Summer was coming to an end. Of course it was depressing to realize that the days would soon again consist of sitting in class and trying to get decent grades but another school year also meant another football season and although it wasn’t even August yet, the Richland High Lions were already gearing up for what they hoped would be a kick ass year. 

However, the first summer practice midway through July found the team in the room where football players watched film from previous games instead of the freshly cut field. The array of teenage boys caught up with each other in the auditorium style seats and filled the room with the familiar smell from months earlier but a handful of players occupied the back row, unofficially assigned to the seniors of the team. This year’s seniors were Chris Hilbert, a cocky yet impressive running back and unspoken ‘alpha’ of his friend group, Eric Orlowski, a rare brainy jock and fellow running back, and Joe Marquez, a big, buff lineman with a bit of an attitude that seemed to really flare up when it came to football. 

“Alright, everybody; listen up. I wanna start off by welcoming you back to Richland High; I hope you fellas are rested up and ready to play some football” Principal Gibbs announced from the small stage. “Where the hell is Coach Ossoff?” Chris whispered to Joe. “I don’t know…maybe he’s late or something” “Maybe Gibbs is coaching us this year” Eric chimed in. “Yeah right; my fucking grandma would do a better job” Joe answered, getting a laugh from his buddies and a disapproving glare from Principal Gibbs. “So, I’m not sure how many of you have heard but Coach Ossoff has transferred to Orange Valley High” Gibbs continued, surprising the team. 

“But don’t worry, we have a fantastic replacement that I think you’ll all warm up to by the time the season starts. Please give a big Richland High welcome to Coach Aaron Hecker!” Gibbs introduced as the man who’d been standing in the wings joined him on stage. The team stopped with their half-assed clapping once the new coach took the mic and every eye in the room was studying him, surprised he wasn’t much older than them and that he was closer to a Joe Burrow type than the typical middle-aged, beer-gutted football coach. 

“Good morning, Lions” Coach Hecker greeted, getting a few responses. “I said good morning, Lions!” he repeated with a higher volume, finally getting a more enthusiastic response. “This fucking guy…” Chris commented under his breath but Coach Hecker let it go, instead trying to introduce himself some more. “Like Principal Gibbs mentioned, my name is Aaron Hecker and I will be your new head coach this year. What you may not know is that I used to go to this school; in fact I helped lead The Lions to a state championship before playing in college” Hecker explained with a natural charisma, obviously earning some good will from most of the team but Joe, Eric, and Chris were still talking a bit of shit from the back row. 

“Now I believe this is a solid group of guys that have the potential to be an incredible team, an unbeatable team but I also believe we’re going to have to make some changes for that to happen. I’m aware how beloved Coach Ossoff was, hell he coached me, but Ossoff was too soft, too lenient. I’m here to warn you that I won’t be as easy on you and I’m prepared to discipline those who cause a problem for me or the team” the buff, clean cut ex-jock explained as if he was looking right at the trio of seniors; he knew it wasn’t the freshmen or sophomores that usually tried anything. “With that said, why don’t you go pick up your practice gear from the locker room and I’ll meet you guys on the field” Coach Hecker instructed before the team filed out into the hallway to reach the locker room. 

“So what do you guys think Hecker means by changes??” Eric asked. “He’s probably some hot shot trying to prove himself” Chris answered. “Gibbs likes him, that’s for sure. I thought he was gonna cream his khakis” Joe joked as they took their time in the hallway. “I mean I wanna win and all but I don’t need some new guy riding my ass the whole time” Joe added. “Yeah fuck that, man. I’m trying to breeze through this year” Chris answered before noticing a player he didn’t recognize standing off from everyone else. “Who’s that guy over there?” Chris asked. “I think that’s James Maberry; he’s the new quarterback. Apparently he’s really good” Eric answered. “He looks kind of lost; I might go see what his deal is” Chris suggested. “Go for it” Joe agreed and Chris left them to get to know the transfer student. 

“James, right?” “Oh, yeah but you can call me JD” the relatively shy 18 yr old explained. “Cool, I’m Chris. You just move here?” “Yeah my dad transferred jobs here and I played football at my old school so I figured this was a good way to acclimate” “I gotcha. Well I can show you around if you want” “Really? That’d be great” “I do charge a $100 fee though” Chris answered, watching JD’s face try to figure out how to react. “Haha I’m just fucking with you; I’ll show you around after practice” Chris assured, seemingly getting JD more comfortable before they all headed out on the field. 

