Previously, Part 12: Coach Seen Here Sitting at His Desk Planning His Post-Game Locker Room Speech… Each one contained dedicated curriculum for Sophomore and Junior classes, which I’d be teaching.
Each section was labeled by week, so there was no floundering.
It was much better.
I got to know the kids really fast, and they seemed to like me.
Changing schools was a good move, and the extra $15,000 helped with the family budget.
There were several football players in the shop and a few baseball players as well.
Dan was a junior, and he played both.
He was a great kid and a class clown.
I didn’t know what “crop dusting” was until I had Dan as a student.
His flatulence could clear out an area of the shop in a hurry.
The Athletic Director has to like you, and the Principal has the final say.
I knew I could help them a lot.
Of the candidates, I was easily the most qualified.
But, when the position was awarded it wasn’t me who got it.
It was like playing sandlot on a makeshift field.
Although it seemed odd to me, everybody was used to it.
I was so over him.
He was really good, but he didn’t have the range Alejandro had.
Alejandro resembled Ozzie Smith and Dan, Cal Ripken.
I was shocked when Alejandro put on the gear and went behind the dish to catch.
He was another varsity baseball coach who was full of himself.
I could see it a mile away.
At one point, with two runners on and only one out, Dan was in a difficult spot.
Bryce came up to the plate.
I urged Coach to bring him up, but he wouldn’t, maybe because it was my idea.
Bryce was a big boy.
Six-two, 230 lbs.
He got back in the box, and Dan threw a strike that was in Bryce’s wheelhouse.
I never saw a high school kid hit a ball that far.
It had to be the longest double in the history of high school baseball.
Standing on second base, Bryce stared in at T-C’s coach, grinning from ear to ear.
And good for him!
That was my first home run!
“I yelled back,“I got kids of my own, Dan.
I can’t be at all your games.”
I can’t even remember who won.
I think all the kids did, and the two coaches were the only losers.
“Of course, Coach got in his final"Mussolini Snarl"before he got on the bus.
I never saw him again.
A few years later, afterCoachretired from teaching, a new AD was hired at Southeastern.
The first thing he did was fireCoach.
Thenhe took over as head football coach himself.
I never coached baseball again, little league or high school.
I remained focused on teaching plumbing.
Several years later, I got a call from Dan.
He wanted a review class because he was going for his Journeyman Plumber’s license.
“It was always a couple of hours short of the six hours the kids were paying for.
He said,“Tomorrow morning at 9:00…”
I was shocked.
“You should’ve told me, Dan.
I would’ve had you out of here earlier.”
“No, Mr. LeVine.
That was my plan.
Review with you till 10:00.
Wake up and take the test while everything is still fresh.”
“Well, Dan, you better call me afterward and tell me if you passed.
“He said he would.
Late Saturday morning, my phone rang.
He passed the test and became a Journeyman Plumber!
