Disclaimer:
This story will describe the life of Robert David Mathews from his time as a teenager, through prep school, and into military service. If stories involving sex between consenting teenagers, including both straight sex and gay sex, offends you, go back to the Archives and pick a different story for your reading pleasure.
There has been minimal research for this story therefore, names, places, dates are mostly fictitious and similarities to real life are coincidental. Some companies and organizations mentioned actually exist, but references to the activities, policies, programs and procedures are fictitious. I was not a SEAL and have limited knowledge of the force. I am writing this story from imagination and a little research, not from personal experience.
My editor, Bill, is a dedicated friend. His improvements in my writing style are greatly appreciated.
I really appreciate the emails from you about this story. I've tried to write a story that has a strong plot with characters that you can relate to. I may not be able to reply to all of your emails, but I want to thank all of you for encouraging me to keep posting new chapters.
Readers, please note! This story describes sexual events that are unsafe in real life. Remember to practice safe sex if you are sexually active. Condoms should be used even if you know your sexual partner, but condoms do not provide 100% protection from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's). This story is fictional, so protect yourself and live a long and happy life!
Washington Academy Chapter 30 Time Passes
Life returned to "normal" on the campus of the George Washington Academy. The basketball team was making real progress towards another League Championship under the expert direction of Derrick Harmon. Recognizing the talents of his players, Derrick put Tracker Whitestone into the "small forward" position and used Robbie in the point guard or shooting guard position. Cadet Fourth Class Desmond Williams was an excellent ball handler and alternated at the point guard position with Robbie.
Before the season ended, Robbie had blossomed into the leading scorer on the basketball team. In the previous basketball season, Robbie had averaged only 5 points per game, but with the new lineup, he was averaging 22 points per game.
The basketball team was favored to repeat as State Champions, but Lady Luck had different plans for the cadets. A strain of the Asian flu hit the Academy, and both Jake and Elwood Bluestone were hospitalized along with Desmond Williams. The three talented cadets were hit with constant vomiting and diarrhea, causing them to be severely dehydrated. When the Championship Game started, Derrick Harmon only dressed 9 players, and all of them were feeling the effects of the flu virus.
Robbie scored 34 points in the Championship Game, but the Eagles lost by a score of 64 to 60. Guy Stephens and Derrick Harmon had never been prouder of their cadets for the way they played in a losing struggle. They praised the players knowing that many of the nine players were fighting a losing battle with the flu virus. All of the players were sick, but they had played their hearts out in a disappointing loss.
When Robbie recovered from the flu, he drove his Blazer into Traverse City and parked in the lot adjacent to the Kay Residential Treatment Facility. He didn't know what to expect, but Dr. George Mathis had asked him to visit Jermaine Bryant and to have an open mind.
Terry Sanders was leading a group meeting and waited for the arrival of a special visitor. Jermaine Bryant was at the facility that specialized in treating alcoholism in teenagers, and was making great progress. The group was discussing Step 8 in the 12 Steps as defined by Alcoholics Anonymous, and it was Jermaine's turn to read the step and then talk to his peers.
"Step 8 is 'Make a list of all persons we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all'," Jermaine began. He dreaded this step because he knew that the one person that he wanted to apologize to was Robbie Mathews, but he knew that Robbie would never listen to him. He had been "alcohol free" for over two months, but just knew that Robbie couldn't ever forgive him for breaking the trust of the coaches and violating the Honor Code by having alcohol in his room after the Championship Football Game.
"Tell us who you need to make amends with," Terry Sanders said.
"He'll never listen to me!" Jermaine sobbed. "I was the Team Captain, and I broke all of the rules! The one guy with enough balls to confront me about my drinking is a martial arts expert and I know that he hates me!"
"What would you say to him if he were here right now?" Terry asked.
"I'd beg him to forgive me!" Jermaine sobbed. "He's a great guy, but I let booze control my life! I hit him in the mouth, and I know that he'll never forgive me! I wish that he had killed me that night in Pontiac!"
"I'll never hit you in anger again!" Robbie said to Jermaine. "I'm here to ask you to forgive me for losing control and trying to hurt you!"
