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Quarterback Keeper: 1
With friends like these
Joe Bartlett was sitting in a booth at the Redbud Bakery and Coffee Shop when he spied his old college friend and roommate Anthony Kesslinger, actually Dean Kesslinger. Anthony had just been named the academic dean of Northern Oklahoma State University in Enid, Oklahoma.
Anthony waved and worked his way through the students and townies who were lined up for a mid-afternoon sugar and caffeine boost. Joe knew Anthony better than anyone other than perhaps Virginia Kesslinger, Anthony's wife; even then there were things Joe knew of which even Virginia was unaware.
When Anthony sat down, Joe pushed a piece of pecan pie and a cup of black coffee over to him. "Damn Joe," said Anthony, "you know me so well you could be my wife." "In another time, I might have been," responded Joe. The two men exchanged glances that acknowledge what they most wanted, but could never have.
"So Tony," Joe was the only person who could get away with calling Anthony Kesslinger, PhD. Tony. "Why was I summoned to meet with the Academic Dean? Don't tell me someone finally found that I plagiarized my senior seminar paper and the University wants my diploma back."
Anthony chucked, "No, we figure the statute of limitations has run out on that crime. So, we'll let you keep that scrap of paper."
"Well, it can't be the alumni fund drive, the ink isn't even dry on the last check I gave you beggars."
"No," said Anthony, "this is more of a personal favor." A look of concern suddenly appeared on Joe's face. "Don't worry, I don't need that kidney you owe me." Fifteen years earlier, Joe had picked up an infection in Southeast Asia that went septic necessitating a kidney transplant. Neither of Joe's asshole cousins were willing to step up, so Anthony did and saved Joe's life.
"I need your help cleaning up a bit of a PR problem for the University. Do you know Tyler Cummings?"
"I know of him. He was the hot shot quarterback that broke his wrist his Junior year about halfway through the season. I was actually at the game when it happened. The kid was in serious pain when they took him off the field. After that I never heard much about him."
"Yeah, the kid was dealt a shitty hand. His backup, Todd Simmons, got hot the second half of the season and led the team to the Conference Championship game. Then this year, Simmons kept the starting position and Cummings rode the bench."
"That sucks, but why is the academic dean fretting about a football player getting the short end of the stick. He had to know the risks."
"He was my advisee, and I like the kid and really feel for him. Monday the team was told that Simmons got an invite to the NFL Combine. Tyler was so upset, he was in my office in tears. He wants to be happy for Simmons, but he knows that without the injury his Junior year, he could be the one with the Combine invite."
"Okay, Tony what's the deal with you and this kid? Is he special like I was special back in college?"
"No," said Anthony a bit stunned, "It's nothing like that. I really like the kid and feel bad for him. The coaches made some promises to this kid and his mother when they recruited him that, well...that they should not have made. I just want to square it so this kid didn't waste four years of his life."
"So, what is it you want from me?"
"Joe I want this kid to leave NOSU with a real career. He is a history major and he has enough credits to graduate this spring, but there is no way he is cut out for grad school and there really isn't much demand for BAs in history if you don't have a teaching certificate. I strong-armed the Education Department into allowing him into the alternative certification program if I find him a job and a quality mentor."
"No, don't tell me this is going where I think it is. Can't I just give you back the kidney and we'll call it even."
"Come on Joe. I have already talked to Bill and he said he'd get Tyler a position teaching history at Salt Fork High School."
It now made perfect sense. Bill Masterson, the Athletic Director at Salt Fork HS, had been randomly dropping by my room two or three times a day for the last week `just to say hi' or because he needed to see one of the students in my class. Bill was the third musketeer when we were all students at NOSU. Like all small school ADs, Bill was always trying to fill coaching spots. The prospect of a college football player, and a QB at that, had him so excited he would probably cum in his coaching pants if you blew in his ear.
"So the Athletic department is now filling the teacher vacancy at SFHS. I like Bill. We three have been friends forever, but there is a reason Bill was a P.E. teacher. What did Principal Maryfield say when Bill told him he had hired the new history teacher?"
"Okay, Joe don't get mad, or at least promise me you won't go ballistic here with all these people around."
"What did that dumbass, no-necked, knuckle-dragging, Neanderthal promise Allen Mayfield to get him to agree to this," Joe said in a tone and volume that began to attract some attention.
"Well, he...he, kinda...he kinda said you wouldn't retire at the end of next year. That you would stay until Tyler got fully certified."
"How the hell long will that take?"
Two.....maybe, three years."
"Three years! How stupid is this kid."
"Joe, he's not stupid. In fact, he is quite intelligent, but you know that college sports can make it tough to get all of your requirements in. The kid has enough credits to graduate, but he will have to take his education classes and a few history and government classes to get all of his endorsements."
"You're still not telling me everything. Anthony, it's time for you to come clean or I swear I will come across this table and beat the truth out of you. Allen thinks I am a good teacher, but he wouldn't be making deals just so I will stay to be his son's A.P. Government teacher when he is a senior."
"Come on Joe, Allen thinks you are a great teacher. He is proud that an Oklahoma High School teacher of the year is in his building, not to mention the President of the Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies. But...."
"But, what?!"
"I wish Bill were here to tell you this part. He,,,he said you also might be willing to coach baseball again."
"He what!?" This time all the tables around them stopped and looked at the two men whose conversation was beginning to heat up.
"Hold it down Joe, I am just the messenger."
"Oh, no Anthony, you are more than the messenger. You are behind this plan. You might not have told Bill to put baseball on the table, but you told Bill to make this happen. I know the two of you very well. Bill is your little puppy and he will do anything you tell him to do."