Nearly a month passed with a few practices a week and they couldn’t have been going better; the team was in good shape and Coach Hecker was proving to be a solid fit for the Lions. But on the next to last day of summer practice Coach Hecker’s patience was finally being tested for the first time since taking the position after one of his linemen failed to show up. “Hilbert, where the hell is Marquez?? Practice started 45 minutes ago” Hecker asked Chris. “I’m not sure, Coach” Chris answered but he did know, fully aware how drunk Joe had gotten at the same party he’d attended the night before. “Orlowski, do you know?” “No, sir” Eric answered but of course he also knew. “He might still be in Jennifer Grayson’s pool with a Corona” JD joked to Chris as Coach Hecker grew more frustrated. 

A few minutes later the missing 6’2 muscle man made his way onto the field, not even jogging to hurry up and join them. “Anytime now, Marquez…a little hustle would be nice” Hecker called out but Joe didn’t move any faster and that just burned their new coach up more. “Practice started almost an hour ago or are you too good to show up on time like everybody else?” Hecker started in but Chris and Eric knew Joe had a tendency to not back down. “I overslept; shit happens” Joe answered like he wasn’t phased, getting subtle ‘oohs’ and ‘giggles’ from the team. 

“Shit happens my ass, Marquez! If you’re a part of this team then you need to act like it! Do you hear me??” “Yeah, I’m not deaf” “That’s a piss poor attitude you’ve got there…I’d lose it if I were you” “Yeah well you’re not me so don’t worry about it” Joe fired back, catching Coach Hecker a bit off guard but he was far too confident to show any reaction. “Ya know, I heard about you…reckless, party animal Marquez; you think that’s gonna get you anywhere? Huh??” Hecker challenged, now closer to him in almost a stand off. “Yeah, being on time got you real far; right back here!” Joe shot back, at eye level with his now very pissed off coach. “Locker room now! I don’t wanna see your ass until after practice when I come and find you!” Hecker demanded, pointing toward the locker room entrance. “Whatever, man…this is bullshit” Joe answered and started toward the building. 

“You’re fucking brave, dude” Chris added as they all got undressed after practice. “Hecker is just trying to show off” Joe answered. “What do you think he’s gonna do now? I mean he made a point about discipline that first day” Eric added. “If it’s just sitting in here to skip practice I’m cool; I can just play on my phone or whatever” Joe offered. “I don’t know; he seemed pretty mad” JD pointed out. “I’m not worried about that Tom Brady wannabe” Joe assured as the others laughed and Coach Hecker appeared by the lockers. 

“Marquez, you’re staying after practice” “What for?” “Because I said so” Hecker doubled down and within ten minutes the locker room was empty, except for Joe who was relaxed on one of the benches still messing around on his phone. The athletic blonde reappeared and sat across from Joe between the lockers, convincing him to get off his phone. “Look, I know we’re both still getting used to each other but I’m not gonna tolerate being late and mouthing off. It’s just not gonna happen” “So now what? Am I off the team or something?” Joe questioned with the same bit of cocky, indifferent attitude. “No, I’ve got something for you. Follow me” Coach Hecker answered and led him to a room connected to the locker room that Joe had never been in. 

“What’s this room even for? I’ve never seen anyone go in here” Joe asked. “It was for storage but now it’s got a different purpose” Hecker answered as Joe noticed the strange device sitting in the middle of the room. It looked like some kind of modified chair with chains and padded cuffs attached above it and a set of stockades like Joe had seen in an old western his grandpa used to watch. “The hell is that?” “I told you I was gonna crack down on discipline and this is me cracking down; take a seat and put your ankles through the holes” Coach Hecker instructed, getting an eye roll from Joe but deep down he did wanna play his senior year and feared if he didn't’ just comply that he’d be off the team. 

Aaron locked the stocks around Joe’s ankles and ordered him to put his arms above his head, “This is some kinky shit” Joe taunted but Hecker didn’t respond, instead securing both wrists in the cuffs so Joe’s arms were fully extended above him, barely able to bend. “I’d heard you could be a problem but I didn’t realize what that meant until today…and that attitude has gotta go too. No player of mine is gonna act like that so I’m gonna take you down a peg or two” Hecker explained as he moved out of sight, behind him. Joe rolled his eyes again, brushing off the warning as all talk until he felt a sudden jab in his right armpit. 

