Chad proudly drove himself to school the next Monday following his birthday. George and Mary had talked to him about wearing his seatbelt, following traffic rules and especially not using his cell phone while driving. With the threat of losing his driving privilege he drove much as Brody had done as a new driver.
"You finally get to drive yourself to school," Brody greeted Chad.
"Yeah, it was fun but felt weird too," Chad said.
"How well do you know Chad?" Nancy Littleton asked Brody as he walked to his class.
"Really well, why do you ask?"
"Is he dating anyone?"
"Not to my knowledge, do you want me to fix you up with him?"
"I doubt he'd be interested in me."
"Why not, you're cute?"
"I'm from the wrong side of town, so to speak."
"You don't know Chad very well, do you?"
"I've had a couple of classes with him."
"He was adopted by Adam's biological uncle. In fact, Adam and I are adopted. So why do you say you're from the wrong side of town."
"Well, my dad is disabled and draws a small disability check and Mom is a nurse aid and doesn't make much money."
"That doesn't mean you live on the wrong side of town."
"Look, we live in a mobile home and I've seen where you live."
"Hey, I was adopted after my parents died, but Adam's mom was a doper. We were both lucky to be adopted by good parents. Chad came from an abusive stepdad."
"There's the first bell. I'd better get to class."
"Okay, come and sit with us at lunch and get to know Chad better."
"I'll think about it."
During lunch, Brody saw Nancy in the food line and moved to make room for her next to Chad. When Nancy looked in their direction he motioned for her to come and sit with them. "Chad you know Nancy don't you?" He asked.
"Oh yeah, we've had a couple of the same classes. Hi, Nancy."
"Hi," Nancy said with a smile while appearing nervous.
Apparently, Chad was just as nervous as Nancy since Brody, Adam and others at the table did most of the talking.
After the final bell for the day rang Brody stopped Chad before he made his way to his car and ask, "Why weren't you talking to Nancy? She likes you."
"Why would she like me? She's beautiful."
"She does, she asked who you were dating. She thinks you may not be interested since she lives on the 'other side of the tracks'.
"Does she not know about me?"
"She does now, I told her. I also told her about Adam and me."
"Well, I'm nervous about asking a pretty girl like her on a date, besides I can't drive with anyone other than family for six months."
"Explain that to her. You could always get Uncle George or Aunt Mary to drive you."
"Ask her to the basketball game Friday," Adam said.
"I don't know," Chad said.
"If you don't I'll ask her for you," Brody said.
"Alright, alright, I'll ask her," Chad said.
"When?" Brody asked.
"Tomorrow at lunch," Chad said.
"There she is waiting for her bus, go ask her now," Adam said as he pushed Chad in her direction.
Chad turned and gave Brody and Adam a thumb up after Nancy boards her bus.
"See, I told you that she liked you," Brody said.
"Mom, will you go too?" Brody asked when it was time for George to take him to pick up Nancy.
"Why do you want both of us?" Mary asked.
"Honey, he wants to be in the back seat," George said with a laugh.
"Oh, I get it," Mary said.
"Are you staying for the game?" Chad asked.
"Don't worry, you'll be in the student section and we'll be in the old people section," George said.
"Alright," Chad said with a grin.
At the game, Chad proudly escorted Nancy to the student section. "I'm surprised you don't play basketball," Nancy said.
"I play baseball instead."
"I know I've seen you play."
"And I've seen you play softball. You're really good."
"Thanks, I hope I'm good enough to get a scholarship. That's the only way I can afford to attend college."
"I think you probably are."
"I don't expect an offer to a major university. I'd be happy just to go to college in Covington."
"It's a good school. I'll likely go there."
"I'm sure you'll have a baseball scholarship."
"Mom and Dad have a college fund set up for me if I don't."
"Sparks has a great basketball team again this year. We're up by 20 points and it's almost halftime."
"Yeah, they do but most of the team will graduate this year. Brody will be the only senior starter."
"I think they'll still be pretty good."
"It's halftime; let's go get a drink and popcorn."
"I didn't bring any money."
"I asked you on this date, I'm buying."
"Okay, I'd like to find a part-time job for spending money."
"You boys don't have plans for tomorrow do you?" Darrell asked after the game.
"No, why do you ask?" Adam asked.
