I was running early and Rocco was never on time but I simply went the club sat in the lounge with a real iced tea and was hoping to have a few minutes of quiet. I accomplished that by sitting looking out at the snowed covered golf course. A few minutes later I heard "Wow, look at this it seems that Simmons and his kid are at it again." It was the lead story on the news and there I was telling the media it was a routine closing and that we would be shoveling snow and cutting grass. Then the reporter said and then there was this. The Mayor saying how pleased he was to be able to finally push through this important deal and that construction would be starting right after the first of the year. Behind the Mayor stood Kirkpatrick and his smiling princess Heather. The reporter then looked into the camera and said, well I guess the relationship with the Mayor and MJS Technologies and their young Chairman hasn't improved. It will be interesting to see which version is accurate. With that just burst out laughing. That was exactly the wrong thing to do as I was immediately mobbed. I smiled and said shoveling snow and cutting grass. Just then I was saved my the club manager who said Mike, your guest is here and I have him seated in the dining room.
I found Rocco seated at a quiet table and as there was no TV in the dining room no one was aware of the news or the drama in the other room. Rocco and I shook hands and a waiter appeared and I asked where Jake was and was told that it was his day off. Rocco ordered a Martini and I asked for an iced tea. When the drinks came mine wasn't iced tea and I smile and asked the waiter his name and was told he was Owen. I said thanks and he said well Jake has told us all how to take care of you. I smiled and said thanks. With that Rocco ordered a T-bone and baked potato and told Owen no vegetables and I ordered Shrimp Scampi and a salad. As soon as we were alone Rocco asked Mike, whose estimate of a start date is correct, yours or the Mayor's? Rocco, we need to do a lot of prep and build roads, there are no plans for the building and no idea what it will look like. Then there is the smaller industrial building and no idea what that will look like other than it won't be a rusting hulk. Rocco, then there is the financing which can't be started until all the stuff I mentioned is completed. Rocco was quiet for a bit and was sipping his drink then asked what's with the Mayor and why does he need to pick this fight and say things that simply can't happen? I simply shrugged and took a sip of my drink.
Dinner was good and we chatted about his new offices and how well the location and free parking worked for the training. Then as the dinner plates were cleared Rocco moved to the terms for the next project. I smiled as I knew that was the reason for the meeting. Mike, we would like some increases from our last deal? Rocco, our last deal was 5% over your typical hourly rate, we feed them a midday meal once a week, there was no forced overtime and yet overtime was available. When there was a shutdown they were paid and most of the people got a bonus for finishing ahead of schedule. The project was 100% union. Rocco, it's the same deal or I'll simply bid the project and we will see how that goes. At that point Own appeared asking if there was anything lose and Rocco ordered another drink and I asked for a cappuccino. Rocco was quiet and I knew that the next person who spoke would lose the discussion. The drinks came and Rocco took a sip and said well Mike, I need a win and am hoping you could help. I laughed and said Rocco, you have a bit more that three years on your term so you don't need a win and this deal you have with me is by far the best deal you have going right now. Rocco laughed and said, well there is this saying "if you don't ask you don't get." I smiled and said well I'll have to remember that, but the deal doesn't change. Rocco then said we'll have you legal people send the agreement over and I'll sign it. Rocco, you'll have it right after the first of the year. I signed the check for dinner and I drover to my place.
Once at home I stripped and put on a sweatsuit, going commando, poured a scotch and called JJ. He answered laughing about my complicated day and when I told him about Heather he laughed so hard he dropped the phone. Once things settled down I asked if would be free to workout tomorrow. He said sure and asked if 10:00 would work? I agreed and said that I would meet him there as I needed to drop some things off at the mall and find a Christmas gift for Winnie. Then I asked if he wanted to visit Chuck at the Winery. We discussed January 2,3 or 4 and JJ reminded me we had school on the 6th. Other than that he was good and I told him I was hoping to take the Jet and we would stay over one night. Then I told him I would check with Charlie and we would firm thing up. Then JJ asked if I had plans for tomorrow evening and I said that I hadn't thought about it and he said well we all have and it would be great if the 4 of us could just hang out at your place. I wondered what was up but said sure that would be great. With that he said I'll see you tomorrow at the gym and we hung up.