The macho 18 yr old felt a shiver of anxiety down his back but wasn’t sure what was happening until he felt another direct jab into his other underarm, forcing him to tighten his jaw and clench his eyes shut to resist reacting. The white sleeveless undershirt left both pits fully exposed, painfully vulnerable as he began to realize what Hecker was trying to do. Another quick drill into his opposite armpit made him jerk the other way but Hecker delivered another solid jab into that one too, getting a little dance out of the mouthy lineman. 

Aaron grinned at the promising reaction and continued teasing Joe, wiggling into the right side until Joe was as far left as he could move and jumping to the left pit to watch him try to get away. Frustrated grunts and sharp exhales became more and more frequent the longer the game went on and Joe’s tan face was flushed from fighting the pesky fingers. “What’s wrong, Marquez…?” “Nothing” Joe practically spat out before another taser at the base of his left pit, tightening his mouth the best he could to avoid giving Hecker the satisfaction of getting to him. “Is the big linebacker ticklish?? That’d be pretty embarrassing” Aaron taunted, knowing it would piss Joe off even more. “I’m not fucking ticklish!” 

“Oh yeah?” Aaron challenged before going after both pits at once for the first time, using two fingers on each side and drilling in. Joe squirmed and bucked in the chair with sudden overload, his tight lips forming a reluctant smile as his thick arms tried to break the straps. Hecker didn’t let up this time and wiggled in with complete concentration and zero mercy until he heard a few giggles escape the tough jock. “aoaohOAHAohoAohfFuuCK!” “Oh man, you are ticklish! Listen to that girly little laugh” Aaron mocked as his attack drifted down a little toward his pecs, using the openings in the shirt to sneak down and drill in on both sides. 

“oohoAhohAOhASshHiiiTToaFFUuuCCkKiiNnGSSThohOHpPP!!” Joe demanded while still trying to contain his laughter as much as possible, his ego pressuring him to not give in so much. “Yeah I’d heard you were a big partier and pretty full of yourself but nobody told me how ticklish you are…but I’m guessing you wouldn’t want that out there for anyone to know to begin with” Aaron teased while expertly pushing Joe’s buttons in more ways than one. Hecker could see his biceps surging like he was bench pressing a new max, trying his best to get out of the cuffs and protect himself against the tickling but the chair was too sturdy for even him. 

Being only 26, Aaron hadn’t that long ago been in Joe’s shoes, a senior football player who thought he could do whatever he wanted. And as much as disdain as Hecker had for that mindset now, part of him understood Joe’s arrogance and attitude; his Mexican heritage had given him dark hair with naturally tan skin that complimented his strong features perfectly and he probably had a chance at a college football career. It made sense why he thought he was hot shit but Aaron wasn’t about to deal with that all season, not a chance. 

“I heard you making jokes on my first day in the film room…I thought you liked to laugh” Aaron added as more and more disgruntled laughter spilled out. “AhoAAoAhohOAFUUCckKkoOoOFFF!” “You talk to Coach Ossoff like that, huh?” Hecker questioned before jumping back up to the pits and clawing up and down with just his fingertips. “AAOoHAohASSHIIIiTTGGeeETTooOFFmMEEMmMAAANN!!” Joe shouted like a freshly kicked hornets’ nest but Hecker wanted to make him realize he wasn’t as big and bad as he thought, to humble him into a real team player. 

“I still can’t believe a guy like you that can knock a 300 pound lineman on his ass is so ticklish…I mean who would’ve thought?” Aaron taunted as his hands dragged back and forth through the dark patches of hair and made Joe flounder in the chair even harder. “AAhoAHIIMmMFFuUCCkKIInNGGSSEERriIOOUuSSbBRoOOO! FFUuCCKKiiNnGSSTttAAHOohPP!!” “Stop what? You said you weren’t ticklish so this shouldn’t bother you” “AAhohAaMMOOoTTHHEERrRFFUUCCkKEEERR!!” Joe roared once Aaron started rapidly poking all over his ribs with just two fingers. Hecker recognized the slight raspiness in his laughter, the kind that came from drinking all night but it was still loud and full-bodied, going in and out from deep belly laughter and higher-pitched outburst depending on how each blow landed. But either way, he had no chance of biting his lip or holding it in anymore; Aaron made sure of that. 

