Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  Of course, what do I expect from a manager who bat Dead Sprague cleanup last year? Hey, Jimy! Even Pedro needs a run or two!"

  Warren took a furtive glance at some of the college guys, and they were looking at Sophia in absolute shock. He stifled a laugh. Sophia was grinning from ear to ear.

  And she kept it up all game. "C'mon, Pedro. Throw a changeup. O'Neill can't hit your changeups, he never has." Pedro threw a changeup. "Strike three! Thataway, Petey, baby!"

  "Pettite throws that pitch again, Nomar is taking him deep." CRACK! Over the wall. "Attaway, NO-MAAAAAHHHH!!!!"

  "First and third, one out, and Torre is bringing in the right-hander. We've only got a one run lead, and Lewis is up. Daubach is on the bench, he's a lefty, and he's one of the better clutch hitters on this team. If Jimy doesn't pinch hit, I'm going to go down into the dugout myself and strangle him." Daubach came out to pinch hit. "First good move Jimy's made all game besides being lucky enough to have Pedro to start." Daubach lined the first pitch into right field for a two-run single. "Attaway, Dauber!!"

  Warren had just sat back all game, thoroughly enjoying Sophia's commentary and unbridled enthusiasm. After the Daubach hit, the guy behind him leaned over.

  "Hey, buddy."

  "Yeah?"

  "That gorgeous babe next to you who knows so much about baseball-that's your girlfriend?"

  "Yeah."

  "Wow. You are the luckiest guy in the universe."

  Warren just smiled. "Yup. I am."

  They left their seats to file out after a fine 3-0 Sox victory.

  "I definitely need to take you to more baseball games," Warren said.

  "Enjoy yourself?"

  "Immensely."

  "I sure showed those guys. Pretty girls don't know anything about baseball, my ass."

  Warren chuckled. "After Daubach got that hit, the guy behind me told me I was the luckiest guy in the universe."

  "Really?"

  "Yeah." Warren smiled. Sophia was beaming. "Hey," Warren said, "Let's check out the souvenir shop."

  "OK."

  They looked around for a while. Sophia was hovering around the Red Sox jackets "I've always wanted one of these." She looked at the price tag. "Next time you take me to a game. I'll remember to bring more money." They wandered off to look at other things. They separated again, and Warren doubled back to the jackets. He checked the price tag. He had enough money on him. What the heck.

  They met up again outside the shop. Warren had a bag with him. Sophia was empty handed.

  "Couldn't find anything you liked?"

  "Not really, except for those jackets. Next time. What did you buy?"

  "Just a little something."

  "Let me see." He opened the bag and withdrew a Sox jacket. Sophia was surprised. He had one-in fact, he was wearing it. "Outgrowing your old one?"

  "No, silly, does it look it? No, it fits just fine."

  "So why'd you buy another one?"

  "You really are dense sometimes, aren't you?"

  "Huh?"

  "This isn't for me." He walked up behind her. "Hold out your arms." She did so, and he slipped the jacket over her arms and onto her shoulders.

  "Warren Kelleher, you are the sweetest guy in the universe."

  "No, no-remember? I'm the luckiest guy in the universe!" They both laughed.

  "I must be the luckiest girl then," Sophia said, admiring the jacket. "Warren, I can't believe you did this!"

  "Just a little token of my esteem, dear Juliet."

  She just smiled at him, and they walked, hand-in-hand, to the subway station.

  Chapter 19 - Mothers And Sons, Boys And Girls

  Peg Kelleher was amazed.

  It was 9:30 AM, and Warren was out of bed. He'd been out of school for two weeks, and, unless he had to work-he had picked up some early shifts at the donut shop-he was sleeping until noon. She knew he had today off, and here he was, up and at 'em.

  "Hi, Honey," she said. "You're up early."

  "Yup," he said, slathering cream cheese on a bagel. "Got plans."

  "What kind of plans?"

  "It's Sophia's last day at school."

  "Oh really? Oh yeah, that's right-the public schools get out later." Peg was a teacher, but she taught at Wilkins Academy, another private school in the area.

  "That's right. Anyway, she gets out at 11:30, so I'm going to surprise her by showing up at her house."

