Page 21 of A Game as Old as Time

“OK, then let’s open these sons of guns up. Let’s go Gun Left 384 X Slant. Watch the safety, and make sure he isn’t cheating, OK?”

Gunner’s glare remained straight ahead, the orange helmets now a blur as they moved back into position.

“Gunner!”

His head shot back, and he nodded.

“Got it, Coach,” he said, sprinting out onto the field.

My time.

The huddle was silent as Gunner approached and repeated the play.

“On two, on two, ready!” The break was less enthusiastic this time.

“G, you OK?” Ty leaned over to him as they set into position, but Gunner’s eyes were already scanning the defense.

Your moment.

“OK, we’ve got first and ten for the Pioneers as they try to recover from what has been a terrible start to this game. Weston, back inshotgun again, takes the snap. He sets quickly and throws, and it is…”

The safety!

Gunner never saw him. He broke on the ball so fast that his receiver never had a chance to prevent the interception.

You have got to be kidding me!

The opposing player was already speeding down the sideline, his arms waving as he pranced into the endzone.

What am I doing!?

Gunner tried to move, but his feet were glued to the ground as the orange helmets started celebrating and jumping around him.

“G?” Andy grabbed him by the arm. “G, that safety was reading that shit, man.” Gunner’s headache was intensifying. “G?” Andy grabbed his shoulder pads and steered him toward the sidelines.

“My bad…” Gunner could only mumble. His pupils were darting around uncontrollably as his vision blurred.

“You, OK?” Gunner could hear the alarm in his friend’s voice.

No.

He strained and squinted up to his mom, who was now standing. Her face was splashed with concern as she clapped her hands together and tried to beam a smile in his direction.

I am not OK.

He twisted and peered out onto the field. The other sideline was cheering madly, the orange helmets taunting him with each celebratory bounce.

**********

“Well, Pioneer fans, not the start we wanted in the first game of the year. A tough 28-14 loss to Neversink will push South Mountain to 0-1. A terrible start was too much to overcome, and while our boys played better in the second half, one must wonder what was going on in Gunner Weston’s head. He struggled early, and it continued through most of the game. While Tyquan Carter continued to show why he is the best running back in the state, the question must be asked: Is it too much for Weston to come back and play after such a horrific loss?”

Chapter 5

“Wow.” Gunner tiptoed around the outside of the door. The voice that had drawn him in continued to echo in the empty auditorium.

Amazing.

When he had first entered, he had done so to think. He needed a quiet place to process everything that had happened over the last few days. The auditorium after musical tryouts had seemed like the perfect place, but just like every other recent decision he had made, it appeared he was wrong.

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