"You know it took me twenty-three years to get out of coaching baseball, Joe hissed. "It wasn't until I was elected President of OCSS that Allen and the school board agreed to find another coach. It is not my fault that the idiot they hire to replace me liked to `date' high school cheerleaders."
"Get off you high horse Joe. Fourteen conference championships and two state titles say you were a damn good coach. Yes, I know what my best friend's coaching record was, and yes, I know you are proud of it and your teams."
Joe started to back off as Anthony continued. "I also know that you liked coaching a lot more than you let on because you helped a lot of boys become young men. I also know it tears you up to see what happened to the baseball program you built. So don't tell me you don't want to fix it before you leave. Right buddy?" Anthony smiled because he always knew when he had Joe, and he had him now.
Much calmer, Joe said, "So, when do I meet this project of yours to see whether we could even work together." Anthony's smile got even bigger. "Damn," Joe thought, "That smile alone was still enough to make him hard after all these years." Anthony touched the screen on his phone and soon two handsome young men were standing at the table.
"Sit down boys," Anthony said. Joe, this is Jerry Meyers, he is my grad assistant." Joe gave Anthony a suggestive smile. In response to the implied accusation Anthony asked Jerry, "So where's your lovely fiance', you and she are joined at the hip."
"She's with her mother who took her to try on wedding dresses," replied Jerry.
Anthony next introduced a stunningly handsome physical specimen, " And, Joe this Tyler Cummings. He is looking for a mentor so he can participate in our alternative teacher certification program. Tyler and Jerry, this is Joe Bartlett. Joe is one of my oldest friends and the best high school history teacher in the State of Oklahoma."
Joe smiled and reached out to shake each of the boys hands. "Dean Kesslinger is just blowing smoke up your asses boys," he said. "That is what he does when he hits up alumni for donations and favors. Would you guys like something to eat or drink."
"I appreciate the offer, but I have to lock up the office and then I'm meeting my in-laws-to-be and Alexis for dinner. We have some final wedding plans to work out, and Alex and I have to break the news that they are going to be grandparents...Oops," said Jerry with a shrug. Joe and Anthony laughed and Tyler blushed at Jerry's frank announcement.
"Congratulations Jerry?" asked Anthony not sure if this was good news. Jerry smiled and shook his head yes. "Then," said Anthony, "we'd better get that Masters finished so you can get to Chicago in the fall for your PhD. I can't hold my teaching position open forever." Jerry walked out and Anthony mumbled, "Kids, no matter how much effort professors put into developing their cerebra, it is their limbic system that does the real thinking." Joe and Anthony looked at each other and laughed because they both knew that Virginia Kesslinger was three months pregnant on her wedding day. Tyler just looked confused.
Finally, the attention turned to Tyler and Joe said, "Dean Kesslinger tells me you want to be a teacher?"
"Yes sir, I do."
"Why in hell would you want to do something stupid like that," Joe said coolly.
"Sir?"
"Don't be dense," Joe continued, "you didn't bust your ass playing football in high school and college to be an underpaid babysitter for ungrateful, pimple-faced, hormone-crazed, teenagers. Seriously, can you imagine how discouraging it is to work your ass off to prep a unit on the Renaissance only to have a Freshman cheerleader roll her eyes and ask, `how will this ever help me get a modeling job?'"
Tyler just looked at Joe like a deer caught in the headlights. He didn't know why he wanted to be a teacher. He certainly didn't know if he would be a good high school teacher. The question laid bare the fact that Tyler was about to graduate from college and had no fucking idea what to do next. Ever since he played for the Tigers in the 5th grade, football had been the road map for his life. It was like Google Maps. A voice would suddenly say "Turn right in one mile." Tyler had never questioned the voice, he had just blindly done what it told him to do. But now that voice was gone, football was over, and he was alone and without a map or a guide.
"Sir,...I...I don't know," said Tyler and hung his head and swallowed hard.
"Three things Tyler. First, stop calling me sir. When you graduate in two weeks we are equals, we are colleagues. In front of students, I am Mr. Bartlett and you are Mr. Cummings. At other times we are Joe and Tyler. Second, if you can't answer the question I just asked you by the time this mentorship is finished, I won't sign my name to any of your certification documents. Third, what do you know about baseball?"
"Baseball, Sir?--I mean Joe."
"Yes, baseball. You may be one of Wilson's assistant football coaches in the Fall, but come March you will be my assistant coach and freezing your ass off in the first base coaching box."
Anthony smiled. He loved it when a plan came together. Just one more puzzle piece to make the picture complete. "Great, now that the mentorship is arranged," Anthony said, "there is just one more thing to work out--housing."
Joe looked at Anthony, "What are you talking about T-O-N-Y." Joe knew that would wipe the self-satisfied smile off of his friend's face.
"You see Joe, Tyler won't be getting financial aid from the college, so he will have to pay for his classes to finish his certification. Also Tyler's mother is single and on disability. He has been sending her money from his campus job and wants to continue to help her. So Joe, he is going to have to find someplace cheap. There aren't any houses in Salt Fork he can afford to rent, and that means a long drive to and from Enid every day."
Joe exhaled, "Oh hell, in for a penny in for a pound. Tyler, I have an extra room. You are welcome to live with me if you wish."
"I would really like that," said Tyler then he turned to Anthony, "Did you tell him?"
"It's not my place to tell Joe your secret," Anthony said.
Tyler looked around to make sure no one was listening and then leaned in and in a soft voice said, "I'm gay."
Joe also leaned in and said, "It's okay, so am I."
Tyler let out a huge sigh of relief and smiled. For the first time in weeks he heard the voice. "Turn right in 500 feet. Then stay in your lane until you reach Salt Fork High School."