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Date Posted: 17:24:47 11/18/02 Mon
Author: CCCook
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments
In reply to: CCCook 's message, "Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments" on 17:20:38 11/18/02 Mon

From Sue:

**author's note- Here is some of the blood, guts, and gore I promised for our sweeps. Somehow I don't think it will live up to what the night promises. I'm saving the glory part for one of my afternoon segments. I hope you enjoy it! **

Setting: The ball fields

Time: Mid to late morning on Saturday.

“This used to be my playground
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask”**


Turning his back to the chaotic huddle gathering behind him, Josh’s gaze swept over the
meticulously manicured baseball fields beside him. Too meticulous for his tastes, he thought
somewhat grimly shaking his head slightly; the mere action sparking the return of the nagging
headache he suffered since earlier with a vengeance. Bringing his hand up towards his head, he
adjusted his Yankee’s cap to allow his right thumb and ring finger to gently massage against his
aching temples. His thoughts returning, he considered quietly through the growing hustle and
bustle around him, how this was suppose to be the fun childhood activity he had engaged in as a
kid with both Greg and Shane while his gaze surveyed the grounds around him now littered
with lawn chairs, concession stands, ice cream trucks, bake sales, and a sea of parents carrying
travel mugs filled with varying concoctions to get their energy levels flowing, and leading forth
with them a parade of this year’s crop of news players; some accompanied by older and younger
siblings, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles. Of the grownups some were
argumentative, some harried, some encouraging, while others appeared to be still in that early
morning daze as they waged a battle against trying to wake up completely and face the day
ahead of them. The children with them too all carried differing expressions upon their faces;
some appeared eager, some hopeful, others disgruntled and combative, and finally to his
chagrin a small group even looked fearful of what was come. “And why wouldn’t they be?”
He considered somewhat scornfully by the amount of emphasis and pressure that was placed
upon them to perform in something that was supposed to be done all in the sake of fun. Just
scanning the fields themselves spoke ironically of how much the game had changed over the
years since he had played. Eight painstakingly white lined, green clipped, and dirt combed fields
stood where there had once been two not so nearly well maintained ones, and a cluster of trees
that use to contain trails once hiked through; A time when the only thought of organized sports
was a pickup game assembled by a group of town kids after school.

Perhaps he should not be so cynical he chided himself as his eyes roamed the grounds again.
Most of the children around him appeared excited and happy to be there. He had promised
himself that he wouldn’t let his previous bad mood effect this day if only for Justin’s sake. The
small boy’s name spurred him to scan the crowds around him in hopes of catching a glimpse of
him, but he came up empty. Frowning slightly, he glanced down at the watch upon his wrist to
see the time. “10:20" He had let Hope know before leaving last night that the festivities of the
day began at 10 am...before their argument...before his drive home... Quickly, he tried to keep
these thoughts from straying back with little luck. He had wanted to stay focused on today
only...at least for now. He owed that to Justin and to the other boys he was about to help coach.
His frown returned along with the pounding at his temples, and reaching up, he did his best to
rub both of them away from his sleep weary face before readjusting his cap against the glare of
the sun, and reached for the forms in his back pocket explaining on what field he was needed
before walking onward.
********************************************************************************

It was 10:50 before he had the chance to glance at his watch again; his heart now heavy. Still no
sign of Justin or Hope. Could she have purposely kept the boy away because of last night? Had
the words they spoken in anger been as unreconcilable as he had feared? His thoughts now so
distracted that he hadn’t heard the approach nor the voice with it that called out to him until it
spoke up once again.

“What are ya doing here, Josh?” Lena repeated her inquiry before turning her gaze to the group
of small boys around him that he had been instructing on how to throw and catch the ball while
the head coach handled batting practice.

Josh turned towards it, finding that Miss Lena was not alone, but was in the presence of Mayor
Teddy St. Clair and that the ever jovial public figure wore a T-shirt bearing the Stud’s
Recreational Association’s logo along with a matching baseball cap. Unable to keep a smirk off
his face at Teddy’s ability as a seasoned politician to make the most of each and every political
stump along the road , he replied with a light laugh, “I was selected to coach...” He began.
“...actually shanghaied would be a more appropriate term. There seems to be a noticeable
shortage of willing volunteers...”
Lena only smiled as he continued on . “...which is somewhat ironic considering the crowd
around us...”.

