste of time. Do you even want to do this? JJ, I gave my word it will be fine. Wanting desperately to change the subject I said ok, whose coming? The girls agreed and we climbed into the car and were off.
We were there before Ray and whoever he was bringing and it was the usual breeding and I asked for soft drinks, as we had guests. That was easily accomplished and we grabbed a table in the back and could push together more if needed. The drinks were served and there was some bitching, amongst ourselves, about the soft drinks. Thankfully, Ray appear with two buddies. Damn he was HOT. He was now 6' 1" and I would guess about 185/190 of absolute muscle. He stood very erect and when he hugged me I knew he was in shape. He had a military haircut and he introduced Paul and Adam. It turned out they was staying in a hotel very close by. Paul and Adam were also seniors and while Ray was going to the Air Force Academy the other two were going to Annapolis and the Naval Academy. I laughed and said that I would be able to know their standing minute by minute. They just shook their heads and Adam said, well I hope you have better thing to do that check on us two jerks. Naturally we discussed football and they had made their league's playoffs but had lost their first playoff game.
Ray said that things were great and that he was the student commander with a private room and more than enough responsibility and that he was really grateful to dad. Then he said that on his 18th birthday he called his rents and told them that they were dead to him and he hoped that he never had to see them again. Mike, I told them that in spite of them I had made something out of my self and that was due to you Mike, and your dad my Uncle Mike. He said Janet started to cry and I just hung up. He said he was going out west as soon as school was out and would walk on for the football team. Winnie just sat there taking that all in and the conversation turned much lighter. Food was ordered and the owner did sneak in a round of beer. We talked and chatted and laughed and it was a good time. On the way out Ray told me that they would not be going to Hershey but would watch the game on TV. He was sure that we would be in the finals and that would be one hell of a game. I thanked him for coming and invited him to spend some time this summer at the cabin in New York, if he had the time. I even offered to fly to get him and then fly him back to the Academy. He thought that all sounded workable but we would have to see how his summer went.
Back in the car it was a very quiet ride home and JJ took Mia home, I guess and Winnie and I went into my place. She asked for a beer and we sat and talked about the night. She couldn't get over how much Ray had changed and she wondered what was in the Cool Aid he was drinking. Winnie, that has simply developed and he has matured and grown up. All that structure and discipline either gets bought into or it turns you into something which is the exact opposite. All I know is that's not the life for me but as for Ray the alternative was being found dead with a needle in his arm. Well Mike, that's the Ray I remember and how much he actually hurt you when he pulled away. I just shook my head and smiled. Then she said Mike, you know you won't see him again? I simply said yup and that makes me sad. I got a big hug nd a kiss. Then she asked, ok dude what's bothering you? Winnie, I really don't know and these next two weeks will be awful as thing come to an end in a lot of areas for me. So don't break up with me for at least a month. She smiled and said well I'm hoping this lasts for a very long time. I got up, went to my room grabbed the metal and asked, can you keep this for me for a while? She laughed and said only if I can wear it to school. I smiled and said sure, just don't lose it, I'm hoping for one more. With that we decided it was best that I take her home.
I was hoping to just drop her off but Uncle Ken pulled into the driveway just ahead of us and naturally caused a delay. Lucky it wasn't all that involved but he wanted to come to the building tomorrow and I shrugged and said, well it is an open house but I'm not sure I'll be available much. He said that's was ok as some of his team was making the trip to see the building. I thought, fuck I have a new friend but there was nothing I could do about it. I kissed Winnie good night and more intensely that appropriate said good night to Ken and drove to my place.
