Mayfield Titans

 

CHAPTER 67

THE TITAN MANTRA

 

THURSDAY, MAY 21

 

<Mayfield Middle School>

 

“That was an exciting game, yesterday,” Aiden told Kalie as he took his seat next to her on the bus. “Congratulations on winning the championship.”

 

“It was so much fun. We all got wet pouring cups of water over each other. Heather, Brittany, Christy, and me took our shirts and bras off and sat topless in the back on the bus ride home,” Kalie grinned.

 

“Didn’t you have dry shirts with you?”

 

“Yeah, but we waited until we got to Mayfield before putting them on. Christy sucked on my left tit and Brittany sucked on my right one for being the winning pitcher—it was so much fun.”

 

“What did Heather do?”

 

“She said we would all get into trouble if we got caught,” Kalie shrugged. “Like she was being so perfect sitting there playing with her pussy through her pants while she watched     us.”

 

“Didn’t Heather used to be nice?” Aiden asked.

 

“Used to be is right since she sure isn’t any more. But miss Goody-Goody says she’s going with some of the other girls to a party at one of the high school player’s house where there’s going to be beer and boys.”

 

“I’m glad she’s not going to the game tonight. Are you going?”

 

“Yep. Me and Christy are going together with Christy’s mom and dad. Brittany will be there, too.”

 

“Well, keep your shirt and bra on,” Aiden giggled.

 

“Well, if you win tonight, you’ll have a hard time keeping your pants on after you get on the bus Tuesday morning because I want to get you off on the way to school.”

 

“Good luck with that,” Aiden said.

 

“Gotta give you my congratulations for winning and get you ready for the big campout. Having a girl make you cum is the way to do that.”

 

“You sure are a horny girl.”

 

“Just like you’re a horny boy,” Kalie grinned as she gave Aiden a quick grope through his chinos.

 

Gordy, Riley, Mason, Miles and Brittany were at the bus zone as the bus pulled into the school. Gordy and Kalie exchanged a kiss that seemed a bit more than just a friendly peck and walked off together. The boys exchanged their secret hand grip after the seventh graders entered the foyer.

 

“You guys missed a good game last night,” Aiden told his friends.

 

“I didn’t have a ride,” Riley said.

 

“And I didn’t either,” Grant added.

 

“Well, I have a phone number,” Aiden reminded them. “You could have called me and asked for one.”

 

“I forgot you were going,” Grant said.

 

“And I didn’t think about it,” Riley said.

 

“What about you two?” Aiden asked Miles and Mason.

 

“I went to Miles’ house for my night-before-the-game routine,” Mason answered.

 

“And I helped him with it,” Miles smirked.

 

Aiden knew they were talking about the two of them doing a sixty-nine on Miles’ bed. “How many times?” Aiden asked.

 

“Two each,” Mason said, knowing Aiden was asking about cums.

 

“What are you guys talking about?” Riley asked. Mason told him and Riley said, “I gotta remember that one—talk about having fun before a game.”

 

“What did your brother do?” Aiden was referring to Miles’ fifteen-year-old brother John.

 

“He got stoned and jerked off while he watched us,” Miles said. “Fucker came three times, and he ain’t even gay…except when he’s home—then anything goes. Otherwise, he’s all about girls.”

 

The bell signaled it was time to go to home room and the boys headed for their lockers, all of them sporting boners created when Miles and Mason talked about their erotic ritual. Miles and Mason were in the same home room along with Aiden, Gordy, Rusty, and Riley. Mrs. Trufan, their home room teacher, was standing outside the door, both so she could give her students a friendly good morning smile and to          patrol traffic in the hall.

 

“Good Morning Miles and Good Morning Aiden,” the teacher smiled as the boys started into the classroom. They both returned a cheery good morning to one of their favorite teachers. Mason was right behind them, but Mrs. Trufan signaled for him to step aside and stand next to her. Mason did as he was told and looked up at the teacher trying to figure out what he had done wrong. Gordy, who had been behind Mason, stepped into the classroom next.

