YOUNG GUYS PAIRING OFF The continuing story. Comments welcome to Cgard43@hotmail.com
- Games to Play
The guys compared notes when they returned to the lodge. They all did well against the rating sheet, but Joe and Jim got the highest score, Bill and Bert were second, and Eddie and Duke came in last.
"You guys must have been lollygagging," Bert teased, "Couldn't he keep up with you, Eddie?"
"Stop it, Bert," said Jim quickly, "That's a dumb thing to say."
Duke, Eddie and Bill looked at him in surprise, while Joe just smiled.
The program called for the rest of the afternoon to be set aside for recreation.
"I know," Bert said, "There's a tennis court and I saw some racquets and balls in the closet. How about a doubles tournament?"
"I don't know about that," Joe said, "I've never played tennis."
"Neither have I," Eddie added quickly, "I've never even tried." A natural athlete, he had no particular apprehensions about any sport or game.
"Oh what the hell, guys," Bert countered, "It's for fun. It doesn't matter who wins."
Under the force of such an argument, the others agreed to play. Bert suggested they stay with their teams from the morning.
"Oh no, that's not fair," Eddie said, "You and Bill played together in high school, didn't you?" He didn't appreciate the double meaning of his words.
"I'll stick with my roommate," Jim said, "if that's okay with you, Duke?"
Duke agreed willingly. He'd played tennis for years, and knew this was a game where his height wasn't a significant disadvantage.
They all changed shoes and headed out to the tennis court. They decided to play a one set round-robbin. Flipping a coin, the first match was between Bill and Eddie and Bert and Joe.
Neither Joe nor Eddie had any experience with tennis, but Eddie's natural athleticism gave him the edge, and he and Bill won the first set 6-4.
"I'm sorry, Bert," Joe said when it was over. "I told you I didn't know how to play."
"Forget it," Bert said, "As I said, it's just a game."
"Right," countered Eddie, "Hell, I don't even understand how you score the silly thing."
They stayed on the court while Duke and Jim warmed up, giving Bill and Eddie a short rest. Then the next set got underway.
Duke served first and served two aces in his first game. Jim was dumbfounded, never suspecting that Duke could play that well. His own game being pretty good, the pair went on to win that set easily at 6-1.
"Okay," Bill called, "You guys are just too good for us." He and Eddie walked to the net and the four of them shook hands.
"Isn't he something?" Jim said proudly, nodding to Duke, "I had no idea that you even played tennis, Duke." Duke started to make a flippant reply then caught himself just in time.
"You play very well yourself," Duke answered, looking up at him with genuine admiration. Eddie and Bill noticed the change in both of them and looked quizzically at each other.
The six guys sat on the grass next to the court for a while, then Jim asked if any of the guys wanted a rematch.
"Come on, Bill," Bert said, "let's give them a real challenge."
Bill was caught in a real dilemma, wanting to play but not wanting to appear to desert Eddie. Eddie rose to the occasion quickly.
"Go ahead, Bill," he said, "You've got to promise to teach me to play the game properly sometime." No double entendre was intended.
"Sure, anytime," Bill agreed, nodding and smiling at Eddie. Suddenly Bert realized what he'd done, although accidentally.
"You mind, Joe?" he asked quietly.
"Of course not," Joe answered honestly, "It'll make it a better game for all of you."
"Tell you what, Joe," Eddie said, "Let's go down to the lake and go fishing."
"You're on," Joe answered. They headed back to the lodge, Bill watching Eddie go with very mixed feelings.
The four guys took the court and it was quite a match. Bill and Bert played well together and won the first set 7-5. Duke and Jim came charging back to take the second set 6-4. They were getting ready to start a third set when Eddie and Joe came back, showing a nice catch of trout.
"While you guys were playing around, we caught dinner," Joe called. "Well, Eddie caught most of them, but I caught a few."
The players cheered, and Eddie said that he and Joe were going to go back to the lodge and figure out what they could fix with the fish for dinner. Again, Bill felt a pang as he watched Eddie go, his gaze focused on the other's well-built body.
The tennis match resumed and Bill and Bert's prior experience together was indeed the factor. They just had a better sense of where the other was on the court during points which let them win it 6-4.
"Tell you what," Bill said, "how about a rematch sometime? We'll give you a month or so to practice."
"You're on," Jim said, "We'll win next time, right, Duke?"
Duke grinned at him, they bumped fists, and then they all headed back to the lodge.
They all decided a shower before dinner was in order and about fifteen minutes later they reassembled in the living room.
"So, it's fish for dinner, huh?" Bill said and Eddie smiled at him.
