Tom & Sue & John & Debbie

Thank you for reading my series, 'Tom & Sue John & Debbie.' If you haven't read Chapters 1-16, please do so before reading this chapter. The series is written as a serial novel, that is, each chapter builds on the previous chapter with each chapter playing a significant role in telling the story of 'Tom & Sue & John & Debbie'. I want to apologize for taking so long to complete this chapter. My full time hectic work schedule, family life, health issues, among other matters, have left little time for me to devote to my newfound pastime of putting into words the series, 'Tom & Sue & John & Debbie' as it was told to me.

The roller coaster rides continues in Chapter 17 as Sue and Debbie, have gone their separate ways. Each establishing new relationships—Debbie at University with her cheer squad members, Tri Delt sorority sisters, and her basketball playing Tri Delt roommate, Beverly Swifty. Sue is at State along with her Dragon High basketball teammates, Cathy and Donna, while establishing a special bond with her adventurous, fun-loving teammate, and roommate, Nancy Dobbier. Nancy and Sue have taken an impromptu road trip to University in order for Sue to confront Debbie to see if she has any intentions of having a serious relationship with Tom. Mary Ann has begun telling Sue the story about her, Tom and John, while becoming yet another mentor to Sue. The girls have entered the 'Maroon & White' and are unexpectedly joined by University's star twirler, Charlotte Mackroy. The girls begin to swap stories in a girl talk session and in the process, Charlotte and Beverly reveal to the group skeletons that are hidden in their closets.

DISCLAIMER: All characters appearing in the series, 'Tom & Sue John & Debbie', are fictitious, as they do not exist. Any resemblance to a real person, living or dead, is purely coincidental, and should not be construed to associate a real person, living or dead, with the scenes or events described within the series 'Tom & Sue John & Debbie.' Reverse Cowgirl

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COEDS REVEAL SKELETONS HIDDEN IN THEIR CLOSETS

Nancy and I flipped out our State student IDs, showed them to the doorman, never missing a beat, as we scooted past the doorman to join our party.

The doorman yelled, "WHOA! You two have to pay a $25 cash cover charge before you'll be allowed to join your party."

Nancy looked puzzled and said, "What cover charge? The sign says, 'Sunday's buffet is free with a valid student ID'!"

The doorman replied, "It's free with a valid University student ID. Shit kickers like you two have to pay the $25 cash cover charge or else, get your asses out of here—understand?"

Nancy shot back, "That's bullshit! I've been coming here since high school and I've have never had to pay any cover charge! The Sunday buffet has always been free with a valid student ID!"

Mary Ann interrupted, "Hey y'all let's just pack up and go to Arnold's. It's not the Maroon & White, but Arnold's has great pizzas and subs. And, with Larry's coach's tab, we'll receive a 90% discount."

Brenda was laughing, "Hold your horses Mary Ann, we won't be going any place soon—our arrogant doorman friend is about to get a one helluva rude awaking!"

Nancy glared at the doorman, "So let me get this straight. Before you'll let us in we each have to pay a $25 cash cover charge or else we'll have to leave—is that you are telling me?"

The doorman smirked, "No! What I said was, 'Shit Kickers like you two have to pay the $25 cash cover charge or else get your asses out of here.' Now either pay up or get your asses out of here. I'm tired of arguing with you bitch."

Nancy acted like she was getting into her purse but quickly grabbed the microphone off the doorman's podium and said with more than a bit of a smirk, "It's your funeral asshole!"

Nancy yelled into the mike, "Yo Aunt Brandie! Uncle Mark! Your shit kicking niece is at the front and your doorman won't let me in without paying a $25 cash cover charge. So hustle on up PDQ!"

Nancy looked the doorman dead in the eyes, throwing the microphone back in his face, "Like I said,'It's your funeral asshole'."

Suddenly an Italian lady looking very similar to Mom appeared wearing a white apron, spoke in a loud, gruff voice, "Nancy Elaine what in the world are you doing here this Sunday afternoon? Shouldn't you be back at State studying?"

Nancy smiled, "Yo Aunt Brandie! Sue and I decided to take a road trip this afternoon. I wanted to see Sticky and Sue needed to see Debbie. You do remember Sue don't you Aunt Brandie?"

Aunt Brandie replied, "I sure do! Who could ever forget that semi-final game, I have never seen anything like it. The two of you trading baskets over and over again until Sue blocked that shot when you had a chance to tie things up and send the game into a second overtime."

