Mayfield Titans

 

CHAPTER 45

BASEBALL IN THE AIR

 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

 

Aiden cooked up breakfast with Nolan as his assistant and, of course, they were the Naked Chefs. They wished everyone Happy Valentine’s Day as they entered the dining area. Aiden had purchased two heart-shaped molds at the Mayfield Food Mart a couple of weeks before and read online how to grill pancakes using molds. One of his readings suggested using red food coloring, but he skipped that idea. He thought the shape was enough, at least for this year. Everyone enjoyed their heart-shaped pancakes as well as the bacon and orange juice. None of the boys were naked at breakfast, although Aiden and Nolan wore nothing more than their aprons.

 

After the four boys cleaned up the dining room and the kitchen, Aiden took Gordy aside while Nolan and Miles watched basketball on television. “Are you okay about last night? At the dance I mean.” Aiden wanted to find out for sure what Gordy and Miles had done in bed, but he decided to ask about the dance and see how far Gordy would take things.

 

“You mean about Miles and me dancing together?” Gordy responded.

 

“Yeah.”

 

Gordy had no doubt that what Aiden really wanted to know was how he felt about having sex with Miles and was trying to ask him about it without actually asking him about it. The only person who knew Aiden better than Gordy was Nolan.

 

“Everybody I talked to while we were getting ready to leave thought it was great. And we know the ones who don’t think that way and who cares what they think.” 

 

“That’s because they’re a gang of asswaffles,” Aiden said.

 

“And since I know you want to know, Miles and I fucked last night, and I was the bottom. My butt is a little sore, but I don’t feel bad about it. I’m glad I tried it with a best friend, and I know it will happen again.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“I want to do it once with my very best friend.”

 

“And who is that?”

 

“You know, Aiden, sometimes you can be really dense. It’s you.”

 

Aiden knew Gordy meant him, but he thought the right thing for him to do was have Gordy say it. “I guess that means the naked wrestling we did back when we were little is going to go as far as naked wrestling can go.”

 

“The only thing I want to ask is that we don’t plan on doing it. Let’s just do it when it seems right.”

 

“Which sounds like a plan to me,” Aiden grinned. He gave his best friend a hug. “I think you’re about as close to being ready for Kalie as you can be.”

 

“I’m beginning to think that, too. I guess it’s going to be like you and me. It will happen when it happens.”

 

“Only this time you’re not going to stop it?”

 

“I’m gonna always have one of those condoms you gave me. Pill or no pill, I don’t wanna be daddy Gordy.”

 

“Let’s go shower.”

 

“Together?”

 

“Only because it saves water,” Aiden grinned. Aiden and Gordy told Miles and Nolan they were going to shower, which led Nolan to suggest the four of them use the basement shower and do it together. They agreed and took a group shower, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company as young friends will do. They also enjoyed the added attraction of Nolan’s thick five-and-a-half-inch erection, topped by a thicket of pubic hair.

 

Miles stood next to Nolan and ran his fingers through his pubic hair and up his belly to his naval. “He’s started to get some hair on his belly. It’s called a treasure trail,” Miles informed them.

 

“How do you know?” Aiden asked.

 

“I’ve been having sex with high school dudes  . A guy learns a lot when he does that.”

 

“He’s started to get some hair on his back, too,” Aiden said with a leer.

 

“What!?” Nolan squawked. “Yuck!!”

 

“Relax, my love - just yanking your chain.”

 

“Too bad Emmett’s party isn’t at The Bear,” Miles said. Emmett’s twelfth birthday party was that afternoon at his home.

 

“It’s a hot dog and chips party, with birthday cake and ice cream,” Gordy reminded him.

 

“I know, but isn’t there a law that says all birthday parties should have pizza?”

 

“If there isn’t, there should be,” Aiden responded.

 

Aiden, Gordy, Miles, Mason, Blake and Grant were the only seventh graders invited to Emmett’s party; all of them were teammates on the Titans’ basketball team. Nolan was invited since he was visiting Aiden. Lenny, Lance, and Tanner Howard were Emmett’s sixth grade teammates and were also invited as well as three other boys and four girls, including the Brat.

 

After showering, the boys remained naked and played darts and foosball in the games room until the time came to dress for the party. Larry drove them to Emmett’s house, where a good time was had by all, except one issue that bothered the twins.

 

“The Brat really bugs me the way she drools all over Emmett,” Lenny complained to Aiden and Mason. “It wouldn’t be so bad if she didn’t claim to be his girlfriend when he says no way she’s his girlfriend.”

 

“It will all work out,” Aiden said sagely, hoping nobody brought up the issues he was having with Heather drooling all over him and claiming he was her boyfriend.

 

Aiden, Nolan, Miles, and Gordy all took notice of how Mason and Lenny were almost clinging to each other during the party. Gordy swore he saw them holding hands briefly, but he knew that couldn’t be true. Gordy knew Mason enjoyed sex with all his friends so much he would never want to start getting attached to just one boy.

 

Phil picked up Aiden and Nolan after the party and took them to the Moyer house where Aiden would be spending the night.  Nolan’s father, Paul, had told Larry and Phil he would bring Aiden home Sunday afternoon by one. Aiden and Nolan sat in the backseat of the Accord holding hands and exchanging occasional kisses. Phil said nothing since the boys were acting like he wasn’t there, and he didn’t want to spoil the illusion. 

 

The boys spent a lot of time model railroading with Nolan’s father. Not for the first time, Nolan asked Aiden when he was going to bring his California Zephyr model train to run on the big layout.

 

“Well, you can’t give me too much shit for forgetting.” Aiden told his boyfriend. “You were at my house and could have remembered it, too.”

 

“I know, but it’s more fun blaming you.”

 

“See if you get any breakfast the next time you spend the night at my house.”

 

“At least you didn’t threaten me with no sex.”

 

Aiden gave Nolan a big kiss on his right cheek. “That would be bad for both of us. Now, how about we get naked.”

 

“Dad said he was going to be right back.”

 

“So?”

 

“So, I hear him coming downstairs. It’s one thing to already be naked when he sees us, but it’s different to undress in front of him.”

 

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Aiden nodded. “But it would have been fun.”

 

“We’ll have plenty of time to be naked when we get to my bedroom.”