The nine teenagers in the Group Meeting turned around and looked at the visitor to their meeting. They didn't know that Terry Sanders had staged this special meeting to confront Jermaine with his past at the famous academy.
"ROBBIE!" Jermaine screamed. He jumped out of his chair and faced the cadet that he was so sure would never talk to him again. He was afraid to approach Robbie until he saw his cadet buddy opening his arms in an obvious invitation for a hug!
He ran into Robbie's arms and sobbed on his shoulder! He couldn't believe that Robbie had come to the treatment facility and would accept his apology for his actions at the Holidome in Pontiac, Michigan.
The nine teenagers were in various stages of their treatment for alcoholism, and knew that Jermaine was close to being released. They watched the powerful young man show his emotions by hugging the unknown visitor, and they were confused. No visitors were normally allowed in the Group Meetings, but their counselor had surprised everyone.
"Robbie will you please join us?" Terry Sanders asked. He moved a chair into the circle so Robbie could sit next to Jermaine.
"I can't believe that you're here!" Jermaine sobbed. He held Robbie's hand and didn't care who saw it! "You should hate me!"
"God didn't put us on this Earth to let hatred eat us apart!" Robbie replied. "You made a mistake and so did I! I came here today to make amends and let you know that we want you back on the Campus. I was ready to kill you, and our two coaches stopped me from making a terrible mistake! Can you forgive me?"
Jermaine couldn't believe that Robbie was actually with him and asking his forgiveness. He apologized for his behavior and again begged his cadet buddy to forgive him.
"I'll forgive you if you forgive me!" Robbie replied. "Life's too short for us to hold onto anger. I've read the 12 Steps, and know from Terry that we both need to make amends to go forward in life. We want you back at the Academy when you're ready to leave this place!"
"For all of you in this Group, listen to what these guys are saying!" Terry Sanders said. "We all have amends to make, but some people won't listen or understand how our lives were controlled by alcohol! Even if our attempts at making amends aren't accepted, we need to try to gain control of our lives!"
The Group Meeting ended with Robbie agreeing to join Jermaine and his teenaged friends in the evening meal. He sat with Jermaine and the other teens and talked about the football and basketball seasons. He was surprised to see boys and girls that looked younger than Eric Stephens, and was shocked that their lives had been torn apart by addiction to alcohol. He silently prayed for their recovery, and gave thanks that his own life had been free from addiction.
Two weeks later, Jermaine was released from the Kay Residential Treatment Facility. He knew that he would have to face The Tribunal for the verdict on his punishment, and was resolved to accept the judgment of his peers.
"It's the unanimous opinion of The Tribunal members that you be re-instated to your former rank of Cadet First Class!" Adam Frazier announced after testimony and deliberation. "We welcome you back into our brotherhood, but caution you that any violations of the Honor Code will result in a recommendation that you be expelled! As The Tribunal Chairman, I ask Chancellor Vincent Brown to sign this decree!"
"The reputation of this fine academy was tarnished by your behavior, but we've all made mistakes in our personal lives," Vincent Brown began. "My own father was a violent alcoholic who used to beat me, my brothers and my mother. I know from personal experience how alcohol can destroy lives, and I wish that my father had found help in the 12 Steps, but he died of alcohol poisoning. You have a new chance to join our brotherhood, and I'll sign the recommendation of this group of your peers. These proceedings are final!"
The members of The Tribunal all celebrated with Jermaine, and the good news spread across the campus. The entire football team was waiting outside Washington Hall, and welcomed their Team Captain back to his status among the First Class Cadets.
Robbie and Jermaine became close friends, even though Robbie was white and Jermaine was black. Racial differences were cast aside, with Robbie learning about the difficult times that Jermaine and his family faced in a ghetto area filled with drug dealers, prostitutes and constant gunfire. Jermaine had never known his father, but he listened to how Robbie's life had been ripped apart by the death of his birth parents. The two guys were honest with each other, and their bond of friendship grew stronger.
