Page 59 of The One I Left Behind

He walks toward his bedroom.

“Hey, Clay?”

He turns around.

“Who are you going out with tonight? Drew?”

“And others.” He smirks.

I smile at him. “Who?”

“Well, I’m taking your advice. I asked Kait if she wanted to go, and her parents will only let her go in a group, so we’re all going.”

I smile that he took a chance and it paid off for him. “Well, be careful.”

“You too. I heard you making plans. Don’t go making me a big brother.” His entire body shakes, and he walks out of the laundry room.

I love that kid’s resilience.

Chapter Nineteen

Ben

I haven’t been this nervous since my first day with the Kingsmen. Walking out to the high school football field with all the boys in their shorts and shirts, sitting down and waiting to hear what I have to say is messing with my nerves. If I’m honest with myself, it’s more the fact that Clayton is among the boys.

Gillian told me she told him about us, but she’s giving him time to process. I’m not a parent, so I’m happy to support whatever she feels is right for this situation.

Willowbrook High has two teams, which is more than most small towns. Freshmen mostly play junior varsity, and everyone else plays varsity. The only reason is that the freshmen aren’t usually big enough to play varsity. Willowbrook would be better off making it all varsity, but I understand the concern. I’ll be coaching varsity but filling in for Coach Marks means I oversee the entire program.

Standing in front of the group, I can see the divide. Junior varsity players sit on one side and varsity players on the other. I always hated this mentality when I was a Wildcat.

“First line of business,” I say. “Junior varsity stand.”

All the junior varsity players stand.

“Varsity stand.”

They do the same.

“Shoulder to shoulder, each group line up on either side of the fifty-yard line.”

They all do as asked, which doesn’t surprise me. Coach Marks runs a tight program. Some of the players I went to college with had to be beaten into shape by the coaches for lack of trying, lack of respect, and just not knowing when to shut their damn mouths.

“I’m going to come down the line. Varsity, you will count one, two as I go down the line. Understood?”

“Yes, Coach,” they all say.

I start with the end closest to me and go down the line, separating them into groups of two. They’re all clearly confused. This isn’t something Coach Marks has ever done, but I’m hoping it will help the overall comradery of the team.

“Okay, each group of two has a junior varsity player in front of them, right?”

“Yes, Coach,” they say in unison.

“Step forward, junior varsity members, to be with the twosome in front of you.”

Even the assistant coaches look confused, questioning what I’m doing at this point.

“Junior varsity, these are your new football mentors. They’ve been through the program and know how it works. Varsity players, you will befriend your junior varsity player. You will share your knowledge and help them in any way you can. All varsity players will go to the junior varsity games and support the team, and vice versa. Have I made my expectations clear?”

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