Coach Hecker suddenly left the ribs and latched around Joe’s lower sides about in line with his bellybutton and started squeezing before Joe could catch his breath. “AAohOAhoAHoooHAohAohOhAOA TthHeeHHEElLiIISSWWRRoOnNGGWWWiIITThhYYoOuU?!” “Right now the only problem I have is you; I’ve got a good team and you’re part of that but we can’t succeed if you’re gonna be out partying before practice or games. That’s not something a good athlete would do” “AhoAohaFFuUUCckKyyYOoOuUUDDUuDDEE!” Joe fired back with stubborn defiance even though he wasn’t able to get two words out without laughing, convincing Aaron to squeeze even faster and start moving up and down to see how bad he could make it for him. 

“OOOAhoahoAhohaAOHAASSSTTHOHoOPPPP!! AhohaOHAACCOOmMmEEOOONN!!! TTHHiISSIIISbBUuULlSShHiITT!!” Joe yelled as he tried to pull himself up and get away, his eyes wide with surprise at how much it tickled. “I’m the coach now; I’m the only person that gets to say what’s bullshit around here” Hecker corrected before traveling south and locking onto his midriff just below his abs and really going at it with a tighter grip. “OOAOHAOAAOAhAOhAOhaaoohooHhmMYYYGGoOodDAOhAoaHNnOOnNO!!! GGETToOOFFFF! GEETToOoFFFAOHAOHA!!” Joe erupted with newfound intensity and a look of horrified disbelief like he wasn’t aware he was even ticklish there.

“I don’t wanna have to do all this; I mean I do have better things I could be doing but I’m not stopping until I know you won’t be a problem anymore. I need a disciplined player” “AAHAHAOHAAAAASSshHoOOLLleEE!!” “I already have one of those” Hecker assured without slowing down and watching Joe lose his shit in the chair but Aaron knew the value of utilizing highs and lows and soon left the waist. The powerhouse lineman caught his breath and finally was able to relax in the sadistic chair but Hecker wasn’t willing to let him rest up, instead launching onto his sides before Joe knew what was coming. 

“AAAHaohaOhAAOHaoHAooAOAohoaohaOAHAOhohoAHAOHAYYOouuUUUFFuUuCCkKEerRRAoaNnnOOOahoahaOAHAOAHA!!” Marquez couldn’t help but let out with an angry, forced smile as he bounced around in the seat. Aaron poked up and down the length of both sides from his hips to the base of his underarms as fast and randomly as he could to make Joe a sputtering mess and it worked like a charm. Normally Joe would smack down any attempts to tickle him unless it was from a girl trying to flirt with him, not even usually willing to let a playful tease from his buddies slide so having to just take it like this drove him absolutely crazy. He was big and strong and domineering so he was never helpless or defenseless until now, all of which Aaron knew and could tell was fucking with him just as much as the tickling. 

The determined new coach finally stopped jabbing along Joe’s sides after a while and walked away before returning with a chair, placing it in front of the stocks. “This is gonna teach you to be more disciplined and prioritize your team and your body” Hecker explained while unlacing the right sneaker and tugging it off before starting on the second one. “No! Don’t mess with my feet, man! Come on, this is crazy!” Joe argued while still trying to get his wits about him. “You really shouldn’t combat your coach…it’ll only make things worse for you” Aaron assured as the second shoe hit the floor and two beefy size 12s sat in front of him in the stocks, protected by white tube socks. 

“But I’m a good player! I don’t need anymore fucking discipline! You’re just punishing me!” Joe protested. “Yeah you are good but not good enough for my team” Hecker corrected as he took the edges of both socks and started peeling them off the big sweaty feet. “Hey! Motherfucker, leave my socks on!” Joe demanded with more bite this time but it only gave away his panic. “You’ll learn it’s better to just do what I say; that’ll  make your last season a lot smoother” Hecker suggested before raking down both meaty bare feet. 

