The Letterman's Jacket, Part 3
For Part 2, click here: https://www.tumblr.com/mulletpermsicantlookaway/791470583810539520/the-lettermans-jacket-part-2
Rick felt a lot better after his talk with Connor. For one, he was stoked that he was going to be able to play football, and with his best bud Dave, too! For another, while he still felt slow, he was finding it easier to concentrate in his classes. Even so, by the time he got to algebra, he felt wiped out. His brain felt like mush, and his entire body felt sore again as if heād had a heavy workout. He had hoped that the shorts would loosen some as the day went on, but if anything, they felt tighter, and even his shirt was starting to bind.
David was already in his seat as Rick strutted into algebra, and Rick sat down next to him with a goofy smile: āSorry I missed you at lunch, bro,ā he intoned in jock tones. David looked at him, startled. āI couldnāt find you,ā Rick continued, ābut I sat with this dude Mitch and some of the other jocks. Theyāre super chill and all, but I missed you, man. Whereād you run off to?ā He cuffed his friend lightly on the shoulder.
āWhat the eff? Do you really think youāre a jock now, or are you messing with me?ā David asked. āI know I was kind of mean to you this morning, but seriously, Richie, are you okay? You look kind of ā not too bright right now, honestly. Those clothes look even smaller on you than they were this morning, and you smell like you could use a shower. How are you feeling?ā
āI feel fine, bro, but yeah, these clothes are fucking tight. Makes it super hard to think. Iāve been fucking slow all day, in fact, thanks to you.ā Rick chuckled dumbly. āYeah, Iām a jock now. I mean, you told me this morning, remember? You told me to be a big, dumb, hairy football player like Connor, didnāt you? But Connor now: Connorās a solid dude, bro. Heās not dumb. No, not at all.ā Rick chuckled again. āHe knows what you did. He told me how you messed me up, you know, telling me to be dumb and all. Seriously, that was mean of you, bro. But heās fixing that. And heās gonna talk to the coach about playing junior varsity.ā
āFootball? You mean football? Richie, youāre crazy. And why are you cursing so much?ā
āDude, itās Rick, okay? Quit calling me Richie. I donāt want to sound like some fucktard dweeb in front of my bros. I told you, Dave: I want one of those jackets. So yeah, Connorās talking to the coach about getting us on the football team. Wonāt that be cool?ā
āUs? Us? Okay ā Rick ā this had better all be a huge prank. Itās bad enough if you want to go and get tackled by a bunch of bulked-up brutes just so you can get a lettermanās jacket, but leave me out of it, okay? Iāve got no intention of playing football. And I am definitely talking to Connor before we go home.ā
āSure, Dave. Connor wants to talk to you, too.ā
āIāll bet he does.ā
Connor and the other varsity football players walked in right then, with the teacher right behind them. Connor looked right at Rick and David, a huge smirk on his face. Then the bell rang.
Rick may have been finding it a little easier to concentrate in algebra, but David was finding it harder. Davidās mind kept turning over all the astounding things Richard had just said. Richard thought David had made him dumber? How would that even be possible? But Richard was acting a lot different since this morning. It was obvious to David that Richard had been undergoing rapid physical changes, and maybe ā maybe ā that was natural at their age, but now his entire personality seemed different. It must be an act, David thought, but Richard must really want to play football to put on such an act for Connor ā and to keep it up in front of his best friend. Why would he do that? āMaybe so I donāt go to Connor and tell him Richardās just pretending?ā he thought. He shook his head. He really had no idea. But he absolutely had to talk to Connor after class.
As soon as the final bell had rung, David got up, intending to catch Connor before he and his ābrosā could head to the locker room or wherever the jocks headed to after school, but Connor forestalled him. He and the other two football players approached Rick and David, saying āTake a little walk with us, bros. Weāve got some things to talk over.ā
Connor took the lead, with Rick and David behind him and the other football players flanking them in the rear. David was nervous and showed it, but Rick laughed at him and said, āRelax, bro. I told you: Connorās a solid dude. Youāve got nothing to be afraid of.ā Rick patted him affectionately on the back, but that made David even more nervous. That was not the kind of thing that Richard normally did. It reminded him too much of the way athletes congratulated each other after a goal or a touchdown.
