Page 24 of Saving the Halfback

I had come down here before when there were at least five of us with cots out. It was more common in the colder months. Pastor Perry didn’t like to see the homeless cold, on the streets. “Thank you, sir.”

“Ethan, if it is all right with you, my wife and I will be keeping you in our prayers tonight.”

I nodded. It was the one thing I agreed to. I never really had anyone thinking about me, and over the last couple of years, I’d begun to wonder if I truly ever existed. At least if they prayed about me at night, then surely, that meant I existed. Right? It was stupid, but it was all I had.

Last year, Perry and his wife had worked hard to help me get emancipated, but the incident with my father ruined that. In the process, though, they helped me get the job at the shop and said I was welcome here anytime I needed it. I would’ve just moved in, but if I went missing for too long, Art would come looking for me, and I couldn’t draw them into his line of fire. He had put the boot to me hard when he found out about the emancipation. If it wasn’t for the monthly government checks he received for having a minor in his home, I was sure he would have kicked me out long ago.

“Have a good rest.” Perry put his hand on my shoulder briefly before walking out of the room.

I got to work plugging in my phone and setting the alarm. I was somewhat used to this, so I always took advantage of the school showers when I could. I pulled my toiletries from my own black bag and used the washroom across the hall.

As I lay on the cot, it creaked loudly under my weight. I rolled over, taking my wallet out from the jeans I had dropped on the floor next to me and retrieved a small, wallet-size picture. With the other hand, I reached up and held on to the silver cross hanging from my neck, a gift Perry had given me last Christmas.

I stared at the picture. It had been a while since I’d pulled it out of my wallet, but the last couple days of seeing Bailey… Of watching her smile. Of seeing her hanging around Lachlan, and even that damnhotshotNolan. I found myself staring at the photo more. The scene within the picture seemed so long ago. A different life, even.

Chase’s words echoed in my mind—what happened to us?

10

Bailey

Wednesday Evening

When I got home from school that afternoon, Mom was sitting out on the porch with a tea in hand. “Hey, Boo,” she said as I walked up to the porch and flopped into the chair next to her. “How was practice?”

“Exhausting, my legs ache,” I complained. However, practice had been just what I needed to calm my nerves. All day, I couldn’t get Ed’s eyes out of my mind, feeling like I was being watched no matter where I went. I was grateful to have Lachlan and Nolan around; their banter had been the perfect distraction. There were quiet moments, though, in the halls. The creaking of a locker door would have me holding my breath, the slamming of doors would have me jumping.

Mom smiled. “Well, Dad did your chores for you.” She sipped from her mug.

I raised an eyebrow. “Why? I still have time.”

As if he heard us talking about him, Dad came around the corner. “You need gear, so I thought we could head into town and get what you need for football.” He didn’t give me time to respond as he added, “Let’s go.”

I didn’t get up from my chair right away. “I was planning to go to the store tomorrow after school. I’m not sure the local stores will have much for me. I mainly just need cleats…and a mouthpiece. The school provides the rest.” I wasn’t able to practice tackles today because I didn’t have a mouthpiece.

Mom was still smiling as she watched our interaction, obviously enjoying this.

Dad pointed his finger at me. “The last time you were on a team was tykes. After that, you refused to join any more sports.”

Mom laughed. “You better get in that truck, Boo.” Then she leaned toward me and whispered, “I think this is more for him than you. Let him have this.”

“Fine,” I grumbled as I pulled myself out of my chair and to the truck. “But you owe me dinner! I’m starving.”

Dad laughed as he jumped into the driver's seat. “You’re a teenager. I’d be stupid not to feed you.”

Dad made an evening of it, taking me down to Tom’s Burger Joint. We both got double bacon cheddar burgers with mushrooms—my favorite. The cheese on the burger was melted and practically seeped out with each bite. There was some sort of secret spice in it, too, which made it delicious. The fries, thick cut with chipotle mayo to dip them in, were just as good. We washed it all down with carbonated sugary goodness before we left and headed toward the first of three sporting goods stores in town. It was a large chain store, so if anyone had cleats in my size, it would be them.

The store was newly built, spacious, and easily laid out, with overhead signs indicating different sports. We made our way to the football section. “Are the school’s colors still black and silver?” Dad asked.

“Yes. I doubt anything has changed since you went there.” Dad used to be the team quarterback when he went to my high school. He even went on to play college ball, though once hegraduated, he went back to the farm. It was where he met Mom, though. Perhaps that’s where his enthusiasm toward me playing came from.

I began looking at the neatly organized racks, interspersed with mirrors, so I could see what I was trying on.

“Did you have girls on your team?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I don’t think girls even thought about football during my time. It wasn’t lady-like.”

“I helped you become lady-like,” Ed said in a singsong voice. I peeked over a rack and saw him staring right back at me. I just couldn’t get rid of him. “Of course, you never were lady-like. You were lucky you had me to teach you.” I shuddered as I thought about his lessons.

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