All rights reserved.
Chapter 6 |
Both of them must think this is providing me with a good example. Carolyn is as subtle but clear about what she's expecting after graduation (marriage) as is my old man (law school). He's in for a shock. No law school for me if the NFL doesn't work out, I'm leaning toward a different future. Nice good guys vs. bad guys job, one set of black-and-white rules. Can't find that in a law firm. Carolyn might stand a chance, as real-men-who-are-not-freaks get married; that seems pretty black-and-white. Except that Sandburg has shown me shades of grey. Two games are scheduled during winter break, so our frat house stays open to house and feed players. We win the quarter-finals two days before Christmas and are headed to the semi-finals New Year's Eve afternoon. In a football town like Cascade, we can do no wrong. Newspaper reporters follow us around like we're celebrities. Every day there is a picture of at least one noble Rainer Panther taking time out from practice to give back to the community. December 29th is our day at the homeless shelter. Mostly we stand around posing with the workers and even some of the residents while reporters snap our pictures and scribble down our insights about the upcoming game. Occasionally, we'd take a turn at serving up mashed potatoes and meatloaf. 'Ellison!' Banks is doing a masterful job at the dessert table. 'Did you see that Sandburg's here?' I drop the ladle into the creamed peas. 'What? Are you sure?' 'Yeah, Johnston saw him a while ago in the kitchen. Maybe he's doing community service for being a general freaky geek.' At the first opportunity, I slip into the huge, steamy kitchen. Sandburg is there, long hair tied back, doing something with bread dough. 'Sandburg! Why are you here?' He startles, wipes his dusty hands on his apron and gives me a wary look. 'Jim? I could ask you the same thing.' I sputter. 'I'm here because I have to be.' 'Me, too,' he replies and turns back to the counter. 'Come on, Ellison,' someone yells, 'coach wants a group photo.' 'Wait,' I say to Sandburg, 'why aren't you home for Christmas?' A little bitterness tinges his voice. 'A, I am Jewish, therefore do not feel the need to go home for Christmas, and B, my mom is not in the country right now. So I am here. Satisfied? Hey, I'm even freakier than you thought. Happy now?' 'Sandburg, I'm sorry.' I surprise us both by reaching out to grasp his shoulder. 'Really, if I had known….' If I had known, what? I would have taken him home and subjected him to the Ellison hospitality again? Sandburg faces me and, as always, I feel myself sink into his blue gaze. 'It's OK, Jim, really. It's not the first time. I'm fine. I'm warm, well-fed, and people here like me. No worries. Go on, they're waiting. And good luck at the game.' 'Ellison, now!' I squeeze his shoulder and wish for the millionth time that I could articulate as well I could throw a football. ~*~ I can throw well and do. We win by a lop-sided score and the town goes crazy. For once I feel good, in control. Coach is happy we remain undefeated, my old man is happy recruiters were at the game, and I hope if there's a TV in the shelter, that Sandburg is happy. If not for him, none of this would have been possible for me. A TV reporter's interviewing my dad, who is gesturing with his cigar and swilling champagne with the coach. 'I always knew my Jimmy could do it,' he crows, though he never looks at me. I turn away in disgust. Yeah, Dad, amazing what a freak can do. It was two hours before I get out of the locker room. By the time I get to the frat, the party is in full swing, courtesy of kegs sent over by alumni. There are too many people here and the third time I'm drenched in beer, I decide I've had enough of the noise, the smoke, the music and the alcohol. I head upstairs to my room to clean up, then remember I left my shower stuff in the basement locker room. I dodge bodies like I'm back on the field till I reach stairs. Odd that the lights are on and the shower's running. I hear Johnston's laughter; maybe he's got his date down here. I grab my stuff from the locker. Then I hear Keane's voice. Curious, I head toward the showers. In an instant, my senses go completely haywire. I can't hear anything above the roar in my ears, my heart's pounding so hard my skin's going numb from the vibration, and my eyes won't let in enough light to believe what I'm seeing. The world recedes, come up too close, recedes again. Sandburg.
|
All text © Paddy 2004 - The end of time
|Contact Me|
|Guestbook|
|
|