[legendsport]

May 16, 1921: Washington, DC:

"Max Morris is awesome!"

Danny Barrell rolled his eyes and made a noise halfway between a snort and a laugh. "Bah," he said, "that guy's a blowhard."

Clyde Hinzman turned and gave Danny a skeptical look. "How would you know?" he asked in a mocking tone.

Danny, feeling fairly well self-satisfied retorted, "I met him once."

Clyde stopped, his mouth open. Danny stopped too and sighed. They probably looked like a couple of goofs, he thought, standing around in their school uniforms on N Street.

Danny shook his head and said, "Come on, Clyde. I want to get home." Danny had baseball practice in an hour and like most 16-year-old boys, was looking forward to an afternoon snack before practice.

Clyde closed his mouth and then narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is that true? You really met Max Morris?"

Danny frowned as he answered. "Yes. It was at the townhouse. I was coming home from school and he was standing on the porch. He was looking for my father."

Clyde, who already practically worshipped the ground Rufus Barrell walked on, had an awestruck look on his face. "Wow! Your dad knows everyone!"

Danny sighed, remembering his father's visit to the school the previous year, and murmured, "Yeah, it seems like it sometimes."

Puzzled, Clyde asked, "And that's a bad thing....?"

"No... not really. I just really didn't like that guy."

"Morris?"

Danny shot Clyde a withering look as he said, "Yes, you dope. Morris. He acted like he wanted to grab Claudia by her hair and drag her back to his cave."

Clyde smirked. "I bet you didn't like that," he said smugly.

Now Danny stopped and put his arm out, almost - but not quite - shoving Clyde to a stop.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he growled.

Clyde gulped and Danny could almost see him steel himself as he replied, "You love Claudia. Everyone knows."

Danny's jaw dropped and his eyebrows shot skyward. "What do you mean, everyone?"

Clyde shrugged one shoulder. "Everyone. Thomas, your father, me... probably Claudia too."

Danny felt his cheeks redden as he blushed. "She knows?" he whispered.

Clyde shrugged again. "Maybe... she doesn't exactly confide in me, you know."

Danny's mouth set in a firm line and he grabbed Clyde by the shoulder. "Let's go..." he said and starting marching towards the townhouse.

The boys entered the townhouse and dropped their books on the floor with a clatter.

Thomas, his first-floor office just down the hall, poked his head out to say, "Please, boys. Treat your books with respect."

Danny frowned and stuck his tongue out when Potentas' head disappeared back into the office.

He was about to say something to Clyde when he heard a man's voice from the kitchen.

"Who's here?" he asked in a half-whisper.

"Could be your father," Clyde replied.

Danny gave him another disdainful glance and said, "He's in Missouri, you dope."

"Oh... yes, I forgot."

"Come on... let's go see," Danny said and led the way down the hall.

As they approached the kitchen, Danny heard Claudia's musical laughter and frowned.

With Clyde behind him, Danny stopped outside the kitchen door.

"Well... you going in?" Clyde asked in a stage whisper.

"Yeah..." Danny said, then paused a moment and shoved the door open.

Claudia was seated at the table. Across from her was.... it took a moment for Danny to recognize him.... Powell Slocum.

"Holy smokes! You're Powell Slocum!" Clyde shouted as he pushed past Danny into the kitchen. "I'm a big fan, Mr. Slocum!" he said, hopping from foot to foot.

Slocum grinned. "Right glad to hear it, son," he replied in his Alabama drawl.

Danny was gaping... his mind going back to a dinner at the farm before they moved to DC... Slocum sitting next to Claudia... the two of them chatting amiably, seeming to hit it off.... and Slocum plays for Baltimore... Uh-oh, he thought.