Nancy smiled, "Roomie cheated when she barely deflected that shot! She had a bit of inside help from one the greatest defensive players to play for State. Right Roomie?"

I smiled and said, "Yes, Angie taught me well, but those days are in the past, we're teammates and roommates now."

Nancy changed the subject, "Yo Sticky show Aunt Brandie the rock on your ring finger!"

Brenda held up her hand and Aunt Brandie replied, "Oh My Gosh! I always knew this day would come once you and Timothy finally quit your penny ante squabbling and decided to tie the knot. So Brenda when is the big day?"

Brenda replied, "Brandie it'll be sometime this coming summer in mid to late July. After we're married we plan to live on Grandpa's ranch during our senior year until I graduate in May. Tim will graduate in December and after graduation he'll be going through a vigorous training schedule preparing for the NFL Combine before the April draft."

Aunt Brandie smiled, "Well, it certainly sounds like you two have it all worked out! Congrats to both of you and don't worry about any reception party, the Maroon & White will be all yours!

"Now what is going on up here?"

Nancy said, "Aunt Brandie your doorman was trying to collect a $25 cash cover charge from me and Sue because we go to State and not University. I argued with him for a bit until he told me, 'Now either pay up or get your shit kicking asses out of here. I'm tired of arguing with you, bitch.' That's when I grabbed the mike."

Aunt Brandie cast her Italian eyes like daggers in the direction of the doorman, "Gabe why did you do this?"

Gabe replied, "Uh...uh...I was just..."

Suddenly a booming Italian voice, loud enough to wake the dead, interrupted Gabe, "What in the Sam Hell is going on up here? Goddammit I want some answers and I want them now!"

Brandie looked her husband Mark dead in the eyes, "Seems like Gabe was trying to collect $25 cash cover charge from both Sue and Nancy Elaine because their student IDs were from State and not University. According to Nancy Elaine, Gabe told them 'Either pay up or get your shit kicking asses out of here.' He was through arguing with Nancy Elaine, calling her a 'bitch'."

Gabe, sensing he was in deep shit, quickly responded, "Sir, I assumed the free admission was only with a valid University student ID. I never thought free admission meant any valid student ID."

Mark replied in a disgusted voice, "The sign clearly says, 'Sunday's buffet is free with a valid student ID.' The reason this Sunday buffet is free is because when I was a freshman, if it hadn't been for my roommate, I'd gone hungry many a Sunday night. That roommate has been like a brother to me ever since. I was best man in his wedding and he was best man in me and Brandie's wedding. His fiancée was Brandie's maid of honor and their daughter is the daughter me and Brandie never had. And, if it hadn't been for them loaning us the money, well, the Maroon & White would have never been built.

"Gabe just curious, what the hell where you going to do with the $50 cash?"

Gabe stuttered before answering his boss, "Uh...uh...if they paid me, I was going to turn it in to the cashier after I got off work tonight."

Mark grumbled, "Like hell you were. You intended to stuff it in your back pockets. Assumption is the mother of all fuckups, and Gabe, you just fucked up big time!

"I shouldn't even think about doing this, but I'll consider giving you a second chance. You'll have to clock out and I don't want to see you for the next three days..."

Brandie quickly interrupted her husband, "What the hell? That's all you're going to do? Suspend him for a couple days after the way he treated Nancy Elaine?"

Mark replied, "What'd you want me to do?"

Brandie replied in no uncertain terms, "FIRE HIS ASS!"

Mark sighed, "Gabe, you heard my partner, there's no scorn like a mother's scorn, so get your things and meet me at Miss Kate's desk—your ass is fired. Kate will write your final check and it's you Gabe, who'll be getting your ass outta here and not the two young ladies from State. I'll be willing to give you a conditional recommendation, however, your next employer needs to be made aware of not only the con you attempted today, but your attitude toward State students, one of which just happened to be the daughter me and Brandie never had.

"Okay everyone now that this shit has been taken care is there anything else before I get back to work?"

Brandie smiled in Brenda's direction, "Brenda show Mark the rock you're wearing on your ring finger."

Brenda smiled while holding up her hand saying, "Mark, Tim proposed to me last night."

Mark replied, smiling ear to ear, "Well I'll be god fucking damn! You two finally quit playing the cat and mouse games you've been playing since high school! Congrats! The same is going to happen with Nancy Elaine and Eddie—right Nancy Elaine?"

Nancy giggled, "Uncle Mark you're probably right, but before we get lovey-dovey again, Eddie is going to get a little payback for two timing me. I intend to do Eddie just like Sticky did Tim, you know teach him a lesson he'll never forget! More or less to put an end to his skirt-chasing days—right Sticky?"

