Quarterback Keeper: 4
Who is That Kid
Joe stepped into the Salt Fork High School weight room. He saw Tyler laughing with several of the boys who were there for summer conditioning. As the new coach, and the guy who needed some cash, Tyler was hired to supervise the Athletic Department's summer conditioning program.
Joe noticed that one of the boys in the group was Avery Anders. Joe walked up to the group and was greeted with a chorus of hello Coach Bartlett. Avery said, "Coach Simmons was just telling us about the trick play his team ran to win the State Football Championship his senior year. Do you think Coach Wilson will let us run the Lonesome Polecat?"
"I am sure Coach Wilson will want a couple of surprises in his playbook, but there is nothing that makes and coach and a team look more stupid than a poorly executed trick play. So, if you run it, you'd better run it well."
Tyler added, "And no trick plays will make a difference for the team that is unfit and sloppy, so get back to those weights. Remember our battle cry..."
"Stronger, Faster, Smarter!" rang the chorus of boy-men in the weight room.
As the group broke up, Avery maneuvered over to Joe. "Can I talk to you Coach Bartlett?"
"Sure, is this a private conversation?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go down to the baseball office."
What Joe called the baseball office was just an oversized storage room full of baseball equipment, uniforms, and training supplies. In one corner Joe had installed a desk and some shelves that held some personal and team memorabilia. Joe pulled out a folding chair for Avery and then sat down behind his desk. "So, Avery what do you want to talk about?"
"I want to apologize for being an ass the last couple of years,'' started Avery. I already apologized to Coach Simmons for the way I behaved the first day of camp. I don't know why I decided to be a dick to him, but I was."
"That's big of you Avery," said Joe.
"I was also an ass in U.S. History class last year. I didn't think any of the teachers had the balls to give me a D, but you did. In fact, you seem to be the only one who can call bullshit when my father wants something. Why is that?"
`That's between me and your father."
"I get it, but thanks. It took me a while to figure out why my father wasn't able to force Coach Simmons to back down, but then I remember seeing you there and I began to piece things together. At first, I was pissed that you were butting in, but that day changed my dad. He hadn't really been a dad for several years. Whenever I did something wrong, he would just fix it. I realize now that I kept getting worse and worse to see how far he would let me go."
"When my father finally drew a line in the dirt, it hurt--particularly because my friends saw it--but, it also felt good. I had a dad like all the other guys. Most kids say they don't want rules, but it hurts when you do things you know are wrong, but your parents don't seem to care enough about you to do anything. After that day, my dad has continued to draw lines in the dirt, and I will admit I don't always like it, but it makes me feel safe that he is watching me. I hope I don't sound too weird telling you this stuff, but somehow I feel you're the only one who really gets my dad and me."
"Avery," said Joe, "It doesn't sound weird, it sounds mature. If you ever need anything, just ask and I will see what I can do."
"Well Coach, I would like to be Coach Simmons' student aide, but I'm afraid to ask him because of how I behaved and also because of the D in history. I am afraid he will think I am too stupid to be a good aide. I didn't say it or show it, but I really did learn a lot about history, I liked the lectures and discussions, I just didn't do the work."
"I know you were paying attention and knew the stuff," Joe said. "I really wanted to give you a C, but you just hadn't earned it."
"Actually Coach, I am glad you didn't give me a C. It was the first time I was treated like I was one of the other kids."
"That's good to hear. When you ask Coach Simmons about being his aide, I will put in a good word for you. Also, I expect you to get at least a B in Government this year."
"I will Coach. Can I ask one more thing."
"Sure."
"I play football in the Fall and Basketball during the Winter, but I don't really have a Spring sport. I was wondering if I could be the baseball equipment manager and keep the book at games?"
"Why do you want to be the equipment manager? That isn't exactly a glamorous job."
"I just think I need something to do, and I have friends on the team and thought I would support them."