“Well good for you!” Lena chimed in encouragingly.

“Yes, son that’s mighty admirable of you.” Teddy replied.

“So where’s Justin?” Lena inquired as she went about with her eyes scouring each and every
little boy, who in her estimation looked almost like clones within their uniforms, upon the
playing field in search of his familiar form, but coming up blank and she continued on
somewhat discouraged with. “Don’t tell me they put the two of ya on different teams?”

“No...no...at least I don’t think so.” Josh replied before hesitating a moment to go over Lena’s
words. The man at registration yesterday had guaranteed when Josh agreed to help out that both
he and the boy would be together. Had there been some mistake... or perhaps Hope had
determined that things should go differently;. No, it wasn’t in Hope to be spiteful. His eyes
looked up to scan the crowd surrounding them again as he heard Lena press on.

“They wouldn’t, would they?”

“I don’t think so.” He answered distractedly.


“Then where would they be? Perhaps I should call. It’s not like Hope to oversleep or forget
about something.”

“...I don’t think that’s it....” Josh began unable to keep the hesitancy from his voice nor the
troubled expression from his eyes spurring Lena’s keen perception to perk up and she did not
allow another word in edgewise as she chimed in..

“Something didn’t happen between the two of you, did it?” Her eyes complimenting her words
with a questioning glare as they searched out some meaning in his before he diverted them
towards the ground around him in an effort of noncommitment before finally glancing back
towards the boys he had been working with.

Sensing the younger man’s uncomfortableness with the situation, Teddy spoke up. “Now look
Lena, stop pressuring the boy with all your questions. Something has obviously held them up.
They’ll be here soon. Let the man get back to his duties.”

Josh blue eyes flashed a quick look of relieved gratitude towards the older man as Lena opened
her mouth to speak again.

Her words were interrupted by a commotion on the playing field as one child hollered out.
“That’s gross!”

Josh’s attentions immediately turned towards the disturbance, leaving both Lena and Teddy to
the sidelines. One of the more smaller and willowy boys within the group , a timid freckled
face kid by the name of Timmy, had just gotten sick upon the grassy field in front of him.

“Are you okay?” Josh inquired kneeling down beside the small child and placing his arm around
his slight shoulders. “Did something happen? Are you feeling sick?”

Before the child had a chance to answer another more assertive child spoke up. “I’ll tell ya what
happened. After he missed the ball I threw to him, he barfed his guts out all over the place.”

Josh eyed the other huskier boy with a touch of annoyance before turning back towards Timmy.
“Were you hit by the ball?”

He shook his head no; his eyes tear stained and red rimmed matching the flushed appearance
now upon his face before he gagged once again and emptied his stomach once more upon the
ground in front of him; this time catching Josh’s sneakered feet in the process.

“EWWWWW! That’s gross, Johnson!” The other boys with Enzo in the lead pipped in.

Yes, it was gross. Josh had to concur silently to himself feeling that somehow he had been
transported to another realm as he looked down at the shoes upon his feet, but that didn’t stop
the growing annoyance welling up inside him at the other boys badgering as he stared back up
into the now tear stained face in front of him.

“It’s okay.” He soothed quietly, his large hand lightly gripping the small shoulder in assurance.
“Happens to the best of us...” he continued while a short woman rushed onto the field beside
them, a small white towel within her hand as she started to wipe up the young child before
moving towards Josh’s shoes.

“I’m so sorry...” She began apologetically, her face tinged red with embarrassment over the
situation as she placed her arm around the small boy and he moved into her comforting embrace.


“It’s okay...no harm done.” Josh repeated to the parent. “These things happen I guess...”

The woman looked slightly relieved by Josh’s nonchalant attitude towards the situation before
turning her attentions back towards the boy once again and speaking to him softly. Josh in the
meantime turned towards the other boys distracting their attentions away from the two and back
towards their previous activity. It wasn’t until he felt a soft hand upon his arm that he turned
around once again towards the sidelines to see the boy’s mother still there, but the boy walking
off the field towards a small cluster of chairs.

“Thank you.” She breathed.

“No harm done.” He repeated attempting a light smile to put her at ease.

“I’m Connie Johnson, Timmy’s mother.”

