*all ages

THE MISSING COACH

Mart walked downstairs after a restless night’s sleep. Di had never called. When the phone rang last night it had been Jim calling for Trixie. They tied up the line for hours. I don’t know why he didn’t come over, Mart grumbled. Mart had dreamed of Di all night long; violet eyes haunting him as he tried to sleep. In his nightmare, he was wandering through New York City. He combed the city from one flower shop to the next searching for a rose the color of her eyes. He owed it to her. He remembered once thinking he saw Di but she eluded him.

He woke up exhausted and stumbled downstairs. As he stepped through the doorway, he stopped short. The dining room was covered with paper circles; ‘YES’ written on each one. His siblings were busily eating breakfast, suspiciously ignoring him. "I take it Di’s been here," he said sarcastically. "I thought the flowers last night were sufficient."

 

Day One

Bobby Belden, age nine, couldn’t wait to get home. He needed to finish his chores before he could go to basketball practice and the bus was so slow. He had already finished his math homework during the long ride. Plus, he was starving.

A short while later he was shooting hoops in the driveway. He had polished off two "specials" before heading outdoors. Last year he had taken over feeding the chickens for Trixie and caring for the lawns for Brian. Now, those chores out of the way, he was just killing time. He sunk a three-pointer when his brother Mart drove up in the Bobwhite station wagon. "Hey Bobby, need some competition?" Mart called out.

Bobby grinned at his seventeen-year-old brother. "Yeah," he smirked. "I’m ready to trounce you." Bobby reveled in the fact that his brothers and sister had started to notice him and include him in their fun. He also gloated when he realized that he would soon stand eye to eye with his older brother. They had been messing around for a while when their mother called from the back door.

"Mart, will you please drive Bobby to his practice for me?" Moms had on her stained canning apron and her pretty face was flushed.

Bobby and Mart glanced at each other then sprinted to the station wagon. "Whew! We just made it. Trixie will be trapped there for hours. And you know how much she loves the culinary arts." Mart rolled his eyes emphasizing this last statement. Bobby couldn’t help laughing. Their sixteen-year-old sister Trixie would do almost anything to get out of helping in the kitchen. Canning, especially, was her least favorite chore. Unfortunately for her, the Beldens maintained a large garden and Moms bottled almost everything she could get her hands on.

As they pulled up to the Sleepyside public gym, Bobby asked Mart to come in with him. "Sometimes Coach Webster is late," he explained. Spider Webster was a long-time friend of the Belden’s. An officer with the Sleepyside police, he had helped them out more than once. Mart remembered one particular situation involving his sister Trixie, a red trailer, and some pots and pans.

They walked into the gym and noticed the coach had not arrived. The boys were sitting on the bleachers waiting for practice to start. Mart looked around until he spotted a bag of basketballs in the corner. "Hey guys," he called out, "let’s warm up while you’re waiting." He jogged out onto the court dribbling a ball. They started with warm up drills, suicides and finally played a scrimmage game.

Mart was surprised to see parents arriving to pick up their sons. He glanced at his watch. He had to be at work in an hour. Spider never showed up for practice! As they drove back to Crabapple Farm, Mart turned to look at Bobby. "Has Spider ever missed practice before?"

"No. It is kind of weird. I thought he loved playing with us. He told Moms that Lieutenant Molinson fixed his schedule so he could practice with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays and be at our games on Saturdays." Bobby looked concerned.

"I’m sure something just came up at the station," Mart reassured him. It was odd, Mart thought to himself. When they got home Mart called the police station.

"May I speak to Officer Webster?" he asked.

"He hasn’t checked in yet. Would you like to leave a message?" the dispatcher asked

"Please tell him Mart Belden called." Mart looked thoughtfully at the phone. Maybe I’ll see him while I’m at work. He hurried to change into the gray uniform before rushing downstairs and into the kitchen. Trixie was waiting for him with a "special" and a tall glass of milk.

"Moms said you were running late." She handed him the food. "That was nice of you to help Bobby’s team with their practice." She smirked. "Oh, Dream Girl called for you earlier. Do you have a message for her?"