“AAAhAGFFuUuCCKkHoAHaOH!!” burst out of Joe as the short nails dragged down his smooth soles, hitting him like he’d doven into a cold pool but he didn’t have any time to get used to it before Hecker clawed back up from his peachy heels. “OoaoAOOAHANnOONNnoO!! AOhAFFuUCCkKiInnGSSTthoOHpPP!!” “I figured a big guy like you might be able to break out and end this but I guess you’re not as strong as I thought” Aaron continued to taunt as he had his way with the tender pink soles, now scratching in every direction to cover more ground. 

Joe’s plump toes wiggled and crunched and his feet writhed in the stocks but there was nowhere to go; he even tried protecting one foot with the other but the stocks kept them too far apart. “AAAAhOAHAOAhAOhANNOoNNoAOHACCOoOAaACCHH!! AoAOhAOAHSSTThOoHopPPPipIITT!!” Joe wailed as his laughter seemed to balloon the longer Aaron tickled his feet, almost like he knew he couldn’t fight how bad it was. “Just think about all those hours these feet have spent blocking on the field, sweating and soaking in your cleats while your feet just got softer and softer…no wonder they’re so ticklish” Hecker added to toy with his head at the same time as if to point out Joe had this incredible weakness all along and he wasn’t as tough as he thought.

Once again Joe pulled on the cuffs with everything he had as if to prove Aaron wrong but he was laughing way too hard to even stand a chance of breaking free, if anything just tiring himself out more as Coach Hecker wrecked his feet. “I know some schools may be looking at you this year too and I’d hate to have to tell a recruiter that you’re just too caught up in drinking and staying out all night to be a good choice for their team” “AHAOAHAohaAAYyYYooOuUUCCAaNNnNTT DdOoOTThHAATT!!” “I wouldn’t want to but if you don’t clean up your act, I won’t have a choice” Aaron explained before suddenly ramping up his attack and scribbling all over both feet twice as viciously as before. 

Joe jerked in the chair like he’d hurl himself out of it and his mouth shot open wider, overflowing with uncontrollable, humiliating laughter. “AHAOAANnOOOO!! ahoAHAyYoOUuUuVVvVEeGgoOoTTTAasSSTTToOOPPP!!” Joe borderline pleaded while his trapped feet desperately tried to avoid the relentless tickling. “Oh it’s the arches isn’t it?” Aaron questioned as if he didn’t already know the answer before concentrating on the low arches of both feet, zeroing in with his nails to drag back and forth over and over. “AAAH!! AohAAACCooOAOAACCHH!! AOhAOAHAiIiIcCAANNnTTAhOAHATTAAAkKEEIiiITT!! ahoAoHANNooOnNooahaoha!! SsTtHoOOhoHPOPPP!!” Joe admitted like he truly didn’t think he could handle another second. 

“You know if you wouldn’t have been partying all night you probably would’ve been able to take this better…like how you don’t drink all night before practice. Right?” “AAhoAhAohAOAHAAohAAOokookKOAHOAHA!” “Right??” Aaron stressed as he went after the base of his toes. “AAAHAOAARRiIIiGGhHHTT!!! YyOOuuURRREERRiIiGGhHTTT!! JUUuSSTTSSTToOhOPP!!” “See, if you just start off knowing I’m right we’ll get along great” Hecker suggested but still didn’t back off the clearly very sensitive toes, forcing them back with his knuckles so he could scratch along the plush undersides and even between them a little to get Joe bouncing around again with sharp laughter. 

“Now, I wanna hear you say that you’re gonna stop partying during football season” “AAHaOhAOhaGGeeTtTOOoFFmMYYyFFuUuCCCkKiIInnNGGFFEEET!!” “Say it!” “AHAOAHaOoKOokk!! IILLLSSTTOHOoPPPPpAARRTTyYYIiINNNGG!!” “Good, and you’re gonna be on time from now on?” “AHAOAyYYyEEESSS!! AoHAAYYYEESSAhohAAhoAHA!! NnOoWWCCoOMMEEooOOnNN!!” Joe agreed as genuinely as he could to appease his new coach who was still punishing the linebacker’s big, powerful feet. “Great; I’m glad we finally understand each other” Hecker answered as he left Joe’s feet and started letting him out of the chair. “Just don’t…tell the other guys about this, alright?” Joe asked. “What? That you’re stupid ticklish?” “Yeah, that” Joe confirmed like he hated to hear it out loud. “Sure thing. Well, I’ll see ya tomorrow, Marquez…and I wouldn’t be late again if I were you. I’d hate to have this conversation again.”