Wildcat Fall [NEW] Chapter 18

Dear Readers, Here is a new chapter that integrates with the core of the original Wildcat Fall. This is a continuing saga that is coming to a close. Before the story ends, what would you like to see? I would appreciate any feedback. Constructive criticism is important to me as I am rewriting this story. Thanks.

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Chapter Eighteen
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Teri looked up at the ceiling as she spoke. “I remember going to the PPL Center to watch the Lehigh Valley Phantoms play. I think it was eighth grade. Tony’s dad took Brian, Don, and me along. It was a lot of fun. The place seemed really big and loud.”

Tiffany was looking at their website. “Well, it might seem really big for an eighth grader, but it’s not that much, Little. We played a lot of 10,000-seat arenas this summer.”

Lisa was looking over Tiffany’s shoulder. “As in, we should have no trouble filling it, right?”

Tiffany was grinning. “Right. So my thought is to do a couple of nights.” She turned and looked at the rest of the group. “What do you think?”

Zoe looked at Richard and saw him shrug. “I vote that we go for it.”

Gina asked aloud, “Is there a downside to doing two nights?”

Richard nodded. “Costs. If we are renting the place, then we’re doing it twice. I’m guessing it will cost us $20,000 to rent it for one night.”

Lisa was using her calculator. “A hundred dollars a ticket means a million dollars gross money for one night or fifty dollars a ticket for two nights is the same million dollars, right?”

Richard shook his head. “No. Two nights are twice as much overhead. We have expenses on our part, so we’d make much less. And now we have to sell twenty thousand seats, which I believe is stretching it.”

Gina looked at them. “How much can we make in four nights at Robert’s place?”

Richard smiled. “The Rendezvous holds three hundred people. We could ask Robert to help out. If we charge a hundred dollars a ticket, we could make a hundred thousand there.”

Zoe looked around. “Well, it makes sense to go big or go home. I guess we should contact the PPL Center and see what dates are available. Let’s open the concession stands for our show. We don’t need to collect any money from those businesses—just let them keep what they earn. The crowd will appreciate being able to get food and drinks."

Richard was making notes. “We’ll want to pay for a police presence and a security agency, too. All in all, we could still take $750,000 away for that one night. But I really wonder if they’d even have two nights back-to-back.”

Gina was listening. “If we can’t get two nights in a row, any advertising we do will only confuse people. I say we shoot for one night. That much money will support a lot of causes.”

Teri was sitting and listening. “Okay, why not make it digital? Why not do a pay-per-view show? We can broadcast it from anywhere and just charge people to watch it at home?”

Tiffany shook her head. “I don’t know if we have that much clout. Seriously, I don’t think that many people will shell out pay-per-view to watch a night with the Wildcats.”

Teri was jumping up and down. “Well, how about if we had a couple of guest stars? Maybe two superstars who are releasing a Christmas album together? I’ll bet we can increase ticket sales!”

Richard was shaking his head. “Well, if we’re going in that direction, I'd better start talking to Wiggins and maybe the people who handled our Labor Day concert. I wonder if we can talk to Beyonce and Taylor Swift and see if they can commit to a common date? And we’ve got to talk to a pay-per-view group and a national broadcaster. This is complicated. Honestly, I’m in over my head. It sounds like something that will take months to put together.”

Teri was still considering the idea. “When Beyoncé and Taylor Swift appeared on Labor Day, it was a surprise for viewers. But if we were to advertise this, it’s definitely doable.”

Lisa was nodding. “Right. But once again, it would become their show, just featuring the Wildcats.”

Zoe was smiling. “How about choosing ten charities and donating a hundred thousand to each?”

Teri was bouncing with excitement. “Call it the Million Dollar Night! Advertise it up and get all our ducks lined up for Pay-Per-View!”

Gina shook her head. “Or not.”

Teri swiveled her head. “Huh?”

Gina was smiling. “Sure. If we do it locally and sell out locally, we could donate $750,000 that night with a lot less fuss. No date coordination, no special equipment, just us and fans. No stress on our Wildcats. We just get a date and run with it. We even know what we’re going to play that night.”

Teri looked at everyone. “Yeah, that’s what I wanted to discuss. Don’t you think our fans want to hear and see something new? We’ve been beating up our furries and our grand piano for months. You don’t think the crowds want something different from us?”