"Your grandpa bought the five acres behind them and plans to fence it tomorrow," Darrell explained. "Haden and Kyle are in New Mexico this weekend as part of their doctorate work and won't be able to help. Ray and his boys are helping as are George and Chad. Grand and Justin will also be there."
"What about Perry?" Brody asked.
"Remember he's an assistant basketball coach and they're in a tournament," Darrell said.
"Mom, do you know of any part-time jobs," Chad asked after dropping Nancy off.
"Why do you want a job?" George quickly asked.
"Not for me, but for Nancy," Chad explained. "She wants something for spending money."
"Our office is looking for a receptionist for six hours on Saturdays," Mary said. "It pays $10.00 an hour."
"That's $60 a week," Chat remarked. "I bet she'd like that since she plays softball. She hopes to get a softball scholarship otherwise she can't afford college."
"What do her parents do for a living?" George asked.
"Her dad is disabled and her mom is a nurse aid so they don't have much money," Chad explained. "Her mom wanted to go to nursing school but couldn't afford it."
"I'll put in a word for her Monday," Mary said.
"Son, you don't have plans tomorrow do you?" George asked.
"No, why do you ask?" Chad asked.
"Walter bought five acres and is building a fence," George explained. "I told Darrell we'd help."
Walter and Grace were surprised when the group showed up to help build the fence. The ladies were there with food to serve the hungry men. Even Haley and Conner were there to help. Roy and Walter had already set the corner post.
As the men began the task of fence building the ladies began preparing lunch. Lois brought roast beef for the oven and the other ladies brought the sides. Grace began making pies. "Walter didn't understand why I needed two ovens, but this is the reason," Grace said as she placed the pies in the oven.
"I saw that Chad had a date at the game last night," Linda said.
"Yes, that was Nancy Littleton," Mary said. "You may know her mother; she's an aide in the nursing department at the hospital."
"Becky Littleton, yes I know her," Linda said.
"Nancy told Chad that her mom wanted to go to nursing school but because her dad is disabled she couldn't afford to go," Mary said.
"The hospital would pay for her to go if she can get accepted," Linda said.
"I don't know that she could afford to quit work for two years," Mary said.
"She wouldn't have to quit," Linda explained. "She would receive full salary but she would have to work two shifts a week and agree to work for the hospital for four years after graduation. I'll talk to her about it Monday."
"I thought about applying but Mom and Dad said they could afford to pay for my college and let someone who needed it have a chance," Haley said. "I'm kind of glad I didn't now."
"So it's serious between you and Connor?" Rita asked.
"Yes it is," Haley said. "The problem is that I have another year of nursing school and Conner got accepted into the University of Oklahoma Medical School."
"That's great news," Grace said as she removed a pie from the oven. "I thought Conner had two more years of pre-med."
"He discovered that by taking summer classes he will graduate," Haley said. "The only problem is we'll be separated for a year."
"If it's true love it will survive," Grace promised. "I see the men coming in for lunch. I'll put this pie out in the screened in porch so they will cool faster."
"That's a good idea," Helen said. "I wish I had thought about a screened in back porch when we built.
"You already have a back porch," Lois said. "You could have it screened in."
"That's a good idea," Helen agreed.
"It's getting colder," Grace said when she came back inside followed by the men and boys.
"With all this good help we finished," Walter said.
"Dad, why did you need another five acres?" Scott asked.
"Mary listed it at a good buy and I'm making money with my goat herd," Walter said. "I'll be expanding the herd."
"Grandpa, are you buying more goats?" Brody asked.
"No, I'll grow my own herd," Walter explained. "I'll replace the buck to avoid inbreeding."
"The land was a good buy," Grace agreed. "We were already offered $5,000 more than we paid for it. We're ready to eat. I need you boys to bring the folding table and chairs from the storage building."
"Grandma, will that be enough for all of us?" Adam asked.
"Probably not, bring in the small one too," Grace said. "It'd too cold to eat outside so we'll eat inside."
"This is really good," Conner said as he enjoyed the food.
"Do the Cherokees have traditional foods?" Adam asked.
"We sure do," Conner said.
"Do you mind if we ask?" Adam wanted to know.
"Not at all," Conner said.
"Good, because I want to know too," Helen said.
"Some we ate for centuries that you also eat," Conner began. "They're beans, corn and squash, the Three Sisters. I'm not sure what tribe first made hominy, but we also made it. My family likes kanuchi, although I don't care for it."