Things settled down on the campus of the George Washington Academy, with springtime leading into the baseball season. The cadets were favored to repeat their State Championship in baseball, and went undefeated. The biggest change in the team roster was the addition of Paul Beck and Robbie Mathews in the pitching lineup along with Pat Leahy and Tracker Whitestone. Tracker was the leading pitcher, but Robbie, Pat and Paul added their share of victories to the undefeated season. They progressed thru the playoff series and ended up in the State Championship Game on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
"We welcome the radio and television audiences to this Class A Baseball Championship game, pitting the Eagles of the George Washington Academy against the Falcons of Lansing North High School," Thomas Smith began. "With me is my partner in broadcasting for ESPN2, Michael Stuart, the former star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Michael, you've seen both of these teams play during the playoff series, so please tell the audience how you think these teams match up."
"Last year the Eagles were led by their Team Captain, Andrew Anderson, the most gifted athlete in the State of Michigan," Mike Stuart replied. "Anderson had a 'story book' career with the Eagles by being the Team Captain for the football, basketball and baseball teams when they won State Championships in all three sports! That was the first time in the history of Michigan Sports that a single high school ran the table to claim supremacy over all other high schools in Michigan, and Anderson was the star!"
"All of us were saddened when tragedy struck down the talented athlete in a terrible automobile accident," Thomas Smith announced to the television audience. "Anderson was the winning pitcher in the Championship Game last year, and we all witnessed a dramatic end to his career and the final game of the season. Robbie Mathews stepped up to the plate and blasted a three-run homerun over the left field stands with two outs in the 7th inning to claim victory for the Eagles!"
"Things are different this year," Mike Stuart said. "Under the fantastic direction of the best baseball coach in Michigan, the Eagles have gone undefeated and are highly favored to win the championship today! Tracker Whitestone has pitched three perfect games this season, and will be on the mound for Coach Terry Pahls in this final game of the season!"
"Robert Mathews, Paul Beck and Patrick Leahy have blossomed into excellent pitchers, and the Falcons will have to play a perfect game to challenge the Eagles!" Thomas Smith said. "Whitestone has already been recognized for his pitching abilities by being named to the All State Baseball Team and received further recognition on the Second String All American Team!"
"Mathews made the All State Team last year and honorable mention in the national rankings as the shortstop for the Eagles last year, but his play has improved and been recognized by the voters," Mike Stuart added. "Mathews is the best shortstop in the State and the Nation, with his consensus recognition to first string status in both teams. Coach Terry Pahls has too many weapons for the Falcons to handle, and I predict a blowout for the Eagles today!"
David and Marie Mathews were in the stands and enjoyed the company of Tom, Carol and Jennifer Anderson. Their friendship had continued, and David and Tom were frequent golf partners. They all hoped that the cadets would win another State Championship in baseball, and that Robbie would have a great game.
Hunter Whitestone loved watching his brother play sports for the Academy, and dreamed about the time when he would be old enough to enroll. He loved his brother, and was thrilled that Tracker was the starting pitcher for the Championship Game. He joined his parents in cheering when the Eagles took the field.
April and River Whitestone were thrilled to be watching their son pitch in the Championship Game, and joined their daughter, Crystal, in cheering when the cadets took the field. Hunter was 13 and would soon be eligible for admission into the famous academy, and they loved being around the cadets.
"Tom, it's a great pleasure for me to cover this championship game here at Burton Field on the campus of the University of Michigan," Mike Stuart said. "Only three teams have repeated as State Champions in baseball, and the Eagles are favored to be the fourth. Tracker Whitestone has a blazing fastball that's been clocked at 92 miles per hour, and mixes the fastballs with a great changeup or curve ball. Let's go over the starting lineups."
The two commentators listed all of the players on each team and then announced a commercial break. After the commercials, they saw that the game was about to start.
"Coach Terry Pahls has his players in a huddle, and the Eagles are taking the field!" Tom Smith said. "Head umpire Harvey Redowski has sent his officiating crew to their positions, and now he'll make that big announcement!"
"PLAY BALL!" Harvey Redowski yelled to the players. His announcement was met with cheers from the crowd and the two teams of players.
"Tom Martin steps up to the plate and waits for the first pitch from Tracker Whitestone!" Smith announced. "Here's the windup and the pitch! It's a swing and a miss by Tom Martin! Whitestone unleashed his first fastball of the game, and he blew it right past the leadoff hitter for the Lansing North High School Falcons!"