“Josh Waleski.” Josh returned, taking her out stretched hand within his own in salutation before
asking. “Is he okay?”

“Yes... he will be.” She attempted to smile. “He’s just the nervous sort and well sometimes...”
She began.

“I get the picture.” Josh filled in and smiled back “Just let Timmy know that when he’s ready
to come back to join us, he can.”

“Thank you.” Connie Johnson replied once again.

“And tell him to remember that we’re only here to have fun. There’ll be no pressure...” Josh
began. “...everyone makes mistakes including myself.”

“I will, I just hope he realizes it.” She added with a smile before turning to join her son on the
sidelines while practice continued on.

A few minutes later his fellow coach , Ted Barker, who had been going over batting techniques
with the other players, joined him. “I think we should switch now.”

“Okay.” Josh nodded.

“How are things going?” Ted inquired.

“Fine.”

“Not too much excitement, then?” He asked before regarding the other man’s feet.

“Not more than I can handle.” Josh answered turning to herd his group towards the batter’s
plate before hesitating and turning back towards Ted once again to ask. “By the way Ted, do
you have a team roster?”

“Yes, in fact I do.” He replied while bringing the clipboard he held in one hand forward to
peruse through the sheets of paper held to it. “Something or someone in particular you’d like to
know about?”

“I was just wondering if there was a Justin Edwards on the team?”

Ted stared down and then moved the pencil in his other hand down the list of names on his
roster while he questioned. “What’s he to you? Nephew? Relative?” Noting the difference in
last name and wondering how Josh had gotten himself roped into coaching.

“No, just a friend.”

“I see.” Ted answered somewhat surprised as he continued on down the list in front of him.
“Hmm...Yes, here he is. Says here we need a parental signature and permission slip before he
can play. Has he shown up then with the appropriate paperwork?”

Josh replied resignedly, “No, not yet.” Successful in his attempt to keep the claim of heaviness
from his voice, but not his heart. “Okay, then.” He finished and turned to join the group of
boys assembled at the tee already pushing and arguing with each other over who would go first.

Ted’s voice spoke up again acting to stop Josh in his progress forward momentarily. “Wait,
Josh. I have this for you.” Josh stared down a the form the other man handed to him before his
eyes stared back blankly at the man in front of him for an explanation. “Healy, the
commissioner for boy’s t-ball, said these forms must be filled out by each coach and his
assistant and turned back in before the next practice.” and when not receiving any further word
concerning the matter from his partner, Ted turned and walked away leaving Josh to his task.

Josh however remained rooted to the ground on which his stood as his eyes remained locked on
the paper in front of him, the increasing pressure of his hands acting to slightly crinkle the sides
of it as the document’s title stared back at him. “Criminal Background Check”. For the first few
moments he couldn’t get past those first three words to interpret what lay behind them; an
explanation stating how everyone involved in activities involving the youth of Studs must
complete one of these forms to be processed by the Studs Recreational Commission. He read
the paragraph again, but its content made little sense as his eyes returned once again towards the
title. It was only when the sound of his disgruntled group rang out to greet him that he was able
to break away from it , and move towards the gathering awaiting him at home plate. His eyes
acted towards scanning the group of boys in front of him, but his mind was still otherwise
occupied. He didn’t even notice that young Timmy was once again among the throng. All
voices around him spoke up at once, but he couldn’t make any sense from them. “Hey, coach! I
want to go first!” Enzo erupted , pushing his way towards the front of the group, his eyes daring
those around him to speak up.

Josh only grunted his compliance with the matter as he tried to get his head back into the game
around him. He ushered the other boys a safe distance away before taking the wooden bat that
Enzo now held and going over some pointers about batting technique and safety; hoping but not
sure if his words came across clearly.

It was then that he noticed Enzo had retrieved another bat, and was heading towards the
tee. Moving swiftly towards the impatient child, he called out a warning to wait while he
reached for a regulation helmet to place upon his head. It was then that he heard the yell. “I’m
going to smack that ball out of here.”

In the background he could hear another deeper voice call out too. “Cream that ball, son!”

He was about to shout out, “Wait” to the child when another voice yelled out to him, breaking
into his jumbled concentration. “Josh! Josh!”