  Peg looked concerned. "Warren, do you have a minute to talk?"

  "Sure. Let me just get finished cheeseifying this here bagel and get myself a cup of tea and I'll meet you in the kitchen."

  Peg waited, and Warren quickly planted himself in a chair with his bagel and tea. "What's on your mind, Mom?"

  "Sophia."

  Warren grinned. "No, no, Mom, you've got it all wrong. Sophia is supposed to be on my mind. Dad is supposed to be on yours."

  Peg couldn't help but laugh. "Warren, I'm trying to be serious!"

  "Ah, c'mom, Mom, have you ever known me to be serious?"

  "Yeah, actually, I have. Way too much, in fact. About Sophia."

  "Aah. I should've seen this coming."

  "Warren, I'm worried," Peg sighed. "You're fourteen years old. You just finished your freshman year in high school. And you are in a relationship that seems to me to be way too serious for your ages."

  Warren sighed. "You know what, Mom? You're right. You're absolutely right."

  Peg was surprised. "Well, I'm glad you agree with me. I didn't think you would. I think it might benefit you to cool it off with her, see her less, maybe see other people."

  "Can't do that, Mom."

  "Why not? I thought you just agreed with me that you were getting too serious?"

  "Not getting, gotten. I agree. We're way too serious. I never expected to be in a relationship this intense when I was fourteen, I can guarantee you that."

  "So, make it less intense-that's all I'm saying."

  "Mom, you don't get it. We crossed that line a long time ago. This isn't a lightswitch that you can turn on and off. I'm in a serious, intense relationship. The relationship is that way because of the way we feel about each other. You're right-if this happened when I was eighteen and not fourteen I'd probably be better off. But it happened. That's the way it is. I can't make it not happen."

  "You think you're in love with each other."

  "Mom, if this ain't real, true love-I don't think I'd be able to handle the real thing," Warren replied with a lopsided smile.

  Even Peg had to grin at that. Warren continued, "You don't spend a lot of time with Soph and me. We're at her house more often, because it's more convenient. It's love. Yeah, it might be fourteen-year-old love, but it doesn't seem it. And the only way I'm going to know for sure is to not be fourteen anymore and see where we're at then."

  Peg smiled and sighed at the same time. "Warren, you're one of the most levelheaded teenagers I know-and I teach teenagers, remember-but you're also an incurable romantic." They both smiled. "I worry about you getting hurt."

  "I know. But if this isn't true love, I'm gonna get hurt sooner or later in any case."

  "I know. I just worry about the hurt if you let this relationship go too far, and then it ends, at your age."

  "What do you mean, too far?"

  "Well, you know."

  "I have a guess, but I don't really know what you're talking about."

  "Well, I mean sex."

  Warren blushed, and thought for a minute. "Mom, you always said I could tell you anything, and I can't lie to you. That particular genie has been out of the bottle for some time now."

  Peg's jaw dropped. "You're kidding." She paused. "Are you sure we're talking about the same thing?"

  "Are you asking me if Sophia and I are sleeping together? Yes. Sophia and I are sleeping together."

  "Oh, Jesus, Warren. You are too young for this! What if something happens?"

  "Mom, you know me better than that."

  "Well, I thought I did."

 
"Come on. We are responsible about this. There are not going to be any grandchildren in the near future, I guarantee it. We are very well protected. Sophia's on the pill, and we usually use something else, too, as a failsafe."

  "Well, that's a relief. You're right, I shouldn't have doubted you about that. But you are still too young."

  "Mom-I'm too young to be ending my freshman year in high school, I should be ending eighth grade. I was too young to read when I started, too young to do algebra when I started. I was too young to play the guitar when I started. Too young to read Shakespeare when I started. Heck, I was too young when you started leaving me to baby-sit Ryan and Kristin. I've been too young for almost everything I've ever done in my life. Why should this be any different?"

  "That's academics. Love and sex aren't an academic exercise."

  "No, but neither is babysitting your younger brother and sister when you're only ten."

  "Well, we did that because you were reliable and trustworthy and responsible."

  "I still am."