"What's kanuchi?" Chad asked.
"Hickory nuts are pounded and cracked," Conner said. "After the hickory nuts are cracked the largest pieces of the shells are taken out. The smaller pieces are strained out originally through a loosely woven basket. The nuts are pounded and then made into a ball. These balls are boiled in water and hominy is added to make a soup. Originally honey was used to sweeten it, but most now just add sugar. My family likes it, even my white mom, but I guess to each his own."
"I bet I'd like it," Grace said.
"The next time I go back to Oklahoma I'll bring you some to try," Conner offered.
"That would be nice," Grace said.
"Chad, thank you for helping me get the job," Nancy said the next week at school. "It's perfect and pays well. Also, thanks for putting in a word for my mom."
"I really didn't do much but I'm glad it worked out."
"Fortunately Mom already had the pre-nursing courses except for Microbiology. She'll take that this summer. Dad is able to do the light housework. My little brother and I will do the rest."
"I've seen Jackson and he certainly isn't little."
"I guess I should have said younger brother. He's in the eighth grade, but he is big for his age."
"When will your mom apply for nursing school?"
"Oh, she already applied and the university called her and asked her to come in for an interview the next day. Dr. Miller said she would recommend that Mom be accepted."
"Dr. Miller is Adam's and Brody's sister," Chad laughed.
"Really? Mom said she was very helpful and nice."
"Do you want to become a nurse?"
"No, I'd really like to teach English and coach softball. What about you?"
"I'm not sure yet. I'd like to play pro baseball but I'm not good enough. Maybe I'll coach baseball. Brody wants to be an Electrical Engineer and Adam wants to be a veterinarian."
"Well, that explains why they're taking advance math and science courses."
As basketball season was near the end, high school spring sports were starting. Sparks basketballers won with ease until the state championship game. It was a back and forth from the tipoff. The seniors wanted to go out with another state championship. However, it wasn't to be for the Spartans as they lost in double overtime.
With baseball spring practice beginning Sparks had just 12 players. The state mandated a strict pitch count for pitchers and many with little or no pitching experience would have to rotate from other positions. Days of rest were determined by the number of pitches. The days of rest ranged from one to 100 based on the number of pitches to a batter. Pitchers were allowed to play another position but some weren't very good at other positions as the others weren't very good pitchers.
"Come out for baseball," Chad begged his friends.
"We played basketball and have no experience playing baseball," Jon argued.
"You're all good athletes, it may come naturally for you," Chad argued. "Besides, an average player is better than none at all. We may have to forfeit some games if we don't have enough players to field a team. At least come and meet with Coach Sanders."
"Alright, I'll do for you," Adam agreed.
"I'll do it if you'll go out for basketball," Brody said.
"Okay, I will," Chad agreed. "What about you two?"
"I guess so since Adam and Brody are in," Justin said.
"Well, I can't be the only holdout," Jon said.
"Have any of you ever played baseball?" Coach Sanders asked.
Brody had played Pee Wee League and the others played some in the Boys and Girls Club. "Well at this point I'll take what I can get," Coach acknowledged. "We'll start you with batting practice."
Brody hit a long ball on the third pitch, but struck out the second round. "Adam got a decent hit in both rounds. Justin didn't do very well, but tried. Jon hit a short ball the first round and did better the second round.
"Now let's see how you do fielding the ball," Coach Sanders said. "Go to the outfield and I'll bat a few to you."
Adam misjudged a grounder but chased it down and threw all the way to home plate. He never missed any fly balls and did better with the grounders. Justin and Jon did just as well. Brody did even better.
"I can't say you're all starter, but you did much better than I expected," Coach Sanders confessed.
At lunch the next day Wilson Hendrix said, "Hey I heard you guys are going out for baseball. Why didn't you ask me?"
"You weren't around when I recruited them," Chad said. "But you too should go out."
"I think I will," Wilson said.
"Have you ever played baseball?" Coach Sanders asked.
"Yeah I did in Missouri until we moved here," Wilson said.
"What position did you play?" Coach asked.
"Mostly first base, but at times I played all positions but pitcher and catcher," Wilson said.
Wilson did even better than the others and was named starter at first base. The others improved to the point that Coach Sanders promised they would all see playing time.
