Banner YearChapter 28
- 4 years ago
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Strong actions are often required of strong people, and Cheryl was a very strong person. Her contract to manage Greg was immoral. But there was no question it required incredible strength.
When a crisis hit her family, Cheryl stepped in and used her strength to keep her family from disintegrating into a dysfunctional mess. She was driven by a deep love for her brother and her sister, and an innate respect for the family as a vital institution.
In many discussions with Cal and the girls, often tearful discussions, she confessed to having lost her love for her parents. She felt guilty for not feeling for them what she believed she was supposed to feel. That made her even more determined to take control during her father's disability.
Cheryl's discovery of the submissive nature of both of her parents left her bewildered and sometimes angry. Often wondering how she herself could be so decisive, she found herself taking on the brunt of the decision-making for the household.
With Marty's help, funds for eight-hour-a-day nursing coverage were secured. That was not necessarily easy on Hal, since all of the available help was female. Once nursing help was secured, Cheryl was determined that she not have to further embarrass her father by helping him pee.
Cal became a wonderful ally in Cheryl's attempts at preserving Hal's modesty. Cal found a medical specialty shop that carried all kinds of prosthetic aids. Being careful to let Cheryl take the lead, he had her outfit Hal's casts with a combination of devices that allowed him to do some grasping, pulling, and poking.
Within just a few days, Hal was able to pee by himself, as long as he wore just sweatpants. Cheryl had known he was very body-shy, but the boost to his spirits surprised her. Seemingly a little thing, being able to use the TV remote turned into another major boost.
From the first day, Hal had been convinced that Cheryl wanted nothing more than to take control of the household and humiliate him. Her protests to the contrary fell on deaf ears. With the little modifications to his casts and the fact that she never again aided him in the bathroom, he began to at least believe that she had no desire to humiliate him.
Cheryl gave Hal plenty of reason to believe that she intended to take over the household, which, in fact, she felt she had to do. As soon as the nursing coverage was secured, Cheryl used some of her money to purchase a three month health club membership for her mother.
It was another of those uncomfortable meetings between Cheryl and her parents, this time on a Sunday afternoon. "Dad, Mother will be spending Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at a health club from now on. You will be fine here alone with your nurse." This stunned both parents, since Cheryl had not told her mother about it. "Mother, help Dad pee and grab your purse. The mall stores are open for two more hours, and I know you don't have any workout clothes."
The explosion of resistance was predictable and vigorous, and the debate raged for half an hour. Hal was sullen when the women left, but Cheryl had anticipated that. The one quick view of her parents in the shower that first night had convinced her that Darlene's neglect of her rather nice body was a crime - a crime she could do something to remedy.
Knowing that she had lost her love for her parents, Cheryl asked herself why she even cared enough to try to improve their lives. Part of it was to try to give her siblings some chance at normalcy, but it went deeper than that. It was Cal who figured it out one night in one of their intimate discussions.
"Look, I'm not trying to brag, but you spent two months living with us, and I've got a pretty awesome family."
"You got that right."
"And so does Tessa, now that they're back together."
"Even before," Cheryl corrected. "I still almost cry every time I see Tessa and her mom together."
"Cheryl, you're a fixer - you want to see things made right. Whatever else you feel about them, they're your family. If they're screwed up, you kinda feel it's your failure. Now that you realize what's wrong, you can't help wanting to fix it."
"Yeah, but how much can I really do?"
"Well, I worry about that," he told her. "You can't make them into the Banners, or the Walts, or the Armstrongs. I just hope you can live with that: do what you can and feel good about that. It's not a problem you created."
"Maybe you should be the one going to med school, becoming a shrink."
"Not a chance," Cal proclaimed. "Your family sure could use one, though." Cheryl was strangely quiet after that comment from Cal.
"Really, Cal. What are you going to take in college? You've got the grades for pre-med. Or anything you want."
Now it was Cal's turn to pause before responding. College was a subject he knew would have to be addressed in the next few months, but one he would rather not think about for a while. "You know, I haven't said this to anyone else, but I just can't see myself in college."
"You're kidding! Don't you like school?"
"Oh, It's not that I don't like it. Somehow it just doesn't seem... I don't know... significant?"
"I'm stunned, Cal. You know, your parents think you're going to law school."
"Not a chance."
"Really? Well, don't you want to play football? Or basketball?"
"I'm too small. All I could do is kick, and I'm not willing to put in all that time just to be a kicker."
"So what will you do? Build the photography business?"
"Right now, I don't have any idea."
"Well, maybe we should take your mind off of it for a while."
After a half hour of very little thought but a whole lot of feelings, they were nearly asleep when Cheryl asked "Didn't you say you went to a shrink after Ismi's brother was killed?"
"Yeah. She was something. Dr. Waxman," Cal finished with a yawn.
Two days after her conversation with Cal in her bed, Cheryl sat in Dr. Julia Waxman's office. "Dr. Waxman, I want to tell you what I did. Then I want to see if we can come up with a way to get my parents to meet with you."
"So you think your parents are the ones who really need it?" Julia prodded after they had talked for quite a while.
"Yes I do. Oh, I know I'm affected by what has happened, but I've had someone to talk to all along - three someones, actually. Also, if I tell my parents that I had to get help to get over what I did, it might help to get them in here."
