Chapter 36

August 3, 2017

Dear Ms. Diary,

I woke shortly after 6:00, wide awake after a good night’s sleep. Seeing that Rhee was still out of it, I crept out of bed to my PC and wrote most of yesterday’s diary account. I will finish it after practice, as reliving yesterday’s fellatio instruction has gotten me excited and Rhee is rousing.

[Added August 4]

As Rhee was waking, I threw the sheet off her and planted my face between her legs.

“Hey,” she said, “I have to pee. Save that for a few minutes.”

I thought about a shower and agreed enthusiastically. We traded places on the throne, then stepped into the shower, both wearing shower caps. We washed each other which led to other interesting and fun interactions, resulting in nice morning orgasms. Dad and Mom were both gone when we got downstairs, so we fixed ourselves breakfast, dressed, and headed to practice.

As we stepped out the front door, Rhee said, “I don’t want to get into it, now, as I don’t want to get turned on, again, but last night ... Oh. My. God.”

“Yeah, I know just what you mean. We’re each going to make love with Dad. I hope that it’s sooner, rather than later.”

“You and me, both, but I’m already getting worked up, so let’s table this and talk about something else.”

“Okay. Saturday. Do we come home with the tournament trophy?”

“Unless GV comes up with a spectacular counter to our Sanderson defense or we forget how to play our brand of soccer, I find it difficult to see how we don’t go to the state tournament. Five weeks ago, I would not have been so sure; Heather is the difference; there’s no doubt.”

“Agreed. Next year, with the DWP front line ... I like our chances at state enough this year, but I think that with Civia, we have a chance to take it all.”

That discussion took us to the pitch, where we began stretching while chatting with Civia and Ann. When Coach arrived, she pulled Civia aside to explain the Sanderson plan to her and seemed thankful that we had already apprised her of the bones and much of the details of the plan. Civia and Coach ran us through an hour-long scrimmage of the amended plan, starter offense against starter defense and midfield, backups filling in the rest of the slots. Kanda and Dakota have really come into their own of late. Though they were matched against the starting midfield, they did a reasonable job of holding their own. Haven did, too, but she’s got a couple of years’ experience on those two, so we expect her to do well.

With our wider skill set and better speed across the offense than GV’s, we probably did better against the Sanderson plan than GV might, but the D did hold Rhee scoreless. Of course, Heather and Mia both scored goals, with Heather getting two (including a lovely outside-left shot that curled away from Brianna and caromed off the far post).

Coach ended the scrimmage, had us all run another two laps of the field, then gathered us to critique the Sanderson Plan. We decided that we didn’t think any tweaks were necessary because we felt that our planned frequent substitutions at the left midfielder slot would negate much of the impact that our right wing (Heather) had had on the defensive plan. Coach sent us all home a bit earlier than usual and promised a short practice tomorrow, which will consist mostly of warmup, laps, and discussion of the two game plans for Saturday.

Unlike last night, the goings-on at home with the family were tame, although still quite pleasant: dinner, a movie, and a short game of Uno. Rhee and I, however, spent quite a bit of time rehashing the recent sexual “events.” We got ourselves worked up reliving them and conjecturing about the future. A mutually satisfying multi-orgasm session sent us to the Land of Nod.

August 5, 2017

[Written August 7]

Both Dad and Carol drove the 1.5-hour trip to New Paris, because we were taking Gracey and Liya home with us after the tournament. Mrs. García was taking them to the game but had to leave after the first game to go to a meeting where she was presenting a paper tomorrow. Apparently, she had considered having one of her co-authors present it so she could be there for both games, but Gracey had convinced her that it was important enough for her career to justify her missing the second game. Mrs. Nadhi was scheduled on one of the large celestial telescopes for the next few nights, so she was out of town, too. Sandy rode with Carol, while Rhee, Heather, and I rode with Dad.

All the teams had to be checked in by 8:30, so we had to leave early, even though our first game didn’t start until noon. We all watched the GV-Paradise game, which was really good. While a back-and-forth affair, Sanderson was the difference, scoring a hat trick, with Dowdell getting a goal, and one of their fullbacks icing the game with a goal in the last three minutes on a set play off a corner kick. We might have expected a benefit out of Charlize playing the entirety of a hard-fought game, however, she would have a long breather between games, negating much of the possible impact.