Connor led them into a menās room down the hall. The hallways were rapidly clearing out now, and the place was almost empty. Connor waited for the last customer to leave, and then his football player friends stood guard at the door. David looked around uneasily, realizing that he had no escape.
Connor began: āGood news, Rick. I talked to the coach, and heās willing to take you and your bro Dave on the JV team, as long as you start practice Monday. I told him I was mentoring you and you had potential. Now, youāre not gonna let me down, are you, bro?ā
āNo way, Connor,ā said Rick. Turning to David he said, āIsnāt that cool, bro? Weāre gonna get to play football together!ā
David had had it. Turning to Connor, he said, āWhat the hell did you do to him? Richie never wanted to play football or another sport before he met you. I donāt even know who he is anymore.ā
Connor laughed. āYou think I did this? You were the one who had him try on my jacket and my cap. And today you were the one who told him to be a jock. Youāre the one who changed him, bro. Really. All I did was help. You gotta understand, Dave, I used to be an annoying little nerd, just like you. But I was lucky; I had a mentor who had the gift. Heās the one who made me a jock. Now Iām just returning the gift, passing it on to you, same as I did to Jake and Josh here,ā Connor said, indicating his fellow football players. āYou wouldnāt believe what dweebs those two used to be. Youāre just lucky I was around to help, because you didnāt have a clue what you were doing. You almost made your best bro here into a drooling moron, telling him to be a big dumb jock. What were you thinking? Youāre his best friend: of course he listened to you! Just how dumb do you think jocks are? But I fixed him in time. Rick here should get his brains back ā mostly, anyway,ā Connor smirked. āBut now weāve got to fix you so you donāt cause any more problems.ā Connor paused. āRick, you know what to do now? Youāve gotta be the one who does it; youāre his friend. It wonāt work if I try it; he doesnāt trust me. And to keep him quiet, youāre gonna have to give him everything at once.ā
āI donāt know, bro,ā Rick said to Connor. āMy headās still all full of shit. Itās so fucking hard to think.ā
āDonāt think, bro,ā Connor said. āJust do. Youāre a jock now. Youāve got this. Just remember how you changed and pass it along to your bud. He wants this as much as you did.ā
āOkay, bro,ā Rick said, āIāll give it the old college try. Dave, buddy, come on. Itās time. Connorās right; you know you want to be a jock. Let me help you.ā
David swallowed hard and made a dash for the door. Jake and Josh restrained him effortlessly. Josh said, āI canāt believe I used to be this much of a wimp. Sad! Trust me, bro, youāre gonna be a lot better off as a jock.ā
Rick approached David while he continued to struggle against the football playersā iron grip. āBro, calm down. Stop fighting us. Weāre not gonna hurt you. Fuck, bro: Iām your best friend! It really hurts, you know, to think that you donāt trust me.ā
āGet away from me! Iām not your bro,ā David said.
āBut you will be, Dave.ā He took his cap off and put it firmly on Davidās head. He held onto the brim the way Connor had. Davidās struggles increased. āWhat do you think youāre doing, Dave? Come on. Iām your best bro. I know you want this. I mean, thereās a reason you wanted me to try on Connorās jacket, right? You were just afraid to try it on yourself. But now I can help you. You donāt need to be afraid. Stop being such a nerd, Dave. You know you want it. You want it just as much as I did. You want it more. Tell me. Tell me you want to be my bro. Come on! I need to hear you say it!ā
David faltered: āI ā I want to be your bro.ā His struggles stopped.
āAlmost right, bro,ā laughed Rick. āTry again.ā
āI want to be your bro, bro.ā
āThatās better,ā Rick laughed. āSure, Dave, Iāll make you my bro. But first, youāre gonna make some changes.Ā Seriously, bro; youāre gonna ditch the greasy nerd hair. Then those zits of yoursāll start to clear up. And the glasses, bro; you wonāt need āem. Your balls are gonna drop and get heavy. Then that nerd voice of yours is gonna crack and youāre gonna start sounding like your bros. Youāll grow a jock cock to go with your balls, and, believe me, bro: when the blood starts flowing to that thing itās super hard to think about anything else. Youāll get bigger and hairier and sweatier, and youāll have to start dressing like a jock, because nothing else will fit. And it wonāt matter if youāre smart; no one will take you seriously, because when people look at you, theyāll just see another big, dumb jock. But you wonāt care what they think, because all your friends will be jocks, and youāll only care about what your bros think. So yeah, maybe youāll act as dumb as those people think you are, and youāll laugh at them and laugh at yourself, because they have no clue that you really arenāt dumb at all. Got it, bro?ā Still grabbing the cap, Rick slowly rotated it backwards and then let go. David staggered, and his eyes rolled back in his head. Jake and Josh lowered him slowly to the floor.
