Chapter 17

The meet Saturday was brutal, but the girls were up to it. It was the boys who suffered this time. Dennis got everyone warmed up and ready to go, then stopped to tape Tori, Leah, and Lana. He shoved a roll of tape in his pocket and went to the shot put ring where he was to be a measurer. It was a good day to be in the throwing competition. Both Corrine and Rita managed puts of over thirty feet to place in the ribbons. Jennifer and Erin both made strong showings in the discus. Their throws of 91’ and 98’ were good for second and third place.

When the field events were through, he hurried to the track for the running events and was stopped along the way by Laura.

“Can you tape me up, Dennis? Coach is having me take on the three-k instead of Janice.”

“Is Janice okay?” Dennis asked as he pulled the roll of tape from his pocket. They settled in a clear-spot in the infield.

“Yeah. It’s the whole number of events thing. She was registered for five events and she’s needed more in the 4x800 relay. It’s Emily who didn’t make it today.”

“I knew someone was missing. How is she?”

“Subjected to parental whims. They decided she was needed for a visit to Minneapolis for the weekend,” Laura said. “You’re really good at this. And fast.” She flexed her taped ankle to make sure she could still run as he finished up the other foot.

“Fast girls are my specialty. Go get ‘em, Angeline.”

“Thanks, Dennis.” She kissed him on the cheek and reached the track just in time for the three-k call.

“Someone’s got another girlfriend,” Debbie said in his ear. “Are you sure I can’t audition?”

“You’re really nice, Debbie. I just can’t handle any more girlfriends. Honest,” he said. “Isn’t the 200-meter prelim coming up?”

“About fifteen minutes. Want to rub my legs for me? You know, get me loosened up?” she said.

“Any looser isn’t allowed on the track meet field,” Dennis whispered.

“Well, come to the party tonight, anyway. I can be a lot looser there.” She strode away to join the other sprinters waiting their turn on the track. Dennis waited until the current race ended and crossed the track to the coaches’ box. Technically, he wasn’t allowed in the infield unless he was working. The coaches all had to stay on the outside of the track, too.

“It’s a good thing you carry a roll of that in your pocket,” Coach Andy said as Dennis retrieved his kit and replenished the roll.

“It comes in handy,” Dennis laughed. “Look at Laura! She’s hanging with the leader!”

“She’s been improving steadily. I hope she has enough gas to make it around the last circuit. She could make this her race.”

The coaches and managers cheered as the runners made their turn for the last lap of the race. The runner from Edison was ranked pretty high in the state seedings, but Laura stuck right with her. They stretched it out in the last 200 meters and Laura edged into first place at the finish line. She stumbled a few steps farther and collapsed on the track.

“Go!” Andy commanded Dennis. Dennis grabbed his kit and a bottle of water and ran along the sidelines until the last of the runners had crossed the finish line. Then he sprinted to Laura’s side. He checked quickly to see if she was cramped, but she motioned to her mouth. He uncapped the water bottle and held it to her lips. She took a gulp thankfully.

“Dry mouth,” she gasped. “I couldn’t get my tongue off the roof of my mouth.” Dennis helped her stand and she leaned heavily on him as they made their way to the infield. He flashed a thumbs-up signal to the coaches.

“That was a great run, Laura. Congratulations!” he said as they walked along so she didn’t cramp up after the race. “I didn’t hold a watch, but I’m pretty sure that was an under 12:30 run. Maybe under 12:20.”

“It felt good, but I wouldn’t have been able to make another three meters. Thanks for helping, Dennis.” She took the remains of the water with her as she headed to the team circle and Dennis headed back to the coaches.

A forty-five-minute break was called and everyone headed for their team circle to eat the lunches they’d packed. It was nice to have a break between the 100 and 200-meter prelims and the finals, but everyone ate sparingly. The rest of the race day went well for the Bartley girls. Brenda got a first-place ribbon in the 100-meter dash. Judith got her first in the 200-meter dash, and again in the 4x200 relay. The relay team was really stoked as the four girls had only won one other relay against a single school. In a multi-school event, it was their first.

The jubilant girls took home the top team honors, for the first time placing above the boys. The combined team was second. The bus ride home was boisterous. Everyone started talking about what would be coming the next weekend at the Drake Relays. It was the first time they would be running against statewide competition.