Brenda smiled at Nancy and gave her a high five, "Well my little Sis seems to be on the right track. Gummy just don't lose control like you did this morning...make Eddie squirm, rub his face in it, and make him think he's lost the best thing he ever had before you take him back on YOUR terms...just like I did Tim."

Brandie sighed, "Now Nancy Elaine, don't go acting like your Mom and your Aunt Brandie—I'm sure your Dad and your Uncle Mark remember those days and the lessons they were both taught—don't you Mark?"

Mark never replied and hastily grabbed the mike and said, "Simon front and center."

Simon quickly approached our party. Mark looked Simon in the eyes, "Get these girls the best table in the house. Anything they want is on the house. You take care of them. By the way Simon take a look at what Tim placed on Brenda's finger last night.

"Melinda, I need you to handle the front along with your hostess responsibilities until I can free someone up to help you out. Think you can handle it if I give you a little extra bonus?"

Melinda replied, "OH YES! I'll take care of the front and never miss a beat. THANK YOU Mr. Mark!"

Mark smiled, "Okay Ladies have a great evening. Brandie and I have to get back to work. Let Simon know if you need anything. Nancy Elaine before you leave make sure you to give your Uncle Mark and Aunt Brandie a good bye hug!"

Simon said, "Ladies follow me I'll get you a table for six."

Mary Ann replied, "Simon make that a table for seven, after practice and the coaches meetings are over, Larry will be joining us."

Before Simon could answer Beverly said, "Better make it a table for eight, Marty will be arriving right after practice."

Simon replied, "Consider it done. By the way Brenda, congrats on the engagement. I always knew you and Tim would end up getting hitched."

Simon showed us to our table, the best in the house, and after taking our drink orders we all headed for the buffets.

Mary Ann and I were standing in line behind the others waiting our turn to go through the pizza buffet when Mary Ann whispered, "Sue, we'll have to put our little personal conversation on hold until we're alone. Like I mentioned to you, 'what I'm going to tell you, I don't want repeated'."

I casually replied, "I understand."

We were all joking, laughing while eating pizza and enjoying our girl time together. Mary Ann was enlightening everyone about the ups and downs of married life and after a little spat...well, how great it was to kiss and make up.

Mary Ann was suddenly interrupted by a shout, "Hey MA, what are the Tri Delts doing at the M&W on a Sunday afternoon?"

We all looked in the direction of the voice and approaching our table showing off her 36-24-36 hourglass figure in a most flattering way, wearing a pair of tight fittin' vintage ripped Levi's, a short sleeve, U-neck, half Tee was none other than University's star twirler, a former Dragon—Charlotte Mackroy!

Mary Ann giggled, "Pull up a chair and join us Char. We're just chill'n and having some girl time together."

Charlotte looking every bit an eight and half plus with her wavy dark brown hair shimmering with light brown highlights replied, "Can't stay long, Rich will be here in just a bit."

Charlotte took the seat next to Mary Ann that was reserved for Larry and said, "By the way MA, what'd think of the Irish's head cheerleader, Mrs. O'Hare yesterday? I thought Stacy set the world on fire with her routines and I guess the NBC cameraman did too, since he was zeroing in on her every chance he got. "

Mary Ann smiled and replied, "No doubt Stacy was sensational and, well, her hubby wasn't half bad either, throwing those four touchdown passes to beat State."

Charlotte replied, "I know Rawling was fantastic, but the long and short of it is even though State's our in-state rival, Rich and me were just like you, Brenda, and Debbie, rooting for State. Tom's a former classmate and isn't your favorite catch-all phrase, 'Once a Dragon, always a Dragon'?

Charlotte glanced across the table in my direction, "Oh My God, Sue Andrews what in the world are you doing here?"

I giggled at Charlotte, "Things were a just bit dull at State after losing the big game to the Irish so Roommate and I decided to take a road trip. I needed to see Sis and Nancy wanted to see Brenda."

Charlotte replied, "Sue I only got to watch you play in the state championship game, but like WOW did you, Donna, and Cathy ever become great players. And Debbie the way you were working the crowd during that unbelievable second half comeback was awesome! Plus all of y'all blossomed more than just a bit from your sophomore years!

"By the way Debbie, yesterday I watched you leading cheers and there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever you'll be the Maroon and White's head cheerleader after Brenda—right MA? Brenda?"