āRick, bro, that was amazing!ā Connor exclaimed. āYou nailed it!ā
A moment later, Daveās eyes blinked open, and he looked slowly around, a puzzled expression on his face. āWhat the hell? Why the fuck am I on the floor of the menās room? Did I pass out or something?ā
Rick said, āYeah, you passed out, all right. Did you skip lunch, Dave? I looked for you, but I couldnāt find you anywhere.ā
āYeah, bro,ā Dave said woozily. āI didnāt eat lunch ācause I didnāt want to run intoā¦.ā
āNo wonder you passed out,ā Connor interrupted, āyour tankās running on empty. You donāt skip meals when youāre bulking up for football, bro. How do you feel now?ā
āFucking strange,ā Dave replied. āMy head feels so weird. And my balls feel weird, too, like theyāre swollen or something.ā
āLook,ā said Connor, āI know youāre not all there yet, Dave, but weāve got to get you and Rick to the coach if you want to sign up for football. Heās not gonna wait, so pull yourself together. Here, let me help you up.ā
āThanks, bro,ā said Dave. āWhat the fuck is wrong with me? Whoa. I canāt see. Everythingās like, super blurry.ā
Rick said, āBro, take off the nerd glasses! You donāt need āem.ā
Dave took off the glasses and put them in his pocket. He chuckled. āYou are so right, bro. I can see a lot better without them.ā Ā Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he said, āFuck, I should have gotten a haircut. I look like a dweeb. Whatās Coach gonna think?ā
āDonāt worry,ā said Rick. āWeāll stop by Wylerās on the way home. Maybe the barber that did mine will be working.ā
Jake and Josh headed out, promising to see Connor at the football game later that night. Connor escorted Rick and Dave to the coachās office. After theyād finished with the coach, Connor told Rick, āBefore you head off campus, go to the locker room and wait for me. Iāve got some stuff for you, but I need to talk to the coach for a minute.ā
Connor went back into the coachās office. The coach said, āI donāt know, Connor. I hope Iām doing the right thing. That kid Rick seemed ready enough. Heās small, but he looks as though heās growing fast. His friend Dave, now: that one looks like he weighs eighty or ninety pounds soaking wet. Great attitude, though.ā
āI know Daveās got plenty of room to grow, Coach,ā said Connor, ābut you canāt expect a freshman to be as big as I am. Trust me. Rick just started a big growth spurt, and his buddy Dave is gonna be right behind him. Thatās why I think itās better to have them both on the team. You can play them off against each other; you know, use them to motivate each other: āLook, Dave, see how hard your buddy Rick is working? You donāt want him to get ahead of you, do you? Hey, Rick, look at how big Daveās biceps are getting. Youāre just as strong as he is, arenāt you?ā Theyāll always be trying to outdo each other.ā
āI see your point,ā the coach said drily. āBut keep an eye on them, okay? Their attitude is great, but theyāve got squat for experience.ā
āNeither did I when I joined the football team, Coach. Donāt worry. You wonāt go wrong with those two. Let āem play, and theyāll make the varsity squad eventually. Theyāve both got as much potential as I did.ā
āOkay, son. Iāll trust you, but youād damn well better be right.ā
Connor hurried to the locker room and found Rick looking around curiously and Dave looking dazed. āRick, Iāve got a couple of things you can wear until you can get some new clothes. And a bigger jockstrap for you, too. You can give the other one to Dave. It should fit him, for a while, at least.ā Connor handed Rick the jockstrap and a bundle of clothes. āI almost forgot,ā said Connor, āhereās another school baseball cap to go with that stuffā.
āSeriously,ā said Rick, āYou are a fucking prince, bro. I owe you. These old shorts Iām wearing are crushing my balls!ā Rick immediately started stripping off his clothes.