 

Nolan was right, of course. They had plenty of time to be naked, plenty of time to make out, and Nolan had plenty of time to become a horny bottom and end up with a no-touch cum when Aiden fucked him fast and hard.

 

<Drake and Pierce>

 

Ever since Drake visited Pierce the week before, the two exchanged many texts and phone calls. After all the negotiations were completed, Drake would be spending the night at Pierce’s house.

 

Drake hoped that Pierce was ready for more than just a blow job. He hadn’t gotten laid since his last time with Matt after Matt said he wanted to put his energy into pursuing girls. He wanted them to end their fling as boyfriends on good terms and hopefully remain close friends in sobriety while sharing a blow job or two. Matt thought that having Drake fuck him was the right way to end the boyfriend part. Drake totally agreed and they enjoyed a nice fling on Drake’s bed as Matt took a cock up his ass for the last time.

 

It was easy to get Keegan and Natalie to approve of the overnight. They were happy to be able enjoy Valentine’s Day together without Drake, although they didn’t phrase it that way. Lincoln was due any day; they knew their life would never be the same as soon as the bundle of joy arrived. Walker was pleased that Pierce wanted to spend Valentine’s with his new friend—both because it would make Pierce happy and would also allow him to go to the Valentine’s Day party at the Q Seattle Night Club guilt free. He had already arranged to meet an old friend there, but now it might become an all-nighter.

 

Keegan offered to drive Drake to Pierce’s house, but Drake said he was good with a ride to the Issaquah light rail station and taking light rail and the bus. “You and mom enjoy the day together. But, if you want to pick me up tomorrow and maybe go out to lunch together, I won’t argue.”

 

“What if I buy lunch for you and Pierce and get to know your new friend,” Keegan offered.

 

“Is this going to be a test?”   

 

“Quit playing the paranoid teen. This is going to be a get-acquainted session.”

 

“Okay, if you say so.” Drake looked directly at his dad and grinned. “But I expect you to be on your best behavior.”

 

“I promise not to ogle, how does that sound?”

 

“That works.”

 

Drake arrived the Westgate Mall light rail stop at just before eleven-thirty, where Pierce and Walker were waiting for him. The day was sunny but chilly, with the temperature in the low forties. The three walked to the waterfront where they enjoyed lunch at Ivar’s. After lunch, they walked to where Walker’s Lexus was parked and rode to his house.

 

The afternoon was filled with storytelling, laughter, games, and watching some of an NBA game on TV. Pierce showed his comfort with Drake by telling him that Walker would have no objection to them getting comfortable by hanging around the house in their underwear. Pierce knew that Walker wouldn’t have objected to them wearing less, but he didn’t know how Drake felt about stripping naked in front of an adult. Drake, on the other hand, wished they could strip naked. He thought Walker was a sexy man and had no issue with being naked in front of him and Pierce.

 

Walker had told the teens at lunch about his plans for the night and admonished them to keep the house in one piece. Before leaving for his “date”, he gave them money so they could order dinner. “Unless you want to walk to the Village and wait a lifetime for a table to become available.”

 

“Dude, hasn’t your dad taught you how to cook?” Drake asked Pierce.

 

“He tries,” Pierce replied.

 

Walker simply shook his head. “Pierce seems to be missing the essential ingredient, which is the desire to learn.”

 

“Hey, you keep telling me I’m a human garbage disposal. Why should I get out of character? Do you cook, Drake?”

 

“Yep. I’m Mr. Domesticated Teen. I even know how to change a diaper.”

 

“With a baby brother on the way, that is an important skill for a potential babysitter,” Walker chuckled.

 

Walker gave Pierce a quick kiss on the lips and when Drake pursed his lips, he took the hint and gave Drake a peck as well. As soon as Walker left, the boys were naked before he had backed out of the driveway. “What if he forgot something and has to come back?” Drake asked.

 

“Then he would have been lying because his real reason for coming back would be to see us naked,” Pierce giggled.

 

“But…,”

 

“Drake, when Walker left, we were wearing just our underwear. We’re horny teen gay boys. Logic says…”

 

“Gotcha.”

 

Dinner was the all-American teen special—pizza. After dinner, fun was had eating ice cream, watching the Kraken hockey game on TV, and Pierce helping Drake learn more about chess. It inevitably broke down to the two making out on the couch, which led to the rock hard fifteen-year olds dropping onto Pierce’s bed.

 

“You’re the best kisser I’ve ever kissed,” Pierce said.

 

“Better than Walker?”

 

“Fuck, you’ve got a filthy mind.”

 

“Well, he did go straight for your lips when he left.”

 

“Yeah, but for us that is a loving kiss not a sex kiss. I mean, it shows how much we really love each other. Kissing you was polite kissing. And me kissing you was sex kissing all the way.” And maybe it will soon turn into a love kiss, Pierce thought.

 

Damn it would be cool if our sex kiss became a sexy love kiss, Drake thought at the same time.

 

“Well, you ain’t so bad yourself in the kissing department,” Drake grinned. After some more kissing, petting, and fondling, Drake asked if Pierce had any plans about what their Valentine’s Day sex would be.

 

“I’ve been thinking about it ever since the last time we were together. And I bet you know what I was thinking.”

 

“I guess you were thinking whether we are going all the way for our first time.”

 

“You think I’m going to waste that awesome kissing and,” he fondled Drake’s throbbing six-inch piece of teen boyhood, “this piece of steel without taking full advantage of it? Dude, other than your blow job last week, it’s been MONTHS and I want to fuck, like, right now.” Then Pierce’s voice dropped off. “But…”

 

“But what?”

 

Pierce started fighting for breath as he battled a wave of darkness that started washing over him. “But I need more kisses first. Kiss me like you never kissed anybody and make me feel good.” Pierce needed to feel Drake’s love before he could say what he really wanted to say.

 

Drake started by kissing Pierce’s nipples, then his neck, and finally nibbled and licked his way to his lips and pushed his tongue into his friend’s mouth. Pierce moaned as he fought the darkness and the tears. Drake’s kisses and love was what he wanted—what he NEEDED right then.

 

“Are you okay?” Drake whispered as he saw the tears forming in Pierce’s eyes.

 

“What I really meant to say is I can’t do it,” Pierce sniffled. “I can’t take you in my ass. I’m scared to.”