"Whitestone's first pitch was clocked at 93 miles per hour!" Mike Stuart added. "Here's the windup and the pitch!"
"STRIKE TWO!" Harvey Redowski screamed. He was an animated home plate umpire that always added a great deal of body language to his umpire duties. The crowd always responded positively to his antics, and he was thoroughly enjoying his job!
"Here's the windup and the pitch!" Tom Smith announced. "It's a call third strike, and Tom Martin goes down in three straight pitches!"
"This crowd loves the antics of Harvey Redowski behind home plate, and I do too!" Mike Stuart added. "Harvey is one of the most popular officials for high school baseball, and he adds drama to his job behind the plate!"
"Frank Taylor steps up to the plate, with J. R. Burns in the on deck circle," Tom Smith announced. "Whitestone takes the sign from the catcher, Pat Leahy and here's the pitch! Taylor connects and hits a drive to the left side of the field! It's speared by Robert Mathews, who throws to Paul Beck at first base for the second out of the inning!"
"That drive by Taylor would have made it into left field for a base hit, but Mathews showed why he's the top shortstop in the country by stretching out to take away a base hit for the Lansing North Falcons!" Mike Stuart added. "Mathews had to throw from a prone position, and his throw was perfect to Beck at first base!"
"That was a Big League play by the talented shortstop!" Tom Smith said. "Mathews is a junior at the Academy, and has been the starting shortstop for three years! He also holds the highest batting average on the talented Eagle team!"
"It's three and out for the Falcons!" Mike Stuart said later in the first inning. "Whitestone struck out two batters, and the Eagles come to bat for the first time. Let's see what Coach Terry Pahls has planned for the leadoff hitter, Paul Beck!"
"Pat Leahy is in the on deck circle, with Jason Heller batting third," Tom Smith said.
"Paul Beck hits the first pitch into right field and holds at first base for the first runner of the game!" Mike Stuart announced excitedly. "Pat Leahy steps up to the plate with a runner at first base and no outs!"
"T. J. Ross checks the sign and delivers the pitch to Leahy!" Tom Smith announced. "Leahy swings and pops it up!"
"Julius Walker is under it, and makes the catch for the first out for the Eagles!" Mike Stuart added. "It's obvious that Coach Pahls has given the green light to his batters, and wants to challenge Ross to throw strikes."
"T. J. Ross delivers the first pitch to Jason Heller, and it's driven into center field!" Tom Smith announced. "Beck makes the turn and slides into third base, and the Eagles are threatening in the first inning of this Championship Game! With runners at first and third, Robert Mathews steps up to the plate!"
"Mathews is batting 4th in the lineup, commonly called the 'clean-up' position!" Mike Stuart announced. "Professional baseball players are considered excellent hitters if they achieve a batting average of .300, but in high school baseball it's not uncommon for batters to hold averages above .500. Mathews has set the mark high for other high school athletes by holding a batting average of .723 over this entire season! I'm sure that Coach Wilson Hawk is concerned about Mathew's power hitting, and he's headed to the mound to talk to T. J. Ross! We'll take a quick commercial break but will be back before the action resumes!"
After the commercial break, the commentators were ready for the first pitch to Robbie.
David and Marie were excited about the baseball game, and cheered for Robbie to get a hit. They were joined by the Anderson family in cheering for Robbie's success.
"HIT A HOMER!" Jennifer Anderson screamed to Robbie. She was thrilled that she was watching her boyfriend playing sports, and prayed that the Eagles would win the game!
"T. J. Ross checks the sign from Toby Sala, and here's the pitch!" Tom Smith announced. "Mathews swings, and it's a long fly ball into left field! Gaylen Tribeck goes back to the warning track and watches the ball fly into the cheering crowd of cadets in the left field stands!"
"Mathews is elated and rounds first base to the cheers of the Eagle fans!" Mike Stuart announced. "Robbie Mathews didn't wait, and drove the first pitch into the left field stands, and the Eagles strike early and lead by a score of 3 to nothing!"
Hunter Whitestone was screaming so loud that his parents were worried that he would damage his vocal cords. He dreamed of becoming a cadet, and wanted to be a hero like his brother, Tracker, and his other favorite cadet, Robbie.