  "I know, Warren, but, before Sophia, you were at a complete loss when it came to girls. Going from a complete position of naivete to this seems like too much, too fast."

  "I don't necessarily disagree, Mom. But I trust my instincts. I trust my feelings. I'd trust Sophie with my life at this point. I guess I'm just asking you to trust me."

  "I do, Warren."

  Warren smiled. "You always have. In fact, you've always given me a remarkable degree of freedom to make my own choices; freedom that most kids my age didn't get. And have I disappointed you much?"

  Peg smiled. "Pretty much never. And, trust me, I am not disappointed with you, now. Concerned, but not disappointed."

  Warren smiled back, "I know. Listen, I know all too well that this might all blow up in my face, and I'll end up a quivering pile of romantic goo pining over my lost love six months from now." Peg had to laugh at that. Warren continued, "But what the hell is the point of even getting out of bed if you don't give it a shot? I'm so happy right now, that it's worth it."

  Peg stared at her son. "I've got to say, Warren, that I'm amazed. I've never known you to be so--well, so carefree. Since I know that you're responsible on top of it, it makes me feel a little better. She's actually loosened you up-it's good to see."

  "Y'know what? Sophia always gives me credit for something valuable-she says that she learned from me that tomorrow's important. But I learned something equally valuable from her-that today's important, too."

  Warren stood up, and kissed his mother on the cheek. "And what's important today is to go welcome my girlfriend home from school like the quivering pile of romantic goo that I so truly am." He reached around the corner into the foyer and pulled a large case out. "Heck, I'm even bringing my guitar so I can serenade her with romantic-gooey love songs. See ya!"

  The last thing Warren heard as he left the house was his mother's laughter.

  Sophia walked home from school in a heck of a mood. School was out for the summer, and she was actually walking home with a good report card. Wasn't that a kicker. She couldn't wait to show her Mom. And Warren!

  She turned onto her street, and heard music coming from somewhere. She thought she recognized it-and then she realized she did. It was "Romeo and Juliet," the Dire Straits song that Warren had played for her. But it didn't sound like Dire Straits. As she got closer to her house, she realized that it wasn't-it was Warren, on her porch, playing a guitar and singing it.

  She was so happy to see him, she almost ran to the porch and tackled him. But she didn't. She walked up and sat next to him, while he played the song. She realized something-while he had sung to her, many times, she had never heard him play. As he went through the song, she realized something else-he was good. Really good.

  "That was fantastic. I've never heard you play before."

  "Magic fingers, I'm telling you." They both laughed.

  "C'mon inside," she said, kissing him. "I've got something I want to show you, but I want Mom to see it, too."

  "Hi, Mom!"

  "Hi, Sophie! Glad to be out? Oh, Hi Warren!"

  "Hi, Mrs. Kovach"

  "OK. Mom, Warren, you need to see this." She withdrew a piece of paper from her bookbag, and handed it to her Mom.

  "Oh, my God! Sophia! All B's except for one C? That's fantastic!"

  "Really?" Mrs. Kovach handed the report card over to Warren. "Look at this! Sophia, I'm so proud of you!"

  "Me, too, Honey," Mrs. Kovach agreed.

  Sophia was beaming. "And that means I passed all my classes for the year."

  Warren was still reading the report card. "Look at these comments! 'Most drastic improvement I have ever seen in a student.' 'One of the most gratifying B's it has ever been my pleasure to give out.' 'I don't know what happened with this student, but I'd like to find out if it can be bottled.' Sophia, you should be so damn proud of yourself."

  Sophia blushed, but admitted. "I am." She looked at Warren. "If I keep this up, you won't be the only brain in this relationship any more."

  Warren smiled, and said, "I never was."

  Mrs. Kovach looked at Warren. "What did your report card look like, Warren?"

  Sophia sighed in mock-exasperation. "Must we bring that up? I was enjoying this!"

  Mrs. Kovach looked at the two of them. "Did I say something wrong?" They both laughed. "I was just curious. I have no idea what kinds of grades Warren gets."

  Sophia sighed, "Mom, let's just say that if he brought home this report card that I'm so proud of, he'd be devastated."