"Who did you have to talk to?"
"Two really close girlfriends and my boyfriend. Cal Banner says hi, by the way." When Julia did not react, Cheryl thought she may not have remembered Cal, but then it hit her. "Oh, you can't acknowledge that he was a patient, can you? Well, I'm sure you would be proud of him. Here." She handed Julia a letter from Cal that authorized full disclosure of their interaction.
"Cal was very young when I saw him, but he was a unique patient," Julia said after reading the letter. "Are you in love with him?"
"Oof! You don't start with easy stuff, do you? We love each other a lot. But because of my career plans, I can't let myself be committed to anyone."
"But you still didn't answer my question."
"I... I thought we were going to talk about getting help for my parents."
"Cheryl, you have been describing to me a dysfunctional family. Like it or not, you are part of that family. You cannot escape without scars. I sense in you a very strong desire to try to 'fix' your family. For that to work, you must be in the best possible shape yourself.
"Now, I'm not sure how much money you planned to commit to this, but I would strongly encourage you to schedule several sessions for yourself. If you were still seeing me, would it not be even easier to get your parents in here?"
"Dr. Waxman, I know it will cost a lot of money, and I earned mine for med school. But if I go away knowing what could happen to my brother and sister, I don't think I could concentrate on school. The money I whored myself to earn would be wasted."
"I see. What are you afraid will happen?"
"Well, Dad, the ultimate male chauvinist macho man, was blessed with two athletic daughters and one totally non-athletic son. I know what they tried to do to me. I don't know if Shelley can take it. And what about Matt, and Dad's expectations of him. Poor kid has already been forced through five years of baseball where he was totally inept."
"Don't you think you have changed their opinions already?"
"I really don't think so. They think I'm just wayward. The stuff with Greg was just more proof, as far as they were concerned."
"So, they think you did it all to strike back at them, not just so you could be a doctor?"
"I think so. Yes. Being a doctor is not something any normal girl would want, after all." Cheryl's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"Cheryl, I greatly admire what you want to do for your parents. But if you are going to spend that kind of money, I urge you to take care of yourself, too. Your own wounds are deeper than you realize. Why take a chance on those wounds hindering your quest for that M.D.?"
The rest of the hour was taken up with questions and answers about the Carson family. At the end, Julia summarized. "So, dealing with your arrangement with Greg and with your father's injury will be the 'hooks' that will convince your parents to come and talk to me, is that what your plan is?"
"That's right. Do you think you can keep them coming, as long as I pay?"
"I certainly hope so. Of course, not having met them, I'm not sure what I may be up against, but I will use the first couple of sessions to find triggers that will keep them interested. Usually, there are some.
"One more thing to be aware of, Cheryl; even if you are paying, I cannot reveal what goes on with your parents, unless they give me permission."
"Oh. Well, you have my permission to tell them anything about me that would help, OK?"
Cheryl worked out a little subterfuge with Marty. Marty positioned the initial visits with Julia as part of the medical compensation for Hal's injury. In the process of that discussion, they had to strategize how to get enough funds from the trust to cover the expected cost of twenty to thirty total sessions.
To Cheryl's surprise and delight, Hal accepted the appointments with Julia easily. Cheryl stayed out of it and let Marty set things up. Putting on her own therapist's hat, Cheryl believed that Marty had managed to establish herself in a dominant position in Hal's mind. Since she was a woman, that was quite remarkable, and it bode well for Julia's success in treating them.
As it turned out, the volleyball team went through three single matches to qualify for the regionals, which were double elimination. There, they lost an early match and worked their way up the loser's side. Unfortunately, they lost the match that would have sent them to state. Hal was ready to go for every match after the first, without complaint.
The volleyball team was not the only undefeated conference champion that fall. On the strength of a defense that was virtually bulletproof by the end of the season, the football team accomplished what had been hoped for before the loss of Greg and Chad. In later years, the coach would talk of it as the most satisfying season of his career.
The incredible team spirit, centered on Vick's personality, which had become as dominant as his play, carried the team to several dramatic upset wins. His will to win infused everyone on both sides of the ball. With Rickert's whole-hearted entry into the defensive scheme, the defense was able to more than offset the offense's inexperience and occasional yielding of points. In the last five games, the defense had outscored the opponents' aggregate offense.
Because of the first playoff game, Cal continued with football practice, even though basketball practice had officially started. On Tuesday morning of that week, he was summoned from class to the office of Coach Hall, the new basketball coach. "Banner, why weren't you out for basketball yesterday?"
"Football, Coach. We have a playoff game Friday."
"But football season is over. I have to implement a whole new system, and I need every player for every day possible."
Cal probably should have said nothing, but he could not help himself. "You mean you're really going to throw out the system that has been so successful here? The system that is taught all the way up through elementary and middle schools?"
"I was brought here to bring order to a program that has been dependent on helter-skelter playground basketball. It may take a few years, but before long, my system will be taught in the elementary and middle schools. It WILL be implemented here at the high school, starting now. Can I expect you at practice tonight?"
Cal could not help laughing out loud. "Do you expect me to skip football practice?"
"Look, Banner. I'll be frank with you. My other possibility at point guard transferred out, so I really need you."
"Even if you changed practice times, I could not do both and do either one well. I will not be able to practice basketball until football is finished."