On the bus, Dennis carefully cut the tape from the girls he’d helped and massaged their feet for a few minutes. That got all the girls jealous and they kept him rubbing feet all the way back to Bartley. He didn’t really mind.

Back at school, everyone split up, promising to see each other later in the evening for the party at Debbie’s house. Her house seemed to be the best for parties the size of the team. Or maybe her parents just didn’t care. The big difference with this party from any other Dennis had ever attended was that both boys and girls were invited. The only party he’d been to that had boys was the Halloween party at Natalie’s house. Only Roberta, Brenda, and Carol had brought dates and Dennis hadn’t been there past eleven. But from the chatter on the bus, many of the junior and senior girls were bringing dates to this party. Well, Dennis figured that at least he wouldn’t be the object of everyone’s curiosity. He hoped.

“I’ll come back and pick you up for the party at eight, so you should have plenty of time to read to Peg,” Natalie said. “Sorry I can’t just stay now, but I need to put an appearance in at home first.”

“You need to go show off your ribbons,” Dennis laughed. Natalie had been on the second place shuttle hurdle relay and had a third place in the 110-meter hurdles. It was a good showing and a personal best for Natalie.

“I’m going to get a blue before this season is over,” she said. “But these are nice for now.”

“I’m really proud of you, lover. You’re a great athlete.”

“It’s partly your training and Coach Andy’s drills. He was impressed with what you had us doing with the dual cable machine. He’d never thought of adding the foot movement along with the arm movement. It’s not in any of the books.”

“It just seemed to make sense. I had to try it to make sure I didn’t just fall on my face or something. I can really feel the stretch, though.”

“Me, too. I think you’re making my boobs bigger.”

“No, you’re not serious.”

“Not exactly. My chest is getting bigger, so my boobs stick out more.”

“I think they’re beautiful.”

“I hope so. Here we are. I’ll pick you up at eight,” Natalie said. She leaned across the console and kissed Dennis. “Lover,” she whispered.

“Lover,” he responded. He hopped out of the car and skipped up to the porch, turning to wave as she pulled away from the curb.

He was surprised when he went out to get in the car at eight o’clock. Natalie was driving, but Roberta was in the passenger seat. Daniella was in the back seat waiting for him.

“Um ... Are we all going together?”

“I couldn’t help it, honey. They cried until I agreed to bring them along,” Natalie giggled. “We drew straws to see who had to drive and I lost. These two perverts decided the other positions.”

“Well, I never object too strenuously to having any one of my girlfriends next to me in the back seat. Love you, Daniella.”

“Really, Dennis?” She slammed her lips against his and they continued the kiss all the way into the country to Debbie’s house. In fact, when they pulled into the drive to park, they had to put their clothes back together.

“Wow! What got into you, Daniella?”

“You, I hope. I’m really, really horny and don’t think I can wait much longer. You’ll make love to me, won’t you?” she asked pleadingly. Dennis cast a quick glance toward Natalie who was grinning and nodding.

“Of course, I will, honey. I’m sorry I hesitated but it’s still so hard for me to believe you would want me,” he said.

“I’m still a virgin as far as boys are concerned. You’re the only boy who’s ever touched me down there. But ... I know you said it would be individual and alone with any lover the first time and I believe you want to make it special for each of us, but I want my sisters with me. Can we do that? All three of us with you?” Roberta and Natalie were standing close and hugged both of them. Dennis just nodded. “Tonight?” That startled Dennis and he looked over at Nat, who was still grinning and nodding. He looked over to Roberta and she answered by getting her own face in front of Daniella’s and kissing him enthusiastically.

“This is going to be a new experience for all four of us,” Roberta whispered. “Let’s go party for a while. Then we can go party.”

As he always was, Dennis was a little leery of the guys at the party. He knew most of them. Several were on the track team. When he went to the kitchen to get soft drinks with Natalie, he was surprised to find a beer keg in the corner.

“Uh ... Nat ... We shouldn’t...”

“Ignore it, lover. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean anyone is required to imbibe. I’ll watch carefully and if things look like they’re getting out of control, we’ll get out of here,” she said.

They got an armful of soft drinks and took them to the family room where the girlfriends were waiting for them. They handed out the drinks and each had two left. Two hands reached out to get one.

“Thank you, Dennis,” Debbie and Tori chimed in together. Dennis turned and accepted the spare drink from Nat. Both girls had blue ribbons pinned to their shirts.