Joe and Eddie had fixed potatoes to bake on the grill, readied some fresh vegetables and made a salad.
"So all we have to do is cook the fish," Joe said proudly. "I may not be able to play tennis and I'm not a great fisherman, but I can cook." The others complimented him, and Bert clapped him on the shoulder with feeling.
"And I'm very glad you're here," he said, smiling at his roommate. Joe looked surprised at the comment, and his eyes met Bert's briefly.
- Good Night's Work
After everyone had showered and changed clothes, the guys all sat on the patio of the lodge having drinks. They talked about their respective day, joked about some misadventures during their hiking rally, and went on to toasts for the tennis victors.
Joe's dinner was delicious, and Eddie was thanked for the fine catch, so a fair amount of wine and beer was consumed. When Jim and Bert volunteered for KP, the others went back out on the patio and enjoyed the late autumn weather. Joe and Eddie got into a technical discussion about something from work, and Bill walked over to where Duke was sitting next to the railing, looking up at the stars.
"Do I detect a change for the better between you and Jim?" Bill asked quietly.
"I think so," Duke answered, unusually serious, "Maybe it's because I proved I could do something as well as a tall guy. I don't know."
"I think it's more than that. You want to talk about it?" Bill asked, "I'm a pretty good listener."
"I can't right now," Duke said, then quickly added, "But I appreciate the offer."
"It stands anytime if you change your mind," Bill added and Duke smiled. Bill then walked back into the lodge and looked at the training manual.
Duke walked to the farthest edge of the patio. He stood staring off in the distance, and almost didn't hear Eddie when he walked up behind him.
"What are you thinking about so far away?" Eddie asked. Duke jumped slightly, but when he turned to Eddie his eyes were rather misty.
"Something wrong, buddy?" Eddie asked quietly.
"I don't know," Duke said, "You started it actually. Remember earlier we were talking about being in love?"
"Sure," Eddie said, "I think I started it."
"Right," Duke went on, "Well I keep thinking about just how I feel about this guy I know." Eddie smiled, and Duke went on quickly.
"No. A guy I know from home," Duke answered, smiling back, "I think I could fall in love with him very easily. The problem is that I'm not sure he wants that, and I don't want to get hurt again."
"I don't think you can stop yourself from falling in love," Eddie said quietly, deep in thought. "But why are you so sure he doesn't want it as well?"
"I don't know, that's the problem," Duke said, wiping the moisture from his eyes quickly.
"Believe me, I do understand what you're going through," Eddie said, very meaningfully. They were both thoughtfully shaking their heads as they walked back toward the lodge.
When the dishes were done, Jim and Bert joined the others who had come in from the patio as the temperatures fell.
"This is a kick," Bill said, "there's a game here we're supposed to play tonight. It's called "Ethics in Business or Monopoly Without Money."
He read the directions and they all played the game, which posed difficult ethical questions for people in business situations. The game was actually a very intense training exercise, as they worked in the same pairs from the morning, arguing the merits of various ethical questions. They evaluated society's and their individual views on the questions involved. It proved to be quite an informative and valuable session.
All through the game, Eddie kept glancing in Bill's direction, frequently meeting his eyes in return. Jim looked furtively at Duke from time to time, but Duke seemed caught up in his own thoughts whenever he was distracted from the game.
It went on until after eleven o'clock. Jim and Joe gathered up the soft drink cans and coffee cups and carried them to the kitchen and put them away.
"I'm so nervous, Joe," Jim said quietly. "I really like Duke a lot. I want him to feel that way about me too, but I'm not sure he does."
"Just tell him how you feel, Jim," Joe said, "Don't try to be cute or coy about it. That's my advice."
"Okay. Wish me luck," Jim said, and Joe clapped him on the shoulder and smiled at him encouragingly.
As they walked back into the living room, Jim asked if anyone would like a nightcap. Duke, Bill and Eddie accepted.
"I've gotta get to bed," Bert said, "I guess the tennis this afternoon got to me."
"Me too," Joe said, "Goodnight, you guys." The two headed to their room.
"We're gonna talk about you guys," Duke called after them jokingly.
"Go ahead," answered Bert, "We've got no secrets."
While Jim and Bill got the drinks, Duke whispered to Eddie.
"You know, Bill's a great guy, and so handsome. It's too bad he's not...you know."
"Yes" Eddie said, understanding perfectly and smiling, "He's a great guy."
He smiled as the other guys rejoined them, and the four of them talked for as long as it took to finish a beer, then Bill went to bed, and Eddie followed rather soon afterward.
To be continued.