As we expected and suggested by the result of our last meeting, Watermelon Mountain did not really have a chance against us. By the 35^th minute when the last of the starters (Brianna) was on the sidelines, we were up 5-0, with Rhee and Heather each notching two goals, but with Ann starting off the scoring with one of her rockets from well outside the penalty box. I spread my three assists around, one each to the three scorers.

We brought the starting offense and starting wing midfielders on beginning around the 75^th minute but left the backup D in because we wanted the starting D rested for the game against GV. Before that, Tonda scored twice and Lissa and Dakota once each (the latter being Dakota’s first competition goal), while Mia scored – interestingly enough, on an outside-right shot that burned the grass into the right corner – in the last minute to bring the final score to 10-1.

The mood in the locker room was happy, but not uproarious, as we expected to win, and to win handily. Dakota was certainly happy, and many of the team drifted by to give her a back pat or a hug in congratulations.

“Gather ‘round,” Coach called. She immediately had everyone’s attention.

“Okay. The easy part of the day is over. I’m happy to see that none of you has gotten carried away, as we still have GV to play. While I want you to be confident against them, I don’t want to see any cockiness. That is a good team.

“Attagirls go to many for this game. Chief among them, once again, attagirls go to the entire contingent of backup midfielders. Again, you showed your stuff, showed that you could control the tempo, control the game on either side of the midline. Three cheers for Haven, Kanda, and Dakota!”

Now, there was uproariousness! [I know. It is not a word, but it fits.] The three all got lots of back pats, high fives, and voiced congratulations and thank-yous.

“Other attagirls go to Marli for a couple of great saves and to the backup offense, which would have scored as many goals as the starting offense if Mia hadn’t gone and ruined it in the last minute!”

There was much laughter.

“Seriously, that front line played very well, and I want to single out Alex’s sweet assist on Tonda’s second goal. However good that assist was, I think that there was a better assist today and I’d like to see if anyone else noticed.”

[Rhee insisted that I include this part.]

Ann and Tonda both started speaking, and, realizing that they were stepping on each other, both stopped. Coach called on Tonda.

“I think that it was Beth’s pass to Ann.”

“I’m glad that you saw that, Tonda. Would you care to explain your reasoning?”

“I don’t really know how she did it. She had just blown by that midfielder with the old kick-the-ball-one-way-and-run-around-the-defender-the-other-way trick. I noticed Ann charging up behind her and was thinking that she should lay the ball back for her, but I didn’t see her turn and look, so figured that Beth didn’t see Ann. However, she made a great fake as if to pass to Rhee, which sucked the center half that way, opening a huge slot in the D. Beth must have seen Ann, because she made a great backheel right to where Ann was going to be about five yards outside the box. In my experience, that was one of the best assists that I’ve ever seen in person. All Ann had to do was keep it between the uprights and below the crossbar and at least a couple yards away from the goalie.”

To my embarrassment, Ann spoke up.

“I agree with Tonda. I was hoping that Beth would turn and see me because I had a good angle even before she sucked that center half out of my way. When it looked like she was going to try to force it into Rhee, I almost gave up but thought that I might get a rebound or be able to help keep the ball in play. I was pleasantly surprised when she laid that ball out perfectly for me. Tonda was right. Once Beth sent it back to me, unless I screwed it up, it was a sure thing. I also agree with Tonda that that was the sweetest assist that I’ve ever personally seen, and I am happy that I was able to make it work out for Beth.”

I felt my face burning as a bunch of hands was laid on me and Lissa hugged me.

“I agree with all of that,” Coach said. “I’ve been involved in soccer for longer than any of you have been alive and, while possibly not the best assist I’ve ever seen, it is right up there among the leaders. Beth hates it when she’s singled out for praise for something that she considers part of her job, but if any proof is needed as to why she’s the offensive quarterback, that assist provides it.