At my place, I realized what a complicated day I had. There was the relationship change and very different and more intense in a non sexual way with Winnie. There was a concern for each other that was like we have been together for a long time. Then there was Ray and his chosen path - fuck I hoped it worked for him and realized I would most likely never know. Then there was VT and the demands starting, I guess on some level they didn't care about State Tournaments. What I knew is that with football coming to an end it was my time for at least a month. Then there was Ken and Continental, his company, with visitors that were anything but his team. I finally grabbed another beer and sat on the loveseat going over my tour route and what I wanted to accomplish. I decided that with the State People, I would find a way to get them to pressure the City over the zoning. That would be an evaluate the situation and see where to push. The last decision of the night was what to wear. It was not going to be a suit and tie, but what were the options. Jeans and a crewneck would cause the Major to stroke out. I found a clean pair or khakis, cordovan loafers, and a matching belt. Then in rooting through the closet I found an old MJS Enterprise shirt. Turned out it didn't fit. Then I found a dark tan crew neck and when I put that on it fit like it was painted on and yet perfect. Even though I didn't feel I was in shape I was fairly awesome and this shirt showed all of that. It was definitely a keeper. The Major would have to settle for no jeans. I laid all that on my desk and did another check of my messages and found out I had practice at 7:30 tomorrow night. The message said that it would be films and that we were playing State College and that it was Friday night at 7:30 in Altoona. It was a quick shower and prepped the coffee and set the alarm for a run. As I laid in bed I was thinking about Chuck and Charlie and figures that I could help but it wasn't my job to fix it. There was a lot going on that I didn't know about, besides I wasn't about raising a 5th grader.
I was up just a few minutes before the alarm and Cole and JJ were also running and it was a great fast paced event. JJ said he was delivering scripts and working at the Pharmacy and Cole had school work and then was going to the Museum with Jessica. I laughed and he said MJ, we do a lot more together that fuck. I just said well that's good to know and went inside. I started the coffee and jumped into the shower. I shaved and got dressed, filled my coffee travel mug and drove to the office. I breezed through security as I was prepared and went directly to my office. I fired up the computer and went to the second floor and grabbed a cup of coffee. Back in my office I could Liam fixing a table with coffee, water and soft drinks. There was also donuts and other snacks. I just looked and Liam said I figured you might have a few small short meetings. I said thanks and sat in the club seating and simply enjoyed the morning as it was sunny and in the upper 30's. A little before 8:30 I put on my leather jacket and went down to the lobby. I had a brief chat with Chief Evans and as we were wrapping up Coach B showed up. We shook hands and I asked if he wanted a quick tour and he said sure we can walk and talk. We went outside and started towards the river along a walkway. Coach talked about the game the other night and wanted to know what fired me up. I simply said the game and the atmosphere. Then I discussed the building and the green space and how it was important to the employees and helped with flood control, if all the other stuff failed. We went through the first and second floors and then to the 4th floor and finally my office. He asked about the wall and didn't appreciate the jet and gently let that be known. We went outside and that impressed him. Back inside I asked he wanted coffee or something else and we both had coffee and sat in the club seating area.
I said ok Coach this is your meeting, what's up? Mike, I recruited you as a Junior and that typical. I have watched you mature, I have followed your interviews on both local and national TV and I have to admit that you are vastly different than any recruit I have ever been involved with. You don't suffer fools lightly and don't care who knows it. Then you didn't have the best year, football wise. Well let's say you were good enough and it was hard to find fault with your efforts, well until you blew the doors off the that game Saturday night. That was the kid we recruited. What I need to know who is coming to Hokie land in July. Ok Coach, it's my turn now. Do you know or remember how my Junior year ended football wise? Never mind, I simply tell you. I was carted off that stadium field on a cart. Rushed to the hospital with a big time concussion. Last year I had to carry the team and it almost killed me. I had head aches and memory lapses for days. This year, we were much better and I didn't need to bust the doors off. There are 7 or 8 people on that team you should be recruiting as they all can play D1 ball. Anytime it was tough or remotely close, I was there. Then there was my dealing with the damn drama all year. That took a tremendous mental tole on me as Coach was off the rails and couldn't deal with the pressure or for that matter, football in the 1990's. Coach, I don't even care about that metal, I want the next one and I want it for a lot of reasons and I'm not sharing those reasons. Mike, you need to deal with the coach in a better way. I laughed and said well we will have to agree to disagree on that and here is one reason why. We won and dominated that game and there is a trophy presentation on the field. In addition we get gold metals with the league logo stamped on one side and 1991 AAAA Champions on the other. The League Executive Director delivers them to the Coach in the locker room. Coach Weston put them on the table and said ok guys grab one and let's get on the bus. Coach B, I don't know or care what you think of that but I and most of us have a definite opinion. That's one of the reasons I want another metal as I'm giving them out to my teammates and the coaches can grab theirs out of the fucking box. What else do you need clarified? Oh, if you are about to ask me if I'm going to honor the commitment I made to your program, you need to simply leave. If that's the question, I'm done.