Richard raised his hand and spoke. “Honestly, no. Play some new tunes, but your fans love to sing along with what they know. They love it when Teri turns her guitar into a choir singing in a thunderstorm or Tiffany raps in her pink poodle outfit. Those fans will be coming to listen to something familiar. It’s just the band that hears these songs every night. We can change the dynamics and enlist the Flowers as well. Maybe even fly in EBR to play for thirty minutes. Nobody’s bored with Mick Jagger singing Satisfaction or Floyd playing Money every night. If you play for three hours, everyone will go home happy. And each fan that night should get a souvenir program with information about the charities. It will initiate awareness and more donations.”

They all looked at each other and smiled. Zoe turned to Richard, “I guess that means it’s on.”

“One night, right. We go back to keeping it simple.”

Gina laughed. “I think that our version of keeping things simple has changed to ten thousand-seat arenas. But I think fun would be to have another free Sid Mack Allentown Music rooftop concert before it gets too cold.”

Lisa was nodding in agreement. “And maybe even a weekend at the Rendezvous before Christmas. We can play for free as our gift to Richard for everything that he’s done.”

As everyone was nodding, Lisa laughed. “How about if we go back to Atlanta and give Gimli a free night at his club?”

Teri smiled. “Great! I want a new tattoo from Min!”

Lisa shook her head. “What were you thinking? A Vampire sleeve?”

Teri laughed. “No. Just something on my right hand. Some pattern or design, nothing too heavy.”

Tiffany was laughing. “So, we’d be giving Robert, Gimli, Jessica, and everyone else a Christmas present. We could call it our thank you tour.

Everyone was agreeing and Richard was busy making notes. “Sure. This is all doable but lets agree that Zoe’s Boomer baby is healthy and along for the ride.” He turned to Zoe, “Are you okay with this?”

Zoe smiled. “Yes, yes, triple yes. My Boomer is making her appearance sooner than later. On my last visit, my doctor said the baby had dropped down and I was starting to dilate. So I’ve got Bruno on stand-by and our bags are packed and in the car.”

Tiffany was staring. “This is blowing my mind. I can’t believe my best friend is actually having a baby.”

Zoe smiled. “Do you want to be there? You can hang out with me until I go into labor.”

“Oh, my God, yes! But I don’t want to watch, you know, like the birth part.”

Zoe laughed. “No, we’ll save you from that. Keep you virginal!”

Zoe looked at everyone. “I think I can do a show. Everything I’ve read says if there are no complications, I’ll be good in six weeks and if this is a Halloween baby, well, no problem. Even if I have to have a bar stool to rest on during our performance, well, I think it will work.”
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As everyone was talking, Gina turned to Teri and whispered. “I heard you mention Tony, Don, and Brian. I know how close you used to be with them. Do you ever hear from your guys anymore? Do you stay in touch?”

Teri winced. “Well, kinda, kinda not. Since I’ve come out as intersex, that left high school Terry behind. I feel different, like I don’t fit in anymore. I feel odd just being in Allentown. You know, it doesn’t feel familiar anymore. I miss stuff, like going to Dorney Park with all our classmates. But it’s like I don’t belong. You know how everyone knew high school Terry, the geeky guy. I’m not that guy.”

Teri had to stop and catch her breath. “Jenn insists that it’s all in my mind. She even insisted that we meet up for a meal last in the spring. It was okay, but I felt like the guys couldn’t take their eyes off me. They’re eighteen-year-old guys, and well, I felt more like a piece of meat. Like I wasn’t real!”

Gina laughed. “Well, yeah, I saw that when we did the roof top concert. Their eyes were popping out of their heads when you invited them up on the roof. It was funny ‘cause they didn’t know whether to stare at Tiffany, Lisa, Zoe, me or you. It was like they’d never seen women before.”

“Yeah. They’re under control ‘cause Jenn always kept them in check. It’s like she’s a lion tamer and just cracks an invisible whip. But even though I was always part of the group, I kinda felt second-class. I was part of the crowd but never shared in the macho talk about women. It was pretty well understood that I was always Jenn’s boy toy even if I was skinny and underdeveloped. But at my coming out as Teri dinner, I feel like a balloon that floats around and everybody touches and keeps in the air. It was unnerving. I was not feeling like I belonged.”

“Would you date any of your guys? Do you think they’re cute?”

Teri sighed. “First of all, I don’t want to date a guy. It’s hard to express, but I’m not really comfortable being female around a guy. Yeah, I know it’s all in my head, but… I don’t know. Seriously, hanging out with Tony, he always talked a big game, macho, and everything. I really couldn’t imagine being with him one-on-one. I have no idea how I’d act. How is a date is supposed to act? I worry about being handled, touched, or kissed. Just the idea freaks me out.”