Jennifer Anderson screamed along with Hunter after watching Robbie hit the homerun. She was in heaven, and yelled her promise to give Robbie a kiss when the game was over.
Tom and Carol Anderson joined the Eagle fans in cheering for the first score of the game, and watched their daughter cheering for Robbie. They loved Robbie and dreamed of the day that he would join their family by marrying their daughter. They knew Robbie wanted to be a Navy SEAL, but hoped that he would change his mind and attend college instead.
The game was everything that the two commentators had predicted, with Tracker striking out 17 batters out of the 21 that he faced. When the final out was made, the Eagles had won by a score of 9 to nothing!
"Well we predicted a victory for the Eagles, but we never expected a lopsided victory like this one!" Tom Smith said in his post game comments. "Whitestone took command on the mound, and only faced 21 batters in the entire game. Robbie Mathews went three for four at the plate, and hit a solo homerun in the fourth inning along with a two-run double in the sixth! Mathews alone drove in six of the nine runs, and proved to everyone that he's the best shortstop in the nation!"
"We leave Burton Field at the University of Michigan, with the final score, George Washington Academy Eagles 9, and the Falcons of Lansing North High School, zero!" Mike Smith added. "Congratulations to the Eagles for repeating as the Class A State Champions!"
Robbie ran to join his teammates in celebrating with their coaches, and looked around the crowd for Jennifer. He saw her pushing her way into the celebrating players and ran to greet her.
Jennifer didn't care who was watching when she jumped into Robbie's arms and planted a passionate kiss directly on his lips! She felt the strong muscles of her boyfriend and was in heaven when he returned the passionate kiss, ignoring the catcalls and whistles of the other players.
David and Marie Mathews watched the passionate exchange between Robbie and Jennifer, and shared their hopes that Robbie would settle down to date only the beautiful daughter of their close friends. They shared in the prayers of the Andersons that Robbie would enroll in college and continue playing sports, and forget about being a SEAL. They both knew that the life of a SEAL was filled with danger, and wanted Robbie to change his mind. They both feared he would be injured or killed in action, and didn't know at the time that their worst fears would come true.
Life returned to normal on the campus of the George Washington Academy with the graduation ceremonies for the First Class Cadets and the Grad Ball. Robbie was the first person to congratulate Jermaine Bryant when he accepted his diploma.
"I'm really proud of you!" Robbie said while hugging Jermaine. "Don't let me down by relapsing!"
"I got a second chance on life by learning that booze and I don't mix" Jermaine admitted. "I'm gonna be the best linebacker in the nation and get my family out of that shitty neighborhood! My brothers and sisters deserve better than what my mom can provide, so it's up to me now!"
Robbie was sad that Jermaine's family wasn't able to afford the trip from New Orleans to the graduation ceremonies, but he knew that the family was with Jermaine in spirit. He walked with Jermaine and talked about his scholarship to play football for the University of Miami, and hoped that Jermaine would stay in the 12 Step Program.
When the new plebes began arriving on the campus, Robbie was in charge of the welcoming group of cadets. He was now a First Class Cadet, and thought about his first day on the campus. He remembered meeting Drew for the first time, and his heart was saddened that Drew wasn't around to share his excitement.
When he was greeting the arriving plebes, he recognized Dylan Cater. Robbie had stopped competing in the Junior National Karate Competition after winning twice, but had attended the recent competition with his uncle. Dylan was crowned the champion in the competition, and was a very talented competitor. He greeted the handsome plebe and his parents, and congratulated him on winning the national competition.
Dylan didn't recognize Robbie at first, but remembered seeing Robbie's picture in the Academy brochure. He shook the hand of the handsome cadet and was impressed with the perfect body tone and grace. He knew that he would have an opportunity to display his own martial arts skills and dreamed of unseating the Martial Arts Champion!
The campus was alive with activity. The new plebes were settled into their dorm rooms and spent a sleepless night because of their excitement. They were startled awake when the cadets, led by Robbie, woke them up for their first day of physical training.
By the time they were herded into the gymnasium, they were ready for some rest.