“She had obviously noticed Ann at some point, probably in her phenomenal peripheral vision, but what did she do? She didn’t give the defense any clue what she was going to do by obviously looking at Ann. She also could have laid that pass back to Ann sooner, but she worked out a way, on the fly, you will notice, to move that center half a bit more out of Ann’s way before she laid it back.

“Field awareness is probably the hardest skill to teach because it’s only partly physical: having good peripheral vision. Most of it is mental, being able to keep track not only of where everyone is, but more importantly, where everyone is going to be. Ann did not have to slow down or speed up or alter her stride. That pass hit Ann’s right foot at precisely the right place and time. Making that pass so perfect requires a mind that can do trigonometry on the fly: multiple bodies in motion with different vectors and velocities.

“This is the same skill that enables good dribblers to do their thing and why we’ve moved Lissa to sweeper, backing Beth up. To dribble past or through more than one defender in close proximity requires that same spatial awareness and being able to track multiple defenders and teammates at the same time. Think of it this way. A move that puts the ball in a certain place might well work on getting past the first defender but give the ball away to the second defender. A good dribbler in traffic has to keep both, or more, defenders in mind, even when dealing with the first one.

“Anyway, I digress. Attagirl to Beth for a spectacular assist to get our scoring started. That attagirl was simple compared to coming up with whom to award the game ball. I’d like to give it to the backup midfield, and I will do something for them as a unit. However, one of those three made just a bit more difference than the others. She made a couple of crucial stops deep in our side that turned away dangerous penetrations by Watermelon, initiated two counterattacks that resulted in goals, and scored one herself. The game ball goes to Dakota Brigham!”

There was much rejoicing and back-slapping. Dakota looked stunned. Though she is part of the Kanda-Dakota duo that is nearly always seen together, Kanda is the leader. However, as has been evident in the past few weeks, Dakota has really come on. All the playing time she has gotten of late has given her much more confidence, as it has for the rest of the backups, but she has probably come further than any of them as she used to be the weakest of the midfielders.

Coach had organized a car-pooling effort to get us all to a restaurant for a late lunch/afternoon snack, after which we returned in time to watch the second half of the Paradise-Watermelon Mountain game. Paradise would probably have won, regardless, but we had seemingly shredded Watermelon’s confidence, as Paradise won 8-2. Watermelon had played Paradise much closer in their previous meetings.

The game, thus, held little interest for some of us, and Rhee, Heather, and I joined Gracey and Liya who were talking with Dad and the Moms. Being a bit more private than the restaurant, the three of us received hugs and congratulations from the adults.

Dad decided that he would embarrass me further by saying where all could hear, “I saw that pass you made early in the game to Ann off which she scored that sizzling goal and thought that it was a pretty good pass. Gracey tells me that it was one of the best assists that Coach has ever seen. Though I’ve tried to learn this game of yours, I guess I don’t really understand and was hoping that you could explain it.”

I stared at Dad, trying to think of some way to explain the pass that did not sound like bragging, but Rhee jumped in.

“Oh, no, Dad. You won’t get a valid explanation from Beth, as she’s too afraid of being seen as egotistical, even though she’s probably the least egotistical person I know. Coach explained it well in the locker room. That pass was a result of Beth’s peripheral vision combined with her field awareness, knowing where everyone around her is and will be. As Coach explained it, Beth, though she was heading upfield, had obviously seen Ann behind her charging up from her fullback position, almost certainly with her peripheral vision.

“However, that’s not the difficult part of it. That brilliant mind of hers figured out that she could suck the center half out of position and out of Ann’s way by faking a pass to me, even though I was reasonably well covered, as she knows that defenses tend to collapse on me because of my scoring history. The center half fell for it, moving a couple of yards in my direction. Then, without ever actually looking at Ann, so that the defense couldn’t anticipate her plan, she made a difficult, but amazingly pretty, backheel pass right onto Ann’s charging rocket launcher of a right foot. Coach said that the mind that could do that could do some complex trigonometry on the fly.”