Gina shook her head. “You are making this into a much bigger deal than it is. You do know how to act. You’re thinking that women have to be different around guys. I think you’re off track there. I’m always just me. I don’t act differently around different people, well, maybe I try not to get unhinged, but me is me.”

Teri took a deep breath. “Just being around someone like Tony. He’s big and full of himself. I fear letting him be in charge and acting like he owns me. It’s unnerving. And I’m afraid that my words wouldn’t count.”

“Yeah, that is definitely an Amos nightmare you’re still having. Is your friend crazy, or has he ever bragged about rape or domination?”

Teri shook her head. “No, but he’s good-looking, big, and strong. I guess that he’s confident and handsome, but just the idea that he could do what he wants scares me like the way Amos acted.”

“How about the other two guys. What’s their names?”

“Brian and Don? Well, Brian just seemed like Brian. He seemed fine. You know, friendly and all. But Don seemed really strange. He wanted to talk privately, and well, that was weird. I never did because I thought that whatever he had to say, I wouldn’t be able to handle.”

“What did you think he’d say?

“I don’t know. Like maybe he’d tell me that he was gay or transgender or he wanted to like me.”

“And?”

“Well, I got scared and worried that I couldn’t handle it. So I kinda ghosted him. And then he sent me a text this summer, when we were on the road, with a pic of him. He was bare-chested and showing off his muscles. It made me feel really weird when I realized that his muscles turned me on.”

Gina reached over and hugged her. “Baby, you have just keep reminding yourself that you’re only eighteen and have no experience.”

“I have experience with Jenn.”

“Right. And you have no other experience. I think you owe it to yourself to have more friends and relationships. I think you’re cheating yourself and Jenn.”

Teri felt tears starting and hugged Gina. “I’m just so fucked up.”
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Once a week, Eddie took the train over to West Philadelphia to watch the entrance to Jenn’s apartment and take more photos. He was trying to figure out when Teri would be staying there overnight. After a couple of weeks, he cracked the routine on which days and nights Teri Nelson would be staying there.

As he was posting his most recent photos, Runner was being praised.

“Runner, girl. You are so lucky to live near Teri and Jenn and see them whenever you want.”

“Yeah, Runner. I’m definitely jealous of you. Are you able to go to Allentown and see the rest of the band, too?”

Eddie was on a roll. Runner was the center of attention again, and it felt good. He decided that Runner would be that person. “I can get out to Allentown by train. It’s doable. Maybe on the weekend. Might take me a while to figure it all out.”

“Oh, wow. Runner, you are so cool. I really wish I were you!”

That sealed the deal. Right then and there, Eddie decided to follow up and make the trip. It would take some research and effort, but he decided to make the leap.

“If someone can find me an address, I’ll do it!”
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Three days later, Eddie prepared to venture out to Allentown, PA, and look for the Wildcats' band house. Not much was known except that it was big and bordered the state forest. The first thing he did after getting off the train in the town was head to the local electric bike shop to rent an off-road trail bike and a helmet. He explained to the guy that he wanted to ride through the state forest.

The bike guy looked at him curiously. “You going to ride the trails? Let me get you some maps.”

Eddie didn’t realize that the state forest land was so big. And felt overwhelmed staring at miles of untamed woods.

“Crazy, huh? Are you looking to see bears?”

“Bears?” Eddie was ready to run back to the train station.

“Seriously, black bears. But they’re in the deep woods, miles away.”

“I’m not looking for bears.”

“What are you looking for?”

Eddie decided to ask for help. “I’m interested in taking photos of the Wildcats and their band house. Souvenirs.”

Bike Guy shook his head. “I don’t know, dude. You can get into a pot full of trouble if you trespass or step on any toes. Those women are town favorites, and the police will frown if you bother them.”

“Oh, no. I’m not trying to bother them. I just want some photos. I’m not going to approach them. Keep my distance.” Eddie immediately knew he’d made a mistake and really wanted to backstep.

Bike Guy looked at him carefully. This guy was overweight and didn’t look like he could walk a mile, let alone run. “Okay, so give me your driver’s license and money for the rental. I’ll rent you the equipment, and for an extra fifty bucks, I’ll show you how to find their place. It’s the old Stevenson house, and some trails run right up behind it, so you can get a good view. But if you start trespassing, you’re on your own.”

Eddie bought a backpack, went into the grocery store, and filled it with snacks and sodas. He tried to calm his nerves as he followed the trails on the map, stopping to sit and rest his butt, which had started hurting immediately. After an hour of riding, he could actually see a line of houses that bordered the state forest.

Walking his bike, he occasionally used the binoculars he rented to look for the three-story white house that Bike Guy had described. Eddie knew he was in the right place because he could hear the band practicing.