"Will you explain the situation? Tell her I am too assiduously occupied to reply to her summons and I’ll convene with her during my respite." Mart drained the glass of milk. "By the way, I left a communication for Spider at the precinct when he didn’t materialize at basketball practice." He tousled her curls. "Adios ingenuous squaw." Mart threw the words at the bewildered girl before rushing out the door. He dreamed up these linguistic gyrations just for her.

Trixie silently raged as she cleared Mart’s dishes from the counter. I don’t understand what Di sees in him.

A month earlier, Mart had gotten a job at the local gas station. He pumped gas unless a call came in for a tow truck. He was the on-call driver from Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson to Ossining down river. He liked this job even though it did mean some late nights when he answered a call. He hoped he would see Spider tonight, too.

Things were slow at the station until a call came in at ten. The owner, Sam Stubbs, a forty-something, self-proclaimed, bachelor, called out to Mart from the dingy office. "There’s a little old lady, south on Highway 9 about three miles, with a flat tire."

Mart jumped into the tow truck. He was bored and ready for a break. He didn’t mind pumping gas, but what he really loved was driving the big truck. This is a great job. The schedule was flexible and he could work as many hours as he wanted to. He chuckled to himself, sure beats Wimpy’s.

He found the car right away. The driver had lit a flare and was sitting inside the idling Buick. "Mrs. Vanderpool! What are you doing out so late?" Mart scolded the spry senior.

Mrs. Vanderpool winked at Mart. "I was playing Bingo with the girls at the Lodge. It’s triple Tuesday, you know. The tire blew so I called it in on my cell phone. I jacked it up just fine, but could not get those lug nuts to budge."

Mart quickly changed the tire and followed her into town. As they drove along the river, Mart noticed part of the guardrail was torn away. He glanced over the terrain but it was too dark to see anything in the bushes. He would return after school and take another look.

 

Day Two

During study hall, Mart telephoned the police station. Spider had never returned his call. When the dispatcher wouldn’t answer his questions, he asked to speak to Molinson.

The Lieutenant explained that the last transmission from Spider came in about three o’clock yesterday afternoon. "Spider radioed in that he was heading back to the station. I knew he had practice with the boys but he never showed up. By five, after several attempts to contact him by radio, I put out an APB on him. The patrolling officers searched for him and his bike throughout Sleepyside and the outlying areas." Molinson sighed. "Finally, after four futile hours, the Captain declared Spider MIA at nine last night. I contacted his brother Tad. I really don’t know what to think."

Later, Mart met Dan, Trixie, Honey and Di in the cafeteria for lunch. Quietly, he told them about Spider. They expressed their concern for their friend. "I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything new," Mart promised.

Then, they talked about Homecoming. Honey and Trixie had been invited by Brian and Jim to go to the football game at the University. "We leave after school tomorrow with Mrs. Trask." Trixie’s eyes danced.

Honey flipped her golden brown hair over her shoulder. "We are staying in Daddy’s penthouse in Manhattan. But we’ll be spending most of our time at NYU with the guys."

Because of Di’s committee commitments, she and Mart would be attending the game and dance in Sleepyside. Dan and his girl Jessie were skipping the game and just going to the dance later that night.

"Jessie has to work until nine," he shrugged.

The teens were dismayed when Trixie told them that there had been another robbery at the school. "Someone got into the computer lab and took some software and a laptop." These thefts had been occurring for three weeks now. Trixie narrowed her blue eyes. "The police believe it is one of the students because of the missing CDs. But all the incidents took place after school hours when most students have already left campus. They found no evidence of a break in." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "I think it might be one of the school staff." When the bell rang signaling the end of the lunch period, the B.W.G.s agreed to meet at the station wagon after school.

After school, Mart drove out to inspect the damaged guardrail before taking the group home. Di and Honey walked down the Highway looking for other clues. Mart, Dan and Trixie decided to check out the riverbank. Finally, they met back at the car.

"I found this old rusty tailpipe." Dan said throwing it in the back of the wagon.

Honey walked up wrinkling her dainty nose. "What is that smell?"

"That’s gasoline." Trixie squatted down to examine the guardrail.

"I’ve got to get back to patrol the preserve," Dan called out as he opened the door for Di.

Mart took one last look around before sliding behind the wheel. The trio in the back seat grinned as he nonchalantly slipped his arm around Di’s shoulders beside him. Trixie elbowed Dan making Honey giggle. It was so hard for them not to tease the couple.