 

“Whoa, did you see Mrs. T stop Mason in the hall?” Gordy asked Aiden and Miles.

 

“Yep,” Aiden replied. “I wonder what that’s about.”

 

“It can’t be nothing really bad,” Miles said. “Except for jerking off or blowing somebody in the boys’ room, Mason never does anything to get into trouble.”

 

“You forgot talking too much in class,” Aiden reminded him.

 

“Well, there’s that, too.”

 

As Mason’s friends were speculating, Mrs. Trufan told Mason he needed to report to Mrs. Jackson in the office “immediately.” Mrs. Jackson was the Office Coordinator.

 

“Did I do something wrong?” Mason asked.

 

“I have no idea,” Mrs. Trufan responded. “Mrs. Jackson said you need to report to her and that somebody had a question for you. It doesn’t sound like trouble to me.” The teacher stared down at Mason. “Did you do something you should be worried about?”

 

“No. That’s why I was wondering what this was about.”

 

“Well, I suggest you hustle down to the office and find out for yourself.” Which is what Mason did. He reported immediately to Mrs. Jackson as instructed.

 

“Thank you for coming down here so quickly. Mr. Fowler and Mr. Carter are waiting for you in Mr. Fowler’s office,” Mrs. Jackson told him.

 

“Thank you, Mrs. Jackson.” Mr. Fowler was the school counselor and Mr. Carter was the school district’s vocal music teacher. Mason was relieved when he heard their names since it meant he wasn’t in trouble; but now he was extremely curious as to why they wanted to see him so quickly. The whole affair was making him nervous.

 

Even though Mr. Fowler’s door was open, Mason gave it a polite knock since Mr. Fowler was talking to Mr. Carter. He stopped when he heard the knock and smiled when he saw Mason at the door. “Come in, Mason,” the counselor said.

 

After Mason entered the office Mr. Fowler pointed to an empty chair and Mason sat in it. “Good Morning, Mason. I know you must be curious about why we want to see you. I will turn this over to Mr. Carter.”

 

“Hello Mason.”

 

“Hello,” Mason said softly. The formality in the room increased his nervousness.

 

“I understand you will be suiting up for tonight’s baseball game.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Relax, Mason. I have been teaching you since you were in the third grade, and I have yet to bite your head off,” the music teacher grinned.

 

Mason felt himself relax. Mr. Carter was right, the two had enjoyed a good teacher/student relationship since Mr. Carter had started teaching in Mayfield. Mason tapped his head. “Yep, it’s still there,” he grinned. Mr. Carter smiled back. This was the Mason he knew and loved working with.

 

“You’re going to be a substitute, correct?” Mason nodded. “How would you like to be a double substitute?”

 

“A what?”

 

“I’ll explain.” Mr. Carter then started telling Mason what he had been dealing with over the last hour and a quarter. “The Centralia Athletic Federation is hosting your game tonight. As you probably know, they had a live performance of the National Anthem planned before the game.”

 

“Oh. I thought they were going to play, like a recording or something.”

 

“Nope. Mrs. Donna McKay, who teaches at West High and performs in the Lewis County Choral Society, was going to sing it. She called Mrs. Beck, who is in charge of organizing the tournament, and told her she had a bad sore throat and would not be able to perform. I know Mrs. McKay well, and if she says she can’t perform, she’s telling the absolute truth. Mrs. McKay suggested that Mrs. Beck call me to substitute since I teach in Mayfield. I know Donna because I am in the Choral Society as well.”

 

Mason had a feeling about where this conversation was going. He sat impatiently, wishing Mr. Fowler would get to the point.

 

“I believe you know Mrs. Beck. She and her family attend your church and she certainly knows you.”

 

Mason knew who Mr. Carter was talking about. Mrs. Beck sang in the church choir and had two children who attended the church. Valarie, who was in seventh grade and Mike, who was a sophomore. He knew they were both active in athletics. Mason had to work to block out the three times he had sucked Mike’s cock in the church basement.