Hall was in a bind, the first of several he would face with Cal. He needed to have control over his players, and that meant having them in practice. He should tell Banner to just forget it, he would not be on the team. However, Hall had watched the films, and the kid was perfect for his system. He was disciplined, composed, and a deadly outside shooter.
Leaving the situation unresolved, Hall just motioned Cal out of his office as he pretended to concentrate on some paper work.
The football team won the first playoff game 10-7 on the strength of Cal's last-second field goal. The opponents' touchdown had come on an interception.
The second playoff game was another nail-biter. Jeron broke a long run for an early touchdown and Cal hit a field goal early in the third quarter. The opposition got two field goals and a late fourth quarter touchdown. Vick went sky-high to block the extra point, and with two minutes left, Cal's team was down 12-10 and could win with a field goal.
The desperation drive started optimistically, getting down to the opponents' forty. Unfortunately, the drive stalled there. With time for only one play and facing fourth and eight, the coach decided to let Cal try a fifty-five yarder for the win. There was a moderate but gusting quartering wind from behind Cal. Distance would not be the problem, but it could be blown off course.
Everything felt perfect to Cal and the ball rocketed off of his foot. Later, experts estimated that his kick would have reached from seventy yards. On its way, the ball visibly jigged back and forth a couple of times. It ended up passing over the left upright.
The winning team was strictly up to the referee's decision. He paused an agonizing two or three seconds, looking up along the upright. Then, he signaled 'no good'.
There is no good way for a dream season to end, except in a championship. Unfortunately, that was not to be for Cal's team. Every last player, coach, and fan was certain the kick was good, but there was no recourse. The ref crew left the field with more speed than any of the players had shown during the game. There was no good film to provide a 'moral victory' later.
With Vick and the coach leading the way and Cal right behind, the team gave very subdued congratulations to the opponent and walked silently to their locker room. The pizza party went on as scheduled, and Vick and Cal tried to participate, but their hearts definitely were not in it. The feeling that the victory had been taken from them was hard to shake.
Coach did something unprecedented the Sunday after the loss. With his own money, he hired a banquet room at a hotel and invited all of the players and their families for a buffet supper. In response to Vick's plea, Tessa and Cheryl were included. It turned out that several families chipped in to cover the cost, including the Banners.
"I could retire from coaching tonight, completely satisfied with my career," the coach said after everyone had eaten. "This is by far the most exceptional team I have ever had. It has been a privilege and an inspiration to work with you."
"What happened before the first game should have ruined the season. Everyone predicted that it would. But you guys, on your own, decided that was not going to happen. By sheer force of will and the strongest team spirit I have ever seen, you made fools of all of the experts. I was never more proud of any of my teams, even the state champs of several years ago."
"And I was never more proud than after that awful final loss. Parents, your sons showed what the true spirit of sportsmanship is all about, and you can be proud. Believe me, our opponents, the press, and everyone else saw it, too."
"Vick Smaak, would you please come up here? You all know that he was named all-conference. Well, maybe because they felt badly about the way we lost, because I have been given some information before it was released to the press. First, Vick, here is your trophy for being named All-State defensive tackle."
The whole room was instantly on its feet, and the cameras of the press who were present were flashing away. "That's not all, though. I don't have another trophy or anything, but I got a very nice phone call yesterday. Vick, you have been selected to the second team of the High School All-American squad."
After the ensuing pandemonium subsided, Coach went on to give out several other awards before the party disbanded in a mood of general good feeling. Nothing could wipe out the sting of that loss, but the edge of the pain was definitely dulled.
Cal had been thinking about Monday ever since the loss on Friday. The way Coach Hall had left things in their meeting, it seemed that unless Cal had come to basketball practice as soon as it started, he would not be welcome on the squad. On the other hand, Hall had mentioned how much he needed Cal.
Given that there was room for misunderstanding, Cal decided to force Hall to come to him by not going to practice. If Hall did not seek him out, Cal would not be destroyed. With the unappealing new system and what he had heard from friends about the coach's style, he was not very excited about the upcoming season.
Bottom line, it was his friends - his teammates - that were the biggest reason for Cal to play that year. That, and his natural aversion to quitting.
Tuesday morning, Cal was again summoned from class to Hall's office. "Banner, where were you last night?"
"I was under the impression that if I didn't come to the first practice, I was not welcome on the team."
"I never told you that!" Hall declared indignantly. "Do you mean you were ready to just give up the season because of what you thought I said?"
Here, Cal had to decide how honest to be. What made the decision for him was his instinctive dislike for Hall. Cal liked to think he was tolerant and accepting of people, but the new coach just irritated him. He just told his feelings straight out. "I have not been looking forward to the season very much, so if I sit out, it will not be a big disappointment."
"Not looking forward to it!?" Hall almost shouted. "I've seen the films and watched you play football. You're a competitor. How can you not be looking forward to playing?"
"Because your system takes the fun out of the game. We have speed, size, and talent on the team: enough to get to State again. Your system will waste it all."
"Listen, you... !" Hall started out before catching himself. This kid was impudent and arrogant. The problem was, Hall needed him badly. Without him, Hall would have to depend on the black kids, and that was something he would try very hard to avoid. He should straighten the kid out right away, but he had the distinct feeling the kid really would just walk away.