Nearing the plate, he turned from the child at bat towards the sound he had just heard, and saw
Justin running up excitedly towards the back stop with Hope only a few feet behind. It was his
last conscious thought before the headache that had been plaguing him since late last night
increased one hundredth fold, and he saw yellow stars dancing before his eyes as the feet
beneath him seem to lose their balance and he stumbled forward a step then two before
collapsing to his knees and then to the ground before him.

********************************************************************************
He wasn’t sure how long he had been out for or if he had been out at all, but the next thing he
did remember was being turned over onto his back by some unseen force as he tried to focus past
the fuzziness clouding his vision and desperately tried to block out the shouts of alarm that
assaulted his brain. Each voice echoing within him while it increased the tempo of pain playing
out in his head along with it.

“Jeezus Christ, Enzo, you’ve got to look son before you hit the ball.” Screamed the same voice
that only seconds before had issued another equally raucous instruction.

“Are you okay, coach?”

“Waleski?”

“Son?”

“Joshua?” Was that Lena calling out to him? He wondered. He couldn’t see her , but her
strong perfume invaded his senses overcoming him and leaving him suddenly nauseous.

“I think I’m going to...” He began as he frantically attempted to claw at the ground around him
to right himself and turn over in an effort to quell the gagging response of his stomach.

“Josh!” Rang out a small concerned voice that sparked some recognition within him, as
another set of unseen hands aided him in his attempt while another concerned voice joined in the
hum surrounding him.

“Josh...” It began, though unable to hide its worry, its even timber acted towards soothing him.
He felt gentle hands upon his shoulder now as it continued. “...Are you okay?”

He tried to answered but he couldn’t find the breath to; not yet as he desperately tried to control
the nausea rising within him. He found himself however reacting to the gentle touch of hands
that accompanied it as they massaged and stroked his back and shoulders.

“‘Course he’s not alright!...” Shouted another voice that he definitely placed as Lena’s this
time. “Not with little Babe Ruth over here tryin to knock his head off his shoulders for battin
practice. Why you should...” Lena began to denounce both father and child when Teddy broke
in to stop the disagreement about to ensue.

“Now is not the time, Lena. We need to get the boy some help.” He motioned towards Josh.
Leaning down towards the fallen man, he used a comforting voice. “Do ya think ya can stand,
son?” Teddy waited and watched Josh anxiously for an answer.

Not receiving one, Ted Barker spoke up. “Someone should get a doctor. The medical tent...”

Finding his voice finally, Josh cut in weakly. “No...no...I’ll be alright. Just give me a sec....”

All eyes around him remained focused on the prone man upon the ground until he attempted to
move. Quelling the nausea successfully, he pushed himself back over upon his back taking
comfort in the steadiness and coolness of the ground beneath him before attempting to push
himself up again this time on his elbows and opening his eyes once more. He was sorry when
he did, because somewhere in this misadventure that had ensued, he had lost his baseball cap
and the brightness of the sun above him beat down upon him increasing the unwellness he felt.
He brought one hand up to his forehead in an attempt to shield his eyes from the sun’s rays as he
found the strength to move into a further sitting position dragging his legs forward towards his
chest in an effort to balance himself. His hand made contact with his forehead and he winced
from the pain the light touch brought him. He felt a wet stickiness beneath it and opened his
eyes once again he find his vision still impaired; now not only by the earlier fuzziness, but also
by the seepage of blood running down his forehead and into his brow and lashes. He closed his
eyes again against it.

“Oh my God, he’s bleedin!” Lena called out in distress.

“Quick a towel!” Someone else shouted, and he groaned wondering why the voices surrounding
him felt in necessary to shout out when whispers instead would suit him fine.

Suddenly he felt a softness against his face being moved upward and he flinched slightly at the
contact.

“It’s okay.” A voice soothed, the comfort from it precipitating him to open his eyes once more
and try to focus. Slowly the blurry shapes before him began to take shape and as the minutes
ticked away he began to recognize that it was Hope kneeling beside him though her gentle
words and touch had alerted him to this fact already. Noticing the appreciation dawning in his
eyes, she asked. “How are you?”

“I’ll be okay.” He spoke up trying to make the tenor of his voice match the resoluteness of his
words.

“I think we should let a doctor decide that, son.” Spoke up another kind voice that he identified
as Mayor St. Clair’s before finding the other man at his side along with Ted Barker. “Let us
help you up.”