 

“Hey, you don’t have to do anything.” Drake followed the dictates of his young cousin Aiden, who constantly told his friends they never had to do anything sexual they didn’t want to do. “You’re my friend, my best friend, and I’ll never do anything to hurt you.”

 

Drake wasn’t sure what else to say. Pierce was obviously hurting, and Drake didn’t yet have the emotional depth to know what direction to take.

 

“I know this sounds selfish because I don’t want you fucking me, but could you let me…no, could you please let me fuck you. Please. You’re so special to me and I wonder if…if…no…I can’t say it.” Pierce shook with emotion.

 

“I love you, Pierce,” Drake whispered into his friend’s ear.

 

Pierce wrapped his arms around Drake’s naked torso. “Please,” he whispered again.

 

“Yes, yes, I want you inside me,” Drake told his lover soothingly. “I love you.” He shifted into position on the bed. “What about lube?”

 

Pierce fished a bottle out of one of his dresser drawers and held it up. “This is the expensive stuff from a porn shop. I also have the best condoms you can get.”

 

“Just how did you get that?”

 

“Padre Walker, of course. He bought everything the day after your first visit. He said that he would be surprised if I didn’t need it after what went down on that visit.”

 

“You told him I gave you a blow job?” Drake was surprised, but not angry. While he didn’t reveal most of his sexual life to Keegan, he did share parts of it, like his relationships with Matt and Adam. He had not told Keegan about the oral sex with Pierce.

 

“I don’t keep much secret from him,” Pierce went on. “Besides, when I turn eighteen, I am going to want him to top me like a wild gorilla or something.”

 

“Do you think, he’ll do it?”

 

“Maybe yes, maybe no, which is a better chance than an absolute NO!”

 

“I just hope he doesn’t have a heart attack or something,” Drake snickered. “Judging from your leaking, throbbing hardon I think you’re ready to do your thing.”

 

“I wasn’t a total bottom,” Pierce said, answering Drake’s unasked question. “Some of those pervs thought being fucked by a teen was a huge turn on. But other than a couple of them and Eddie, I’ve never topped anybody. Oh, I fucked Curt between his legs a couple of times, but that’s not the same thing. Anyway, if you’re willing to bottom I’m more than ready to top. I’ll wear a condom to keep you clean this time and also because Walker says you and I should wear one until you’ve been tested.”

 

“I was tested a month ago because Mom insisted. I was good. But, yeah, first time for us, let’s not deal with a mess—go ahead and wear it.”

 

What happened next was the best night of sex of Pierce’s young life. Drake was everything Pierce desired. A hell of a cute dude with a runner’s body, a fantastic kisser, an expert on using his hands, his ass, his cock, his tongue, and to top it all off, just one amazingly nice person. The darkness Pierce had been feeling rose in tune with his sexual excitement.  The emotions he was experiencing surpassed anything he had done on the streets, but what he did there wasn’t sex, it was business. Even sex with Eddie hadn’t been near this good.

 

Like Pierce, Drake ranked the sex as one of his best, if not the best, erotic experiences of his young life. Pierce fucked him fast and with gusto, just the way he liked it. There was passion that Drake had never received from any lover, a gusto to his kisses, a special feel to his thrusts, a look on his face, that Drake thought could only be love.

 

After Pierce filled his condom with his cum, it took Drake only a half-dozen strokes to send him over the top, shooting his cum over his chest and belly. He moaned with extra pleasure when Pierce leaned in and slurped up his white teen cum.

 

As the boys came down from their first sex together, they found themselves holding hands. Drake wondered if he had fallen in love. He knew he had told Pierce how he loved him, but was it truly love or was it the sexual excitement? He’d uttered those words in similar situations before.

 

Pierce had processed Drake’s utterings and thought of expressing the same thoughts, but his roiling emotions blocked him from saying the words.  Whatever their feelings now, they knew they wanted more of each other, not just sexually, but as friends. The biggest problem they saw was distance. But public transportation was great, parental support was there, and they would soon be sixteen and able to drive. Drake had his learner’s permit and would be starting drivers’ education in a couple of weeks.

 

Walker arrived home shortly after eleven and saw two pairs of underpants strewn on the living room floor. He started up the stairs to Pierce’s bedroom intent on looking in on the two teens. There was no noise coming from the room, leading him to believe the boys were asleep, but he stopped before he reached the landing. He had remembered that the boys in the bedroom were teenage boys who deserved their privacy, no matter how much he wanted to see the two cuties sleeping in each other’s arms. He turned and went back downstairs, thinking about his own enjoyable night.

 

It was a good thing Walker had turned around since the boys were still awake. They had spent a long time after they had finished with sex, talking about their pasts, how they both had to work to conquer drugs and booze and other issues. And they talked about their futures and how they wanted to be a part of each other’s future. They didn’t talk about love, even though they had feelings for each other that were new to them.

 

When they heard Walker arrive home, they exchanged a long, wet kiss. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Drake told Pierce after they broke the kiss.

 

“Best Valentine’s Day ever,” Pierce whispered. “Thank you for being a part of it.”

 

Neither one said the three words that were on the tips of their tongues.  They needed more time to assimilate their new feelings.

 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16

 

President’s Day weekend was surprisingly quiet. Other than Emmett’s birthday party, not much happened. Aiden spent Saturday night with Nolan, Grant spent Sunday night with Lance and Lenny. Lenny told Lance and Grant he would stay out of their way, but the two would have none of it. They were more than happy to have a three-way with Lenny.

 

Scott had hoped that Ronnie would be able to spend the weekend with him, but both families had other plans for the long weekend. The cousins had to be satisfied with jerking off thinking about what they could have done with each other if they’d had the chance.

 

Tony spent Sunday night at Logan’s. The two enjoyed a long session of kissing, jerked themselves off, as well as enjoying the sight of each other’s newfound skill of shooting semen. They finished with Logan showing Tony what dry humping was about. Tony thought that kissing his friend, humping his friend, and finally cumming on his friend just before his friend came on him, was one of the greatest things to ever happen to him. They were not yet boyfriends, but the feelings they had for each other were very strong. Tony thought of Logan as a special best friend, while Logan wondered how he could make Tony his boyfriend.

 

Justin slept at Marco’s that night. At Justin’s suggestion, the boys slept in their underwear. Justin snuggled up to Marco after they went to bed, happy that Marco didn’t pull away. Marco loved having a friend in his bed with him. Being sexual was not yet in the picture for the two friends. 