The first game was a home game against Wilson. Wilson was an average team and a good one for Coach Sanders to have a chance to judge his team. Wilson was ahead 2-1 at the top of the eighth. Chad was on base with a throwing error to first when Wilson was up at bat. "Hey Wilson, beat Wilson," Adam yelled and brought on a laugh even by the Wilson team. The count was two balls and one strike when Wilson hit the ball over the left field fence. The final score was a 3-2 win for Sparks.
The second game was at Covington Edison, a much better team than Wilson. Adam and Brody were named starters, Adam in left field and Brody in right field. Edison scored one in the bottom of the first. The bases were loaded with two outs when the Edison batter hit a long fly to left. Adam caught it near the fence ending the first inning. The Sparks catcher was up first and hit the ball over the head of the second baseman's head. However, he injured his ankle on the first base. Justin was sent in as the base runner. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Adam was the next batter and was put on first when hit by the ball. Justin advanced to third on a sacrifice. The next batter hit to right field and loaded the bases with two outs. Wilson was the next batter and hit a grand slam homerun on the first pitch. Jon finished the game as catcher. Sparks won 4-1.
"Jon, Tanner has a torn Achilles and is out for the season," Coach Sanders said at the next practice. "You'll be starting catcher for the remainder of the season. Team, we'd be up the creek, if you know what I mean, if the basketballers hadn't come to help us out. That's Spartan spirit."
Justin knew his best chance of getting significant playing time was as a pitcher. Fortunately for him his dad was a pitcher in high school and agreed to work with him. His friends also practiced with him, mostly Jon. Coach welcomed Justin to the pitching crew. Justin worked his way up from relief pitcher to a starter.
"Justin, for someone who hadn't played high school baseball you're doing very well," Coach Sanders said.
"My dad and friends worked with me."
"Is Grant Ferguson your dad?"
"Yes, he is."
"I thought he might be when I saw him at your games. Grant and I played high school baseball together. He had a great curve ball and sinker. I noticed you have some of that. Didn't your dad play some college ball?"
"Yeah, he did but had to drop out after Grandpa died in an accident. He finished three years."
"I wish he had finished. I'd love to have him as my pitching coach."
"Dad, Coach Sanders said he'd loved to have you as his pitching coach if you had graduated from college," Justin said that evening.
"I wish I could have too," Grant said.
"Why don't you go back?" Justin asked. "It's just one more year."
"Son, I wish I could, but I have to work," Grant said.
"Honey, I make enough money to pay the bills now," Betty said. "I'm sure you could find something weekends."
"I wouldn't want to put that burden on you," Grant countered.
"You need to do what you always wanted," Betty argued. "At least think about it."
"You might even get some of your classes online," Justin pointed out. "You should go to Covington and find out exactly what you need to do."
"Alright, it's supposed to rain tomorrow," Grant said. "I'll go check it out."
Grant did discover he could get his teaching degree by taking some education courses and a few others toward his degree in history. Darrell offered to hire Grant weekends, mostly to help him out but it turned out he was an asset for the lumber yard. Coach Sanders requested the university assign Grant to intern at Sparks High School and the university agreed.
As baseball season progressed Justin progressed to become Spark's ace pitcher. The team actually had a great season and was the state runner-up in their class. Justin was offered a scholarship at the university, not in basketball but in baseball.
Wilson was offered a basketball scholarship and would be allowed to also play baseball. Jon and Adam received tuition only scholarships in basketball and additionally, Adam received a full academic scholarship.
"It's going to be strange going to college with my old man," Justin said one evening.
"Hey, leave the old man part off," Grant laughed.
"Dad, I'm proud of you," Justin said.
"As am I," Betty added.
"Thank you, but I'll likely be the oldest student in my classes," Grant said.
"Dad, Lacey said she had a classmate who was 60 and she did very well," Justin pointed out.
Senior week arrived for the young men and Adam carried on the tradition of a Harrington named valedictorian of the graduating class. Haden, will you help me with my speech?" He asked.
"I recall you telling me mine was too long," Haden said. "Just follow your own advice.
"Well yours was too long," Adam pointed out.
The graduation and the after party was a big event held at the Reed Center. A BBQ Trailer Smoker had been donated to the Center and was put to good use for the party. Ray donated all of the meat which appeared to be enough to feed an army. As it turned out it was like a small army and all were hungry. Under Grace's supervision the ladies provided plenty of sides and desserts.
This was an ending as well as a new beginning.