"... you should just come out tonight. You'll have some catching up to do."
Now it was decision time for Cal. "OK." was all he said as he left to return to class.
From Cal's first practice, things looked bad. The coach had a number of seemingly senseless rules that he expected to be followed. For instance, if anyone shot before three different players touched the ball, they got yelled at and were usually made to sit down. Except on a fast break, they were forbidden to shoot until fifteen seconds had elapsed. Fast breaks were almost forbidden. The coach insisted that all players maintain defensive and rebounding position until possession was guaranteed. An up-court pass was only allowed if no opposing player was across the ten-second line.
Treatment of the players was another major difference. The previous coach had instructed, corrected, and encouraged. Hall criticized and punished. Cal could see team morale deteriorating before his eyes.
Actually, Cal's skills fit the new system very well. His court awareness helped him to make the best passes and to signal his teammates where to move. A key goal of the system was to free someone for an open outside shot. With his elusiveness and deadly accuracy, Cal knew that he could BE the offense if he allowed himself to be.
One incident occurred during the first major intra-squad scrimmage when Cal brought the ball up. As he reached the three-point line, Dante did one of his patented moves to get a small step on his defender, arcing toward the basket. As he had done many times the previous year, Cal hit Dante with a perfectly timed pass that the big center took on the way up for the dunk.
The ball was not even in the basket before the whistle was shrilling. Coach Hall yelled out "Banner! Do you need to go back to kindergarten and learn counting to three? I suppose fifteen is way beyond you!"
Knowing he probably should have said nothing, Cal asked "Coach, are we really supposed to pass up easy baskets because of the rule?"
"We are going to stick with the system!" the coach bellowed. "One opportunity is insignificant. Over the course of a game, the system will wear down the opposition."
Mahmoud made a big mistake and muttered a little too loudly "If it doesn't wear us down first." That produced a ten-minute tirade where Coach Hall loudly elaborated on the true ranking of coaches and players in the basketball universe.
After that practice, the coach called Cal into his office. "Banner," he started out in his usual pompous fashion, "You are our floor leader and a hell of a shooter. I need you completely on board for us to be successful. Can I count on you?" Cal thought he was looking at outtakes from a bad sports movie.
"I will follow the rules and run the offense the way you want," Cal replied, making sure his lack of enthusiasm was clear.
"But I need you on board. You need to believe in the system," the coach insisted.
"Coach, I'm sorry. I'm a team player and you're the coach. I will do what you tell me to do. But I can't buy into your system. It's all wrong. You are wasting talent that could take us to state again."
"I will not be reduced to playground basketball!!" Hall shouted.
"It was not playground basketball that got us to state," Cal shouted back, dropping any pretense of being respectful. "Every fast break pattern, every inlet pass, every pick, every kickout was drilled over and over so it was all as natural as breathing."
"That's just rationalizing race horse nonsense that depends on fancy moves to score."
"What you call fancy moves is called athleticism. We've got a lot of it on this team," Cal corrected, working hard to hold his temper.
"But too little discipline. We will do it my way and play controlled basketball," Hall insisted.
Back at the mall, the officer took statements from the five teenagers and the two guards. Then, seeing that Bobby was unable to talk, was having much trouble swallowing, and had labored breathing, she called for an ambulance. With a puzzled look, she took a few steps away from the teens and exchanged several sentences with dispatch. Coming back to the group, she told Bobby "I'll drive you to the hospital. There's been an accident just down Perimeter, and two ambulances are on the way...
As the days before the start of school and the opening of both the football and volleyball seasons dwindled, Cal worked hard on his mental discipline, determined not to let discouragement or anger get him down. Cheryl, of course, saw right through his carefully-constructed facade, but she was uncertain about what she could do to make him feel better. Part of Cal's problem was that he really needed some hard contact to let out some of his frustration and pent-up adrenalin. Seeing the look in...
Despite the late return home from the incredible Saturday and the energetic love-making into the wee hours, both Cal and Cheryl awoke only an hour after their usual dawn time. After a brief discussion, they decided to go for a run but pass on the rest of that day's workout. He probably should have suspected it, but Cal pulled up short in surprise as they turned the last corner before home on their run. Right in front of the house stood a TV truck. "I suppose there's no way to wait them...
Genevieve Overland was faced with a delicate problem - two delicate problems, actually. This steroid thing was worrisome, if the Carson girl was right about the potential health dangers. The Greg/Cecily relationship was really worrisome. Greg had blindsided them all with Cecily. Genevieve had four children, and they in turn had spawned fourteen grandchildren for her. Out of the eight female grandchildren, Cecily, at fourteen, was undeniably the prize. She was pretty and surprisingly sexy for...
The sudden appearance of the attackers had shocked Cal, just as it had the others. The sight of the gun brought back unavoidable images of Fasil in the back yard on THE DAY. It was fortunate for Cal that the gun-wielder wanted to talk as it gave Cal time to collect himself and remember his disciplines. First, the threat assessment. The gun was the only visible weapon, and a quick glance did not show any of the others with body positions indicating a weapon at hand. Cal would have bet,...
