Even though the last few practices were definitely better, I haven’t set the field on fire with my greatness yet. I’m hoping I can change that if I can just get some playing time in the spring game. I know I haven’t moved up on the depth chart, and I’m finally okay with that. I will be working out hard this summer, going through more training with a throwing coach, and I will give it my best this fall. If I’m good enough to earn a starting position, so be it. If I don’t, I’ll keep plugging away until I do.
“Mackenzie,” our QB coach says toward the end of the first half, “why don’t you take a set of downs?”
I perk up. I didn’t think I’d get to play until the last quarter. “Yes, sir.”
I line up under center in the shotgun position, drop back, and throw a nice slant pass into the flat. It bounces off the receiver’s hands and gets picked off by a defensive player, who runs it down the field for a touchdown.
Even though I know it was an on-target pass and the receiver should have caught it, I can’t really say anything to him other than, “You’ll get it next time,” while I’m hoping there will even be a next time for me.
My family is all here in the stands. Dani is on the sidelines. I know at halftime, her dad will come down, and she’ll interview him.
The white team’s offense gets another chance to go back on the field, but they send in a different quarterback. I let out a sigh and sit on the bench.
Eventually, it will be me. I can see it in my head. I can picture the dream. Picture the perfect throws. Picture winning.
Dani’s dad comes up behind me. “You remember the photo in the workout room bathroom?”
“The one where you’re all covered in mud?”
“And a loser, yes. And I know you’ve seen the championship photos.”
“Of course.”
“It’s times like what you’ve been going through that make winning that much sweeter. I hope it’s okay that Damon told me you have been struggling a little.”
“I have been.”
“You’re a leader, Chase. You always have been. Lead your team or as many of the players you can get to follow. It only takes a few. Make an impression. Get buy in. Then go out there and light up the other team. Also, I think it’s good that Damon isn’t here with you yet.”
“Why?”
“Because as a quarterback, you need to earn your team’s respect. I know you and Damon are a good team, and he can convince anyone to do just about anything. But if you do it now, by yourself, it will be a different kind of respect. Something deeper. You started before Damon did on the high school team, remember? You did it then. You can do it now.”
“Yeah, you’re right. And I know that I will here, too. Eventually.”
“I also heard you might have broken a certain long-standing record by your current coach.”
I can’t help but smile about that. “Yeah, I did.”
“I couldn’t even do that, Chase. And trust me, I tried.”
“But Coach didn’t go on to have the successful professional career you did. He only played four years before getting injured and going into coaching.”
“Coaching was what he always wanted to do. It was his first career choice, not his second. But he chose to play professionally, so he could coach his players to that goal. He’s from a family of coaches.”
“Oh, I forgot about that. Didn’t his dad win multiple national championships?”
“He did. And his three older brothers have been part of championship-winning professional teams.”
“Coach Parson doesn’t have any kind of ring yet,” I say.
“And that’s more disappointing to him than any of your teammates. Winning is in his blood, and he needs some guys to step up. Championship teams don’t just come from coaching. They come from the players, too. Both have to foster the team culture. You had your choice of schools, Chase. But you followed your heart and went to a place you love rather than play for the school that had won three national championships in the last five years.”
“Because I want it to be great here again,” I tell him. Because it is what I want.
“You and your coach are on the same page then. Your current teammates have had some really tough losses. Last year, they lost six games by a touchdown or less. When you play that hard and still lose, it messes with your head. You start thinking you can’t win. Don’t have it in you. If you want to win, you’re going to have to remind your team that they still know how.”
“How do I do that?” I wonder.
“Has your mom ever told you about how I struggled during my first spring practice? But that I did well enough to be rumored to have the starting role that coming fall?”
I shake my head.
“I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. Especially because I felt like I’d earned it by default. One player had gotten injured, and the other just sucked more than I did.”
“Oh, I do remember now. That’s when you started imagining the perfect pass, right?”
“That’s right. But it was something else. Your mom told me that I was destined for greatness.”
“She’s told me that since I was little. She even wrote it in my baby journal. Said she didn’t know what I’d do or be, but that she was going to help prepare me for it. She also told me I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it.”
“Maybe you should start doing that then,” Danny suggests.
I nod. Realizing he’s right. I know what winning feels like. And so do a lot of these guys. That’s why they are here. Why they keep coming back day after day. They are chasing that feeling. They want it again.
At halftime, Coach Parson announces that it’s official. That I broke his record and even though I’d had a rough first set, he’s putting me in for a few more reps.
In actuality, I’m starting the second half.
And I know this is my chance.
When we get back on the field, I huddle up those who are going to be starting with me. I need them to want this as much as I do.
“I know you all were big deals in small towns, just like me,” I say. “But nearly fifty thousand people came out to watch us play what is a glorified scrimmage. There are little kids in the stands who dream of being where we are someday. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to give them a show. Entertain them. I need literally just one of you who wants to do the same thing. One of you who desires more than anything to catch the ball.”
“Me!” I hear from behind me.
I turn to find Treyvon.
“But you’re on defense,” the red team coach says.
“Yeah, well, I played both sides of the ball in high school and caught a lot of passes. I’ve been practicing with Chase, and I’ve actually been having fun. But, Coach, know if I do well—and I’m gonna—I’d like your support in switching positions.”
Coach shrugs and says, “Why not? Go for it. But the playbook isn’t open, you understand? We don’t want to give anything away to our competition until the season starts. Only the authorized plays, clear?”
“Yes, sir,” we both say.
Coach grins and says, “And I get to pick the first play.”
When the offense is called out for the start of the second half, Treyvon is lined up as a wide receiver. There’s nothing at all flashy about this play. It’s a simple fly route. Trey is going to run down the field as fast as he can, and I’m going to time the throw just right so that when he hits the thirty-yard line, the ball will hit him in the hands.