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

 

<Mason>

 

The talk of the school that morning was boys dancing with boys at the Friday dance. Sure, some girls danced together, but everyone knew girls loved dancing and it was easier to find another girl to dance with than to find a boy. But boys dancing together, even if it was a fast dance? Some found it too weird, some didn’t really care, and most thought that while it was different there wasn’t anything wrong with it. This was Mayfield Middle School after all, and it wasn’t the first time boys had danced with boys at a school dance even if it had been awhile.

 

One of the positives to come out of the dance was how the perception of Mason by his peers changed, especially by the females. When Mason walked down the hall with Miles before school, they heard a girl call out Mason’s name saying, “Oh, Mason, you’re so fine!”. They stopped to see who it was but couldn’t figure out which girl had called out.

 

It was easier to figure it out at lunch. Five minutes after Mason sat down, two girls walked up to the table: Linda Myers and Debby Carr. Both girls were eighth graders.

 

“Mason, you are such a great dancer,” Linda grinned.

 

“And you are so fine,” Debby said. Mason and Miles both recognized that voice as being the one they had heard before school.

 

Brittany, Heather, and Christy stopped by and almost jumped up and down with excitement. “We’re so happy you’re our friend,” Heather said. “You dance better than anybody and you are so sexy. I like when you sang, too.” Mason couldn’t figure out how Heather heard him sing since he did it away from most of the crowd, but he nodded and thanked them all.

 

Just then, Autumn passed the table singing “Y-M-C-A”, giving Mason a seductive look.

 

Mason received a lot of good-natured ribbing by his friends as he sat at their regular table. Miles called him the new Mayfield Middle School heart throb. Mason couldn’t figure out what the fuss was about, since all he         had done at the dance was have fun.

 

But the best part of his day came when he was walking to seventh period photography class. The class was a second semester class and started a few days prior. It was taught by Mr. Seaver, a first-year teacher, who split his day between the high school and the middle school. He taught biology at the high school and one period of general science and photography at the middle school.

 

When he was a couple of doors away from his classroom, Mason heard a voice behind him call out, “Hey, Mason, wait up.” He stopped and was pleased when Lenny caught up with him. While Lenny had always been one of his friends, he hadn’t been close to him or to Lance. Lenny calling on him to stop and wait for him was something new.

 

Lenny stopped at Mason’s right side and the two started off together for class. “I heard the eighth-grade girls are in love with you,” Lenny grinned.

 

“They’re making a lot of noise about me dancing and I don’t get it,” Mason responded.

 

“Well, I danced with you and I do get it. From what I heard the girls said you were cute and an awesome dancer, so that’s what I’m saying. You are so cute and a really awesome dancer to dance with.”

 

“You really think I’m cute?”

 

Before Lenny could answer they were at the classroom. “Meet me after class,” was all Lenny said as they settled into their seats. They met as soon as the bell dismissing the class rang. Since seventh period was the last class of the day and neither Lenny nor Mason were bus riders, they agreed to meet in the foyer.

 

Mason arrived first and took a seat on a vacant bench. Lenny came a couple of minutes later. As soon as Lenny sat down, Mason repeated his earlier question. “So, do you really think I’m cute?”

 

“I always thought you were cute, but now I think you’re even cuter. And you can’t believe how great you danced. I wish there was a video of you doing ‘Y-M-C-A’. Like that one girl shouted when we hit the floor and danced, ‘Mason, you rock.’”

 

“I had a good partner with the way you twirled around while I danced around you.”

 

Mason felt the light touch of Lenny’s hand on his. He also felt a sexual bolt of warmth go through him, shaking his small body. Even though Lenny was a sixth grader and Mason a seventh grader, Lenny was a couple of inches taller than Mason. “I’m glad we’re becoming friends,” Lenny whispered.

 

“Thanks. Me too. Do you want to walk with me as far as your house?” Lenny lived closer to the school than Mason did.

 

“Yeah, that would be great.”

 

As they walked away from the school the boys thought about holding hands but were afraid of being turned down by the other. Mason, who had no qualms asking if somebody wanted him to suck their dick, was having trouble asking his new special friend to hold his hand. What he was feeling for Lenny was something totally new to him. It wasn’t something crude and naughty like what he usually felt about another boy, even one of his best friends; instead, it was something special and sweet. It was a feeling he didn’t want to lose.

 

When Lenny agreed to wait for Mason to come by his house in the morning so they could walk to school together, Mason felt like he was floating. Lenny did say that Lance would probably want to walk with them. Mason responded that he was cool with that—it would give him practice in telling them apart. What he didn’t say was that even with Lance walking with them, Mason knew he would still be walking with Lenny.

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

 

<Aiden>

 

Today was the day the tournament picks for the Yard Goats were due to Coach Hallion from the players who had received tournament flyers last Thursday. Aiden and Trent had been given the task of emailing the flyers to those players. The players had been instructed to pick what they thought were the three best looking tournaments and number their picks from one through three and email their picks to Coach Hallion.  

 

Before school and during lunch, Aiden and Trent reminded the players to have their emails sent off by the end of the day. All but three had already done so. When they finally sat at their usual table to wolf down their lunches, Aiden and Trent compared their picks with Gordy, Mason, and Miles, who were sitting across from them.

 

Aiden’s three picks in reverse order were Eugene, Oregon, Sacramento, and San Rafael, California. Aiden had researched San Rafael and it seemed like a nice place with a lot of good baseball teams. It was a 24-team tournament, which meant there would be byes and weird bracketing, but that was somebody else’s problem. All he and the Goats had to do was show up on time at the right field and play ball. The clincher might have been the Saturday night barbeque. Another reason for his picks was that he wasn’t overly excited about going all the way down to Southern California.

 

Trent, Mason, and Gordy each had the two California picks plus Santa Monica. “I like Santa Monica because it’s on the ocean and has a beach. That means surfers and maybe I can suck some of them,” Mason said to the surprise of nobody. All three ranked Santa Monica first. Aiden didn’t like it because it had all day games with nothing going on at night.

 

Miles picked Santa Monica, San Rafael, and Santa Barbara. “Santa Barbara has beaches, too,” Miles told Mason.

 

“Now we wait until Saturday to see who the top three finishers are and vote for which one we want to go to,” Trent said. “Dad told me this morning that the voting was close, but he wouldn’t tell me who the top teams were.”