Connor chuckled while Rick stood there naked except for his socks. āI told you youād be growing a pair of balls and jock cock to go with āem. Look at you, bro! For a freshman, youāve got nothing to be ashamed of.ā Rick was soon dressed in a pair of roomy sweat shorts with the school logo and a loose T-shirt with āWashington High Athleticsā emblazoned on the front and back. Connor put the new cap on Rickās head. Adjusting it into position and holding the brim, he said, āYouāre getting to be a big bro now. You donāt need to worry about wearing a cap every time I see you. But just remember ā I gave you the gift. Someday, when youāre an even bigger bro, you might just run into another scrawny freshman who needs it as much as you did. And thatās when youāll pass it on. You, and Dave, too, youāll know when you find someone.ā Connor let go of the cap. Dave stood there gaping while Rick checked himself out in the mirror.
āHow will we know?ā Rick asked, finally.
āDude, I canāt explain it. Youāll just know. Trust me,ā said Connor.
āOkay, man, Iāll trust you,ā said Rick. Then, turning to Dave, he said, āYour turnās next, bro,ā said Rick to Dave, handing him the jockstrap heād just taken off. āYouāll be needing this soon.ā
āThe way my balls hurt, I think I want to try it on now,ā Dave said.
āYeah, Dave,ā said Connor, adjusting the cap on Daveās head, the cap heād originally given to Rick. āI think youāre about to hit a big growth spurt, bro. You donāt want your buddy Rick too far ahead of you. You might as well try the jockstrap on now. Iām sure Rick got it warmed up for you.ā
āIāll bet,ā said Dave. āBut Iāll put up with Rickās skanky ball sweat if itāll keep my boys from aching, let me tell you bro. I can wash it out later.ā Dave stripped off his pants and underwear, put on the used jockstrap and got dressed. āThat is way better, bros,ā he said.
āExcellent,ā said Connor. āBut Dave, one thing: when it stops fitting, I want it back, okay? That oneās special.ā
Rick smiled. āI guessed right. That was your jockstrap?ā
āYeah,ā Connor said, with a wistful and not very jock-like expression on his face. āIt was my first one, okay? Itās special, so I want it back.ā
āI canāt believe that little thing ever fit a big dude like you,ā said Rick.
āLook, I mean, itās embarrassing, but I told you bros I used to be a scrawny little freshman geek, okay? It fit me back then. But then I hit a big growth spurt, just like the one you bros are going through, and it didnāt fit anymore. Thatās why itās in such good shape.ā Connor grinned. āAnyway, later, bros. See you at the football game. Enjoy watching it while you can. Next time, youāll be down on the field.ā
āYeah, weāll be there,ā said Rick. āNo way weāre missing the first game of the season.ā
Dave insisted on getting a haircut before they went home, so they texted their parents and let them know theyād be back later than usual. As soon as they got to Wylerās, Rick spotted the older barber who had given him his haircut a few days before. āYou remember me, sir?ā he asked.
The barber looked at him a minute, slightly puzzled. āOh yeah, son. Didnāt I give you a team haircut the other day? Itās still looking pretty sharp, but I had a little trouble recognizing you. Youāre growing like a weed, young man. Your voice is changing, too. Didnāt you wear glasses before?ā
āYeah, I did,ā said Rick. āAnyway, my best bud Dave here is joining the football team, too. Can you clean him up?ā
The barber obliged, and soon Dave was shorn down to stubble and spikes. Rick popped the cap back on Daveās head and said, āBro, I think your zits are already starting to clear up.ā They walked to Daveās house, and then Rick headed home from there. When he got home, he approached Tommy and said, āHey, little bro. You want to go in the backyard and throw the football around for a bit?ā
Tommy was fine with that. After theyād played catch for a while, Rick took Tommy back inside, and his mother thanked him for running off some of Tommyās energy. Tommy said, āRichieās a jock now!ā
Their mother didnāt necessarily take that statement too seriously, until Rick told his parents that he and Dave had both signed up for JV football.