 

Mr. Fowler paused for a moment, and then went to the point of the meeting. “Mrs. Beck called her husband, who is on the tournament committee as well, and asked for his advice. He suggested they use the standard recorded anthem unless she could think of something better. She thought that was unacceptable and finally called me.

 

“I told her I would be honored to substitute for Donna, but I had a better idea. I mentioned that I had a student with a beautiful voice who takes private voice lessons. I said what could be better than having a boy from one of the schools in the game who is a member of the team sing the anthem.”

 

Mason’s heart was racing out of control. Even though he saw Mr. Carter’s wordy explanation heading in this direction, the fact that it actually did was almost more than he could bear. 

 

“Do you know what she said when I gave her your name?”

 

“Um, well, no I don’t,” Mason replied in a shaky voice.

 

“Sorry, dumb question. She said she wished she had thought of you. She bragged of how your solo voice fills the church with beauty. Anyway, she called your mother, who was beyond excited about the proposal. And your mother called me just before the start of school. Mr. Fowler and I requested you be sent to the office, and here we are. What do you think? Do you want to do it?”

 

Mason didn’t hesitate to give his answer since he had been thinking of it since his first hint as to what the question would be. “Yes, I want to do it, but I don’t know if I can.”

 

“Why not?” Mr. Fowler asked.

 

“I need somebody helping me figure out how to sing it and I need some practice and I’m scared.” Mason wasn’t worried about learning the words, he already knew them. He enjoyed singing along when the anthem was played, even when it was being played on television. He was worried about knowing how to sing those words.

 

“Here is my answer to your concerns. I have third period planning, right before chorus. I’ll talk to Mr. Lawrence about letting you work with me during third period. You’re good enough and experienced enough that we should be able to have you ready. As for being scared, just think…”

 

“…to sing hard, sing smart, sing for everybody, and have fun,” Mason finished.

 

“That’s a great plan,” Mr. Fowler said. “Sounds like something you learned in sports.”

 

“Pretty close. Okay, I’ll do it.” Mason was still nervous since this was one of the biggest things he had ever been asked to do, but he was no longer afraid.

 

“Also, is there any way you can get to the field early?” Mr. Carter asked. “It would be great if you could do a run-through on their audio equipment.”

 

“I guess I could ask my mom, but she was going to stay at work, instead of driving back and forth.”  Mason thought for a moment and then came up with what he thought was a good idea. “What about Mr. Sanders, the high school coach? He’s Aiden’s dad and I know him pretty good.”

 

“I’ll give him a buzz. I would take you myself, but I have an appointment after school I need to keep. It’s in Centralia, so I will be at the field when you arrive.” The music teacher had already decided that he would pay for a late cancellation of his dental appointment if Larry Sanders couldn’t help and would drive the boy himself. The bell rang ending home room. “I’ll see you third period, Mason.”

 

“Okay. And thank you everybody.” Mason got up to leave and then stopped. “Please don’t tell anybody about this. I want it to be a surprise, plus I want everybody to think about baseball instead of what I’ll be doing.” Mason had to tell one person, however. He felt there was no way he could keep this all to himself without exploding. He was going to tell a friend he trusted more than anybody in the world: Aiden.  He left the office to get his books for first period. He happened to come across Aiden in the hall on the way to his locker.

 

“Hey, Mason, it looks like you survived whatever that meeting was about, though you look kind of flustered,” Aiden said.

 

“Yeah, it was okay. Can I talk to you right after first period? I need to tell you something,” Mason asked. Mason and Aiden had Science together during first period. “I’d tell you now, but the bell is about to ring.” 

 

“Sure. Now let’s not be late.” The two boys made it into class on time by seconds.

 

After class, Mason and Aiden stopped at Mason’s locker. “I’ll tell you what the meeting was about, but you gotta pinky swear to tell nobody but your dads.” Aiden held out his right pinky and Mason wrapped his right pinky around it, completing the sacred ritual. “I got called into the office because the singer for the National Anthem tonight got sick and I was asked if I would be the substitute.”