 

Their baseball chatter was interrupted by Grant, who took a seat at the table. He had been eating with Lance, Rusty, and Collin. “I just got a text from my mom about Alex. She says he’s conscious but still really sick,” he told his friends.

 

“I’m glad he’s getting better,” Aiden said. “But even after he gets better, he’s got a lot of work to do.”

 

“He’s going to need a lot of friends helping him. I plan on being at the front of the line.”

 

“I’ll join you in line,” Aiden grinned as he squeezed his friend’s hand.

 

When Aiden got home after school, he emptied the mailbox, which was situated next to the street, and brought the mail into the house. As he usually did when he brought the mail in, he set Larry’s mail on the right side of the credenza in the foyer and Phil’s on the left. Phil had one piece of business mail.

 

Larry had a Sports Weekly, a weekly newspaper, a magazine, and three letters. The magazine was the monthly publication of the Washington State High School Coaches Association. Two of the letters were business mail while the other appeared to be personal mail as it was addressed by hand. It was from Matthew Meijer of East Harbor, California.

 

Aiden had no idea who Matthew Meijer was and had never heard of East Harbor, California. He couldn’t help but wonder about the name. The Pacific coast was on the west side, so how could a harbor be east? was what he wondered. Just as he was about to set the mail down in proper order, his phone rang. He set the letters and the magazine directly on the credenza, pulled the phone out of his pocket, saw that it was Nolan and answered it. He started talking and headed for his room, leaving the mail in the right place, but with the magazine on top of the letters. He knew he should have had the letters on top, but since his pop would be coming home late, he had plenty of time to come back and fix it—right now Nolan was his top priority.

 

He and Nolan linked into Skype, chatted for a while, and enjoyed a quick video jerk off session together. After he disconnected, Aiden didn’t bother dressing. Instead, he started on his homework, forgetting to restack Larry’s mail.

 

Since high school baseball turnouts started next Tuesday, Larry was busy with his assistant coaches preparing for both indoor and outdoor practices. February and March weather often meant indoor turnouts and Larry needed a practice schedule for both contingencies. Tomorrow after school he would be holding his one allowed preseason meeting, which was about passing out paperwork and going over rules and protocols. Mayfield was one of the few high schools in the Seamount League to have a freshman team, which meant extra work. Larry thought his freshman coach was a top-notch, up and coming coach, but he was young and overall responsibility for the high school baseball program was Larry’s.

 

When Larry came into the house, he saw that Aiden had left some mail on the credenza, although not quite as neatly as usual. He didn’t see anything but two publications and decided he would check it later. He greeted Aiden who was sitting naked on his favorite recliner in the reading room. Larry and Phil rarely commented on Aiden’s nudity since it had become normal behavior for their tween son.

 

<THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19>

 

Aiden took his normal seat next Kalie on the bus after Mrs. Emerson gave him her usual friendly morning greeting. The sexual byplay between Aiden and Kalie had become a thing of the past, at least on the bus. But that didn’t mean Katie’s flirting had ended and when she could, she loved to remind Aiden how much she would love spending a night in bed with him. That morning the talk was about the girls’ basketball team since the Titans would be playing a home game against Monte. Even though she was a seventh grader, Kalie was a varsity starting forward.

 

During the day, Aiden and some of the other Goat players asked Trent if his dad had revealed anything about the tournament choices. Trent assured him he had asked his dad, who told him he could wait and find out what the selections were just like the rest of the players. Having a teammate whose dad was the coach and who should have been a source of inside information was not paying off. But his teammates all loved him anyway.

 

The Titans upped their record to 3-0 with a 30-22 win over the Monte Bulldogs. Kalie, who was the team’s leading scorer, had 11 points and five rebounds. Larry left for the game as soon as he could after his team meeting ended and arrived at the start of the fourth quarter with the Titans nursing a 23-19 lead. He saw that Aiden was sitting in the bleachers with the usual suspects: Mason, Miles, Gordy, Grant, Lenny, and Lance. Larry took a seat next to Dean Ecklund, the Mayfield baseball coach, and watched the last quarter of the game.

 

After the game, Aiden waited for Larry at the main gym door as prearranged. On the ride home, Aiden thought about asking Larry about the mysterious letter from the Matthew kid, then decided it was none of his business. Aiden thought it was probably from a former ballplayer of his since it was addressed to “Coach Sanders”. Aiden knew that mail from former players was usually mailed to the school, however.  

 

After Larry stopped in the driveway to let Aiden out of the car, Aiden went out to the mailbox to collect the mail. There was one piece of junk mail addressed to Phil, but he dutifully set it on Phil’s side of the credenza as per his instructions. He saw that Larry hadn’t touched his publications yet, but the letters were no longer there so he must have checked out the Matthew letter.

 

Since he needed food to concentrate, Aiden decided to do his homework after dinner. He turned on the TV and checked out the spring training news on the MLB network. Larry checked out the mail on the credenza and saw he had nothing new. He took a quick look at Phil’s junk mail and took it to the recycle bin.

 

“You do a good job with the mail,” Larry said as he looked at the TV over Aiden’s shoulder. He was surprised Aiden was still fully dressed, but he and Phil had decided that what Aiden wore or didn’t wear around the house was his business unless there was company involved.

 

Larry decided that the publications on the credenza weren’t going to get read just sitting on the credenza. He picked up the magazines and was surprised to see two letters underneath them. Aiden usually doesn’t make that mistake, he thought. I guess I praised him a bit too early. One letter was from the brokerage company that managed his and Phil’s portfolio and the other was handwritten. He looked at the return address and didn’t recognize it. He thought it was most likely from some California realtor who thought he was a big shot and was ready to make a below market cash deal on a nice house on lakefront property. It was amazing how many of those offers showed up in hand addressed envelopes. From the heft and feel of it, the letter obviously contained a pamphlet of some kind which reinforced his assumption as to the purpose of the mail. One more item for recycling, he told himself as he took the letter to the recycle bin and tossed it in without even opening it.

 

He went back out to the TV room and told Aiden that he hadn’t quite earned his earlier praise.

 

“Sorry, pop. I got a call from Nolan and set the mail down so I could talk to him and then forgot to come back and fix my pile.”

 

“You’re forgiven this once. I can understand how Nolan can be a big distraction, but let’s not let that kind of mistake happen again.”

