Always Conditions

Ken sat up on the bleacher seat from where he’d been sprawled back with his shoulder blades and elbows propped on the bench above it. He’d come out to watch the local college football team practice. He was about to shove off to St. Louis for a special summer job, and if he could get the coach’s attention, he wanted to check out what his prospects were for getting back on the team in the fall. The coach had noticed him in the bleachers and had come over to talk to him; he sat down on the next bench seat below Ken and between the younger man’s spread legs.

“I don’t know. Lawrence is looking pretty good out there,” Ken said, torn between wanting the position back and wanting to stay loyal to his boyfriend. Besides, he did think Lawrence was doing a good job at the position he’d had to give up.

“Yes, Lawrence is fine. But he’s not as good as you are yet.”

“But he might be by fall.”

“Yes, he might be by fall.”

“So, Coach . . .” Ken paused because what he asked now was really important to him. “. . . So, what are the chances I can get back on the team in the fall if I can get back into the college?”

“Hmmm. That might be possible . . . depending. You’re going to be away still when we start summer drills, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Yes, I guess I will be. But I think I can be back before the heavy practicing begins.”

“Well, it would be a stretch . . . and I don’t think I could put you right back on first string. Lawrence is doing me fine. But maybe I could get you back on scholarship and you could move back up. There’d be conditions, of course.”