Pulling the bike into the bushes, he slowly crept closer, making sure to keep himself hidden from view. When he got as close as he dared, he tried to take pictures with his cell phone.

He was immediately discouraged because he was too far away to get any good photos and he wasn’t ready to go any closer. Bike Guy had mentioned that the Cats had security.

After an hour, Eddie felt invisible bugs biting him, and he was not enjoying himself. It was time to turn around and rethink this project. Fortunately, the charge on his moped didn’t run out until he was close enough to pedal back to the rental place.

As he was returning the bike, Bike Guy asked him how it went.

“Not so good.” He showed him the cell phone shots and how he wasn’t close enough.”

“Yeah, dude. You need a telephoto lens to attach to your phone. We can rent you one.”

“And I got bitten on the top of my head and my ears, too.”

“Sure. We got spray to sell you. How’d the bike work?”

“Okay, but do you have one that goes further? I think the battery came up short.”

“Sure. But that model is twice as much to rent.”

Eddie was adding up how much the next trip was going to cost him and wondered if it was really going to be worth it just to be a hero to the girls. If he came back another day, it would use up a week's salary from his job at McDonald's. “Okay. Maybe I’ll take another run at it while I’m here.”

“Sure, dude. You’ve got it figured out and know the way. Should be pretty easy to do. Here, let me show you how the lens works.”

Bike Guy was right. The second trip took half the time, and the lens worked. Eddie caught the band at the perfect time when the Cats were taking a break and hanging outside, relaxing. He was pretty excited because they were all outside, laughing and joking.

He thanked the guy, got his license back, and got an Uber to the train station. He was beat and slept the whole way back to Philly. When he got home, Eddie immediately posted his photos.
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A week later, Richard got a message from a friend of his. He opened his phone to see that someone had posted photos of the Wildcats taking a break on their back patio. The photos were clear and you could see their faces. He immediately called Gina’s dad at his firm.

When Jessica Jade got the text to call Mr. Dinardo at work, she returned his call.

“Hi Jessica, I need your help.”

Jessica was nodding her head, “Sure. It’s whatever you want.”

“Great. The problem has to do with Wildcat security. Somebody has been poking around their place here in Allentown and taking pictures. As their lawyer, I know this violation is slight, but it still concerns me.”

“Sure. What would you like me to do?”

“I want you to see if you can track the photographer down, and I want it stopped. Just don’t violate the law. Okay?”

Jessica grinned. “Sure. And by the way, I’m all done investigating Jack Dempsey and even looked into his live-in girlfriend.”

“How’d that go?”

Jessica didn’t even have to look at the files she’d prepared. “Well, he’s not a choir boy, but close to it. He still has ties with his parents and seems like a great guy. No blemishes.”

“When you talked with him, how did he react when you mentioned your purpose in contacting him?”

“He seemed curious and wanted to know about Lisa and Teri.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing.”

“Okay. What do you think?”

“I think the women want to set up a meet.”

“How do you think we should do that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe in your offices. A controlled situation.”

“Okay. Let me talk to the women and see what everyone has to say. In the meantime, please figure out who’s spying on the Cats.”
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Jack Dempsey walked in and found Emma taking a nap. He shrugged off his clothes and got in the shower. After he was cleaned off, he climbed into their big soaking tub. His eyes were closed, but he sensed her presence immediately. She had a fresh scent that woke him up from his lethargy as she slid in with him.

He smiled and kissed her when she got settled. After they snuggled for a while in the hot water, Jack laughed.

Emma looked up and smiled. “What’s got you smiling?”

“Well, I need to tell you about my sperm donations and where they ended up.”
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Jessica and Mac were walking along one of the paths behind the Wildcat’s place. They kept checking with copies of the photos they’d downloaded.

Mac held up the photo. “Okay, I think it's about where the shots were taken.”

“Weird, when you say shots. Never thought about anyone wanting to hurt the Cats.”

As they walked around, they both found two different sets of tire tracks and places where the bikes had been laid down and hidden. “Two bikes, two people, but only one set of photos.”

Jessica studied everything. “I want to backtrack these bikes and see where they started out. Up for a hike?”

When they walked into the bike shop, Jessica approached the guy behind the counter and cut to the chase. “Two electric bikes went out into the Pennsylvania State Forest and were snooping on our clients, taking photos, and posting them on the internet. Both bikes originated here.” She and Mac both flashed their ID.”

“Yep. The same person rented both bikes. He took two trips on the same day. The second time, he rented a telephoto lens for his iPhone. I can show you a copy of his driver's license.”