Honey stared jealously out the window. I wish it were Brian here with his arm around me.

After dropping off Di, Dan and Honey, Mart pulled up to the farmhouse. "Trixie, do you have any theories? Something is awry." Mart couldn’t put his finger on it. Good grief, I’m starting to sound like Trixie! "I feel like I missed something important."

"We didn’t find anything." Trixie reminded him. However, she still had goosebumps. While they had been checking the guardrail, she’d had a premonition that someone she cared about was in danger. "I have to pack my bag for tomorrow, but if you want, I have time to go back out there with you. I had a weird feeling, but didn’t notice anything particular. Of course, I could look for tire tracks or skid marks."

"No thanks." Mart interrupted her rambling. "Some of us are gainfully employed. I am gathering superfluous overtime forthwith for my rendezvous on the morrow."

"I almost forgot; Dreamy Diana!" Trixie batted her eyelashes.

Mart teased her right back. "Ooo Jim, you are so handsome and strong. Please rescue me from the pubescent pilferer." Mart bolted through the door before Trixie could retort.

Mart spent a quiet evening at work. Worried thoughts of Spider kept distracting him. A few cars came in for gas. Sam showed him how to do an oil change then Mart cleaned the bathrooms and small office. "I could have stayed home to clean bathrooms," Mart muttered to himself. Sam may look like a slob but he sure runs a clean shop. At least I have tomorrow to look forward to. There would be a half-day of school due to the pep rally scheduled for noon, immediately followed by a BBQ. The football game would begin at four and then the dance at eight. He couldn’t wait to see Di. He had called her during his break. He couldn’t believe how much she meant to him. He just wanted to hear her voice and make her giggle. She was incredibly edible. Around her he felt witty and positively dashing. Most girls gushed over the dark good looks of Brian and Dan, but Di loved his blond hair and blue eyes. He melted when she ran her fingers through his hair. Finally, at eleven, Mart locked up and drove home.

 

Day Three

Mart waited outside Di’s art class to walk her to the pep rally. She had on a cashmere sweater he just wanted to snuggle into. He caught her eye as she walked out of the classroom, detecting a faint lilac aroma as she tucked her hand in his crooked elbow. He pulled her close. Man! He couldn’t get enough of her. He roguishly whispered in her ear, "I hope this doesn’t take long. I’m starving."

After they shared an intimate picnic of BBQ chicken wings, potato salad and hot dogs, they joined their classmates in cheering their team to victory. "What a great game," Di exclaimed.

"Only because you are here with me," Mart professed gallantly.

After the game, Mart dropped Di off at home. "Meet me here in two hours. Prepare to be awed, my crazy Casanova," she winked before giving him a soft kiss.

Di stood before her full-length mirror, turning slowly. She wanted to knock Mart’s socks off. Her Asian inspired column dress was burgundy, cut velvet. It had a mandarin collar and frog clasps from the neckline to the right shoulder. Her ebony hair was swept up into a French twist. A delicate gold fan adorned the smooth coil.

She sighed. Sometimes she wondered what Mart really thought about her. He had brains and movie star good looks, but all the years of teasing he had endured made him oblivious to the opinions of others. Only Di seemed to notice how handsome he was. She knew he cared more about whom she was inside than what she looked like on the outside. But tonight she wanted everything to be perfect.

Mart held Di in his arms as they slowly circled the dance floor. He wanted her closer. She was so sweet and unassuming. Sincerely shocked when they called her to come forward as a Homecoming princess, Mart had given her a little push. He had whispered in her ear, "Aphrodite, your audience awaits." Though shy and often tongue-tied, the attractive girl was a popular subject in the guys’ locker room. Mart realized that most students really didn’t know much about her. Few people knew her caring, charitable side. She went out of her way to help and serve others. Di had spent weeks and countless hours planning this dance. Pulling out all the stops, she had transformed the gym into an enchanted forest. From a decorator friend of her mother’s she borrowed acres of silk trees and plants. White lights twinkled in the branches over young couples dancing or sitting on park benches. He had even noticed stone animals peeking around bushes. She had an amazing talent. Sometimes he couldn’t believe she was his. His arms tightened around her as she laid her head on his shoulder. He just wanted to hold her, forever.