 

“I did learn something from your mail,” Aiden grinned.

 

“Oh? What did you do, use your x-ray vision to read through the envelopes?”

 

“No, I learned where East Harbor, California was. Did you know where it was?”

 

“Yes, I did. It’s a nice sized city between Anaheim and San Diego.”

 

“Why is it East Harbor if the ocean is to the west?”

 

“That, I cannot tell you, son. I’m sure there is a story behind that, as there always is with city names.” 

 

“I figured the mail was from a former player from a long time ago since it was for Coach Sanders, plus I never heard of the guy.”

 

“You said it was addressed to Coach Sanders, not Larry Sanders?” Larry asked.

 

“Yeah. Didn’t you notice?” In Aiden’s mind the letter had now become even more mysterious.

 

“I didn’t notice, but what you said makes me want to double check something.” Larry left the room and went back to the storeroom where the recycle bin was and took out the letter addressed to “Coach Sanders.” He cursed himself for jumping to conclusions; what he had just done was far worse than Aiden having the mail stack out of order, which was such a minimal error he shouldn’t have brought it up.

 

He grabbed the letter and took it back to the TV room. “I had a brain fart worse than yours and don’t even have a good excuse for it,” Larry told Aiden. He felt that letting Aiden know his sloppy mistake wasn’t as bad as it seemed and that his pop could outdo him in the mistake department would help ease any hurt feelings.

 

Before Larry could open the letter, he heard Phil come up the stairs. He was carrying takeout from the Mayfield Café. “As promised, we have dinner out by having dinner at home,” Phil grinned. Larry and Aiden had given Phil their orders the night before when it was decided that takeout would be the way to go for Thursday night. Larry set the letter on the coffee table and the family retired to dining room to eat dinner while it was still warm.

 

The dinner conversation consisted of a quick recap of the Titan girls’ game and then the topic turned to Mayfield Mustang baseball. Larry said he had thirty-five players at the meeting, which included eleven freshmen. “It looks like we might have a viable freshman team. I don’t know how good some of them are—two are transfers and two didn’t play ball at the middle school or on a summer team last year, but if they are serious about playing things look good.” As popular as baseball was in Mayfield, an A school like Mayfield High often had issues fielding three teams because there just weren’t enough interested boys. Mayfield High was a large A school with just under 400 students (450 was the cutoff to 2A). That meant that there were about 200 boys—having almost twenty percent of them turn out for baseball was a big deal.

 

After cleanup, Aiden said he was going up to his room to do homework because he needed his computer for some of it. Larry went back to the reading room to read the elusive letter and his publications. He opened the envelope and found a printed letter and brochure. “Ha, I was right,” he murmured out loud. “Real estate junk.”

 

But why would the writer of a junk letter address it to Coach Sanders? He thought.  Even though their offers were lowballed, the writers were legitimate realators which meant any information they had was from public property records. He unfolded the letter and proceeded to read it.

 

Dear Coach Sanders,

 

You probably don't know me, but I used to play baseball in the Portland area and attended Mossyrock for a while. I have admired your baseball program in Mayfield and even tried to get my grandparents to let me transfer to Mayfield so I could play baseball for you.

 

Enclosed is a brochure for a baseball tournament that we are sort of involved with (it's a long story). I hope Mayfield can send a team. If I remember right, your son, Aiden would be on the team and you and your partner might come to the tournament. I know my brothers would really like to meet you (it's a another long story). It would be an honor for me to meet you too.

 

Good luck this season. Go Mustangs!

 

Yours truly,

 

Matthew (Grant) Meijer 

(my last name changed - it's a long story)

 

“Holy crap,” Larry uttered. He read the letter through again and perused the Brochure. It was for a 13 and under 16-team tournament. He looked at what it had to offer and whistled. It looked as good or better than what was in the brochures Aiden had shown him. Most of the California tournaments were for under 13 teams. Larry knew that Coach Hallion had removed those from the brochures the Goat players received. The Washington State Youth Baseball Program teams were 13 and under. The difference was more than nitpicky wording. Players like Trent, Scott, Muddy, and Max would not be eligible on an under 13 team but could play for a 13 and under team. It was a matter of about a three-month difference in birthdates, but those few months meant a lot.

 

The SoCal BaseBrawl for 13 and under teams.

Four days-16 teams.

Half teams from SoCal
Half invitations from outside SoCal

 

Mission Sports Park (San Marcos, California)

Has 8 fields

 

Pacific Youth Baseball Association.

 

The top teams from Southern California (half from the LA area and half from the San Diego area) receive invites for winning their conference championships

 

The other half of the tournament is teams invited from outside the Southern California area.

 

Team/Tournament discounts are available at: Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort (https://carlsbadinn.com/) among other places (20 minutes from field and on beach)

 

All tournament players and coaches receive free admission to the Angels game Friday night

 

 

East Harbor Mallway Tournament Festival

Food from local restaurants and food trucks

Games

Baseball Clinics at East Harbor High School by the BPA Baseball Performance Academy

and to cap the night off

A Concert (At the Majestic)

 

“What are you mumbling about?” Phil asked Larry.

 

“Look at what came in yesterday’s mail, got buried under my periodicals when Aiden put them on top, and almost thrown away by me as junk mail, and don’t ask how that almost happened,” Larry responded.

 

Phil looked over the brochure. “Other than it’s a four-day tournament, it looks too good to be true.”

 

“They could only put that program together by stretching the tournament to four days.”        

 

“Good point. Do you remember who Matthew is?”

 

“As soon as I saw what his last name had been, I remembered Coach Frank telling me about him. He said Matthew was a five-tool player and was getting interest from Division One schools, Oregon in particular. As you know with what Marty went through, it’s not easy for small high school ballplayers to catch the attention of one of the big college boys. And of course, I saw him the one time you played Mossyrock.”

 

“I remember the name, too,” Phil said.  “And I sure as hell remember that game. Matthew Grant was a hell of a ballplayer. When we played Mossyrock’s sixteen and under team in that non-league game last summer, he had four hits with two doubles, three ribbies, and threw the tying run out at home in the top of the seventh. We ended up losing 6-5.”

 

“You must have made an impression on him. He went out of his way to send us the tournament information.”

 

“Even if he did address it to you instead of me,” Phil chuckled. “But then, he can get your name online. I’m going to show this to Aiden.”