"Elaine, this is Cheryl. Hope I'm not calling too late." "Hi, Cheryl. Is there a problem with Cal?" "Oh, no. Sorry. Didn't mean to frighten you. Listen, I'm calling from Claire's so Cal can't hear me. Cal is going to ISN headquarters for an interview." "Really?" Elaine exclaimed. "Wow!" "Well, that's not exactly his reaction," Cheryl cautioned. "He's afraid they're going to try to make him look like a villain because of Renton." "Then why is he doing it?" "The...
While Teri and Rick were celebrating their reunited marriage in bed, Tessa was spreading the joyous news at the Banner house. She seemed almost as excited as her mother, except when she came down to Cal's photo lab and told him. Then, she was surprisingly reserved, almost sad. "Hey, Tessa, that's great news! How come you're not smiling?" "Oh, well I'm... I mean..." Tessa stalled out completely for several long seconds and just looked at Cal. "Do you really think it's great? You...
There were three guys with their pants off in the bedroom, and Cheryl was bare-assed on all fours on the bed. One guy was fucking her. Another was trying to get his cock in her mouth, and the third was apparently awaiting his turn as he stroked himself. Rebecca was too stunned to become aroused, and she stood transfixed by the sight. She was seeing her first live cocks, and seeing them under far from romantic, or even erotic, circumstances. Bobby could not help but feel embarrassment at what...
Cal had told Hector that they would be at the same hotel, leaving it up to the groom if they wanted to get together. Hector mentioned the fact to Maddy when they managed to get out of bed mid-morning on Saturday, and she immediately got on the phone to Cheryl. The four ended up sharing a large brunch, giving the girls time to recover before heading for practice. Having discussed it beforehand, Cheryl and Cal made no remarks about the newlyweds' first night, nor did they ask any questions....
While Sharon and Ryan were passionately formalizing their status as a couple, Cheryl and Cal were talking quietly on the hide-a-bed in the tiny front room of Maddie and Hector's apartment. "You seem a little preoccupied, Hon," Cheryl told him. "Sorry. You know, Dr. Carson, some of the stuff you said last week has been rattling around in my head all week." "Such as?" "Well, your comment about significance, for one thing," he said. "I guess I have been a little hung up on...
It only took a couple more discussions with Cal and one with her parents before Cheryl wrote her acceptance letter for the scholarship. It was Cal who rather forcefully convinced her to talk with Hal and Darlene, and it went better than Cal could have expected. Hal had netted nearly half a million dollars from the insurance settlement. Marty recruited only the best as her associates, and Robert did a masterful job. Predictably, the Carsons invested the money and did not spend extravagantly....
For the second time in a few minutes, Cal initiated a kiss. This one lasted a long time, and this time, he instinctively thrust his crotch into her. The kiss lasted long enough for her to unfasten and unzip his jeans and reach in to grasp his painfully rigid cock. She gave it a few gentle strokes and he started panting. "Teri! I'm going to come!" "I hope so!" "But... !" It was already too late. When he had finished spurting, she somehow worked his jeans down with one hand, never...
Suzanne Meinert felt a stab of jealousy as she and Rod walked up to the house with the real estate agent. She still could not understand why they were even bothering to look at this expensive one. Rod loved teaching and coaching, and they weren't poor. But there was never anything extra. This house was so perfect, it almost made her cry to think about it. But there was no way they could afford it. All through the tour, her depression increased. If only... Rod Meinert had been too angry...
Kenneth Yokata's father was a third-generation Japanese-American, the first in his line to marry a gaijin. That had caused a major rift between him and the rest of the very traditional family. However, Ken had been brought up with a large measure of the best of both of the disparate cultures. His father had seen that he was schooled in the ancient disciplines from an early age. His mother, a highly educated woman, saw that he was well-versed in the intricacies of Western thought. Ken had...
Rachman Mussafi learned of the complete elimination of his kidnap team the next day. The FBI would have been greatly alarmed if they had known how he got the information. The loss of the deal with the sheik was a severe blow to Rachman and it became one more offense that he could lay at his daughter's feet. News that the Banner kid had once more gotten in the way made him even more furious. Ken Yokata's fear that Rachman would now come after Ismi just for punishment became a reality....
When they were ushered into the home, only a few minutes late, Cal asked if they could talk for a few minutes. This was by arrangement with Teri. "I understand that you would like to have me take some revealing photographs. Is that right?" Both women nodded, somewhat nervously. "How revealing do you want them to be?" When neither woman came up with an answer, he asked "Will you be wearing lingerie? Sleepwear? Swimwear? Nothing?" He finally got a reaction as the one whose home they...
The night of Beth Hall's visit, Cal slept no better than his former basketball coach. The remarks of both Coach Hall and his wife obviously referred to Chad Clark. But why would Chad be Hall's presumed starting point guard? Everyone had known that Cal was destined for that spot. Chad was not even a capable reserve. As Cal lay awake for an unprecedented hour, random memories from the last eight months cycled through his mind. Every once in a while, one of them stood out. Principal...
"Don't let the dispatcher hang up!" Cal said sharply to Robin. She looked at him in confusion for a moment, the set her face and began speaking. "Listen, this situation is already screwed up. Let's get out of it without any more foul-ups, OK? Now, you patch me through to the two nearest patrol cars, and..." Robin paused, obviously waiting out the dispatcher's objections. When she resumed speaking, her voice was steady, but had an authoritative crack to it. "We've got a dozen...