“Yes,” said Dad, “multiple bodies in motion, multiple vectors, differing velocities. The math is complex, but athletes seem to be able to do it with ease. Think about an outfielder catching a fly ball. He, or she, has to determine where the ball will be when he or she can catch it. That means estimating the parabola of the ball’s travel, although it’s not strictly a parabola, as air resistance and wind both impact the true shape of the ball’s flight.” He turned to me. “That is not meant in any way to demean your ability to put the soccer ball precisely where it needed to be. I mentioned all that only to point out how difficult what you did is.” Dad wrapped me in his arms. “Now that I understand what was involved, I’m even more impressed with you, Beth. Did you purposefully try to move that center half out of the way? Tell me the truth.”

I pressed more fully into Dad’s chest and nodded my head against it.

“I am impressed with the capabilities of human brains, in general, but particularly with your mind, in how quickly you can figure out a plan of action, all while running, keeping a ball under control ... with feet, for crying out loud, anticipating how a defense in general and particular defense players will react, calculating where a teammate will be and when, and using a body part not designed for the task to impel that ball backward at a particular speed and with particular direction. It all seems impossible when one breaks down all the parts of the play that are required for success, but skilled players of all sports seem to do it with ease. That’s why we mere mortals marvel at professional and other skilled athletes at the things they do, precisely because they seem impossible. And they are ... for us mere mortals.”

I dropped my head further and complained, “Da-adddd.”

Rhee was the first to pile on, followed closely by the rest of The Gang. Of course, it was Liya, among The Gang, who took me to task.

“Girl, you have no cause for embarrassment. You should be proud, and it’s okay to be proud! It’s not okay to point out to others how wonderful you are, but it’s okay to be proud, to be happy with your abilities. While some of that is innate, most of it is practice. Practice, practice, and more boring practice. Most of the world’s humans are not willing or don’t have the time to put into that practice. So, buck up. Hold your head high and be proud of what you accomplished for your team. Yes, it’s your job, but not everyone can do your job. So, be proud!”

“She’s right, Honey,” Dad said quietly. “Be proud of your accomplishments, whether anyone notices or not. Liya is particularly right about the job aspect. No matter what your job is, remember that not everyone has the physical or mental capabilities to do that job. If you do it well, that is cause for pride. Not overweening pride, but pride nonetheless.”

I looked up into his eyes for some time and saw only honesty and sincerity. Perhaps, I thought, I have gone overboard in the other direction concerning my accomplishments. I told myself to cogitate on Liya’s and Dad’s words.

I squeezed Dad extra tight. “Thanks, Dad.” I gently pulled out of Dad’s arms and forced my way through Rhee to Liya and hugged her tightly. “Again, Liya, you have helped me. You’re my secret alter-ego. Keep kicking my butt when I get like that. I really treasure you and your positive impact on me.”

Both Moms gave me hugs and congratulations and then the conversation drifted to multiple subjects among different sets of conversants. Heather pulled me aside.

“Don’t poo-pooh this. That was a helluva play. What no one said in that scrum with your Dad, though I’m sure that Rhee knows it, is that you’ve become a stronger team leader as the season has progressed. Oh, you were good before, but it’s obvious to me that you’re more confident in both of your positions, sweeper and team captain. Part of that is probably due to your greater knowledge of, thus higher comfort level with, all of us. I am more and more glad that there was an open slot on this team when we moved here. Soccer has changed for me from something that I liked but whose primary purpose was to get me out of the house to something that I truly enjoy. You are part of that change, particularly of that enjoyment. Though I was a bit nervous about teaching outside-foot shooting, I wound up enjoying it. I also greatly enjoy being on this offense. Then, there’s my incredibly better personal life. I’ve said it before, but, thanks, Beth.”

I must have looked like a gaping fish because I certainly did not know how to respond to that. Was I better at my team jobs now than I was earlier? That would almost have to be true, at least a little, as experience always imparts more capability. But enough that Heather could notice it? And I am not downplaying Heather’s discernment capability, because she has that in spades. I don’t feel that I am all that much better at my team jobs, but she was right about my comfort level, and that has to play a part in my ability. Another item for future cogitation.

All this ran through my mind in the time that it took for Heather to get exasperated with my non-responsiveness and to emulate a Rhee hug.

