The Good Guys embarked on their next road trip, going to New York, Atlanta and Houston. They won two of three in New York, lost two of three in Atlanta, and won two of three again in Houston. They returned home on a Sunday night to begin a nine game homestand against the middle America teams.
In the meantime, things for Mitch were not going well at all. After a hot streak following his being given a clean bill of health, he was in a prolonged slump. When the Good Guys returned home for the opening game against Pittsburgh, Mitch was uncharacteristically booed at Good Guy Stadium. His slump, and his age, gave the always critical owner new fuel that Mitch was over the hill, and should retire. Naomi attempted to be as supportive as possible, offering her love, support, and shoulder to lean on during her husband's troubled times. Even if this was to be the last season of Good Guy baseball for them both, they would do other things to make a living, and would still be Mitch and Naomi, husband and wife, with 3 kids, in love. Unfortunately, Mitch wasnt having any of it. He was uncharacteristically moody, short tempered, and explosive. Clearly, the Good Guy right fielder was fighting his own demons. He kept talking about making major changes, using the phrase "Packing it all in", to describe how he felt about the situations in his life, and his mood. This description made Naomi privately seethe, but also worry greatly. While he didnt show any signs of suicidal behavior, Mitch was clearly miserable. He on more than one occasion talked of leaving the Good Guys, the island, and the tickling community altogether.
Mitch's behavior made Naomi worry that he was suffering through a mid life crisis. For years, the pride Mitch felt for the Good Guys and the island was all over his face. Now, it was almost as if he was going through the motions of being a baseball player. Somehow, Naomi would have felt more relieved had Mitch come to her straight out, and said:" Let this be the last year, let's retire, and move on". She would have been more than willing to end her baseball career to save her marriage. Unfortunately, this isnt what Mitch said or did, he was just miserable. The type of behavior Mitch was exhibiting was behavior which could boil over into an affair with a woman 15 years younger, and the end of Mitch and Naomi's marriage, and their family.
As unhappy as Mitch was, there was also a sense of honorability in him. Deep down, with all his troubles, he felt a sense of responsibility to the team, the island, and to the tickling community. There was certainly at least a level of him that wanted to leave the Good Guys, and the tickling community, as well as the island. As upset as he was, he just couldnt bring himself to take that last step, and say to Naomi:" We're done, let's move on". Baseball, performing, a team of friends, an island like Paradise, and the whole idea was addicting, and Mitch just couldnt let it all go after over a decade of good play, all the world championships, and the cheers. One night, Naomi got so frustrated that she followed Mitch down to the beach, and told him he needed to make a choice: "We cant live like this! One day, when all the on field play is gone, and we're done celebrating all the World Titles, and everyone is finished cheering your name, it is just going to be us, and our family. You need to make a choice, Mitch. I will go along with whatever you decide. I love this island, and my friends, but I will leave, and start over with you, anywhere you want to go, because I love you more. The misery, it has to stop. It isnt good for you, me, or the team! If we're going to bow out, after all that happened to us, and all the good these people did for us, we owe it to them to let them know, and go out with dignity and grace, the way both of us have always treated our teammates, and always played the game!"
Naomi's words stung Mitch greatly, yet he still couldnt make up his mind. He knew he would have to before the end of the year, because it wasnt fair to anyone to go through another full year like this, as miserable as he was.
In the meantime, the team held it's Saturday night tickle party. The featured lee would be a tall blonde female life guard who worked at the ballpark's swimming pool. She stripped to a bra and panties and was tied hands and feet to the bed as the 2nd baseman Russell began the tickle on her neck and she giggled and thrashed. HEHEHEHEHEHE! Then, the 3rd baseman Michael was next, tickling the attractive blonde on her armpits, and down her sides, and over her belly and ribs, as she thrashed away at her restraints: HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! NO! Moving down, the left fielder Dawson attacked her inner and outer thighs, causing her to buck. Finally, pitcher Gil Bellows got the feet, attacking them with fingers, a feather, ice and an electric toothbrush. This made the blonde lifeguard go beserk! She wiggled her toes every which way, and thrashed wildly at her restraints, squealing with uncontrollable giggles. HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! I GIVE UP! RED! NO!!HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! When the blonde guard screamed the safe word, the team knew they had to untie her.
During the party that night, Mitch, who was normally the center of attention, sat in the corner watching, a drink in his hand, as Naomi stood on the other end of the dance club watching her husband with a serious face. Things were clearly wrong, and Naomi was worried for herself, Mitch, their marriage, and the team. What would happen next? Stay tuned for the continuing story of the Tickle Team from Paradise Island.