Coach B just sat there then he said Mike, the jet and the freedom it give you is a concern. I laughed and said well there are two jets. Rest assured that one will not be parked at the airport near campus, it's too expensive to keep it parked there. I have told you there will be time that I will spend nights here in Pittsburgh but won't miss a class or a practice. Also, I'll have an apartment off campus by June and will keep it all year. I'll also have a dorm room. So now the question is, do you still want me? Coach, I want to play for you and we will have many chats like this and we on occasion need to agree to disagree. Coach we both knew that 8 months ago. My question to you is what's changed? For the first time all morning Coach laughed then said, I'm not concerned about you I just needed to push you one final time to see how hard you pushed back. Mike, we build a recruiting class around you and we got people to commit because of you. The three of you from Pittsburgh will be the core of the defense. The biggest improvement of that group is Mr. Messer as he was born to play safety and I'm thinking you had a lot to do with his maturity. We would like to see you you on campus if you can get away from all this. Well Coach, I'm thinking mid January as I have a lot going on till then. Oh, I'll fly the older jet down so it will be an easy trip. He started to say something and Liam appeared and said Mike, Senator Costa is here and would like a few minutes. I said Liam, just bring him up and he can meat Coach.
Liam left and I explained that the Senator was the minority leader of the State Senate and a member of a newly established oversight committee for high school sports and the PAAA. Coach asked how I was involved and I said that I'm scheduled to testify in early January. Liam appeared with the Senator and I made introductions and they chatted for a few and Coach said well Mike I'll expect you JJ and Allen on campus mid January as this guy has you a bit busy. Liam walked Coach out and the Senator grabbed a coffee and he looked around the office we and spent some time looking at the wall and my toys. He looked at the model of the Jet and said Mike, there is a dude in Latrobe waiting for this very craft. I laughed and said Senator, I know and I get the second one as he has a bit more pull than me. The Senator laughed and asked, are things ok at VT? I said yup we were discussing boundaries and I agreed to not miss a practice or class and have a dorm room that I wouldn't use and Coach agreed to that and the rest was up to me. Oh, I agreed to be on campus some before practice started , but staying at a hotel. Senator they have this dorm which is the largest all male dorm East of the Mississippi and there is no way in hell I'm living in that environment. I took a drink of the coffee and asked, so Senator what do you have in store for me in the Capital.
Well Mike, the PAAA will get notice today that they are required to have the Executive Director and anyone he chooses to accompany, him from his staff, in the Capital at 8:00 AM January 6th. There will be bullshit opening statements from the committee and I have a time limit on those and we will be ready for you at 10:00. You should have an opening statement and be ready to answer questions for most of the day. The Executive Director and or his people will have questions for you as well. Just so you know we have accountants and people from other state associations who will testify. Mike, can you give me a quick heads up on some of the concerns you have as a student athlete? Well Senator, it seems to me that it is the same in our district as it is in the State. There is a lack of openness, there needs to be input by a lot more groups, the Board needs expanded, they have an abundance of money all earned on the back of people like me and if we make the state finals it will cost my School District a lot of money as the reimbursements as not adequate. As a business man, I question salaries, raises and company automobiles. The Senator laughed and said, well that's about what I expected you to say. But please also include some good things and how much fun it was this year. I laughed and said so you want me to lie as this was not a fun year. Well Mike, it was certainly easy on the field. I said yup and then there was all the drama and at the stadium the Freshman QB called a time out and told the Coach to get his ass out the 1970's and call plays to end the game and let others play. The Senator simply shook his head nd I said well your tour is about to start and I have that group so we need to get going. Are you staying or have you seen enough? He laughed and said, I can't wait to discover the real reason behind all this.