“Beth, you are wonderful, and Rhee is right: You need more capability to accurately assess both your ability and your impact on those around you. Liya was also right: You are The Gang’s center of gravity. Not only are you going to have to get over worrying about it, you’re also going to have to accept it. I have never met anyone like you ... someone with so much capability that uses that capability and doesn’t realize it. However, you are also right: Any one of us could lead, but we let you do so. Sort of. Notice, however, that all of us do lead ... when we beat you to understanding a situation. But also notice that those situations are nearly always times in which you waffle over putting yourself forward. Please, get over that.”

Then she grinned at me ... with those sparkling blue eyes.

I shook my head. “I guess I have some self-analysis and thinking to do. Thanks, Heather.”

I saw Coach motioning me to her, Civia at her side. “Please start herding the cats to that out-of-the-way spot over there.” I nodded, returned to Heather, and asked her to help in cat-herding, which we accomplished anon.

“I’ll go over our game plan while you get your stretching done.” Coach proceeded to remind us of the details of the complex plan of double-teaming Sanderson on our side of the pitch. [See Chapter 28 for details.]

“Emma, Haven, Kanda, Dakota. When you’re on the field in the left-half slot, though your primary task is to play that position, also very important is giving Zahira or Sophia help with Dowdell, their right wing. Because so much of our midfield will have extra duties in this game, counterattacks will be more critical than usual. Though good at them, this team has never focused hard on counterattacks. Fullbacks and, particularly, midfielders, if you get possession, I want your first thought after making sure that you retain possession to be offense. Look up. Find Beth. Find Mia. Find Heather. Find Rhee. Find one of them. If you can, get the ball to her. Because of the new wrinkle in our Sanderson Plan and our confidence in Gracey’s and Abby’s abilities to shut down their left wing, Zala ... and Dakota when she’s playing there, can be more offense-oriented. So, fullbacks, halfbacks, when you look up, look also for your right half. If you’re being pressed and can boot it, boot it down Heather’s side, she just might catch up with it. As I’ve said before, our offense kicks ass! They can do their job, even when outnumbered. So, get the ball going forward.

“Midfielders. We have just spent a week of practice moving every one of you around, playing each of the three positions. I am confident of your ability to adapt and, most importantly, to think; to remember what each position’s specific task in this game is. The center half’s nearly sole responsibility in our half of the field is Sanderson. Don’t give her wiggle room. Left half, position play, but help out on Dowdell. If they sub for her, then position play. Right half, offense. Work with Beth and Heather.

“Mia, that leaves you as something of a pariah out there on the left side by yourself. Expect to see little action on that side, as most of the outlet passes from the D will be to the right. However, you should also expect their D to almost forget about you. I expect, as per usual, that their D will concentrate on Rhee and, now that they know how dangerous Heather is, on her. I’m sure that you and your devious mind can find a way to make them pay for ignoring you.

“Beth, you and the rest of our offense is our first line of defense. Get us some goals. Get us a lead. With a multi-goal lead, we can sit back and defend. Without a lead, we have to balance O and D, possibly giving Sanderson more wiggle room than we would like to allow her. As you know, with wiggle room, she will hurt us.”

Coach slowly looked around at each of us. As her gaze visited each team member, that girl stood and straightened to her full height; a few nodded. My understanding is that this team has not been in this game, the tournament final, in seven years.

With the field empty and GV obviously at their benches, Coach led us over to ours. Ann and I got the typical pre-game drills going, then I wandered over to Coach.

“Coach, you seem nervous.”

She looked at me for a few seconds, looked up and around, then responded. “I guess I am. I’m confident of this team, but I’ve never won this thing, and been in this game only once before. We lost a heartbreaker, and the team that beat us, New Paris, actually, lost in the first round at state. I was pretty sure that we could have beaten that team, then, Centerville, as we matched up really well against them. That was my first year here. Just getting to the final got me a bonus and a contract extension. My contract is up this year, but I have reasonable confidence that I’ll get a new contract.