Derrick Harmon faced the new plebes and announced the martial arts demonstration. He searched through the sea of young faces and selected Dylan Cater to join him on the mats in the center of the gym.
"For those of you that don't follow the martial arts competition, I'd like to introduce the 1995 United States Junior Karate Champion, Dylan Cater!" Derrick Harmon announced. "Plebe Cater, let's see what you can do against our Martial Arts Champion, Cadet First Class Robert Mathews!"
Dylan was excited. He was ready to unleash his martial arts prowess in front of all of the cadets and plebes, and he was confident that he would humiliate the reigning champion. He faced Robert Mathews and immediately attacked with moves that had won him the National Championship.
Robbie had met Dylan briefly when he welcomed the plebe to the campus along with his parents. He detected arrogance in the teenager, and was ready to counter Dylan's moves. He blocked Dylan's attack and dropped the plebe to the mats!
The plebes were shocked, but the cadets were confident that Robbie would handle the plebe without any problems.
Dylan jumped up and quickly made another attack on the larger cadet. He was angry at being embarrassed and was determined to drop the cadet and claim victory. He doubled over when his attack was blocked and Robbie dropped him to the mats for the second time. He lost his temper and defied the orders of Derrick Harmon to "Stand Down" and tried to sweep Robbie's legs with a banned move.
Robbie did a back flip to avoid the sweeping motion of Dylan's legs and attacked before Dylan could get up off from the mats. His leg kick was restrained, because he didn't want to hurt the plebe, but he was pissed that Dylan had violated one of the basic rules of Karate competition with the attempted leg sweep. He pinned Dylan to the mats and waited for Coach Harmon to blow the whistle to end the martial arts demonstration.
Dylan was humiliated! He had underestimated the handsome cadet's martial arts skills, and had paid the price for his arrogance. He wanted to evaporate so he wouldn't have to face his plebe buddies.
"You're good, but there's always someone better!" Robbie said to Dylan. He tried to help Dylan up, but saw the anger on Dylan's face and heard the young plebe cuss at him and refuse his helping hand.
"You cool your jets, young man!" Derrick Harmon ordered Dylan. "Mathews can beat anyone in the nation, so you've got nothing to be embarrassed about! Get up and join your plebe buddies and think about how you just acted!"
Dylan was still angry, but he walked back to his place on the bleachers and wished that a different plebe had been selected for the demonstration. His visions of beating the Martial Arts Champion in front of his plebe buddies were wiped away in a matter of seconds.
"Coach Harmon introduced Plebe Cater as the current United States Junior Karate Champion, but you just saw a demonstration by a two-time winner of that same competition, and our current Martial Arts Champion, Cadet First Class Robert Mathews," Guy Stephens announced. "Cadet Mathews has been trained by Coach Harmon, and by Navy Captain David Mathews, the best martial arts trainer that the Navy SEALs have ever known. There's a lesson here for all of us to learn. Having experience in martial arts competition doesn't mean that someone can't kick your ass! For the rest of the plebe class, you'll learn how to protect yourself in our martial arts classes where Mathews is the Assistant Trainer. Let's take a 15 minute break before we continue."
During the break, Derrick Harmon went to talk to Dylan Cater. He wanted to convince Dylan to apologize to Robbie for the attempt at the leg sweep that could have severely injured Robbie.
Dylan was upset and tried to avoid talking to Coach Harmon. He knew that he had lost his temper and had violated the code of conduct among Karate competitors.
"You have to learn to control that temper!" Derrick Harmon said to Dylan. "You will be a great competitor if you remember that Karate is an honorable sport, with rules of conduct. You owe Cadet Mathews an apology."
"Do you think that Cadet Mathews will talk to me?" Dylan asked. "I wouldn't blame him for kicking my ass or making sure that I 'ring out' before Hell Week even starts. I'm afraid of him!"
"Mathews is the first cadet in the history of this academy to be the Martial Arts Champion for three years," Derrick Harmon said. "I don't think anyone will take that crown away from him, and he'll be the champion for his last year with us. If he wanted to, he could kill you in a matter of seconds, but he's the friendliest cadet on this campus! All of the cadets respect him and enjoy being around him, and you will too if you get to know him. I'd suggest that you go find him and see what I mean. He's a great guy and I know that he won't hold a grudge against you."