Down in the Lobby, the group waiting for me included 2 Congressmen, 4 State Representatives and another State Senator. It was small and I like that and naturally there was a security guard attached to the group. We went outside and chatted as we walked to the river. I noticed that the guard kept his distance and I was pleased about that. Once we got to the river I launched into the building and the importance and significance of the material used. Then there was a comment about the green space and the walkway and the park like setting. I said thanks and it serves two purposes. First and foremost it opens the view to the river and provides a quiet place to be outside and away from the busy inside. Secondly, it provides some flood protection. Then I added that the entire river should finally be available for all to use. On the way back I launched into the need for the zoning to be modernized along the entire shore line and that how we needed to get into a more user friendly uses of the rivers accommodating both commercial and recreational use. As we got back to the building Dillon was exiting the building with the Mayor and a contingent from the City. I have to admit that the Mayor looked a bit pissed off when he saw me with the State people. As we entered I launched into the furniture and the work environment and the openness as well as the newest furniture on the market. Once we got to the 4th floor and a Congressman said damn you are serious about openness. I explained about the remote blinds but couldn't remember a time that they were used and I also mentioned the sound masking on this floor and in the conference room. A demonstration was necessary and I went about 15 feet away and in a normal voice said something and they were amazed that they couldn't hear it. We went to my office and I simply let people look around and wonder outside. I went outside and someone asked about the vacant land. I simply said well we had a sales agreement but there was a contingency that required the zoning be changed to commercial from industrial and the City or the current owners couldn't make that happen. I shrugged and said there would be two or three new building there and a lot of green space. I was also considering a marina and a restaurant. Then I added that I was considering moving the company to a new building near the airport as we already needed to expand. Back inside I was asked about me having the only wall in the building and I explained about dad and everyone laughed. That entire event lasted an hour and ended as Dillon appeared with the group from the City. I left with my group and was stopped by the Mayor and I simply said Pete, I'm a bit busy find Liam and schedule a meeting if you need to talk and I got on the elevator.
Everyone headed out pretty quickly and Senator Costa asked Mike, I see you are holding the Mayor responsible and that was a pretty public statement you just made? Senator you should be around after lunch when I take the media on a tour. He laughed and said, damn I might come back for that. I laughed and said no need just watch the ABC Evening News. Then let me know if you still want me in Harrisburg in January. The Senator laughed and said more now than ever. Just then I heard someone call my name. When I looked I saw Ken and a couple of people all in suits and ties. I excused my self from the Senator and noticed he hung around. I shook Ken's hand and one of the guys he was with said, hi I'm Al Waterson, President of Continental. I looked at him and said nice to meet you I'm Michael James Simmons, Jr and I'm Chairman here. Waterson was a bit taken aback and then flabbergasted when I added, Dillon our President will be free in a minute and I'm sure he will be glad to show you around. With that I walked the Senator outside. I explained Continental's interest in the old Homestead Works and my need not to get into giving free advice. He laughed and said well, I have to go but this has been an interesting morning.
I spent a lot of time in my office chatting and meeting people and it was fun and very productive. When the City group arrived I kept busy with others and avoided the Mayor. On leaving he said Mike, you sure you want to have this fight continue? Well Mr. Mayor, I guess that is up to you and in about an hour local and national media will be spending a little over an hour with me. Have a nice day. With that I called a place that delivers food and when it came I went to the common room and ate lunch and was joined by a couple of employees. All that remained was the tour with the Media. Well except movies with the coach at school.
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