"Mart," Di whispered urgently in his ear. "What is that?"

Lifting his head, Mart looked at her in surprise. She touched the vibrating pager at his waist. He was on-call in case of an emergency needing the tow truck. He had forgotten all about it. "Di, I need to make a phone call. Sam is paging me from the gas station."

They slipped out to the hallway to use the pay phone. Mart dialed the phone as Di stood with her arms wrapped around his waist. He glanced down at her as he listened to his boss. Finally he hung up before kissing her softly on the brow. "Di, there has been an accident. I’ve got to go to work. I am really sorry. This was supposed to be our big night. I…"

Di cut him off by pressing her lips to his. "Who says this night has to end? I am coming with you."

"No way," he protested. "I don’t know how bad it is. I could be there for hours."

"Mart, this is my date. You are my guy. I am not letting you get away so easily." She pulled away from his arms. "Just give me a minute to call my parents." She dialed the number then looked up into his clear blue eyes. "Besides, I’ve never seen you in action."

Before Mart could object, Di was hanging up the receiver. "It’s all set." She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hallway. "Let’s get our coats."

They paused before Dan and Jessie entwined on a bench. Mart explained, "Dan, I’ve been called into work. We’ll catch you later."

Dan, never lifting his lips from Jessie’s, opened one eye and nodded.

At the door, Di looked back longingly. Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about the clean up. Norma has it all set. I wish... She turned away resolutely and watched Mart put on his coat. "Thank you," she murmured as he helped her slip into her wrap. Then he grabbed her hand and hurried her outside.

Mart pulled up to the gas station. Both tow trucks were parked on the side of the road, engines running, lights flashing. Sam ran up to them. "Five car pile up on the highway. A semi rolled over the embankment. He walked off, then turned back eyeing Di. "Is she with you? She’s hot!"

Opening the truck door, Mart carefully handed a flustered Di up into the cab. He ran around to get in the on other side. Di was sitting quietly by the door. He pulled her over next to him. "Have I told you tonight how enchanting you look? Thank you for taking pity on this poor soul and accompanying me to the dance." Di smiled demurely as he took hand in his. "Stick close. I’m afraid you might slip away. And promise me you’ll save this dress and wear it again, soon." They followed Sam to the scene of the accident. Police had blocked off the road. From a distance they could hear the approaching fire trucks and ambulance.

Mart pulled the truck up alongside Sam and parked. He squeezed Di’s cold hand before tucking her cloak tightly around her shoulders. "Stay here, please." Then he threw open the door and leaped to the pavement.

Di saw him pull out the chains. He was ridiculously overdressed in his rented tuxedo. Fascinated, she watched as he helped Sam load up a small sedan and tow it out of the way. Mart seemed so calm and sure of himself. She felt like a nervous wreck. Some dream date this turned out to be, she moaned.

The driver of the eighteen wheeler had fallen asleep at the wheel driving down from Quebec. He awoke, startled, and overcorrected by pulling out into oncoming traffic. He had sideswiped a minivan and clipped a Winibago before rolling over the side of the road and down the embankment. Three other cars, unable to avoid the accident, slid on the ice before plowing into each other.

As Mart checked the damage on a van, he glanced over at Di. Her face was white and her eyes huge as the EMTs wheeled the one fatality toward the ambulance. He willed her to look at him. He waited for her eyes to meet his, then held her gaze until the color returned to her cheeks. He had a job to do. He needed her to be okay.

Mart chained up the van and hoisted it onto the ramps. The witnesses had made statements and left. The truck driver had been thrown from the cab and killed instantly. Thankfully, though, the others involved only had minor injuries. A crane would come in the morning to remove the semi. He checked carefully for debris on the road before wearily climbing into the cab. He smiled at the picture before him. Di had fallen asleep against the door, her hair slightly disheveled, cheeks flushed. Never had she looked more beautiful to him. He pulled her to him, cradling her against his chest. She sighed, nestling close. He reached up, pulling the comb from her hair. The raven tresses tumbled around her face in shining waves. Burying his face in the glossy mass, he whispered into her ear, "Thank you for being here with me. I never want to be apart from you. Life is just too unpredictable."

