Chad was thrown in a duffel bag with most of the items from Lost and Found. Turned out the bin was only about a fifth of the clothes that ended up in Lost and Found. Ty emptied the bin every month into a cupboard in the store room. At the end of the year, he and coach would separate, wash and donate the good stuff and trash the rest.
Chad joined stray jockstraps and gym socks in the laundry. Then they were all lune dried behind Bruno's grandmother's house.
Bruno over Rick's objections decided to put the Speedo at the quilt's center. Soon Chad was unceremoniously cut into two pieces, as were many of the garments. Marco's jersey front was sewn to the upper left quadrant of the Speedo. Very carefully Bruno lined up the back half of the Speedo, and sewn in the mirrored position to the front. It took weeks, but when they were done the fronts of the garments were on the front of the quilt, and their back counterparts were on the back. There were some exceptions: when a jockstrap or sock was on one side, another jock or sock which was similar was sewn on the back.
When the two halves were done. The were sewn together, and then the quilt was filled with batting, and Bruno and Rick put the quilt through a sewing machine teacing the outlines of the garments together.
The quilt was washed, ironed, stray threads were nipped. Then it was hung from a large frame, so people could inspect both sides at the Art Show and Auction.
Coach Sinclair as a rule hated art shows, but as head coach he was expected to attend. He nodded and shook his head as he walked through the exhibition in the gym trying to feign interest. Then he saw the quilt, and he immediately recognized Chad at the center of it. He burst out laughing.
"If you don't like it, that's no reason to laugh," said Bruno in a hurt tone.
"No, I love it. Will it be up for auction tonight?"
"You love it. But you laughed?"
"Because it's perfect for me. A sports quilt with jerseys, jockstraps and Speedos is perfect for a coach."
"Do you think your wife will approve?" Asked the principal who was eavesdropping.
"Oh, I can always hang it in my office."
A stranger in a black outfit stared long and hard at the quilt particularly at Chad.
For Chad it was all maddening. Only one person knew that the Speedo in the center of the sports quilt was really a transformed human being. And Coach Sinclair was the person who did this to him.
"So will it be auctioned tonight?"
"Lot 23," Rick answered.
"That's Chad's jersey number," Coach said.
Rick asked. "Who's Chad?"
"Chad was a former student," Coach said softly.
Rick shrugged. Bruno's shook his head.
The gym emptied out, and the auditorium filled up. Some vases, paintings and sketches were among the first items auctioned off. Then Rick and Bruno wheeled in the quilt mounted to a wheeled frame.
"Lot 23, the Sports Quilt by Bruno and Rick," said the principal who was acting as auctioneer. "Should we start the bidding at $25?"
Rico bid $25.
Sinclair bid $50.
The black clad stranger bid $75.
Rico bid $100.
Coach Sinclair upped it to $150.
Rico dropped out.
Coach smiled, but the man in black had bid it up to $500.
Chad's best buds, girlfriends, teachers and acquaintances filed by. He tried to call out to make himself heard. But only one person besides Sinclair seemed to react. Rico the gypsy kid did a double take when he looked at the quilt. Then hastily exited the gym. Chad wasn't sure what Rico saw or heard, it might have been a different article of clothing that he recognized. Maybe his jockstrap or shorts was part of the quilt. Chad could only hope.
Then everyone filed out.