The Carson family's flight was an early one, to get the best fare. That day was not the actual first day of school, but registration day. After returning from the airport, Cal and Cheryl got through registration quickly, bought books, and were home well before lunch. Home. Cheryl pondered that concept as they pulled into their parking spot. She felt the excitement welling up at the thought that they were finally alone. In some ways, she considered it her first real home. Very early in her...
After she called Bud, Robin searched frantically through Cheryl's closet for something to wear. It was useless. Not that Cheryl didn't have clothes, but Robin could not think of what would look right. Actually, she could hardly think at all, and she ended up not changing anything. When he rang the bell, she opened it, but she could not look up at him. He had a good idea what she was going through, and he realized how careful he had to be not to do anything that would cause her to...
Cheryl had driven home from school for the short vacation, and she and Cal drove both of their vehicles back. They had debated about whether that was necessary, but they decided to be on the safe side. They left themselves just one day after they arrived before registration. Since housing was all in order, that was one time-consuming item they did not have to deal with. On their free day, they connected with Maddy and her family, with Jesus Monteleone, with the volleyball coach, and of...
Pat Clancy did not usually watch ISN, but his father happened to be home, and his father was a big fan of the local college team. Pat was in an extended rebellious stage, at the point that many kids left at about fourteen or fifteen. Being a freshman at the U, though, he was savvy enough to realize that some minimum amount of acquiescence went a long ways to getting him the things he wanted from his indulgent parents with the least hassle. Pat had his basketball scholarship, and that had...
Sunday morning brought a sobering conversation. "Before I fly home, we'd better talk about the other two boys," Elaine told Cheryl and Cal when the couple returned from their reduced 'day-after-game' early workout. "To tell the truth, I'd just as soon never hear about them again," Cheryl responded. "I lost all of Friday night for studying and I had trouble concentrating yesterday. I don't want to be rude, Elaine, but I really have to hit the books today." "I'm afraid you may...
In the first week of the new year, two psychiatrists, speaking for the panel that had been employed to evaluate Greg, came to the Overland mansion to give their report. Brandon, Penelope, Genevieve, and Greg's lead lawyer were in the meeting. After the introductions, the lead doctor took the floor. "We have put Greg through the entire battery of tests and examinations that we described to you beforehand. We can go into as much detail as you would like, but let me summarize. He is...
The romance between Tessa and Vick took off like a rocket. Tessa was never one to dither when she wanted something, and she wanted Vick in the worst way. He, of course, did not have a chance. Not that he felt tricked or coerced in any way. Like a lot of the guys at school, Vick had been fascinated by Tessa, but because of her brains and her apparent relationship with Cal, he did not waste any time wishing for her. Finding out that she wanted him was just too good to be true. Just two weeks...
Robin was pissed. Her anger at that Jeremy character had been building with every report of his smarmy little campaign to subjugate her new friend Darlene. It was two weeks before Cal's return home, and Robin had just heard about Jeremy's last intrusion and Darlene's refusal to return to the club. Well, it was better that Darlene not be there right now, but by God, she would be back if Robin had anything to say about it. Robin and Darlene were worlds apart in life experience, yet Robin...
Saturday morning could have been a scene from a 'B' movie about high school girls. Of the eight gathered in Teri's rec room, Rebecca and Tessa were as giddy as the rest. Somehow, Cal thought they should have been helping to organize things and bring some order. Didn't happen. Since Sam had asked him personally, he took her first. She had changed into a tube top, which was apparently the uniform for the portraits. He started with the same approach he had used on Rebecca and Tessa, trying...
With basketball finished, Cal had no extra-curricular activities from school to take up his time. He had decided that he was going to accelerate his martial arts training for the entire spring and summer until football practice started in mid-August. The morning after his first naked photo session with Teri, it was easy for him to get up early, as sleep had been very hard to find. The extra exertion of his more vigorous workout was just what he needed to relieve the tension built up by the...
When the van pulled across their path and the men jumped out, Cal's initial reaction was a flash of panic, but in milliseconds he remembered why he had spent all of those years in martial arts classes. The men looked Arabic, and his mind flashed back to the sight of Rachman kicking the helpless Ismi. It was not going to happen again! Mr. Yokata's teachings came to him with the force of deeply ingrained habit. First, the assessment. Two men. No visible weapons. One man, the driver, had to...
When Cal was first able to walk on his foot, he had started taking walks in the cool of the evening. The foot was healed, but it could not yet take the stress of running. On the second night that he walked, his mother caught up with him halfway down the driveway, took his hand in hers, and made it clear that she intended to walk with him. "Teri gets to spend a lot more time with you than I do," she complained. "I've got to grab whatever I can." After a moment of panic that she might...
Two football games had already been played, and Cheryl was very concerned. Greg had gained right around 100 yards in each game, although he had fumbled once. She talked with Cal on Monday night, trying to arrange a time when they could get together. She was adamant that it had to be before that Friday's game. Finding a time and place was actually rather tough. The rendezvous had to be kept secret from both sets of parents and from Greg. That ruled out Cheryl's home, and it made evenings...
Since he had shown Rebecca and Tessa the nude pictures of Rob Krantz, the girls had lain in wait for Cal's return every time Teri went on a shoot. They knew there would likely be nudity if Teri had to preside. "Any naked guys?" would hit Cal as soon as he walked into the house with film in hand. "I gotta have a talk with Mom," Tessa pouted. "I can't understand why only she gets to go on the sexy shoots. It's just not fair!" Cal looked quickly at Rebecca, who had not yet finished her...
