He was still a little bothered by how upset Grace looked the previous night. He said something stupid and upset her and he was really mad at himself for hurting her.

Mark Thompson was checking his teammates to make sure they were all pumped and focused on the game. He caught the angry and distracted look in Ed's eyes and pulled him aside.

"Ed, where are you man? I can't have you wandering around out there. You're my protection!" Mark said into Ed's ear.

"Sorry Mark. I'll get my head in the game," Ed apologized.

"What are you angry about?" the quarterback asked.

"I said something stupid last night and I hurt my sister's feelings. I'm really mad at myself," Ed blurted.

Mark looked at the big man. That wouldn't do at all. If Ed was angry at himself he would be letting the other team roll over him. He had to get Ed to redirect his anger.

"Ed, keeping anger inside is bad. It will hurt you and your game. Here is what I want you to do. When we're at the scrimmage I want you to look at the guy across from you and think, 'there is the reason my sister is feeling bad'. Turn your anger on that and take it down. You have to direct that anger outwards. Don't let it eat at you. CRUSH IT! Can you do that?"

"Yeah, I got it." Ed nodded and looked at Mark with surprise. He was really pleased Mark was being so thoughtful and helpful. He didn't realize Mark was just looking out for himself.

Play soon began and Ed was in his three point stance looking across at his man. No! It was him saying that stupid thing. He needed to punish that guy! At the snap he surged forward and crushed through the player and tossed him down to the ground. The running back shot through the hole Ed made and they soon had their first touchdown.

Surprisingly, Ed felt a little better. He grinned at Mark who was beaming a huge smile back at him.

The game was fierce as their opponent's quarterback and receiver were very good. The score was close but no one got past Ed. Dave, their Center and Wally the Guard on Dave's other side were inspired and tried to match Ed's ferocity but they couldn't match his strength. Ed gradually took the opponent's offensive line apart. He slammed them down again and again and soon he'd broken their spirit. The game turned in their favor and once the clock ran out they were the new State Champions. The team went nuts and for once his coach patted him on the back and congratulated him.

When the teams went out onto the field to shake hands none of the opposing team would shake Ed's hand. His teammates took exception to this and words were said and it got a little ugly until the coach got them off the field and back into the locker room.

"Jesus, did you get a burr under your saddle Mister Ed?" the coach asked. That drew a lot of laughs from the guys. Then Mark stood up.

"Before the game Ed was mad at himself for something stupid so I told him to use that anger in the game. Looks like it worked." He smiled at his friends and they rose up to pat him on the back for his brilliant leadership. No one saw Ed's look of surprise at his words except Mark.

Later the quarterback found him. "You feel better now, right?"

Ed had to agree so he nodded.

"Listen there's going to be a party at my place later tonight starting at 10pm. Attendance is mandatory for the team so be there! And really, thank you, you were awesome out there tonight!" Mark said with a huge grin clapping him on the arm.

Ed felt better and promised Mark he'd come to the party.

When he got home he struggled to find something to wear. He didn't have a lot of clothes and he understood that he had to look nice. The only nice pants he had were the dark blue jeans Grace bought for him but he felt they accentuated his issue rather than hid it.

Still, Mark said that the party was for the team so he assumed that's who would be attending. They were already aware of his shame so it shouldn't be an issue to wear the jeans.

He pulled on some socks, then the jeans and yanked on a clean black t-shirt and his one black, button down short sleeve dress shirt. He looked at himself in the mirror. He felt so weird with the jeans showing off what he wanted so desperately to keep hidden. With the dress shirt untucked the ends almost disguised him. He sighed. Luckily his sister was still at work. He didn't want her seeing him like this.

He knew there would be drinking so he left his beat up old pickup at home and took the bus across town to the edge of a very affluent neighborhood. He had to walk quite a distance from the bus stop to Mark's place as he realized the distances between the driveways was huge. He watched for #12 and as he walked a police car stopped in front of him to ask where he was headed. Once he identified himself and who he was going to see and why, the police were friendly again. He was even congratulated on his aggressive play during the game. He thanked them and they moved on.

Mark's house, a mansion really, was set back quite a ways from the road. Ed walked up the long drive and saw many of his teammates had driven to the party. He shook his head as he could already faintly hear the pounding beat of music. They'd be drinking for sure.

He finally reached the front door and pressed the doorbell. Moments later the door opened and he was looking into the blue eyes of one of the prettiest women he'd ever met. She was tall and had red hair cascading down over her shoulders and framing her very impressive cleavage. He realized he was staring with his mouth open so he tore his eyes away in embarrassment and looked back up to her smiling eyes. She knew where his eyes had been and she'd enjoyed his appreciation.

"You must be Edward Walters. Please come in!" she said in a wonderfully smooth voice. As she stepped back and he stepped in she held out her hand and he took it in his. Her hand felt so soft!

"I'm Rachel Thompson, Mark's mother. You were very impressive out there on the field tonight! So aggressive! You protected Mark very well!" she said placing her other hand on his large bicep with a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you," he mumbled, completely dazzled by her beauty. He thought she might be in her mid-forties but she looked incredible! And that cleavage kept drawing his eyes.

Then he felt it.

He was starting to grow. He subtly moved one hand down to the bottom of his shirt as if he was just straightening the fabric but he saw her glanced down catching what he was doing. Her smile grew sultrier.

Mark came to his rescue as his face grew hot with a blush.

"Mom! Can't you see my bro here needs a brew! Come on Mister Ed! Oops! Sorry Ed!" He was slurring just a little. Mark had begun celebrating early.

"It was very nice meeting you," Ed said politely to Rachel as he was dragged away. He felt her eyes on his ass the entire way into the back room.

A cheer went up when Mark led him into the large family room at the back of the house. Mark went to Reggie and was handed some money. "I told you he'd show up! Get that man a beer!"