 

“Why don’t you call him downstairs. Who knows what could be going on behind closed doors?”

 

“According to him, English homework.”

 

“If you call cursing during orgasm English,” Larry chuckled.

 

“You had the dirtiest mind around when you were twelve, and it hasn’t gotten any better.”

 

Larry went to the stairs and climbed up to the landing. “Aiden, when you get a chance, come downstairs. Your dad and I want to talk to you about what I found in that letter.”

 

Whoa, is it something that’s going to get me into trouble? Aiden wondered. He opened his door and hung his head out. “I’ll be down in ten minutes,” he called out. There is nothing somebody who lives in a town in California he never heard of could know that could get him into trouble, he thought, so I’m going to finish my essay. Aiden, the writer, hated being interrupted when he was on a writing roll, even if it was an essay instead of a story.

 

When Aiden came into the waiting room, he was naked. “Here I am,” he announced as if his dads couldn’t figure it out on their own. “Am I in trouble?”

 

“Almost always, but not this time,” Phil chuckled.

 

Aiden squeezed next to Phil on the recliner. Phil enjoyed the openness and trust of the naked boy but knew enough about the developing adolescent to understand that Aiden’s naturist tendencies might soon go into hiding. He also knew one other thing: “You are starting to get too big to squeeze into this chair with me. We’re either going to run out of room or the thing is going to collapse under our combined weight.”

 

“Well, then I guess I’ll just have to take it over totally for myself. It is my chair after all.”

 

“In your dreams, son.”

 

“What’s in the letter that you guys want to talk about?”

 

“It turns out that Matthew lived in Mossyrock until just a couple of months ago under a different last name. Matthew Grant. As soon as I saw the name, I remembered who he was,” Phil told him.

 

“I remember that name. I saw him play against your team. He had a kickass game.” Plus, he was really cute, Aiden mused. “So, what does this have to do with me?”

 

Larry handed Aiden the tournament brochure. Aiden scoured the contents and looked up with a wide grin. “Matthew sent you this?”

 

“So it would appear,” Larry said with infinite patience. Even extremely bright twelve-year-olds could get hung up on asking the obvious.

 

“I know my question sounded dumb, but why did he send it to us instead of to Mossyrock?”

 

“First, I don’t know why he sent it to us.”

 

“Maybe our great sportsmanship and sound baseball fundamentals impressed him when they beat us,” Phil speculated.

 

“Second, maybe he did send one to Mossyrock,” Larry said.

 

“If he’s part of what happened there a couple of months ago, I strongly doubt it.”

 

“You mean the massacre?”

 

“Yep.”

 

Larry was referring to a yet unsolved murder of a couple in Mossyrock before Christmas. The entire incident was like something directly out of one of the murder mysteries Larry and Phil both enjoyed reading—in other words a lot was going on that they didn’t understand. He remembered seeing Matthew’s name in connection to the mystery—he had apparently run away the day before the murders and may have been the actual target, not the older couple.

 

“And you think the boy who sent this is the Matthew who ran away.”

 

“I do. Apparently, he resurfaced in California. The fact that he changed his name might be because he was the target of the attack.”

 

“What do you think about the brochure?” Phil asked Aiden.

 

“This looks so awesome,” Aiden replied. “I have to call Gordy and Trent and Miles and see what they think. Oh, and with them having a concert, I need to talk to Mason, too. He will freak out when he learns about them about having a concert at the end of the tournament. But, no matter what, I have to take this to the Saturday meeting—it could change everything.”

 

“I strongly suggest that before you do that, you call Coach Hallion,” Larry said. “I don’t think you want to blindside him on Saturday. Tell him what you have and what they offer. Tell him you talked to your dad and me about it and that you’ll make some calls and see what some of the players think.”

 

“In other words, if you or Dad were the coach, you would be mad if a player just showed up with this on Saturday and didn’t tell you about it first.”

 

“You hit the ball squarely with the bat,” Phil grinned. “Now, get off my lap—my left leg is falling asleep.”

 

“Well, then it would be just like your brain,” Aiden giggled as he leaped off the chair, just missing a swat on his bare bum.

 

Before he called anybody, he checked who the Angels were playing that Friday. When he saw it was the Mariners, his enthusiasm level immediately doubled. He zoomed downstairs to give his dads the news and then ran back upstairs to make his phone calls.

 

As suggested, Aiden called Coach Hallion first. The coach asked what the dates of the tournament were, and Aiden read them out to him. When he saw that they fit into the Goats’ schedule he asked Aiden to bring the brochure to school and give it to Trent so he could look it over. He called the four boys he had mentioned to his dads plus Scott and Lenny. All of them thought the tournament sounded better than the ones they had been checking out and were eager to discuss it on Saturday.

 

FRIDAY, FEBUARY 20

 

<Drake>

 

Keegan woke Drake at just before five. “Whass goin’ on?” Drake asked sleepily.

 

“Lincoln is on his way,” Keegan told him. “Do you still want to come with us?”

 

“Fuck yes, I do.”

 

Keegan left him to get out of bed. Drake splashed cold water on his face to help wake him up, and slapped deodorant on so he wouldn’t stink, dressed, and went out to the garage and the car with his parents.

 

Three hours later, Lincoln Clayton Miller arrived at a healthy seven pounds, two ounces. “He’s a noisy fucker,” Drake observed as he and Keegan looked through the large glass window into the nursery.

 

“Just like his big brother,” Keegan grinned underneath his mask. A new chapter had started in the life of Drake Miller, one he was looking forward to—except maybe the diaper changing part of it.

 

<Aiden>

 

After boarding the bus and receiving his usual friendly greeting from Mrs. Emerson, Aiden sat next to Kalie, who handed him an envelope. “It has your invitation to my birthday party, next Saturday,” Kalie told him. “You are invited to stay after the party and be one of the overnighters.”

 

“Who else is invited to overnight?” Aiden asked.

 

“Well, Ian and Gretchen, of course. Then you, Gordy, Miles, Brittany, Mason, Heather, and Nolan. That’s it.”

 

A pair of names struck Aiden as odd. “Okay, Nolan and I are a pair, you and Gordy are a pair, and I guess Ian and Gretchen are a pair even if they are brother and sister. But what’s the deal with Heather and Mason?”