To Cal's relief, nothing bad had happened by the time most people had eaten and the sun was getting low. He had relaxed his vigil on Rebecca and Bobby and was talking with Dante Powers about the new basketball coach and the team's prospects. He realized that he had not seen the lovebirds for a while, and when Dante walked off to see someone else, Cal started scanning the beach for them. He was just starting to be concerned when Cheryl came running up to him, followed closely by Tessa....
Rebecca went home for dinner, and when she sat down at the table, everyone could see the static issuing from almost everywhere on her body. Elaine waited until everyone had finished, then asked "Honey, is there something you wanted to say?" "I want to stay overnight at Bobby's so I can help him in the morning," Rebecca said as rapidly as she could. "Help him with what?" Martin asked before Elaine could warn him to keep quiet. "Well, he has to stay lying straight - can't bend at...
At the hospital, Cheryl could see it in her mother's eyes. Darlene Carson had no idea what to do or what was going to happen, and it scared her to death. Armed with her new understanding, Cheryl laid everything out in simple, specific terms, seeing her mother's tension ease with every sentence. It was nice for Cheryl to see her analysis verified, but it was also disturbing to find this out about her mother. Cheryl could not help thinking how much better her home life might have been if she...
In the weeks since her return to the health club, Jeremy had given Darlene five massages. That they were much longer than the fifteen minutes offered on the coupons was never mentioned. She had worn the two-piece suit on the table every time, and he decided to make his move. "Darlene, you've got some tightness here that I can't get rid of with these short strokes. I need to move up and down your whole back." Without saying any more, Jeremy undid the clasp that held the suit top...
Cheryl really wanted to be there for the first part of Jeremy's humiliation, but she understood why it could not work out. As Rebecca drove them all from the airport, Cheryl felt that sense of unreality. It was the first time that she had been home in two months. Everything seemed so familiar, yet strange in a way. And she really was not home. This was just a quick drop-in. Nobody could understand why she was so adamant about being there tonight - well, Cal understood, and maybe her mom...
Cal and Cheryl were still cuddling, caressing, and talking when his normal workout time arrived. They dozed off for a few hours, and Cal was definitely groggy when they had to get up for her flight. She was just as lifeless until Robin showed up and explained that she was going with them. It was the biggest shot of energy that Cal had ever seen. Cheryl was absolutely ecstatic. Robin sat in the front seat of the plane with Bud. Several times when she looked back, Cheryl was grinning from ear...
It was late on a Saturday evening, and Cal was becoming concerned that Laura would never give up for the night. He had been hiding in her house for going on three hours, and boredom did not begin to describe what he had endured. At least on the many evenings spent in the blind, waiting for a chance to get some evidence, he could read, study, or talk to Cheryl part of the time. This was the night it had to happen. Two weeks of school had already passed, and he just could not spend any more...
Cal was too startled to say anything, which was probably fortunate. Jolie eventually reached the bed, where she stopped, giving a perfect imitation of a horror movie zombie. Her head turned back and forth mechanically as she repeatedly scanned her mother's exposed body. Far, far from being an innocent, Jolie was still stunned by whatever she had seen. Jolie's confusion gave Cal time to recover from his shock. "How long have you been watching?" he asked, assuming that his cousin would not...
Early Monday morning at his workout was Cal's first chance for some deep thought. Of course, there had been idle time on Sunday, but by dint of long habit, it was while exercising that he did his best concentration. The dominant thing on his mind was what his mother had done the night before. Even before he had gone to sleep, he had decided that he was not upset by it. Oh, it had been embarrassing at first, but her words and her expression had conveyed her true feelings - love and...
The loss of a defensive star like Vick Smaak could not help but affect the football team. There was a good program in the younger grades, though, and even if there was not a direct replacement for Vick, there was enough new talent to make the defense very strong. The offense that had been reshaped the previous year to make up for the loss of Greg and Brad hit it's stride right away. It was explosive and exciting to watch. The coaches decided that a gambling defense that stressed forcing big...
A few days before the volleyball tournament was to start, Coach Meinert caught Cal after basketball practice. "I got a call from a woman who really needs your help. I told her I would see if I could talk you into it." When Cal just showed a blank stare, Meinert said "I'll give you a clue: she's a coach." Still not seeing comprehension on Cal's face, he added "A volleyball coach." Seeing that Cal had finally caught on, Meinert laughed and said "Get your ass to Cheryl's first match....
The night Cal got back from Cheryl's tournament, Martin sat down with him as he was having a late snack. "While you were gone, the calls started." "Calls?" Cal asked. "From football coaches," Martin said with a grin. "They were all looking for a kicker." "Am I supposed to call back?" "I told them that you had already started at your chosen school," Martin answered. "I hope that was all right." "You maybe could have saved yourself a lot of money if one of them gave me a...
Where is the boundary between grief and hate? Between hate and insanity? Had any professional been aware of the importance of these questions in regard to Penelope Overland, she could have been the basis of a fascinating study. The fact that no one suspected anything deeper than the difficulty of recovering from the death of a child told a lot about Penelope's makeup. Genetically and culturally, she was imbued with some very strong traits. First of all, she was undeniably intelligent....
