Page 1 of Fumbling in the Dark

Chapter one

Shane

Ring…Ring…

My gaze goes to my phone lying in my hand. I feel it buzz, but I can’t seem to move. When the ringing sound hits my ears, it should make me dosomething,but everything seems so far away. The entire room goes silent as the sound of my phone continues to echo through the room, but I can’t seem to answer it. The air in my lungs seizes and I can’t seem to take a full breath. This could be it.

My vision tunnels as I look around the room, knowing my whole family is here to celebrate me. It feels uncomfortable. I squirm, trying to shake the feeling from my skin. I know they all love me and tell me that this is a great honor, but it doesn’t feel right. Maybe because the only person who isn’t here is the one person who has supported me for the past two years, my girlfriend Shelby.

Ring…Ring…

“Honey, are you going to answer that?” My mom softly whispers to me, breaking me out of my panic. I look down at my hand.Oh yeah, my phone.

“Hello,” I answer, hoping to keep the shakiness out of my voice.

“Shane Mitchell?” the man on the phone asks.

“This is he.”

“This is Berkely Ryan from the Las Vegas Vipers. We hope you will come and play for us here in Vegas. Do you think you could do that?” he asks me.

I nod my head, then remember that the man can’t see me. “Yes, sir. It would be an honor,” I tell him as my hands tremble.

“Congratulations, Shane. We will be in touch with the details and are excited to have you on the team.”

“Thank you, sir,” I reply as I hang up.

I just stand there in shock, not sure how to tell my family that I’ll be moving to Las Vegas. “Well, what did they say?” my oldest brother, Taylor, asks me.

“Ugh…” I stutter at first, then it hits me all at once. I look back up to find my brother still looking at me, waiting, when I mutter, “I’m going to be playing for the Las Vegas Vipers.”

My brother and I stared at each other, both shocked by the words that just came out of my mouth. Before either of us can say anything else, a voice is welcoming the Commissioner of the National Football League out onto the stage where they’re announcing the draft picks.

Every member of my family is standing in the middle of the living room, hypnotized by the television as we watch everything all play out. The commissioner makes his way to the podium and leans forward. “The fourth pick goes to the Las Vegas Vipers and they’ve chosen tight end Shane Mitchell.”

The room bursts into celebratory shouts, and I can feel the camera pan over me and my family. My mother places her handon my back, pulling my attention to her. She has tears in her eyes as she wraps her arms around my neck and whispers, “I’m so proud of you, honey.”

After a moment she pulls back and it gives me a chance to look around the room, I can see the smiles on everyone’s face and for the first time I’m able to shake the shock off. A smile spreads across my face when I allow the excitement to wash over me.

“I’m going to be on the Vegas Vipers,” I shout, punching my arm into the air.

“Yeah, you are,” my brother Cliff shouts.

The rest of my family takes turns giving me hugs and encouraging words. The last one to come up to me is Taylor’s wife, Mya. She places her hand on my elbow, saying, “We are all so proud of you.”

“Thanks Mya,” I say as my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I’m the worst at taking compliments.

My heart drops a bit when I remember that the one person I want here isn’t and won’t be coming. She said she was busy and couldn’t make it, but didn’t really explain. Just went on about a family emergency. Hopefully, everyone is okay.

Needing to hear her voice to settle my nerves, I pulled my phone out and dialed her number. It rings out for what feels like forever when finally, her voicemail picks up. “This is Shelby. Leave a message and I might get back to you.”Beep.

“Hey Shelbs, I have amazing news. Call me back. Love you,” I tell her. Hanging up my phone, I put it back in my pocket and turn back toward my family.

Two hours later, the camera crew has left and I’m in the kitchen helping my mother clean up.

“What an exciting day! I can’t believe you’re moving to Vegas. It’s so far away,” she says as she hands me another dish to dry.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll visit often,” I say, wiping the water off with a towel.

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