Both Mary Ann and Brenda answered at the same time, "No question!"

Debbie just grinned, "Well I hope so, that'd certainly be a dream come true. But yesterday I was soooo nervous when we were leading the team onto the field, I caught my toe on the turf causing me to stumble just a bit and to keep from falling I did a series of front flip somersaults. I added a full twist to the last front flip to cover up my blunder. Sally had already taught me 'when you mess up a routine just go into a series of flips or jumps to cover it up.'"

Brenda laughing out loud, said, "Come on Deb, we all know that you were just showing off in order to make the rest of us look bad!"

Charlotte was laughing, "I know the feeling all too well! My freshman year our season opener was against the Bulldogs on national TV before a sell-out crowd of 87,000. I was so nervous after Kaylee and I led the band out onto the field for our halftime performance that I flat out missed catching the baton behind my back. Fortunately, it hit on its rubber ball end and bounced straight up into the air. I reached between my legs, caught the baton with my left hand and started twirling—never missing a beat as I twirled between my legs!"

Mary Ann was laughing, "I remember that flub-up! No one even noticed and the crowd gave you a round of applause as you twirled the baton between your legs and then over your head!

"By the way where is Rich?"

Charlotte answered, "He's in the gym shooting hoops. After two years on the scout team as a walk-on, Coach Mack put him on scholarship for his senior year. Coach feels like if Rich will continue to improve he should earn enough playing time to be the first ever former walk-on to be awarded a University basketball letter."

Mary Ann replied, "That's great news! Rich has worked really hard and gave up a full ride to Western State after graduation from Baytown Community just for the opportunity to walk on at University so you two could be together. There was a time when I wish I'd done the same thing."

I butted in asking, "Charlotte why didn't you play basketball in college? If I remember right, you made All District your senior year."

Charlotte replied, "Sue, my first love is twirling... well, I better re-phrase that, Rich is my first love, but twirling is my second. I was only offered a full basketball scholarship by Baytown Community, and since Rich had graduated from Baytown Community, I decided to attend University. Rich followed me to University with only a shot in the dark as walk-on of ever making University's basketball team while I concentrated on becoming a twirler in the band. And, it seems we've both be able to reach our goals, but most importantly— we were together.

"By the way, I realize this is football season, but I'm really excited about watching the Olympics. I'm anxious to watch my Pi Phi sister, Carrianne, compete for the USA in gymnastics. Sue, just in case you and Nancy aren't aware of it, Carrianne is one of the U.S.A. women gymnasts that are favored to win either a gold or silver medal in the Floor Exercises or Balance Beam. And, I'm sure everyone is well aware there will also be a former Dragon participating in the Olympics. I'll be watching with a bit of enthusiasm while John is wrestling for the USA. What about y'all?"

Mary Ann replied in a ho-hum sort of way, "Oh, well, I'll be rooting for Carrianne to bring home a gold medal or two but I could care less about watching any of John's matches. Now, don't get me wrong, I hope he does well for the USA's sake, but I haven't given a second thought about taking the time to watch any of his matches. Saturday, I'll be cheering for the Maroon and White against the Plainsmen. Afterwards, I intend to be here at the M&W watching the big screen cheering for State against the Trojans until Larry gets out of his coaches meetings. Then we'll go home and snuggle up for the rest of the evening in our queen size bed."

Charlotte questioned Mary Ann, "Well, I guess so much MA for your old catch-all phrase, 'Once a Dragon, always a Dragon'—huh? After all, wasn't John once referred to as 'your brother'?"

Mary Ann replied, "Char there was a time when John and I were like a brother and a sister to each other, but things changed once we went our separate ways."

Debbie answered Charlotte, "Ditto what Mary Ann said for me too! But, I don't have anyone I want to snuggle up to, at least not right now. What about you Sis? You going to watch the Olympics after State's game? You know Sis, you could be snuggling up to that special someone, if you'd just give him a second chance."

I mumbled, "Well, I'll be cheering for State Saturday afternoon against the Trojans, but in the evening, I'll be most anxious to watch the Olympic opening ceremonies. And, if my hectic schedule permits, I have every intentions of watching John's matches as he competes for an Olympic gold medal.

"Don't get me wrong Sis...I still have strong feelings for Tom, and I did leave word this morning for him to give me a call tomorrow...maybe it's time we started to clear the air a bit between us. Sis, like I told you earlier, 'Tom wants to work things out, but I feel like I still need some space right now ...to sort things out.' What happened that night should have never happened, and it's left a scar on my heart."