Chapter 26 - Making a Case

Originally published October 2, 2015.

Gus and Tom noticed during the past several weeks that a line of people started forming each Friday by 4:15.  

They would be seated, ask for a beverage and settle in.  It was more than the usual crowd for Friday night fish fry.  A lot of them were wearing old letter jackets and school spirit gear.

They noted some families and students came in by 4;30 ready to order, because they wanted to eat before heading out to the game.  

Some kids came back after the game for something to eat.  Pizza sales after 9:30 was quadruple what it was last fall. 

The guys were excited to share their observations and results with Kathy and Steve because the only change this year over last was starting Sports Tonight inside the restaurant. 

4:30 is when Kathy and Coach Suter usually walked in the front door.  What they didn't expect was a burst of applause when they entered.  Coach took the lead, directing Kathy around the restaurant to shake hands and thank folks for listening and coming out.  It was nearly 4:45 when they got to the booth, making Kathy anxious, but she knew station public relations were worth it.  Mark it down as another career first.  

Dick Sawyer, Sam DuFraisne, Jon Hidorn, and  JohnnyMac were all coming in for the start of tonight's broadcast, then Jon and Sam would head to their game.  Since Sectionals started in two weeks, it was time to break down possible match-ups. 

Out at the Marberg place, Pete parked his two door car in the back and headed up the steps of the back porch.  Jean was there to greet him before he reached the top step. 

"Hey, Pete.  I'm glad you could make it and didn't have some news emergency to attend to!" 

"Thanks, Jean.  No news is good news tonight, I guess.  Here, I wasn't sure what to bring, so I hope this is something you like." 

Jean looked over the bottle, it came from the not so far away Wollersheim Winery near Praire du Sac.  She liked having a bottle of wine around the house and said thanks while inviting Pete inside. 

Pete was surprised it was just the two of them, but didn't think much of it, figuring others from the family were on their way; until he noticed the table set for two. 

"Pete, I didn't mean to catch you off-guard.  Originally, Elaine, Emjay and Jake, and Glenn were going to be here.  One thing led to another and it is just us.  I still wanted you to come over to say thanks for all you did...  and maybe get to know you a bit.  Is that OK?" 

Pete looked at his shoes.  He'd been single so long, he didn't even imagine the possibility.  Sure, he knew the Marberg family and had talked with Jean a couple of times, but Pete figured she was too far out of his league to even dream about.  

Suddenly, he noticed the long quiet pause.  "Oh, Excuse me, Jean.  Yes, this looks very nice and it would be nice to get to know you better." 

Jean carried two glasses of the wine to the table and asked him to sit.    

"Pete, I don't think I ever heard how you ever came to Roseville, I'd like to hear that." 

He smiled and told the story of his arrival at the station and how he learned to put the stuff from college to use in the real world.  A story or two later, he asked for her story.   

Jean described growing up not far from Roseville and how she met David at a speech tournament the last year of high school and they just clicked.  Pete asked about joining the Marberg family, their kids, and how she was doing since David passed. 

The conversation, complete with dozens of laughs, a pause to get dinner out of the oven, and more wine went on for hours. 

Pete looked at his watch.  8:45.  He had been there three hours.  Afraid of wearing out his welcome, he thanked her for the invitation and asked if he might have the honor of taking her out sometime.  

She said yes. 

There was a big smile on his face as he headed back to the car.  WRSE's half-time show was on the air. 

Kathy Jones was listening in one ear for the on - air commercial to end and the other to an animated conversation between Coaches Sawyer and Mac.  She turned off their microphones as she opened hers. 

"Welcome back to Sports Tonight half - time,  The score of our game is Roseville 21, Springville 17. 

 Let's get back into it with coaches Sawyer and Mac."   Dick and Johnny looked her way when they heard their last names.  Kathy Jones smiled while nodding toward them indicating their mikes were now hot. 

"Coach Sawyer, you've been making a case for a multiplier of sorts for private high schools - can you give me a summary on your argument?" 

"Sure, Ms. Jones,"  Sawyer was always formal on air in stark contrast to the more earthy way of talking he used away from the microphones.  "It seems to me public schools can only play the kids in their district while the private schools can recruit and bring in anyone they want." 

"Hold on a second, Coach." 

It was Johnny Mac, "Coach, while some private schools may give scholarships, I've never ran into one who gave it for athletic ability.  But, let's assume for a moment you are correct.  What about the little towns around the state which have excelled for years in a particular sport - Cuba City or Oostburg for basketball and not that long ago Monroe was collecting gold football trophies like they came in a Happy Meal." 

"Now Johnny this is why we have an athletic association.  Let the schools consider the options and decide for themselves.  For those dominant schools, I'd recommend to their opponents to practice a little harder." 

Mac replied, "Dick, about two decades ago the public schools wanted to include the private schools to grab a bigger footprint and make the state titles more meaningful.  Since we give kids and their parents the right to choose their own school now, whether its public or private, I just don't see the need to penalize any strong performing schools." 

Eying the clock above the coaches, Kathy had to wrap it up.  "Thanks Coach Mac and Coach Sawyer - it feels like we're doing "Pardon the Interruption" here and you guys are Mike and Tony.  Anyway, that's all the time we have in the segment, we'll back in 60 seconds to update scores from around the area." 

Pete turned the radio down as he headed back into town for a beverage and to check on the Sports Tonight crew.  It was one of the first times in a while he could try to think some stuff over that's been bouncing around his brain. 

I sure didn't expect all that at Jean's house tonight.  Maybe I'm a little more dense than I thought! 

But man, she said yes.  She actually said she liked the idea of going out with me sometime.  And I didn't ask her for a time and place right then?  

He slapped the steering wheel in frustration. 

She's pretty and smart.  We're about the same age.  Stop worrying about what everybody else is going to think, Pete.  Ask yourself, do you want to take her out?  

Moss smiled as he reached for the volume as he pulled into an empty place across the street from Gus & Tom's.

I know the answer to that question, yes. 

Chapter 27 will be published tomorrow at 9.