“I don’t want you worrying about any of that, though. I want that mind of yours focused on getting us some early goals. I know that you don’t need the reminder, but do keep your eye on Mia. I suspect that if you are right-side focused early on, they’ll almost leave her alone.

“So, I suggest taking any shot at a streaking Heather. Without a streak, make Rhee give their entire D a workout. Get her shots, even if they’re not good ones. I want that D of theirs to collapse on her. I know that she won’t like it and could get frustrated. It’s your job to keep her on keel, despite any frustration. Okay?”

I nodded, but a bit tentatively.

“Beth, I’m not really worried about the outcome, though I do have concerns about Sanderson. Rhee knows that part of her job is to attract their D. Just remind her of it. If they start collapsing on her, that’s the end for them. Heather and Mia and you will eat them alive. In fact, I want you to quietly go talk to Heather and tell her that if she gets an early chance to streak, to take it. However, also tell her that I want her to be ... umm ... benign until we see that the D is concentrating on Rhee. Then have her open up. I want her slashing through the D, giving Rhee and, particularly, you pass options. If we can manipulate that D in this way, we’ll get them to overload on their left, and that will pop Mia free.”

She looked around again, then, even more quietly said, “Can you imagine what we could do to this defense if we could suddenly put Civia at left wing about halfway through the first half?”

I looked in Coach’s eyes for quite a while. “I can imagine that you’re pissed off right now. I know that I am. GV would stand no chance against a DWP line. They wouldn’t need me. Civia’s a natural playmaker. I suspect that you’ve already thought of these, but I have two ... umm ... thoughts about your plans for her.” When she nodded, I continued. “When I graduate, you’ll put her at sweeper, yes?”

“Yes. The other?”

“If you haven’t already, when will you initiate whatever paperwork is required to get a middle-school girl to play for the high-school varsity team?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “You know about that?”

“Yes. I remember an 8^th-grade boy played on East’s varsity basketball team.”

Coach shook her head, then smiled at me. “Beth, you really would make a great coach. And, yes, I’ve already gotten things started with Civia, though I haven’t, yet, asked her, so please keep it under your hat. If you’ve thought of this wrinkle in the rules, you must have also thought, you and that sidekick of yours, Rhee, about an 11-year-old on a high-school varsity team. Have you?”

“Yeah, Rhee and I talked about it. We find it amusing. We also think that she could make the team, perhaps even as a starter. We’ve already started the process of involving her in our gang of friends. I don’t think that she has good friends, and she’ll probably need such if she finds herself on a high-school varsity soccer team at age 11. Any of us on this team will stick up for her, even against the seniors, who will probably have serious doubts.”

Again, Coach shook her head. “And, here, I thought that I was being so devious and holding my cards close when you’ve already figured it out and gotten your henchpeople on the job. Thank you, Beth. I hadn’t thought about things from the perspective of Civia’s needs in such a situation. Getting her a supportive set of friends, particularly friends that will be important to that team, will be very helpful. That was superb thinking!”

“Thanks, Coach. As you may have figured out by now, I like to think, to anticipate.”

“Yes, and that’s what makes you such a good sweeper and such a good team captain. By the way, I meant what I said in the locker room. That assist on Ann’s goal was phenomenal. The pass was good, but the design of your play is what elevates it to superlatives.”

I colored a bit but kept my head and eyes level on Coach. “Thanks, Coach.”

“Okay, Captain. Get your butt out there and quietly let our front line know our plans.”

I nodded and rambled over to where Rhee and others were practicing through passes; I pulled Rhee aside.

“Rhee, we’re going to make the first part of this game frustrating for you.”

“Yeah. I figured that you’d plan on getting me the ball whenever you could early in the game to get the usual collapse-on-Rhee thing going. I’m cool. I won’t blow up as I did in that first Paradise game. I understand it, now. I suppose you want me taking whatever shots I can manufacture, yes?”

I nodded. “To balance that a bit, I’m going to tell Heather to streak with abandon. Coach would like to have a couple of quick goals. Please be prepared to support her. She’ll know to use you as an outlet, which might get you a goal. In fact, please plan on trailing her on streaks, not initiating them. Oh, and you might want to ignore an open Mia a time or two early on.”