 

“And of course, being the awesome dude you are, you said yes.” Aiden gave Mason a hard hug. “That is so radical. I can’t believe a Mayfield Titan is going to do it, but knowing it’s you and how good you are, I guess I can believe it. Don’t worry, mum’s the word and I won’t tell a soul except to who you said was okay.”

 

“What’s the big deal here?” Gordy asked as he walked up to the pair.

 

“Nothing much. Mason just needed a big hug,” Aiden said.

 

“Gotcha.” Gordy knew he would find out soon. What he didn’t know was how he would end up finding out what “nothing much” really was.

 

Mason’s session with Mr. Carter all but eliminated any misgivings Mason may have had. Mr. Carter was a master vocal teacher. He spent a number of years teaching at a large high school in Seattle. He came to Mayfield because he had tired of big city life and wanted to spend his last years before retirement in a small town. He had never regretted the move.

 

Mr. Carter told Mason that Mr. Sanders had agreed to drive him to Centralia. The teacher took his student through the words of the anthem and how they could be emphasized. He had Mason sing the anthem a half-dozen times, offering suggestions, but more often nodding his head at Mason’s technique. He was impressed by the approach the young boy, who often seemed immature for his age, gave to the anthem. He finished by having Mason sing into a portable microphone. Mason had sung into microphones but was happy to have a review. He was happy that he would have a chance to test the system at the ballpark and that Mr. Carter would be there to help him.

 

At the end of the period, Mason thanked Mr. Carter and stayed in the music room since his chorus class met there with Mr. Carter fourth period.

 

Lunch was next and Mason withstood the questions from Gordy and Riley about where he went during home room and from Kalie and Miles about where he went during third period. He said it had to do with music and left it at that.

 

Nobody pushed the issue after they got to the lunchroom. At that point everybody’s mind was on one topic—baseball. “What do we need to do today?” Aiden asked at his lunch table, where only players were sitting.

 

“Play smart?” Riley asked, sounding if he wasn’t sure.

 

“Play hard,” Gordy said with confidence.

 

“Play to win,” Grant added.

 

“And have fun,” Miles and Mason answered together.

 

“I think we’re ready to play,” Gordy grinned.

 

“At least the seventh graders are,” Aiden said.

 

“But I bet if we asked the eighth graders, they’d give us the same answers.”

 

“Maybe we should hang around until second lunch and find out,” Grant said.

 

“It probably would be a good idea not to skip class on game day,” Gordy said.     

 

“I was joking. But I agree with you, Gordy—they would give the same answers. We are ready to play.”

 

<Bus 3>

 

Most of the Titan players went home after school. A few, who would have gone home to empty houses, went to the home of a teammate in order to have a ride to school to catch the team bus. The routines the boys were used to did not work for a night game. A bus trip to an afternoon game meant getting out of school early and boarding the bus at the busway.

 

The game was scheduled to start at 7:00. The players were told that the bus would leave for Centralia promptly at 5:15. The boys knew that Coach Ecklund always followed through on what he said and that when he said promptly, he meant PROMPTLY. The coach had been informed that Mason would be riding to Centralia with Larry Sanders and why. Having a player on the team sing the National Anthem was a first for Coach Ecklund and he was excited to see how it all worked out. He had heard that Mason was a talented singer, and now he would find out how talented.

 

Aiden went to Gordy’s house after school. Since this was the start of a four-day weekend there was no rush to do what little homework had been assigned. Most of the teachers were like Mr. Edison, Aiden’s Core teacher. “I don’t plan on doing much work over the holiday weekend,” he would tell his students, “so I can’t expect you to do much either.” The result was the only assigned homework Gordy and Aiden had was a few math problems. With nothing better to do Gordy and Aiden locked themselves in to playing video games.

 

“Four things,” Gordy said after beating Aiden for the second time in three games.

 

“Play hard, play smart, play to win, and have fucking fun,” Aiden belted out.

 

“You get an A for attitude,” Gordy said. “Go Titans!”

 

“Go Titans!” Aiden echoed.

 

Gordy’s mother arrived home just after four and heated up the chicken and noodles dinner she had prepared the night before. The boys ate lustily and before they knew it they were at Mayfield Middle School ready to board the bus parked in the bus zone. Aiden noted it was bus number three, which was the one Mrs. Emerson usually drove.