 

“Heather told me after the basketball game, yesterday that since watching Mason dance she has a big-time crush on him.”

 

“Oh my god,” Aiden groaned. “Poor little Mason. He won’t know what hit him. Especially since it’s starting to look like he might be hooking up with somebody.”

 

“With who?”

 

“Lenny.”

 

“No, way. For real? I mean I’m not surprised it’s with a boy, but I didn’t know Lenny was, like, available.”

 

“Well, nothing’s been said by them, but the way they are always together and the way they look at each other—I dunno. It’s looking really interesting.”

 

“I’ll have to watch what they’re doing then. And invite Lenny to the overnight.”

 

“What about Heather?”

 

“She can hook up with Ian. I never did like her anyway.”

 

The big topic at school among the potential Goat baseball players was the tournament brochure sent to Aiden’s father. The boys agreed that the tournament looked as good or better than the ones they voted on, even it if was going to be held in a city they never heard of.

 

That night Aiden, Mason, Miles, Lenny, Lance, and Grant rode with Larry and Phil to Centralia High School to watch the Mustangs play the Monte Bulldogs in a Seamount League basketball playoff game. The winner would play on Saturday to go to Districts while the loser was out.

 

The boys sat together and were joined by Gordy, Scott, and Trent who had ridden to the game with their parents. The season for the Mayfield Mustang boys’ basketball team ended with a 61-55 loss in a hard-fought game.

 

Aiden said on the ride home that now his mind could be “one thousand percent on baseball, starting NOW.” The other five boys were in complete agreement.

 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21

 

<Aiden>

 

The baseball meeting was scheduled for noon, which gave Aiden time to attend the Fourth Dimension meeting. Larry dropped him off. After the meeting, he planned to walk from there to Coach Hallion’s house. He was pleased to see Grant and Rusty there; that meant he had a couple of walking partners after the meeting was over.

 

Aiden, Grant, and Rusty walked to the Hallion house as soon as the meeting was over. They arrived before anyone else. Martha Hallion, Trent’s mom, cooked up hot dogs with a homemade potato salad for lunch. Chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream was dessert.  The lunch was good, but the chocolate chip cookies were first rate, causing Aiden to be certain they had chosen the right coach.

 

Coach Hallion started the meeting as soon as the boys finished their dessert. He felt that giving the boys time to socialize and do some bonding before starting the meeting would help not only the Yard Goats, but the Titan middle school team as well.

 

He thanked the boys for coming and they thanked him and Mrs. Hallion for the lunch with a cheer and a round of applause. The boys who made the meeting were Aiden, Trent, Grant, Gordy, Miles, Mason, Lenny, Lance, Scott, Max, and Rusty.

 

The coach got right to the topic. Without mentioning the invitation Matthew Grant had mailed, he told the team the results of the poll. In order of points, Santa Monica, San Rafael, and San Bernardino were the top three finishers.

 

“Where did Santa Claus finish?” Max called out, generating a round of laughter. Coach Hallion fought off a smile and waited for the laughter to die down.

 

“The original plan was for us to take a final vote based on the poll, seeing as the voting could come out differently with only three choices as opposed to fifteen. However, as most of you know, Coach Sanders received another invitation. How many of you had a chance to see it?”

 

All the players raised their hands. “We all got to talk it over at school yesterday, except for Max,” Aiden said. “But he’s pretty up on what it’s about now.”

 

“I talked to Mr. Perez, the tournament director, this morning. He said The Basebrawl has only been around for three years but is attracting top teams because of what they have to offer. They have done the Angels game, had a barbeque, and some entertainment in their first three tournaments. This is the first one with a concert. He said there were still four out of area slots open, but they were filling fast. I emailed him our entry. We are not obligated to anything, but he will only hold it until Monday. I told him about this meeting and said we would be taking a vote.”

 

“I didn’t see this on the brochure, but we’re playing 80 and 54, right?” Gordy asked. He was referring to the distance between bases and from the pitching rubber to home plate. It was the distance the middle schools in the Seamount League played as well as the thirteen and under teams in the Washington State League.

 

“That is correct, Gordy, or I wouldn’t have considered it. You kids can play on a full field, but it isn’t a good game. The extra ten feet between bases makes a huge difference for the infielders. Are there any more questions or any more comments on the new invitation?”

 

No one had anything to add. Coach Hallion then asked for the team to vote if they wanted to add the Basebrawl to the list of tournaments to vote on. The players voted unanimously to add the Brawl to the list. That made four teams to vote on. Coach Hallion said the winner needed a majority of the votes or there would be a runoff between the top two finishers. Again, he asked for questions or comments.

 

Since there were none, the vote was taken. Nobody was surprised when the Basebrawl won unanimously. “I will call Mr. Perez as soon as the meeting is over and pay the entry fee. Unless somebody has anything else to say, the meeting is over.”

 

“Coach, will you come to watch us play when school ball starts?” Mason asked as the players rose from their chair or from their place on the floor. His question stopped everyone.

 

“I hope to make a game or two, Mason. But you play in the afternoons, and I work during the day, so even if I can watch you play, it probably won’t be a full game. I will do the best I can.”

 

“Thanks coach, and thanks for having the meeting and getting us in the tournament.”

 

“It was my pleasure. It’s a small town, so I know I’ll see you guys around.”

 

James Hallion thought it interesting that no one, including his son, had brought up the subject of the level of competition and voted strictly on the perks of the tournament. He had talked about it with Trent in private conversation and knew that Trent was concerned about whether their team from little Mayfield would be able to compete with the big boys from California.

 

He tried to assure Trent that they would do just fine. “We aren’t going to travel that far to be two and done,” he said, referring to a team getting knocked directly out of the double elimination tournament.

 

He then called Larry to get his take on the competition. Larry told him that Mayfield teams have held their own in interstate tournaments in the past. “You’ve worked with these kids and you know how competitive they are. That hunger has only increased as they got older,” Larry said. “I’m sure you and Dean will do a great job of preparing those kids this spring and summer.” He was referring to Dean Ecklund, the veteran Mayfield Middle School baseball coach.

 

The way Coach Hallion saw it, the kids didn’t ask, either because they didn’t think about it, because they didn’t care, or because they didn’t think it was important to ask since they were confident they could compete with anybody. He liked to think it was reason number three, and that was how he intended to approach it.

 

Next: Borrowing from the Past