Thank you for your interest and your help.



4.1

HOLY MOLY

As Roberto and Sonya walk into church, Maria waits outside for Jeff.

"Good morning Maria, my love. Am I allowed to kiss you here?"

"Yes, a holy kiss."

"Show me how." After a brief kiss Jeff continues, "This church looks like a store."

"The church is the people. You look distinguished in that jacket and tie."

Romantically, "But not as special as you."

Smiling with delight, "Come in."

Jose walks up to them, giving Jeff a hug and peck on the cheek.

"Was that a holy kiss, Jose?"

Chuckling, "All my kisses are."

"I agree, even though I don’t know what’s happening here."

"Hey man, you pray, so you’ll figure it out."

Many friendly people greet Jeff and Maria, as Jose chats with Sean and Rachel. Jeff finds the lively music a wonderful way to worship God. He quickly gets bored with the preaching. The "Jesus this, Jesus that" stuff makes no sense. But being with the love of his life makes it easy to feel the presence of God. He tries raising his hands as others are doing. Seeming super weird at first, soon it feels like heaven flowing into his fingertips. Roberto and Sonya admire his spiritual zeal.

Afterward, Sean takes Rachel and Jeff out for pizza. "Mom, why don’t we go to church?"

"When I got pregnant with you, the church we went to treated us like aliens. This is the first time I’ve been to church since then."

"I don’t think this church would be like that, Mom. You heard Roberto’s testimony. You’re safe here. What about you, Sean?"

"My father was a preacher."

"Wow! I hope he wasn’t like this douche-bag."

"People expected me to be an angel. I knew I wasn’t, so I made it my mission to prove to them I wasn’t. Finally the church told my dad that if he couldn’t run a family right, he certainly couldn’t run a church right. When they gave him the ax, I stopped going to church."

"I can’t picture you being a bad ass."

"I took great delight in knocking hypocrites off their high horses. Put Fred and Paul together and that was me. But I didn’t have their muscles."

"No way! What changed you?

"My father. After getting fired, he apologized to me. I couldn’t understand that—I was the one raising hell. He said he failed me, that he should have loved me no matter what I did. I didn’t buy it. I figured he was just trying to soften me up, so that I would behave. It took me a few years, but finally I realized he really loved me."



4.2

R & R GOES FAR

The Tigers are back. The Cubs remember and respect the Tigers. Michael and Karim return. "Karim, I don’t want you pitching today. Let’s be safe and wait ‘til next game for that…. Jose, I want you to coach today."

"All right! I’ve been wondering if you’d give me a chance."

"Without Karim pitching, Michael pitches three innings and then you the last three."

Sean spends time with each parent present, even some Tiger parents. Every Tiger good play receives cheers. The Cubs win easily, 21-3, as everyone thoroughly enjoys playing.



4.3

WAIT ‘N RATE

Maria and Jeff spend the entire recess at school together. "Maria, we need to figure out a place we can have privacy."

"I’ve been trying to figure out something too, but can’t."

"I want to do so much more with you."

"Jeff, mama had the talk with me."

"So what do you want to do, Maria, if we get some privacy?"

"I think about that stuff too. I wouldn’t want to try it with anyone but you. But mama says I need to get married before doing that."

"Well, let’s get married, Maria."

Laughing, "You sound serious. Jeff, I love you. That would be fantastic sleeping in the same bed with you and doing whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted…. Mama makes Roberto wait, and they’re in their thirties!"

"I don’t understand that."

"She says it’s what God wants, so it’s very important to her."

"It sounds stupid to me. But I will wait for you as long as it takes."

"I just knew you would say that. I know you really mean it. I wish we were married already!"



4.4

A BIT PRIVATE

"Hey little man! I expected that you would come."

"Hi Sean. Would you believe someone scolded us for kissing."

"Some people are offended by kissing in public."

"That’s their problem."

"I disagree with you, Jeff. Do you kiss at school?"

"I wish!"

"So you know you could get into trouble."

"Yes, Sean."

"That’s all I wanted to hear. Now if I were you I’d be thinking of places at school where there’s privacy."

"Yeah! Do you know of any?"

"Sorry. Now if you got caught kissing in a private place, I don’t think there would be a problem. But if you were doing more…I don’t think I have to explain."

"Sean, I hear you and understand. But it’s not fair. We don’t have a place to go!"

"Yeah, most adults are more worried about you doing too much, rather than providing a place for kissing."

"I think I’ll propose that a kissing room be provided during recess."

"More power to ya, Jeff!"

"Can I take Maria to your house?"

"With her mother, sure."

"No. Without her mother."

"No. I’m afraid that could get me in trouble. Now you see the dilemma. Even if I said OK, Sonya never would."

"I know that!"

"I don’t think she would mind if you used her living room as a kissing room."

"That’s true! But what about Jose’s parents. They live there too."

"Ask. Be direct. You’re good at that, Jeff."

Giving Sean a big hug, "Thanks for being so helpful."

"Just remember, a spark can turn into a fire out of control. I hope you don’t get burned."

"Maria and I are gonna wait ‘til marriage."

"So you discussed it already. That’s great!"



4.5

CALL ‘N PLAY BALL

"Hi Sean. This is Jeff."

"Hi Jeff. Now that you’re in love, I only get a phone call, huh."

"Trying to make me feel guilty?"

"No, that just was a dumb way to say that I miss you, Jeff."

"I miss you too. Guess what!?"

"You spent the afternoon at Maria’s house."

"How’d ya guess, Sean!"

"It didn’t take being a rocket scientist."

"Sonya let’s us use the TV room for kissing—as long as we keep the door open."

"Congratulations! I hope you can earn Sonya’s respect."