 

The Mayfield School District had ten full-size and four half-size school buses. Aiden was pleased that their driver was Mrs. Emerson. She rarely drove team buses for afternoon games since she had a regular bus route; she had requested driving the team to Centralia for the night game, since she was a big fan of Mayfield Middle School sports and finished her route long before five. She had also been the driver for the soccer team the night before, although she drove bus seven which was usually assigned to games. She was pleased to be assigned her regular bus for this game.

 

Aiden was surprised to see Skip sitting in the seat behind the driver’s seat. “Hey, Skip, are you coming to root for us?” Aiden asked when he saw his young friend.

 

“Yep. And don’t worry I have permission from everybody but the janitor to ride today and he don’t count,” Skip grinned.

 

“He DOESN’T count,” Mrs. Emerson said over her shoulder. Aiden grinned and ran his left index finger over his right finger to chide Skip for his faux pas. Aiden took a seat a little past the middle of the bus hoping to have it to himself. He knew Gordy wouldn’t be sitting next to him since they had agreed to sit solo, if possible, on the way to the game. With 26 Titan players, plus three coaches, and Skip, there were 30 passengers on the bus. The bus held 48. The six eighth graders were guaranteed a seat by themselves if that was what they wanted. The JV players had to double up in the pair of seats since they wouldn’t be playing. Any other open seats would be dealt with by the remaining varsity players.

 

Aiden ended up having a partner, however, when Riley asked if he could take the empty seat next to him. Aiden patted the seat and Riley sat next to him. “Don’t worry, I won’t be talking to you. I just wanted to sit next to somebody who was serious about being quiet.”

 

“I wasn’t worried, Riley. You can sit next to me, and we’ll help each other work on getting in our zones.” When the bus pulled out of the bus zone and started for Centralia, nobody was surprised by how quiet it was. The players were in game mode and wanted to stay there.

 

As the bus pulled away from the school, Miles asked where Mason was.

 

“I don’t know,” Trent replied. “I didn’t notice he wasn’t here. Damn, I can’t believe he missed the bus.”

 

Aiden knew where Mason was but couldn’t say anything.  He and Larry had discussed Mason and what he had been picked to do. Larry said he hoped it all worked out for Mason, especially with the short notice. Aiden responded that he knew exactly how Mason would do. “He’s going to kick ass,” he had told his Pop.

 

“Coach! Did you know that Mason missed the bus?” Trent called out.

 

“Don’t worry about it,” Coach Ecklund shouted back. “It’s all good. Get your minds on the game.”

 

The boys worked to do that, but they still couldn’t help wondering about the mysterious absences by Mason—missing home room, missing third period, and now missing the bus.

 

Just before Aiden boarded the bus, Skyler had sent him a text, which Aiden elected to ignore. He already knew the text would be a bunch of trash talk. Instead, he closed his eyes and worked on his zone, the sounds of the bus putting him to sleep. Next to Aiden, Riley dozed off, his head resting on Aiden’s shoulder. That was how they remained until the bus pulled into the parking lot at the Centralia sports complex.

 

“You guys were cute,” Barry grinned as he walked past Aiden and Riley. “I should have taken a picture for Nolan. I hope Riley didn’t drool on you, Aiden.” Riley and Aiden nodded but said nothing.

 

“I didn’t drool on you, did I?” Riley asked Aiden after Barry walked away.

 

“Nope. You were a good boy,” Aiden responded as he brushed his uniform shirt with his right hand.

 

The JV players had been told not to leave their seats until the varsity players had exited the bus. They wished the exiting players good luck as they walked by. “Go kick ass, Aiden,” Skip said as Aiden came up to his seat. Aiden ruffled the ten-year-old’s hair and noticed Mrs. Emerson break into a smile after the exchange between the two.