Rising to his feet and remaining there took Josh more effort than he thought it would and he
began to weave as the two men moved slightly away to allow him to gain his bearings. He felt
an arm go swiftly around him offering its support.

“Whoa, son. Perhaps you should sit back down.” Teddy replied in concern.

His eyes turned towards that of the older man’s, realizing for the first time that he was before
him and not beside him as he settled his balance with the aid of another. Ted Barker was also
in front of him. Hazarding a glance downward, he realized it was Hope who was solely
supporting him now; his body leaning into her strength. She had dropped the blood stained
towel she previously held to the ground below them using both her arms in her effort. He almost
laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation with someone so small trying to hold up his
towering height. He would have if the effort to look down towards her hadn’t caused both the
dizziness and the nausea to return again. He only managed a small smile of thanks.

“Let’s get him over to the medical tent.” Teddy declared, speaking up once again. Both the
mayor and coach moved towards Hope to relieve her of her burden, but Josh held his hand up in
an attempt to wave them off not wanting to let Hope out of his sight or reach. Teddy grimaced
with impatience, but allowed the other man his decision.

“I’ll follow, just in case.” Ted Barker spoke up. “Would you mind staying with the team until I
return?”

“We sure will.” Lena spoke up not allowing another word in edgewise as the three headed off
towards the tent.

“Will Josh be okay?” Justin asked, voicing his fears.

Lena knelt down beside the small boy she had come to love, and placing her arms about him in
a comforting gesture, she replied reassuringinly. “Sure he will, Justin. Why no little bump on
the head will sideline our Josh for long. Now how about we get you a cap to wear and get you
boys out on the field. We’ve lost enough time all ready. Come on boys!” Lena chimed up
enthusiastically. “Teddy, why don’t you handle the field and I’ll take care of the batting
practice?” Before glaring over at Enzo, to warn him with a look in her eyes that a repeat
performance would not be in order and stating. “We’ll do this in accordance to height; smallest
to biggest.” Strategically placing the husky perpetrator towards the back of the pack.

“But Miss Lena...” Teddy spoke up as Lena continued on in preparation placing each boy in
order.

“What is it, Teddy?” She answered not bothering to turn from her actions.

“Miss Lena, I can’t.”

“Can’t what, Teddy?” She replied

“Take the field.”

“So you want to handle batting practice then while I take the field?” She answered unable to
keep a brief hint of irritation from her voice at Teddy’s uncooperativeness in the matter.

“No.”

“No.” Lena began, now turning to face the man who accompanied her here today.

“You won’t help out?” She began indignantly.

“Now don’t put it that way, Miss Lena.” Teddy began doing his best at damage control by using
his voice almost soothingly; a trick he learned long ago as both a husband and a politician. “It’s
not that I won’t, but that I can’t.”

“Can’t...” Lena began, opening her mouth in challenge.

Knowing from past negotiations when to stay and fight it out and when to run and cut your
losses, Teddy cut in. “Sorry, darlin, but I have a previous engagement that calls me away.”
Moving in closer to give Lena a quick peck upon the cheek in hopes to silence any attempt of a
rebuttal on her part, he tipped his hat in the briefest of adieus and scurried off while calling out
behind him. “I’ll make it up to ya, darlin, ya’ll see. ‘Sides ya’ll do just fine without me.”

Lena stood glaring at Teddy’s departing backside before turning back to the now increasingly
itchy group of boys, who awaited her instruction, and noticing Josh’s discarded Yankee’s cap
upon the ground before her, she reached down to pick it up before brushing off, and remarking
glibly as she placed it upon her fiery red head. “Never thought I’d see the day, I’d be wearing
one of these things.” Then turned towards the field to wave the other boys into the line for
batting practice, before looking towards the line again, and she noted with some hesitancy that
the young boy, who had earlier decorated both Josh’s feet and the field they were playing on,
was the first in line. Swallowing hard before glancing down at her brand spanking new pair of
white Keds that she had put on today, she thought to herself, "Teddy sure better make this up to
me!” and she made her way towards him while asking without some qualms . “So son, how are
ya feelin?” A nervous smile playing upon her forever youthful southern belle features.


** Excerpt from “This Used to Be My Playground” by Madonna

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