Dylan was afraid to approach the group of First Class Cadets to talk to Robbie. He saw Robbie looking at him, and was ready to turn and run when he saw Robbie nod at him.
"Let's go over there and talk," Robbie said to the young plebe. "We'll have some privacy so we can clear the air between us."
"I'm sorry for the way that I acted," Dylan said to Robbie. "I wanted to show off in front of the other plebes, but you kicked my ass! I wish that I could hide somewhere or go back home. Will you forgive me?"
"I don't hold grudges!" Robbie said to Dylan. "Let's shake hands and forget about what just happened. I conduct some of the martial arts classes, and could use an assistant to demonstrate the moves. You could be a big help to me if you'll agree to be my assistant."
Dylan couldn't believe that Robbie had accepted his apology. Coach Harmon was right! Cadet Mathews was a nice guy and he hoped they would be friends during the Summer Training. He shook hands with Robbie and was impressed by the firm grip and warm smile.
With 325 new plebes on the campus, Summer Training began with the First Class Cadets leading the exercises. Plebes started "ringing out" even before Hell Week began. Jake and Elwood Bluestone had Little Brothers, and were mentoring their charges every day. They listened to their Little Brothers complain about the pace that Robbie set for the morning runs and obstacle courses, and decided to ask Trip and Tracker to convince Robbie to tone the pace down.
"We're all afraid of him," Kevin Marks admitted to his Big Brother, Jake Bluestone. "He flies through the obstacle course, and no one can keep up with him. I've never seen anyone with zero body fat before, and he's never tired, even after the morning run. There's no way that we can keep up with him!"
"He's cold and nasty!" Ricky Spellman added to his Big Brother, Elwood. "If someone falls behind, he looks like he's ready to rip them apart! We've seen what he can do in the Martial Arts Room, and all of the plebes are afraid of him."
"Robbie's my Big Brother, and you guys are totally wrong about him!" Elwood said. "He's a great guy and a natural leader. Robbie wants to be a Navy SEAL, and he's getting special training to get ready. He's in the best physical condition of any cadet on campus, and probably doesn't realize that no one can keep up with him. I rarely get to spend any time alone with him because of his gymnastics, martial arts and football training, but I'll talk to him today."
"Please don't!" Ricky begged. "He'll get pissed and take it out on me and Kevin!"
Elwood knew that his Little Brother was genuinely concerned, and hoped that Trip and Tracker would help him talk to Robbie.
That evening, the Blues Brothers went into Traverse City with their Big Brothers for pizza and a movie. It was an unusual trip because Robbie always seemed too busy with his stringent physical training to take time for any form of relaxation, but he agreed after Jake, Elwood and Tracker said that they needed to talk to him.
"You've got to lighten up on the plebes," Tracker began. "Don't you remember how much you hated the First Class Cadets when we were going through Hell Week? You're setting a pace that no one can keep up with, and we're afraid that plebes will start dropping like flies if you don't back off!"
"Tracker's right!" Elwood added. "You're in the best shape of any cadet on campus, and the plebes are afraid of you. What happened to my Big Brother to turn you into a robot?"
"I'm not a robot!" Robbie argued. "I'm just setting a reasonable pace, and they need to get in shape or they'll all fail during Hell Week."
"A 'reasonable pace' for you is a killer for us and the plebes," Jake admitted. "You get back from gymnastics training and go to the weight room. After supper, you work out in the Martial Arts Room. Then you swim laps or run until it's time for 'lights out'! This is the first time in months that you've spent time with us and relaxed, and we had to beg you to come here tonight."
"Do you want the plebes to hate you?" Tracker asked. "A true leader doesn't lead by fear!"
Robbie listened to his friends and finally admitted that they were right. He was pushing himself to get in top physical condition, and didn't realize the impact he was having on the plebes. He was now Chairman of The Tribunal, along with Class President, and didn't want to be viewed as a bully by the plebes. He decided to make some changes in the physical conditioning program for the plebes.
