THE PHONE CALL by BOOMERCAT RATED FRPT

In Auckland for the 2020 Olympics, Virgil receives a call from Scott.

Auckland, New Zealand
August, 2020

"Hello. Hey! Scott! It's good to see you!"

"You too, Virg. How's everything going? How did Gordon do in the pre-lims?"

"He came in second, but he was less that a tenth of a second behind first."

"Damn. How's he taking it?"

"No, it's okay. Even in second place his time was better than the winners of the other four heats. He's made the finals. I swear, Scott, our little brother is going to come home with a medal for sure."

"Well, who beat him, Renkov?"

"Yeah. That guy's amazing. He's at least a foot taller than Gordy. Has muscles on his muscles."

"How is Gordon doing? I still say it's a hell of a lot of pressure for a kid that young."

"Oh, you know Gordon. Acts as if he doesn't have a care in the world. Alan, on the other hand, is a basketcase."

"I can imagine. How are you doing?"

"I'm having a great time. I wish you could be here. It's really a beautiful country."

"I wish I was there, too, but lowly lieutenants don't get leave just because their kid brothers are at the Olympics."

"Yeah, I know. How are things in the Air Force?"

"Oh, you know, fly a billion dollar jet here, drop a few nukes there. Same ol', same ol'. So, have you met any girls yet?"

"Actually, you want to know who scored? John! I don't know where he found her, but he's hooked up with this gorgeous Hawaiian girl. Hair down to her butt, long fingernails. She's much more my speed, but for some reason she keeps mooning after him."

"I keep telling you, Virg, it's that blond hair. It gets them everytime."

"Yeah, well it sure has this time. It's like they're connected at the hip or something."

"So, how are Dad and Grandma doing?"

"You're not going to believe this."

"What?"

"They are off looking at an island."

"An island? What for?"

"It was weird. We were having breakfast this morning, and we had this local newspaper. Well, Father had the business news, of course, and I had the sports page. Gordon and John were looking at the classifieds, having a fine old time making fun of what was for sale. John reads this one about an island for sale. Gordon and Alan are just laughing their heads off, you know how John can make anything sound ridiculous. All of the sudden, Father asks to see the ad. He read it, and next thing you know, he and Grandma went off on a seaplane to take a look at it."

"What's Dad want an island for?"

"You got me."

"So everybody's okay? Is John there? I think I need to talk to him about the birds and bees."

"Scott, he's past the talking stage from what I've seen of him and Leah. No, he's not around. He took Alan surfing. We figure if we keep the kid moving, he'll be too tired to bounce off the walls."

"That'll be the day. He's got more energy that a nuclear pile. So, you're there alone?"

"Yeah, for the moment. Actually, I'm just waiting for Gordy to get back. He had a coaching session this morning."

"He still hate the coach?"

"Well, it's not that he hates him. It's just that Coach Winters pretty much ignores him. You know, you and I are the only ones that think he has a chance. The coach's attitude is that Gordon is here for seasoning and his big chance will come in the 2024 Games."

"Surely making the finals has to mean something?"

"You'd think so, wouldn't you? I mean, his time was better than Chappell's. And Kostas didn't even make the finals. But Winters didn't even show up at Gordy's pre-lims. He sent an assistant. A guy named Foster. Gordon likes him, and I have to admit, he was right there at the finish line, cheering as loud as any of us."

"God, I wish I could be there."

"Yeah, we all do, Scott. Hey, here's the man of the hour! Gordon, it's Scott!"

"Scott! Hi! Did Virgil tell you? I'm in the finals!"

"Yes, he did, Squirt. I can't tell you how proud I am of you!"

"Thanks, bro. You're going to be even more proud when I win the gold."

"You think you can take Renkov?"

"Yeah. I think he shot his wad beating me in the pre-lim. When he got out of the pool, you could just see he was wiped. I coulda gone another hundred, no problem."

"Tell you what. You bring home that gold, and on my next leave, we'll go to Lenshin's in K.C. All the ice cream you can eat."

"You're on!"

"Great. How are you doing outside the pool? Any of those reporters giving you grief?"

"Naw. I may be the 'Farmboy Phenom' in Kansas, but I'm small potatoes in the real world. Dustin Chappell has media all over him, and of course, Arkady Renkov has them eating out of his hand. Nobody is paying attention to me at all. Oh, except for a couple of reporters from Kansas City but even they think I'm in it just to get my feet wet in international competition."

"Well, don't you worry about it. They'll notice you soon enough."

"Yep. It'll be kind of hard to miss me standing on the top of the award podium, won't it?"

"That's right. And Gordon, no matter what happens, you'll never be small potatoes to me."

"I wish you were here. It's just not the same without you."

"I know, Squirt. But hey, by the time the next Olympics roll around, I'll have enough rank to get the time off. Of course, I'll have to fight off the hoards just to get close to you. You're going to be the big star the next time. Bigger that Weismueller. Bigger than Spitz. Bigger than Flipper."

"Darn right, I will. But I'll always have room for my brother, the general."

"Hah! Take more than four years for that. Maybe colonel."

"I dunno, Scott. I'd have room for a general, but a mere colonel? You might have to wait in line."

"I can see I'm going to have to take you out to the woodshed when I get home."

"Didn't Virgil tell you? Alan burned the woodshed down last week."

"Oh Geez. Only Alan. Listen, I've got to run, but I'll be watching that race. You make sure you don't trip on the way to the podium, all right? Can't have the 'Farmboy Phenom' stubbing his toe before he gets the gold."

"Okay, Scott. I miss you."

"I miss you too, Squirt. Give everybody hugs for me."

"I will. You take it easy in those jets."

"I will. 'Bye."

"Bye."