 

<Field 2, Centralia Sports Complex>

 

The Titans arrived at the field a few minutes before six. They had been assigned the first base dugout the day before in a blind draw during a conference call between the Monte and Mayfield athletic directors and the Harbor View principal, who was also the Seamount League commissioner. The Titans were also scheduled to take infield second. As they stored their gear in the dugout, the Monte Bulldogs arrived at the field and started taking possession of the third base dugout. Both teams went through the usual stretching and warming up their throwing arms in the open areas outside of the fence.

 

The team was pleased to see Mason enter the field before they started their warmup exercises. Mason knew his teammates were going to flood him with questions about where he had been and decided to follow the advice Larry had given him during the ride to Centralia. After all, Larry was the high school baseball coach with three State Championships, so he should know what the best thing to do would be.

 

“It was very unselfish of you to not tell your teammates the news about your singing. I’m sure it helped keep them focused at school and maybe on the bus,” Larry had told Mason. He had his doubts about the focus on the bus since Mason not being on board was sure to create controversy about where he was. “I think when you see the team on the field, it will be time to tell them. The answer will help return their focus quicker than all of the questions will.” 

 

Before they could ask him where he had been, Mason held up his hand. “All I want to do is tell you what happened and then let’s get ready to play. I was asked this morning if I would substitute for the singer who was going to sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ She got sick and can’t do it.”

 

The team burst out into cheers and oohs and aahs but quickly stopped when Trent yelled, “Time to work hard, play hard…”

 

“…play to win and HAVE FUN!” the Titan players concluded.

 

Monte took their infield practice, and the Titans were ready for theirs as soon as the Bulldogs left the field. Unlike the Bulldogs, whose infield was quiet but crisp, the Titans infield was noisy and somewhat sloppy. Nobody was concerned about the sloppy infield practice since it was nothing new. Coach Ecklund told them often that infield practice wasn’t about being ready, it was about getting ready.

 

While the Titans received a couple of perks in the blind draw, the home team for the game was chosen in the traditional manner: a coin flip during the pregame conference at home plate. There was more to being the home team than the position on the scoreboard. In baseball slang the home team was said to have the hammer, meaning it had the last at bat in a game. The home team had the advantage of immediately winning the game if it took the lead in the last inning—that run led to a walk-off win. Hence—the hammer.

 

As with most playoff and tournament games, the home team would be decided by a flip of a coin. Usually, the coin is flipped by the home plate umpire at the pre-game conference at home plate. The tournament decides the criteria for which team calls the flip. As soon as the Titans completed their infield practice, the umpires called for the coaches to meet at home. Coach Ecklund went out with Scott, and Blake Leingang, the Monte coach, came out with Zeke North, the Monte captain. Scott and Trent were co-captains, but Trent was finishing his pitching warmup in the Titan bullpen which was why only Scott accompanied the coach. There would be three umpires calling the game.

 

Everybody shook hands as the three umpires, the coaches, and the captains introduced themselves. The coaches exchanged lineup cards, and each gave a copy of his lineup to Bruce Lewis, the home plate umpire. After checking over the lineups, he went through the ground rules and then asked if there were any questions. There were none. “I assume that the team calling the flip in the traditional manner, which means the team that traveled the farthest to the game will make the call”, Bruce said. The coaches acknowledged that the umpire was correct. “Who will call the flip for Mayfield?” he asked.

         

Scott stepped forward and said he would make the call. The umpire flipped the coin into the air and Scott loudly called, “HEADS!”.

 

The ump let the coin hit the ground and everyone could see that it had come up tails. “It looks like Monte has the hammer,” the umpire said. “The home team can take the field.”  The coaches and captains returned to their respective dugouts.

 

The Centralia Complex was the biggest and best in the county. All the fields had electronic scoreboards. Once the scoreboard operator saw who the home team was, she typed “Titans” and “Bulldogs” into the visitor and home lines. All the scoreboard operators were volunteers.             

 

“Let’s go out and have fun!” Scott called out as he entered the dugout.

 

“And play smart!” Barry yelled.

 

“And play hard!” Mason added.

 

“Play to Win!” everyone shouted out together.

 

Not bad for something we’ve never practiced, Aiden thought. 

 

Next: The Championship Game.