The First Out

Chapter 14 - The Spark That Lights The Fuse

The Wolves team bus rolled into town close to dawn, completing the rest of their road trip without Brad and Steven Chase. They did OK -- taking 2 out of 3 from the Cape Codders while dropping 2 of 3 to the Manchester Freedom. They were still in the race for first place, but had dropped to 3rd in the standings.

Brad also rolled into town that morning, with Taylor along for the ride. The Wolves managed to move Brad from the hotel in Southington and into a short term apartment rental in town, which Brad would have to pay for with his bonus money. It wasn't far from the Cosgrove's home in Forestville, which meant Ashley would come over and cook for them. When the Wolves went on the road, Ashley hung out with Taylor, teaching him how to cook, shop for groceries, and doing the laundry, all the while becoming the good friend that Brad promised Taylor she'd become. When Brad was in town, she taught him these things, too, showing these two kids how to be self-sufficient.

For the record, Ashley's friends loved Taylor -- thought he was adorable and a sweet kid -- but none of them tried to "break" him of his gayness, although Susie flirted with him, occasionally telling him, "If you were straight, and eighteen, I'd wreck you!" Taylor laughed. He took it as a compliment. She'd just have to keep wrecking Zack Goldman instead.

****

Brad entered the locker room filled with dread, expecting more of the same crap before the suspension. His head was down as he walked past Jason Lowell's locker, unaware that it was empty. His teammates curiously observed him as he got to his locker. They did fine without him and the distraction they believed he'd become. It didn't matter how good of a ball player Brad was, many of them were sorry to see him back.

Brad removed his uniform, and headed to the training room. Brad was unaware of what was going on around him. His teammates weren't aware, either, of the bombshell that was about to drop.

Derek Griffin emerged from the coach's office along with Steven Chase and James Leddon. The players were surprised to see Chase and Leddon. They hadn't noticed that Dick Graber had yet to arrive. Brad didn't notice any of them until Leddon walked up to him and grabbed him by the arm. "Don't go anywhere, son."

"Mr. Leddon?" Brad was surprised to see him.

The Breakers' G.M. stood with a commanding presence in the middle of the room. Derek and Steven -- his sergeant's in arms -- were on either side of him. The room fell silent. The shit, they suspected, was about to hit the fan. "Alright, listen up. The Breakers have made a couple of changes. Jason Lowell was given his release." Leddon announced.

The room gasped. The players looked at one another. They knew Lowell's batting average was a shitty .143, but they also knew that his attitude was shittier. Some players, like Sully, knew their attitude matched his -- where Brad was concerned, anyway. They waited for the axe to fall even harder. James Leddon continued. "Also, Dick Graber is no longer a member of this organization. Derek Griffin is your new manager. He will maintain his status as your pitching coach."

Brad was taken aback. "Holy Shit! They fired him!" He said, in his head. He deduced that these changes were done on his behalf. Perhaps Deb Hawley made the phone call he begged her not to make.

With a sweeping motion of his right arm, Leddon yielded the floor to Derek. "It's your team." He stepped back, wanting to observe how the young manager handled his locker room.

"First, rather than stay in New Orleans," Derek started, pointing to Steven Chase. "Steve Chase is going to stay in Bristol as my unofficial coach. He'll have his surgery after the season is over."

Goldman, the worry wort, asked, "It's not career ending, is it?"

"No." Steven explained. "I'd rather be useful instead of sitting around after the surgery, doing nothing. Besides, I want to see how things play out with you knuckleheads."