āOh, Richard,ā his mother said, āI donāt know that thatās such a good idea. Are you sure you want to do that?ā
āRichard, letās head upstairs,ā his dad said. āItās time for a shaving lesson.ā
His dad presented him with a razor, shaving cream, and some after-shave lotion. Soon Rickās thickening peach fuzz was swirling down the drain of the main bathroom, along with a small amount of blood. When he was done rinsing, his dad said, āRichard, your mother is having a little trouble dealing with the fact that her boy is becoming a man. I have no objection to your going out for football if thatās what you want, and I think itās great that David is joining you, but youāve got to admit itās a big change for both of you. You can understand why your mother might be freaked out. Iāll talk to her, but Richard, take it easy, okay?
Later, after Rick and Dave had headed off to the football game and Tommyās parents had put him to bed, Rickās mother said, āWhat scares me is that they tell us to watch out if our kids suddenly change peer groups and start hanging out with a different crowd. Richardās never been interested in sports before. Neither has David, as far as I know. Now suddenly Richard wants to go out for football? It doesnāt make any sense. And footballās dangerous.ā
His dad said, āI get your point. I would be worried, too if Richard had suddenly dropped David as a friend, or if he started to hang around with kids who got in trouble or did drugs or whatever. But boys their age wanting to go out for sports is perfectly normal. And sure, maybe thereās some peer pressure behind it. Theyāre at a new school, and theyāre trying to fit in. I donāt think itās a bad sign that an older kid in one of their classes encouraged them to try out. Look at it this way: Richardās not doing this alone, and itās a great chance for those two to meet other guys their own age at school. Plus, theyāll be part of a team with a coach keeping an eye on them. They shouldnāt be able to get into any real trouble. If anything, thereāll be pressure on both of them to stay out of trouble so that they can stay on the team. I know itās a big change, honey, but itās not a bad thing. Not at all.ā
āAll the same,ā said his mother, āI think itās scary how quickly Richard has been changing. I made an appointment with his doctor to have him checked out.ā
āThatās a great idea,ā said his dad. āThe doctor can let us know if thereās anything really wrong.ā
Dave shouted himself hoarse at the game. He complained more than once to Rick over the weekend that his voice hadnāt recovered. By Sunday, he was texting Rick that he sounded as though he had a cold. Rick texted back, āu sure ur voice isnāt changing?ā
āOver a weekend?ā Dave asked.
āDude, mine changed practically overnight.ā
By Monday when they headed to school, there was no more doubt. Daveās voice hadnāt quite settled yet, but it was changing fast. His zits were starting to clear up, too, just as dark fuzz was starting to shadow his lips and cheeks.
Later that week, Rick had to endure the humiliation of a full examination by his pediatrician. It turned out to be worth it, though; the doctor gave a glowing report to his mother: āRichard is a healthy young man. Very healthy, in fact, and growing fast. I donāt see any reason for him not to participate in athletics. Heāll benefit from the physical activity. One thing I will point out, though. Richard is, well, thereās no way to put this delicately, Richard is very well endowed for someone his age. Itās absolutely critical that he wear athletic supporters or at least supportive underwear when engaging in any sports. Thereās nothing wrong with him wearing boxer shorts if he wants to, but not when playing football.ā
Going to practice, learning how to put on their uniforms and protective gear correctly, playing in football games, and hanging out with their teammates and other jocks quickly reinforced Rick and Daveās physical and mental changes. As the days and weeks passed by, they resembled their teammates more and more. They looked like jocks. They dressed like jocks. They sounded like jocks. They acted like jocks. Rick and Daveās rooms, formerly neat and organized, grew messy and developed lingering odors of sweat and cheap body spray. Practice uniforms, cleats, jockstraps, and compression gear were strewn everywhere, and posters of athletes decorated the walls.
They talked like jocks, too. Rickās father took him aside for a talk: āRichard, as you know, I have no problem with you playing football and hanging out with your friends. But Iām your father, not your bro, okay? And that goes quadruple for your mother. I mean it: no more calling your mom ādudeā, and especially not ābroā. It freaks her out, okay? You donāt want to give your mother a bad time.ā
āOkay, dude ā I mean dad,ā Rick chuckled.
āVery funny. I mean it, mister. Donāt think that youāve gotten so big that I canāt show you whoās boss. Iām sure your coach and your teachers donāt let you get away with calling them ādudeā. Have I made myself clear? Have I?ā
āYes, sir,ā said Rick sullenly.