The End
In the meantime, things for Mitch were not going well at all. After a hot streak following his being given a clean bill of health, he was in a prolonged slump. When the Good Guys returned home for the opening game against Pittsburgh, Mitch was uncharacteristically booed at Good Guy Stadium. His slump, and his age, gave the always critical owner new fuel that Mitch was over the hill, and should retire. Naomi attempted to be as supportive as possible, offering her love, support, and shoulder to lean on during her husband's troubled times. Even if this was to be the last season of Good Guy baseball for them both, they would do other things to make a living, and would still be Mitch and Naomi, husband and wife, with 3 kids, in love. Unfortunately, Mitch wasnt having any of it. He was uncharacteristically moody, short tempered, and explosive. Clearly, the Good Guy right fielder was fighting his own demons. He kept talking about making major changes, using the phrase "Packing it all in", to describe how he felt about the situations in his life, and his mood. This description made Naomi privately seethe, but also worry greatly. While he didnt show any signs of suicidal behavior, Mitch was clearly miserable. He on more than one occasion talked of leaving the Good Guys, the island, and the tickling community altogether.
Mitch's behavior made Naomi worry that he was suffering through a mid life crisis. For years, the pride Mitch felt for the Good Guys and the island was all over his face. Now, it was almost as if he was going through the motions of being a baseball player. Somehow, Naomi would have felt more relieved had Mitch come to her straight out, and said:" Let this be the last year, let's retire, and move on". She would have been more than willing to end her baseball career to save her marriage. Unfortunately, this isnt what Mitch said or did, he was just miserable. The type of behavior Mitch was exhibiting was behavior which could boil over into an affair with a woman 15 years younger, and the end of Mitch and Naomi's marriage, and their family.
As unhappy as Mitch was, there was also a sense of honorability in him. Deep down, with all his troubles, he felt a sense of responsibility to the team, the island, and to the tickling community. There was certainly at least a level of him that wanted to leave the Good Guys, and the tickling community, as well as the island. As upset as he was, he just couldnt bring himself to take that last step, and say to Naomi:" We're done, let's move on". Baseball, performing, a team of friends, an island like Paradise, and the whole idea was addicting, and Mitch just couldnt let it all go after over a decade of good play, all the world championships, and the cheers. One night, Naomi got so frustrated that she followed Mitch down to the beach, and told him he needed to make a choice: "We cant live like this! One day, when all the on field play is gone, and we're done celebrating all the World Titles, and everyone is finished cheering your name, it is just going to be us, and our family. You need to make a choice, Mitch. I will go along with whatever you decide. I love this island, and my friends, but I will leave, and start over with you, anywhere you want to go, because I love you more. The misery, it has to stop. It isnt good for you, me, or the team! If we're going to bow out, after all that happened to us, and all the good these people did for us, we owe it to them to let them know, and go out with dignity and grace, the way both of us have always treated our teammates, and always played the game!"
Naomi's words stung Mitch greatly, yet he still couldnt make up his mind. He knew he would have to before the end of the year, because it wasnt fair to anyone to go through another full year like this, as miserable as he was.
In the meantime, the team held it's Saturday night tickle party. The featured lee would be a tall blonde female life guard who worked at the ballpark's swimming pool. She stripped to a bra and panties and was tied hands and feet to the bed as the 2nd baseman Russell began the tickle on her neck and she giggled and thrashed. HEHEHEHEHEHE! Then, the 3rd baseman Michael was next, tickling the attractive blonde on her armpits, and down her sides, and over her belly and ribs, as she thrashed away at her restraints: HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! NO! Moving down, the left fielder Dawson attacked her inner and outer thighs, causing her to buck. Finally, pitcher Gil Bellows got the feet, attacking them with fingers, a feather, ice and an electric toothbrush. This made the blonde lifeguard go beserk! She wiggled her toes every which way, and thrashed wildly at her restraints, squealing with uncontrollable giggles. HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! I GIVE UP! RED! NO!!HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! When the blonde guard screamed the safe word, the team knew they had to untie her.
During the party that night, Mitch, who was normally the center of attention, sat in the corner watching, a drink in his hand, as Naomi stood on the other end of the dance club watching her husband with a serious face. Things were clearly wrong, and Naomi was worried for herself, Mitch, their marriage, and the team. What would happen next? Stay tuned for the continuing story of the Tickle Team from Paradise Island.
The End