"You are certainly welcome to be the equipment manager. We will have a baseball camp in three weeks when I get back from vacation. Would you be able to help?"
`Yeah, coach. You can count on me. I need to get back to conditioning. I am glad you were willing to talk with me."
"Anytime Avery, goodbye."
Joe walked down to the Athletic Office. "Bill, you won't believe who just had a mature conversation with me."
"Let me guess, Avery Anders."
"How did you know?"
"He had spent the last week apologizing to coaches, teachers, administrators, and other students. He's regular Zacchaeus. If you had told me a month ago that Avery Anders would give a shit about anyone but himself, I would have asked you to do a drug test."
"It certainly isn't something I expected from Avery, or any Anders," Joe said. "On a different subject, Tony and I are leaving for our annual summer vacation on Sunday."
"Okay, just stop right there. You know that you and Anthony are like my brothers, but I don't need to hear about your... well about that..."
Joe laughed, "Poor Bill, after all these years, you are still afraid we're going to convince you to switch teams for a week."
"Hey, don't think there aren't times when I wonder if fucking a guy wouldn't be less drama, but then I remember how much I like big cushy titties. Besides I don't want to be the third wheel."
"This year you are going to be the fourth wheel."
"Huh?
"Tony and I decided that this year we are going to Chicago. So we invited Tyler to join us for three days and take in a Cubs game, eat some deep dish pizza, and drink beer. So you're going so Tyler doesn't feel like the third wheel. You two will have your own room and everything is already booked and paid for, so you can't say no."
"You know I don't like to fly," Bill said.
"Yep, that's why you and Tyler are driving up to Newton, Kansas and catching the train to Chicago. -- Next excuse."
"Tyler knows I don't you know..."
"Yes, I have already explained your odd perversion for women. Your room will have two queen size beds so you can sleep all secure in your heterosexuality."
"Hey, don't make me into some kind of homophobe. It's just that Martha and I are pretty conventional. I don't know what she will think."
"When I asked her if you could go, her response was `thank God, I need some time away from that man."
Joe and Bill laughed so loudly the boys in the weight room wondered what was so funny.
Super Chief
Tyler dropped Joe and Anthony at the Tudor Revival style Amtrak station in Newton, Kansas at 1 a.m. Sunday morning. Amtrak schedules its trains to pass through the Rockies during the daylight hours so passengers can enjoy the scenery. That leaves stops on the Plains in the O'Dark of the night.
Tyler helped get the luggage into the station. "Okay Tyler, a couple of things before you get on your way," Joe said. "Next weekend, your and Bill will be taking the train from this station to Chicago and the tickets and all the information you will need are in a folder on the table in the entry. Then the Saturday after that, you will be picking Tony and me up at the Oklahoma City airport. Got it?"
"Yep, got it?"
"Also, I gave you that prepaid credit card for you to use. I don't want to find out you did without something you needed while I was gone. I told Manuel in the grocery store and Matty at the cafe just to put anything you need on my tab. There is also some cash in the freezer if you need it. My truck keys are hanging in the entry if you need to use it. Okay, let me think if there is anything else."
"Jeeze Joe," sighed Tyler, "you are worse than my mother. I am not a complete idiot and you've got to stop giving me stuff. I'll never be able to pay you back."
"Yeah Joe," Anthony chided, `you're just being an old mother hen."
"Hey, when he can tie his own necktie," Joe retorted, "I'll stop worrying about `Little Winney.' Besides Tony, I was perfectly happy being a grumpy old curmudgeon living alone with my books and beer before you dumped the man-child on my doorstep."
"I had to do something to shake up your comfortable retirement plans," said Tony. "You are too good of a teacher and coach, to let you just slip away. Besides, you needed someone to shake up your life, you were getting boring and predictable."
"Oh, so now not only am I an old hen, but I am also boring and predictable."
Tyler laughed and broke in, "You two are something else. You're just like the old couple that lived next to us when I was a kid. Neither of them could stand not to have the last word."