āThatās better. Now that weāve cleared the air, I wanted to let you know how proud I am of you, son. I mean that. But life will be better for all of us around here if you take it easy on your mom.ā
No one would call Rick or Dave scrawny now. They were still a long way from the size and bulk of an older jock like Connor, but their growth spurts and hours spent in the weight room had changed the former pipsqueak nerds into buff bros. Their hands had grown meaty and rough with calluses from handling barbells and footballs.
When it came to their schoolwork, the situation was ā complicated. As Connor had promised, Rick got his brains back, mostly, and Dave had never lost his. Of course, they didnāt want to come off as brains, especially in front of their bros, but their bros werenāt the problem. If they got Aās on a test or an assignment, even their teachers were surprised, as if something wasnāt right with the universe. Jocks were expected to win games. No one expected them to be smart. Rick and Dave soon discovered that there was no point in working for an A. Everyone assumed that the teacher had gone easy on them because they were on the football team ā or worse: that theyād bribed or bullied some nerd into doing their work. It became easier and easier to just go along with peopleās lowered expectations. Internally seething at being treated like morons, their personalities became cocky and aggressive. They channeled all their efforts into their athletic pursuits, where at least their achievements were rewarded, and they soon came to despise nerds and brains as being a plague on the universe.
All Rick and Dave cared about at school now was playing sports, hanging out with their bros, and earning their varsity letters. When football season ended, Rick, who was getting tall, went out for basketball. Dave, who was shorter and becoming stocky, went out for wrestling. At home, Tommy eagerly emulated his big bro and started to get into sports himself. Rick returned the favor by making sure Tommy got plenty of activity outside throwing and catching balls, running, and tackling. In spring, when Rick and Dave had both gone out for baseball, Rick gave his little brother a nice leather catcherās mitt for his birthday. Tommy now wanted to be football player or a baseball player when he grew up.
When they finally earned their letterman jackets, Rick and Dave were stoked to see that their bro Connor had come back from college to be there for the ceremony. Playing college football hadnāt made Connor any smaller; he looked as big as some of the pros. Connor was glad to see Rick and Dave, too. He was proud of his part in their transformations, but he hardly recognized them at first. Rick, a handsome young athlete with a lean, muscular build, was now taller than Connor himself. But the real shocker for Connor was Dave. The once slight nerd had morphed into a rough-voiced beefy lineman with a square head, solid neck, barrel chest, and massive thighs.
āDave, damn, dude, you got thick! How much you weigh now, bro?ā said Connor, slapping him in the middle of his broad back above his bulging glutes.
Swaggering proudly out of the gym after the ceremony, Rick and Dave were shooting the breeze with Connor, catching up on his college football career. Rick spotted their teamās geeky freshman water boy looking at Rickās letterman jacket with an expression of envy and awe that Rick still dimly remembered. āHey, little dude,ā he said to the water boy, a friendly grin on his chiseled face. āYou want to try my jacket on? See how youād look?ā
āReally?ā squeaked the water boy. āYouād let me do that?ā
āSure, I would. Remind me what your name is again, bro.ā
āBradleyā he breathed, looking both thrilled and terrified.
āHere ya go, Brad. Try this on for size.ā
Rick took off his jacket and slung it over Bradleyās fragile frame. The heavy jacket looked likely to break Bradley in half, but his eyes shone with delight. āThis is so cool!ā he said. āThank you so much! Iād give anything to be able to wear one of these.ā
āBro,ā Rick said, āyou know youāve got to earn the letter yourself, but if you mean what you said, Dave and I can help you. Here, try on my cap.ā Rick popped it on Bradleyās head and looked him up and down. āBrad, bro, you really do want it. I can tell. Hereās what Iām gonna do. Iām gonna give you this cap. Iāve got plenty more where that came from. But I expect to see you wearing it the next time I see you. Got it? Now let me adjust it for you.ā Rick adjusted the cap and then held onto the brim while looking Bradley straight in the eyes. āBro, listen to me.ā Bradleyās eyes started to lose focus as Rickās voice echoed in his skull. āYou look good in this cap, but you gotta ditch the nerd hair, bro. This cap would fit you so much better if you got a real haircut. Yeah, bro, thatās it: cut off that stupid nerd hair, and then weāll see if youāve got what it takes to earn a jacket like mine. Oh, and ditch the glasses, bro. Trust me. Youāre not gonna need āem.ā