I take a good snap.
The offensive line holds as I drop back in the pocket.
I cock my elbow back and release the ball.
It flies down the field on target.
Treyvon catches it mid-stride and runs the ball in for the score.
And the fans go crazy.
I’m allowed to play for most of the third quarter, and it is truly a gift.
And while my play isn’t perfect, I have a whole lot of fun out there.
After the game, Coach reads my letter to the team. Some of them heard about it at the first of the year and made fun of me, but after the way my offense played today, I think they are finally ready to listen. I’m not sure I’ve earned their respect fully yet, but it feels like a start.
And I’m good with that.
In my face.
Devaney
I’m seriously on cloud nine. I had a camera in my face. I interviewed my dad. Spoke to some of the coaches. Chatted with former great players and did it all without making a fool of myself.
Well, it feels like I didn’t.
Damon says we’ll have to watch the replay to know for sure, but I think I know how I did.
And then there’s Chase. I’m so proud of how he played. And of the little talk I heard him give on the sidelines. And Treyvon! Who knew he could catch like that? I’m pretty sure he will be switching to the offense right away.
The whole family is here and headed back to the condos after the game. They flew in just before and didn’t have time for a tour, so I’m sure they are loving how it looks. We’re supposed to meet them back there to have dinner together. Chase’s mom suggested we order in from a nearby restaurant, but my dad was insistent that we go out instead. Said it would be good for Chase. I’m not sure what he meant by that, but we’re going to my favorite restaurant, so it’s fine with me.
The cameraman and I are just finishing up a few shots outside the stadium with my final thoughts on the game, and I’m discovering that it’s going to be hard to be partial when it comes to talking about the boy I love. But when that boy comes out the doors, I stop what I’m doing, run to him, and give him a big hug.
“You were amazing today, Chase! I’m so proud of you.”
Chase, I swear, blushes. “Thank you,” he says, giving me a delicious kiss.
He then sits quietly and watches as I do one final shot before we head home.
The condo gathering area is bursting with activity when Chase and I get there. We get hugs from everyone, and we love seeing the grandparents and our little sisters. And even though I was told that no one would get to see the condos before the game, it’s obvious that someone has been in here because the place is decked out in a hodgepodge of decor. There are red and white streamers, a llama piñata, and a Sweet Sixteen balloon bouquet. There are not one, not two, but three birthday cakes lined up on the big island. One is decorated in our team colors and has Jadyn’s name on it. It’s kind of cool she got to watch her son’s first time playing at her alma mater on her actual birthday. Easton turned two on the eighth of this month, and there’s a llama on her cake. Then, there’s a glitzy pink-and-gold one for Haley, who turns sixteen on Tuesday.
I go over and give her a hug. She’s in a full leg cast and leaning on a pair of crutches.
“Happy early birthday,” I tell her.
“Thank you. I’m bummed I won’t be getting my license, but since the accident, I’ve been a little uneasy even riding in a car. Mom and Dad offered to throw a big party, but I didn’t want one. Not right now.”
“Are you doing okay, Hay?”
“Sure. I’ve gotten used to the cast, and I’m practically an expert on crutches. And I’m getting closer to getting a smaller cast. Hopefully by the time we go to the Ozarks. And hopefully, I can talk them into a boot, so I could take it off just to, like, float in the water. And maybe I’ll get lucky and meet someone there.”
“You and Pace are over?”
She lets out a sigh. “He was kind of my first serious boyfriend, so that was hard. But they say stuff like what we went through either makes you closer or tears you apart. I’d say we were the latter. Although there really wasn’t tearing. It was more like silence.”
I give her a hug. “I’m sorry, Haley. That’s a lot to go through at once.”
“Yeah, but I’ll be okay. The main thing is that I’ll get this cast off. Rehab like crazy. And prove them all wrong.”
“Prove who wrong?”
“Just all the people who seem to think this setback is going to keep me from coming to Nebraska to play volleyball.” She glances over at Damon. “Your brother has seriously been my rock. I don’t know how I would have gotten through it all without him. He’s already got me secretly working out.”
“Haley! How? Why?”
“Because I have a killer serve. And when this is over, even if I’m not quite as quick as I once was, it’s the serve they’ll want. So, we’re focusing on upper body and arm strength. My shoulders were actually getting a little too big, so we backed off a bit, but when this cast is off, I’ll hit the ground running, so to speak. Well, maybe walking. Trotting possibly. We’ll see. But I know this. These condos are awesome, and I can’t wait to live here with you and Chase and Damon.”
“I know you got the basic tour, but have you seen the storage room and offices that are hidden away?”
“No! Are you talking about for One Eleven Sports?”
“I am.”
She grabs my arm. “You must show me now.”
I take her to the end of the hall, past the last set of doors to the condos, and to what appears to be a dead end. But on the wall is a little button. I point at it.
Her eyes get big when she sees a set of wings on it. She presses it, then claps when a panel door slides open.
“It’s still pretty utilitarian,” I tell her. “Your mom wanted us to be able to set it up the way we want it as the business grows. But there’s a freight elevator here, so when we get merchandise in, it can come straight up here. It also functions as a way to move furniture easily in and out, and it’ll allow your mom to bring in caterers for any events that might be held here, and that sort of thing.”
“Something we can grow into, for sure,” Haley says, grinning. “Can’t you just picture it? Designs on the walls. Stacks of merchandise. A table for brainstorming.”
“I can now that you just told me,” I say with a laugh. “You’re way more creative than I am, Haley.”
“And although I won’t admit defeat, it’s good to know that I have a backup career.”
“It sure is. Come on. Let’s get back out there and celebrate.”