I immediately called Winnie and she answered saying, I'm surprised you are home as you had a wild and very public day. I laughed and said babe, it was 30 seconds of public shit and the media did the rest. The closing was interesting as Heather was given a percentage and she refused to sign. That cost her dad $325 before he forced her to cooperate. Then I had dinner with the Union President and we negotiated terms for paying the workers to build the project, whenever it starts. So babe, I hear you and Mia and JJ are visiting tomorrow night. She laughed and said Mick, we are all spending the night and my rents know. I have no idea how Mia is pulling it off and I don't care. There are two bedrooms so it will be fine and I'm just looking for a fun time, so relax. I didn't say anything and she said Mick, you and I most likely will have sex if you gain get it hard while your drunk. Ok, babe what you drinking and she said gin and tonic and please find a way to make that available. I said no problem and I'll stock up on condoms. She laughed and asked, will you need more than one? I said yes and she said well that fine for the baby making hole but it's raw for the other two. I laughed and said, what the fuck you expecting? She said a Mike Simmons with no armor who is a drunk high school jock. Mick, Mia and I came up with this idea as you two have worked so hard with football and been perfect gentlemen, we both want to see if there is a secret side to you two. We are pretty sure JJ has another side but wonder what it will take to get you to unwind. I laughed and said well bring it the fuck on and let's find out if you can keep up. With that we said good night and hung up. I went to refill my drink and laughed out loud when I realized that I was as hard as a rock.
Just as I sat down there was a knock on the door and it opened there was dad. I smiled and asked, so what did I do that brings you here? I can't remember when that happened last. Dad saw what I was drinking and he asked if I minded if he had some of his scotch. I laughed and asked if he had another bottle as I was running low. He said well obviously you know where it is stored. I smiled and asked if there was any gin stored there as well? Ok Mike, what's up? Well dad, Winnie is spending the night tomorrow and she asked for gin. Dad shook his head and said, yes there is gin but teenage hormones, sex and booze never make for anything but problems. I smiled and said well JJ and Mia will be here as well. Dad smiled and said Mike, that doesn't make me feel any better. Dad, I'm not the ordinary hormone driven teen. Dad laughed and said well until Winnie appeared you seemed to me to be fucking your way through the girls in the senior class. Today's closing was part of that, but at least you stayed out of it. Dad, Winnie is different and becoming very special and it's not like Carrie as my eyes are really open and I'm sure I'm not being used. Dad looked at me and said well I bet you break up before you leave for VT. I laughed and said well, I'm not betting with you as the results of that could be really disgusting. Dad laughed and said well son, not every bet is paid off in a sexual way. Anyway, I came up here to congratulate you on the land deal as it was tough and you managed it well. I said thanks, I appreciate that. Mike, there is also this and it came just after dinner and Megan signed for it. She used here status as a Federal Judge to do that as it is a from the Legislative Oversight Committee for Interscholastic sports. I opened the sealed envelope and it was a request for my presence in Harrisburg on January 6, 1992 in conference room 3B at 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time. I or my legal representative was to make Senator Costa aware of my voluntary cooperation by Noon, December 27, 1991. Dad asked Mike are you ready for this? Dad there is all kinds of things floating in my head and they simply need to be pulled together. I need to simply present facts and let the legislators form their own conclusions. Dad, shook his head and said well son, that's a very tall order. Dad at this point all I can say is that it will be what it becomes. Dad, I'll be flying up the day before and I will have Tim with me but I'm hoping you and Megan can be there as well. Dad got serious and said well I'll be there and I'm sure Megan will clear her schedule. Dad had another drink and we chatted about Cole and Jessica, then Ashley and then back to Cole. Dad said his grades were really good and he was practicing every day and that he seemed to be in a great place. Dad fo Christmas I am trying to take him to Pinehurst for golf, just leave early, play golf, grab a bite to eat and be back home by 9:00. Dad smiled and said Mike, Cole would love that. With that dad put his glass in the dishwasher and said please use the 6" between your ears tomorrow night with the girls tomorrow night. I smiled and said, no worries you are too young to be a granddad. Dad left shaking his head. I finished my drink and piled clothes for the laundry and for the cleaners. Then I prepped the coffee and turned on the dishwasher and pulled off my sweatsuit and covered up and was fast asleep.
I was up at the usual time and it was strange as I felt really good and then I laughed realizing that I didn't have the shit kicked out of me the night before. I was amazed at how much better I felt. I dressed in jeans and a hoodie and poured a mug of coffee and went looking for the paper. Someone had already grabbed the paper and it turned out to be Megan. She was drinking coffee, reading the paper and feeding Ashley. Megan smiled and asked, so do you you want the sports or business section as you are in both? I shrugged and said well whichever you are finished with and I was handed the business section. It was a short article and a simple rehash of what was on TV last night. The article that was about me really wasn't it was about a press conference the school called for 3:00 Monday afternoon at the administrative building and speculation was about the football coaching position. That was not a surprise well except for the timing.
