Page 113 of A Game as Old as Time

No matter how much she had hated it, no matter how much she did not understand the sport, she could see it---the way he moved down the line, talking to each player, watching them smile and nod back. The cloud that had been lingering over him the last few years was gone, replaced by a happiness that she had feared she would never see in him again.

You deserve this, Daddy.

“Ms. Summers!” Gunner’s mom shouted.

Hailey turned to see her teacher hustling down the concrete steps.

“Thank you, thank you for saving me a seat! Traffic is incredible out there, and I cannot believe how packed it is!”

It sure is full.

Hailey took in the impressive visual of the stadium. Both sides were full, and banners and streamers hung from the metal railings that ran along the front of each side. As she scanned their section, she could see faces from all over town. Julez and the rest of her castmates were packed alongside other students in the bleachers.

“Jesus, Hails!” Her sister squeezed her arm and pointed to the other side of the stadium. The opposing fans erupted as the other team entered. “Is that…is that the other team?”

Those are not high school boys.

Hailey held her breath as the black and gold uniforms began to dance onto the field. She gripped her sister’s hand tighter and watched the herculean players make their way onto the sideline.

“Those boys are very big.” Ms. Summers said, squinting across the field. An uncomfortable silence fell over their side of the stadium.

“Hailey!” Gunner’s mom grabbed her shoulders. “They made Gunner a captain again!”

Gunner’s mom swelled with pride as she waved to his sister and pointed at her son. Peyton gave them both a thumbs-up, her pom poms swaying by her side in the bitterly cold air.

While Hailey had no idea what that comment meant, she quickly locked arms with the woman by her side. Her warmth was welcomed on the chilly December night. She took a deep breath, the same sense of pride building in her stomach as she watched Gunner walk out onto the field surrounded by his friends.

Taylor, Cortez, Weston, Carter, Green.

She read the backs of the uniforms of the five boys with whom she had become so close.

Oh my.

In an instant, the feeling of joy flipped to unease. The five stopped in the middle of the field and were greeted by the opposing group of players, all of whom towered over them.

“Those don’t even look like high school boys, Hails.” Her sister said what Hailey was thinking. “Those are men.”

Stay safe, boys.

She squeezed both her arms tighter, trying to fight off the anxiety creeping into her stomach.

Stay safe, Gunner.

The referee blew his whistle. The five captains turned and sprinted back to the sideline as the crowd erupted in cheers.

“Well, folks, if you thought the papers were lying about the size of this Allegheny Prep team, then you are in for a surprise. I did not think it was possible, but they seem even more massive in person.

The Pioneers will have the ball to start the game, and Gunner Weston comes to the line of scrimmage. He sets behind Emilio Cortez and calls out the cadence. Weston takes the snap and tosses the ball to Tyquan Carter, who tries to go around the right side. WOW! What a hit by the All-American safety Riley Davis! He hit Carter and knocked him back almost two yards.

OK, it will be second down for the Pioneers as Weston lines up five yards behind Cortez in the shotgun. He takes the snap and is going to hand it to Carter again. Oh no! Carter is immediately tackled in the backfield by Ricardo Sampson and Benjamin Bishop! They were in the backfield as soon as Carter got the ball!

Third down now, and Weston takes the snap. Weston is going to pass and roll to the right side. He is under pressure from Bishop! He gets the pass off but is hit hard! Andy Green makes the catch…NO! Green was hit by Riley Davis when he caught the ball, and he dropped it. It will be fourth down, and the Pioneers will have to punt.”

Get up.

Hailey jumped to her feet, her hands over her mouth.

Please get up, Gunner.

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