Anthony wink and said, "In a different time, and a different place."
Just then a train horn blew and the waiting passengers headed for the platform to get aboard the northbound Southwest Chief for Chicago.
Joe and Tony found their roomette and soon were asleep. If anything besides sleep was on Joe or Tony's minds, the cramped quarters and thin wall of the sleeper convinced them otherwise. They would have to wait for Chicago to begin their annual rite of fellowship and renewal.
The next morning Tony found Joe in the dining car with a cup of coffee. "Have you eaten yet?" asked Tony.
"No, I walked around the train a bit to clear my head and just got here."
The dining car server came by and asked whether they were ready to order.
"I haven't really looked at the menu. What are you having Joe?"
"I think I'll have French toast and sausage."
"That sounds good, I'll have the same and coffee."
The server placed the order and returned with Tony's coffee and a refill for Joe.
"So," Tony said, "Does Tyler know how rich you really are?"
"I haven't told him, and very few people really know."
"The reason I ask is because of what Tyler said last night. That he'll never be able to repay you. I know that you have done a lot more for him than give him money, but money is what he's worried about. He and his mother have never had a lot, but they have always been proud of the fact they could take care of themselves. You don't realize it, but your generosity can be hard for people like that to accept. I know it was for me."
"Hey Tony it was never my intention to make you uncomfortable. It's just that I came from money and well it doesn't really mean that much to me."
"You see Joe, that's what makes you so unusual: you don't care about money. Poor people are in a constant struggle to find enough money, middle class people worry they won't have enough money to cover an emergency or live on in old age, rich people are constantly measuring their status in money; but you just are immune to the effects of money. You are a freak; a good freak, but a freak none-the-less."
"I think you are giving me too much credit. I understand money, I use money, I...."
"Okay, tell me this, how much money have you spent on Tyler so far."
"I don't know."
"How much have you given to buy athletic equipment, computers, and books for Salt Fork schools?"
Joe just shrugged.
"How much have you given to NOSU over the years."
"Probably a couple hundred thousand."
Tony laughed, "Seven and a half million. What is crazy is you don't even keep the receipts to turn into your accountant. Bill and I have been sending them over to Monte Baker for years so he can do your taxes. Who knows how much you've overpaid the government."
"Damn Tony, you are making me out to be some pathetic old woman sending my money to televangelists and Nigerian princes. I know how much money I have and where it's at. I know exactly how much my jackass cousins owe me. I don't let people scam me."
"I am not accusing you of being irresponsible or reckless, on the contrary you are careful that your money is used for helping, not hurting, people. As for your cousins, you don't care how much they owe you, you just care that it pisses them off that they do owe you. I also know that the reason you are so careful not to be scammed is that you don't want to feel stupid. It's not the money, it's the embarrassment that you would let someone take advantage of you."
Tony changed directions, "But Joe, this is not about you and your strange relationship with your personal wealth. It is about what someone like Tyler feels like when they are the beneficiary of your generosity. They can feel inferior, vulnerable, even bought."
"He doesn't think that I am..."
"No, I doubt he thinks you are trying to buy his ass. Besides, he'd just give that to you." Joe blushed. "Do you remember the day you met Tyler you told him you would be equals, that you would be colleagues. It is hard to believe that when you feel indebted to someone--I know."
"Wait, is that why you gave me your kidney--because you thought you owed me?"
"No asshole. I gave you my kidney because you are my best friend, and I love you more than anyone else in the World."
Joe and Tony sat for a long while eating their breakfast and listening to the hum of steel wheels on steel rails. Finally Joe asked, "So what do I do?"
"Tell him the truth about your money so he understands you aren't running a tab or that you see him as a charity case. Then open yourself to the possibilities."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean loosen the damn necktie."
"Oh"
The server refilled the coffee cups and both men watched farms and small towns rush by for ten minutes, then Joe said, "Seven-point-five million?"
"Yep, and the University and its Dean appreciate every dime."
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