"I'll let Trip lead the morning runs from now on," Robbie began. "Tracker, you can take over the Obstacle Course Training, and I'll focus on the Martial Arts Training with Dylan. Pat Leahy can run the swimming program so I'll have more time for my personal training. Will that work?"
"You still need to spend some quality time with the plebes," Elwood said. "You've been the best Big Brother in the world to me, and I know that you're a great guy with a fantastic sense of humor. Let them see that you can be friendly and maybe get back to pulling pranks like you used to do."
Robbie laughed when he thought about the pranks that he used to pull on the upperclassmen and the faculty. He respected his friends for confronting him about his behavior, and was ready to make some changes.
It was the week before Hell Week would start when Robbie walked into the 3rd Floor dorm room that had been his room during his own Summer Training. The 18 plebes in the room were silent when he walked into the room, and they all feared that Robbie was going to make them go outside for more physical training. They were exhausted, and afraid of what was going to happen.
"That was my bunk when I was a plebe," Robbie said to Ricky Spellman.
"I'll move my gear to a different bunk!" Ricky replied quickly.
"No!" Robbie said. "I was just remembering my own days when I was a plebe and how I hated some of the upperclassmen. Let's sit in a circle so we can clear the air."
The plebes were still afraid, but decided to follow Robbie's orders. They sat in a circle and waited for Robbie to continue.
"When I was a plebe, I was assigned a real shithead for a Big Brother," Robbie began. "His name was Larry Cataline, and he treated me like dog shit! He took me to the Martial Arts Room, tried to kick my ass and threatened to rape me! I defended myself, but I was afraid that I was going to be expelled. Cataline was expelled by The Tribunal and came back during Hell Week and tried to kill me and other cadets with a deer rifle. I took a bullet in the ass, and vowed that I'd never be like him, but I'm even worse!"
The plebes were shocked that Robbie was talking to them like equals, and they listened intently to every word he said.
"We're all different, and that's what I like about being here on this campus," Robbie continued. "Some cadets are big and strong, others are talented in playing musical instruments, and others are great students in the classrooms. I'm training to join the Navy and want to be a SEAL like my uncle, Coach Harmon and Coach Stephens. I push myself to get in shape, but didn't realize that I was pushing you guys too hard and too fast. I apologize for that, and want to clear the air with you."
"You act like we aren't good enough to become cadets," Ricky Spellman said. He knew that it was a big risk to confront the Chairman of The Tribunal, but was repeating what he and his plebe buddies had said to each other.
"I was ready to 'ring out' during Hell Week," Robbie admitted to the plebes. "The only reason that I'm still here is the leadership of Tracker Whitestone!"
"What did he do?" Kevin Marks asked. All of the plebes were getting more comfortable in the impromptu meeting, and were relieved that Robbie wasn't going to take them out to the Obstacle Course for punishment.
"Tracker has some amazing powers," Robbie began. "When we were all exhausted and ready to quit, he got us in a circle like this and we meditated. We drew strength from each other and formed strong bonds of friendship. Tracker led us through Hell Week and the Snake Pit Challenge or I wouldn't be here with you guys tonight. Meditation can relieve stress and give you the strength to become Fourth Class Cadets!"
"Do you hate us?" David Kubic asked. "When we mess up, you look ready to kill us!"
"I don't hate you!" Robbie replied. "My buddies nailed my ass really hard a few days ago about expecting you guys to be perfect. I turned over leadership of the physical training to other cadets and watched how you guys acted towards me. I didn't like what I saw, so I decided to come here tonight to clear the air. You're doing great, and I don't want a single one of you to ring out!"
The tension in the room evaporated, and the plebes started talking openly about their training and their concerns about Hell Week. They were pleased when Robbie answered their questions honestly, and even gave them some ideas of pranks to pull on the upperclassmen. The room was filled with laughter before Robbie said that he had to leave. He warned the plebes not to pull the pranks on him or he'd retaliate with pranks that would burn them good.
"Can you believe that?" Ricky Spellman said to his plebe buddies after Robbie left. "Elwood was right about his Big Brother! Robbie's a neat guy who just happens to be in perfect physical condition!"
Life on the George Washington Academy campus had returned to "normal" again.
Stay tuned....
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