Ashley was finished eating so I picked her up and was surprised that she could actually sit up. It was fun spending some time with her but wasn't being too rough as I didn't want to clean up her breakfast. Cole appeared in sweats and Megan said well this is perfect as I want to talk about Christmas. Megan looked at me and asked so how long has it been since you had a family Christmas? I thought for a minute and said well, I'm not sure ever but to be honest the rents quit truing when I was 12. Mike, I'm sorry to hear that and I hope your dad nd I can start something of a tradition. Monday night we will trim a tree and Tuesday, I'm hoping you will agree to dinner at the club, church at 9 and then we open gifts and finally dinner here on Christmas. I smiled and said well that sounds great and Cole said well I was hoping you would push back on church. I looked at Cole and said well if you behave I have a special gift for you. Cole laughed and asked, how special? Asshole we have a 12:30 tee time at Pinehurst on the 26th. He smiled and said wow, hod did you pull that off? I shrugged and said I'm a member at Oakmont and that opens a lot of doors and by the way we are playing #2. Cole was amazed and he he said damn that's fucking awesome as it is one of the toughest coursed in the world nd a Donald Ross design and last updated by Ben Crenshaw and Robert Trent Jones. MJ are you serious? Cole, it's a very casual round with caddies and possibly an assistant pro, nothing special. Then I got a giant hug. I laughed nd said well at almost 7.600 yards we will see how much the practice you have been doing helps. With that I left for my place.
I was in sweats and grabbed a change of clothes for the mall and another set for the workouts,
filled my coffee mug and grabbed the medals and was off to the gym. JJ was already there and we stretched and completed our routines and damn that felt really good. Once we were in the sauna and thankfully alone I told him that I had issues with tonight and that while I was more than ready for a lot of sex it would only involve Winnie. He laughed and said well dude, if you get drunk enough who knows what will happen. I smiled and said JJ, I'm serious and he laughed and said, I agree and this isn't Texas and I'm not that guy anymore. I smiled and said, that's good to know. We showered and went our separate ways. At the mall I went right to the frame shop and gave him the medals and the picture of Jim and I and asked it be reduced to an 8 by 10 and that to hold off on the medals as I was looking for other pictures and definitely didn't like the PAAA logo. He laughed and said Mike, I knew that. The mall was packed but it was holiday music and everyone was in a good mood and eventually that improved my mood and I was looking forward to the family time. I looked in a few stores and found nothing for Winnie. I needed a break and went to the food court and waited in line for a burger and iced tea and skipped the fries. While eating, I realized I needed help and decided to go back to the jewelry store and see if there was a young salesperson who would help.
I finished eating and continued to look around but ended up at the jewelry store. I started to look around and there were all kind of possibilities. Eventually I was approached by a salesperson that around Megan's age and she asked if I needed help? I laughed and said definitely. I'm a high school senior and I need a gift for my girlfriend. Then I said she is becoming very special and money isn't an issue but I need something a high school jock would be able to afford. Just then I heard, let me help Mike out and this girl a bit older than me was there. Then she said Mike, you don't know me but I graduated when you were a freshman and you were the cock of the walk then, I can only imagine what your status is now. So besides a box of condoms you want something special but not too special as your not sure this isn't anything more than a senior fling, correct? I smiled and said well that was crudely put but accurate. She smiled and said well let's start with this and she laid out a 14k gold chain. Then there were a number charms put on the counter. I laughed at the friendship charm and said well we are last that and I pointed to the infinity charm and said nowhere near that. Those charms were removed and there was a gold charm with interlocking hearts. I found that interesting but I picked up a simple heart. The salesperson laughed and said dude you have it worse for this chick than you realize. I laughed and said, oh I'm becoming aware. Then I said, I'll take it. I was asked if I wanted a box and I said absolutely and definitely not a box that looks like it might contain a ring. That brought laughter and I was told $80.00 and I handed he my card.
Once that was done I was in a fantastic mood and headed for the car. Outside the mall there was a Salvation Army lady ringing a bell and a red kettle. I stopped and took $10 out of my wallet and put it in the kettle and the lady said God Bless you son. I just smiled and found the car. On the way to my place I passed a place selling Christmas trees and simply stopped and bought the first 5' tree I saw. That complicated my life as now I needed a stand, lights and decorations. That was easily done at Meders Nursery. It was a fun place as they has a Santa in a great display. I spent about 20 minutes watching kids ask Santa for toys and the reaction when a kid asked for something that surprised the parents. At my place I dragged the tree inside and fixed it in the stand. All was set and tonight we would deck the halls, drink, have sex and keep all that sane. Well that was my plan. With that I went to the house and grabbed another bottle of scotch and gin, thankfully there was a bottle of tonic water. All that was felt to do was wait for the gang.
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