The Friday morning after Thanksgiving was not a common time for a wedding, but with the short notice, that was the best that Maddy had been able to schedule. She wanted it to be in her parents' church, and she knew that the traditional morning time would be most acceptable to her mother. She and Hector had tried very hard to do everything to please their parents, especially hers. They would not compromise on the timing, and they would use birth control. Outside of those givens, they would...
Finally something was going right! Nikolai, the team leader, had been completely frustrated as one thing after another kept one or more of his targets out of town. He had tried to see if two at a time wouldn't satisfy the client, but Viktor had been firm about it. All four of them in one place, bound, and in good condition - it was that or no payoff. There was no way the client was spending all of this money just to have a chat with the four kids, so what was the big deal about good...
I was alone in a club, or at least pretending to be, and I was looking to get picked up by a white man while my black husband watched. How weird was that? I'd never imagined such a thing in my life. I'd never wanted to, but now that it was actually happening I found myself excited by it. I didn't want to be, strange as it sounds. I already felt guilty just by my willingness to play along and I felt that if anything really happened I'd have a hard time rationalizing it later. This was...
I awoke energized; thinking of everything that I needed to do to ensure my wife and baby were going to be safe and comfortable. The thought of getting a regular house passed across my thoughts. But I thought Sue and I lived here because of our friends. If we need a permanent structure, we'll build it right here. It's our joint, it's our land to do with as we please. This was a significant thought. It was the first time I was happy to have a wife with the money she had. If we needed...
What is a rift? The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. A rift is exactly that, a straight line between two points. A link between worlds can always be drawn. The only factors to consider about rifts are their starting point and their ending point. A rift is opened at one point, leading into the void. A second opening is created from inside the void. What is the void? The void is a place that has no location. There is nothing in the void, hence its name. It is emptiness...
Well this is a continuation of the story of my wife working as a bikini clad cocktail waitress at a Resort Bar. To make a long story short, Phil the owner would like nothing better than to fuck my hot young MILF. You see my wife was beautiful, she is a petite brunette about 5’ 1” tall, weighed about 105 pounds with a nice pair of small perky tits and an ass that any guy would crave. Not only that, she had a movie star face that drew stares wherever we went. Phil hired my wife and two teachers...
Cadence and Kelly sat in Cadence's room that afternoon. It had been a particularly hard day for Cadence. Along with the dick, it seemed, came a guy's hormones. Every girl she saw, who looked even remotely attractive, caused her to have an instant erection. Cheerleader practice had been extremely brutal. She had never really thought about how sexy cheerleading outfits looked, despite knowing that guys found them sexy. Halfway through practice she had had to run to the restroom to jerk off,...
Mike elected not to make any moves for the next two days to make sure they had not attracted any undue attention. On the third morning, they all headed to the Henderson farm to gather up whatever edible crops still remained out in the untended fields. They also picked up some nicely crafted containers in the barn to use for holding food stuffs and water. There was no indication that any of the looters had returned to the empty farm for any reason. Maria gathered up her sewing needles and the...
The sun was setting; I sat on my balcony watching as it descended from the clear blue sky. My ginger hair blew slightly as a chilly breeze began to come in. I wiped my emerald green eyes before taking one more sip of lemonade. With a sigh I walked back into my room. My name is Vanessa Alton; I am a sixteen year old girl from Sydney, Australia. I am about five foot three inches tall and weigh just over one hundred pounds. I am the daughter of Millionaire Phillip Alton who unfortunately was...
SupernaturalHey Guys, today I am gonna share my real life experience which I had on 2nd of September 2014 which changed my life fully. I am well placed guy of high profile and working in Kolkata but I am not Bengali and I originally belong from Haryana and I am Jatt! Your reply on my email ahujashyam8 @ gmail.com will be highly appreciated. My name is Shyam, I am 25 years of age. This real life story is of me and my lady boss who seduced me for my promotion during my official trip and later on she made me...
We got back to the house, this time stripping one another. She got on top this time and satisfied us both rather quickly. She got off and started to lick me up, getting all of our juices together. She stopped to lick her lips saying, “You’re the first I ever decided to do this with, and I’m glad, so very glad. Whether we have a day, a week, or a decade together ... I want you to make love to me every single day, would you do that for me, David?” “To quote the Artful Dodger, ‘I’ll do...
by Prof. Richard W. (formerly of the University of ____________) Contributed by Richard Williams for the enjoyment of Literotica’s readers. This fictional story is copyrighted and may only be used for your personal pleasure. It may not be sold, distributed, or posted on another website without the author’s permission. Late in 1997 As Sophia relaxed in her willingness to trust my story-telling, I continued with Dean’s hypnotic words. I watched Sophia closely as the story unfolded, and as...
My wife Brittney was asleep. She really got a kick outof the flowers I sent her this afternoon. It wasn'teven a holiday or her birthday. Just red roses and aspecial love note written by me. It was the thirdbunch of roses I sent my wife in the past four weeks.Last week I took her shopping for a brand new dress.We stopped at this little specialty shop in the mallwhere I encouraged her to try on the most sexiestrevealing dresses I could see hanging on the racks.Brittney is a size 3 petite and I...