"Sean, I hope so too. Hey, the Giants are looking forward to our game tonight. They say they had more fun in our other game than any other all season."

"And you’ve been a big reason for that."

"Thanks, good buddy. See ya at the game."

"Take care."



4.6

FIRST PLACE GRACE

"Karim, can I have your permission to have three players coach tonight that are not captains?"

"Sure, Sean. Let me guess who—Fred, Michael, and Jeff."

"Great minds think alike!"

All three feel honored to be recognized for their leadership. Each does well in their assigned two innings. Tremendous sportsmanship between the two teams continues throughout the evening. Again the Cubs win easily as they clinch first place, with one game left in the season.



4.7

REALLY FEELY

"Good morning, Jeff. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, Ma, slept great. I can’t wait to get to the beach with Maria!"

"I figured that’s why you’re so frisky."

To Jeff, it feels like forever before they get to the beach. When they get there, he spends hours with Maria snorkeling in the cove, checking out the coral and sealife. Sonya finally comes over, "I’m totally impressed with the two of you."

"Thank you Sonya, so much." Jeff jumps up, giving her a hug.

"Look at you fingers, Jeff."

"Wow. They're all shriveled up."

"Hey, Do you ever listen to the waves breaking on the shore?"

"I guess so."

"That can be very romantic."

"How about it, Maria?"

"Sure! Let's sit in the sand on the side over there." At the water's edge, they join their shriveled hands, leaning against each other. They look and listen intently, finding no need for words.



4.8

DIVE ‘N DRIVE

If the Cardinals beat the Cubs in their final game of the season, they finish in second place. Even though the Cubs have first place locked up; a loss now would leave a blemish on a dream-come-true year. Sean tells Karim, "You may coach tonight—the entire game."

"Thanks, Sean, I feel honored."

After chatting with each player, Sean sits in the bleachers with Rachel, who finally is able to see another game. "Sean, I heard about you doing this. Now I get to see it."

"I think Karim will do a better job than I could tonight. All I want right now is to be with you."

Karim asks Jose, "Can you be ready to pitch after Michael?"

"Really! Sure! Thanks, Karim."

The Cardinals have runners at second and third with two outs. A hard ground ball heads for the hole. Jeff dives, snags the ball, gets to his knees, and tosses the ball to first. It’s close, as the umpire signals "out" to end the threat. 

Now Jeff steps to the plate against the lefty that falls toward the third base line on each pitch. As expected the third baseman plays for a bunt, but not the first baseman. The second baseman does instead! Jeff thinks, "That wipes out my plan. I better swing away, maybe bloop it over the second baseman." He ends up hitting a line drive just out of reach of the second baseman, into the gap. Jeff makes second base, standing up. He looks proudly at his mother, tipping his cap. On a grounder to third he races to third on the throw to first. On a ground ball to short he darts home unchallenged, for the first run of the game.

Each starting pitcher completes three innings with no more scoring. Sean tells Rachel, "That’s trouble. Juan, their ace, now can pitch the last three innings. Oh, look at that! Karim just put Jose in to pitch instead of himself. Isn’t he amazing!" In three innings Jose gives up only one run. Jeff leads off the bottom of the final inning, score tied, with the infield expecting a bunt. As the fastball comes in, he hits a soft line drive that Juan grabs for the out. Unexpectedly Jose drops down a bunt that is thrown away. Jose stops at second. Michael hits a slow roller to third. Jose immediately knows he can advance. He decides he’s not stopping at third. He’ll get into a run down if needed. Racing home, he glances at the first baseman—after the out he tosses the ball back to the pitcher! So Jose keeps running. Jose dives in before the catcher can apply a tag. Game over!

As Sean hugs Jose, "Diving is dangerous. I don’t seem to be able to break you from that habit. But you got the job done cunningly! Congratulations, buddy!" Jose stretches to kiss Sean. Lightheartedly, "If you don’t kill yourself, you’re gonna kill me!"



4.9

SLIDE RIDE

"Mom, look how sunny and beautiful the weather is for the beach. Are you ready to leave?"

"Ah, Jeff. Sean won’t be here for another half-hour, Mr. Chipper."

When they arrive, Jeff lies down on the blanket beside Maria, placing his hand in hers, as they savor such peaceful serenity. As they lay there together, Jeff whispers to Maria, "Listen to Sean talk sweet to my mom. I love it. Suddenly he hears, "Will you marry me?"

Jeff jumps up screaming, "Yes!!!"

Everyone laughs as Jeff now observes Sean on one knee in front of his mom. Tears streaming down her eyes, "I most certainly will!"

Jeff runs up to Sean, tackling him into a big hug, following with a kiss on each cheek. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" He turns to his mom, "Get up! I can’t hug you in a beach chair."

After hugging, Rachel gets on one knee to kiss Jeff. He showers her with kisses. Now she turns to Sean. He slides a diamond ring on her finger. "Oh! It’s so precious! Oh, Sean. It sparkles almost as splendidly as your sweet eyes."

At they hug, Roberto says, "We’re all going swimming now. You two need some privacy."


Please feel free to e-mail me at baddadraddad@yahoo.com with your comments. 



EPILOGUE

My goal has been to be entertaining and thought provocative. I hope your desire for pleasure does not overshadow your need to find meaning in life and a sense of purpose.

With that in mind, I will close with a quote of Alexander Solzhenitsyn: "One might wish that reality was such that there would exist bad people who sneakily do their wrong deeds, and we only had to isolate and destroy them. The limits between the good and the bad, however, go right across any human heart."

For example, we may like to play cops and robbers. But cops aren’t always good and robbers aren’t always bad.



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