Nineteen

The sun crept across the sky in its September slant, and shadows began to stretch from the tree line to the green. Heyward presented Josh with a pair of beach store flip flops, pink to match his freshly painted toenails, to wear into the clubhouse. Masie shed her ball cap and fluffed her dark tresses before Heyward crowned her with the Chartreuse Chapeau. She raised her red plastic Champion’s Chalice and said, “Thanks, Ponyboy. I’ll wear it with honor befitting its genesis.”

By the time they made it to the clubhouse, a pledge had returned with a bathrobe, and they draped it over Masie’s shoulders for her entrance to the bar.

“I feel like Hawkeye Pierce,” she said, fingering the burgundy fabric. She reached up to the brim of her hat. “Maybe a bit Henry Blake as well.”

A round of applause greeted the grand entrance, and the SAEs began chanting, “Speech!”

Masie smiled and surveyed the crowd gathered, her eyes pausing when they fell on Kevin Devreaux, Jimmy Dufresne, and her brother Billy, who looked like he was already halfway in his cups.

“As this tournament didn’t exist until we finished two, I didn’t prepare a speech, but I’d like to begin by thanking everyone who played for being a good sport, except for that pelican who stole Josh’s ball on one.” She paused and sipped from her cup. “I’d also like to thank the brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon for turning a friendly half-round on the front nine into a tournament complete with a leaderboard and prizes. The money aspect hasn’t been discussed, but I’ll match it and donate all of it to the charity of their choice so this delightful event may include giving something back as one of its founding traditions. Thank you all for making today much more special than I could have anticipated.”

Applause smattered through the crowd in the bar, and Masie shot a skeptical eyeball at her brother before smiling all around, raising her chalice, and drinking deeply.

When the to-do died down, Masie approached her brother and his companions, and wrapped her arms around her brother before planting the green hat on his head. After giving Jimmy a hello hug and kiss on the cheek, swatting his hand away from her behind, she turned her attention to Kevin. “Carter send you?” She raised an eyebrow and attempted to stifle a grin.

“Yep. Too much commotion at the house to add old salts and a gambler to the mix.”

“Yeah, Masie,” Billy chimed in. “I thought you were supposed to let me know when you were playing in a tourney. Give me a chance to share the wealth.”

Masie snatched her hat off his head and swatted him with it. “Take it up with Ponyboy.” She nodded in Heyward’s direction. “It wasn’t a tournament when we teed off. Anyway, unless you want a beach hat and beer cup, there’s no wealth to share.”

Ben and Marty, keeping their cheap sunglasses on, settled into a couple of tobacco-colored leather club chairs adjacent to the bar while Josh did a lap to show off his frat boy pedicure.

Song rang out from the SAEs.

“Masters Masie, pretty as sin

called the shot and nailed the pin,

She hit the pole, the ball dropped in,

A hole-in-one for the win.”

Ponyboy stood in front of his brothers, a king in shorts and a t-shirt, waving his arms in astonishingly accurate choral conductor movements.

Applause clapped through the clubhouse again, drawing Christopher from the pro shop. He stood in the entrance, eyes all over Masie. Josh sidled over to him and said, “Good luck trying to catch Masie. Looks like you’ve got the entire Carolina chapter of SAE for competition.”

Then the SAEs spoke as one, “To the beach!” They raised their glasses, drained their drinks, and exited in a two-file procession to the parking lot.