  "Sophia, I wasn't trying to make up for over two years of school neglect, either. Your achievement is every bit as good as mine. You can't compare our marks... yet."

  "Yet?"

  "Sophie, I promise you, if you keep this up, next year, your report cards will start to look like mine."

  "Really? You think?"

  "Yeah, I do."

  "OK," Mrs. Kovach interjected, "Now that we've all done our bit to prop up Sophia's self confidence"-they all laughed-"I still am wondering what Warren's grades are."

  Warren took a deep breath. "One A-minus, the rest all A's, and I was deeply cheesed off by the A-minus."

  "Wow." Mrs. Kovach said.

  "See what I mean?" Sophia smirked. "Deeply cheesed off by the A-minus, my ass."

  Warren smiled. "I do not study for three hours a night to get A-minuses."

  Sophia grinned. "My boyfriend, the studyaholic genius scholar Prep Boy. If I didn't love him, I'd have to kill him."

  Sophia and Warren were on the living room couch, half-watching TV and talking. Mrs. Kovach had fixed them some lunch, and was now cleaning up.

  "Got read the riot act by my Mom today a bit," Warren said.

  "You? The perfect son?" Sophia sniggered. "What about?"

  "Us, what else? I'm too young to be in such a serious relationship, you know."

  Sophia laughed. "Well, at least she doesn't know quite how serious."

  Warren grimaced. "She does now."

  "You told her?"

  "Yeah. She said something about worrying about us going too far, and I asked her what exactly she was talking about. She said she was talking about sex, and I said, in effect, 'Oops. Too late.' I never could lie to my mother, not about stuff like that."

  "Ouch. How did she take it?"

  "Actually, not all that badly. I got the 'you're too young!' bit, and she definitely now knows that her son is not perfect, but, all in all, it really wasn't all that bad."

  "But I'll bet she'd be happier if we cooled things off," Sophia said, depressedly.

  "Sophie, she's worried. I'm fourteen. You're my first girlfriend. The relationship is rather intense. She's worried that this is just teenage infatuation, and that we're going to outgrow each other-or, rather, that you are going to outgrow me, dump me, and leave me a pathetic shell of my former self mourning my lost love and writing bad poetry."

  Sophia burst out laughing. "What did you tell her?"

  "I reassur
ed her that I never write bad poetry." Sophia laughed and playfully swatted him on the shoulder..."Anyhow, I do think I reassured her, to some degree. I told her the truth-that I love you, and you love me. That we are very young, I know that, and I have no idea what the future will hold, but right now I'm deliriously happy."

  Sophia looked at him for a minute. "Warren, do you ever think about it?"

  "What?"

  "The future."

  "Our future?"

  "No, you ninny, the Red Sox' future!"

  "That's way too depressing a subject to think about."

  "Goof! Yes, I meant our future."

  Warren paused for a minute. "Yeah, I think about it. Much as I try not too."

  "Why do you try not to?"

  "Because it's a long way away. Lots of things can happen. One day at a time."

  "Warren, you plan everything."

  "Yeah, but that's different. Planning my grades, planning school, planning a future career-all of these things depend almost entirely on me. I work hard enough, I'll get there. Planning a future with you involves you. It's an added variable. How do I know you won't outgrow me? How do I know you don't want different things in life? And it's so far away. We've never talked about this-how can I plan a future with you before we even talk about it?"

  "So let's start now."

  "This will really worry my mother."

  Sophia laughed. "No, I mean the basics. The things we want in life. Do you see yourself getting married some day?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Me, too. Kids?"

  "For sure. Love 'em. I'd love to have a whole houseful."

  "Me, too. Are you a dog person or a cat person?"

  "I like both, but I'm a dog person."

  "OK, we can have one of each." They both laughed. "I don't mind dogs, but I'm a cat person. City or suburbs?"

  "Suburbs, but close to a city. No boonies."

  "OK. Cold weather or hot weather climate?"

  "Cold. Definitely cold. No Florida for me."

  "Cool. That was the one I thought we'd disagree on. I didn't know you were a fellow snow-bunny."

  "Absolutely."

  "Minivan or BMW?"