The next morning Mart drove back to the accident site. Di accompanied him, insisting on helping him retrieve the orange cones and flares. She didn’t want him to go alone. The headline of this morning’s paper emblazoned Officer Missing. Spider had been gone for three days. The police could find no trace of him or his motorcycle. The FBI had been called in, suspecting foul play. Di knew Mart was really upset about Spider’s disappearance. She hoped her presence would be comforting.

Driving toward town, Mart eyed the damaged railing once again. Something wasn’t right there. He pulled over. "Di, I have to look one more time. I just have this feeling."

Di fingered the red paint on the ripped metal. As she looked down through the trees and shrubs, a metal glint caught her eye. "Mart," she called out anxiously. "I see something down there."

Mart carefully climbed over the rail and reached out for her hand. They picked their way through the overgrowth, the smell of gasoline overwhelming. Suddenly, Mart saw the mangled motorcycle. He heard Di gasp. Turning toward her, he glimpsed the partially concealed boot. Quickly, he pulled Di against him blocking the gory scene. She sobbed, tears streaming down her face. Spider!

They both started as they heard a weak moan. Mart pushed through the thick brush and found Spider Webster a few feet from the Hudson River. He was unconscious, but alive.

Di scrambled up to the truck to call 911. Mart quickly pulled off his red jacket and covered the injured officer. She was back almost immediately with a first aid kit. He glanced over at her then reached out to wipe a stray tear from her cheek. "You’d better wait up on the highway."

Soon she was flagging down the ambulance. The EMT’s hooked up an IV and administered to the injured man. The lifeless officer was carefully lifted and loaded into the vehicle. Mart and Di followed the ambulance to the hospital in White Plains.

Lieutenant Molinson met them in the emergency room. He strode right up to Mart, looked him in the eye and growled, "Thank you for not being your sister!"

Tad provided the A-negative blood for his brother Spider’s emergency transfusion. Spider’s battered body was in critical condition. He was suffering from exposure, hypothermia and shock. He had broken several ribs, his pelvis, hip and his knee. His right leg was put in traction until it could be stabilized for the full cast. There had been a great deal of nerve damage.

 

Epilogue

After two anxious weeks, Spider regained consciousness. At first the details were vague, but soon his memory returned with amazing clarity. He remembered the red Toyota pickup coming toward him too fast. He had flashed his headlight and was slowing to turn around when the truck sideswiped him. The force drove his motorcycle through the guardrail and over the edge. He distinctly remembered the New York license plate, "Boy Toy."

A quick search located the owner of the vehicle. A couple of cadets had been "bar hopping" over the long weekend. They were headed back to West Point when the accident occurred. Upon inspection of the impounded vehicle, the investigator noted the front bumper on the brand new red truck was damaged. After further investigation, he found that the paint on the bumper matched the paint on Officer Webster’s motorcycle and on the guardrail. The driver and his roommate confessed to panicking after hitting the officer and leaving the scene of the accident. They were arrested on charges of felony hit-and-run, reckless endangerment of life, reckless driving and were awaiting the full criminal investigation.

Mart filled in as Bobby’s basketball coach until Spider was back on his feet. Spider attended the final game of the season. The stands erupted with applause when he entered the gym. On the sidelines he cheered loudly from his wheelchair. Mart tried to turn over the coaches’ clipboard but Spider refused it. Mart was the coach now. Several times he tried to thank Mart for rescuing him. Each time Mart quietly stopped him. "Forget it. Just returning the favor."

Later that month, Mart and Diana sat on the bank of the Hudson River. Shoulders touching, stars twinkling overhead, Mart could feel her breathing next to him and was thrilled by her closeness. She was beautiful, glamorous. Tonight, dressed in faded jeans and his old sweatshirt, she was just Di; small town girl. She’d blown him away at the dance, but he preferred her now; sweet, simple and solely his. He stared at the river, silently, awed by its majesty. Suddenly he realized, I’ve solved a mystery without Trixie’s help. His laughter rang out breaking the silence. Di gave him a puzzled smile before softly sliding her gloved hand into his. As she leaned back against him he thought, there’s no one I’d rather be with. He savored every minute he spent with her. Finally, he pulled her to her feet and led her away.

The End

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