AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, Coach. I understand. Thank you for the chance.”
I headed out, really thinking about what he had said. I had been lucky so far to not have any serious injuries, and I was still with the same team who took a chance on me, the local team I grew up watching and revering. I knew that at some point, though, they would have enough of my antics. And the worst part was, I would have no one to blame but myself. So, I’d better do whatever they asked of me, and stop being such a fuck up.Chapter 2Becca“Mom! C’mon! Let’s go outside. Please?”
Mark woke me up before seven on Saturday morning. I would have liked to sleep in just a little bit longer on a weekend, but there were several inches of fresh snow that had fallen overnight, and he was excited to get outside. I helped Mark bundle up before we headed out, but he was getting so big and independent that he didn't really need much assistance these days.
This morning, I only had to help him with his coat zipper and with sliding his feet into his boots. All his teammates on Pee Wee football made fun of him for being a momma’s boy, but, unlike Mark, then they all came from homes with a father figure if not an actual father.
We went out back, where the snow was still untouched. The tire swing hung, abandoned, from the Weeping Willow, in the back corner of the yard. Mark was getting too big for it these days and I always reminded myself to take it down but never seemed to have the energy.
I bent down and scooped up some snow in my gloved hands, squeezing it into a perfect ball. This was ideal snow for building a snowman. And for a snowball fight.
“Hey!”
Mark had had the same idea, and he was hitting me first with his little snowball, his creation landing on the side of my left arm as I turned and used my right one to throw mine at him. It landed on his chest. He laughed as he bent down to grab some more snow.
We were outside for almost an hour playing, and we’d even begun work on a snowman. I went inside to start some hot cocoa, and to find some goodies for the snowman’s face, while Mark remained outside. I watched him through the kitchen window as I stood over the stove, stirring the homemade cocoa.
He was growing up so fast. I loved every moment of it, even when it felt hard to be a single mom.
The phone rang, waking me from my daydreaming. The caller ID told me it was Angela, the closest thing I had to a best friend these days. We did everything together with our sons.
“Hey there,” I said, as soon as I answered.
“Hey, girl. Whatcha up to today? Enjoying this snow?”
“Of course. It’s not even 9 AM and we've already almost finished a snowman. I came in to make some cocoa. Speaking of which, I'm going to put you on speaker, if that's okay? I need my hands free to stir.”
“Of course.”
“There’s no one here who can overhear us but the cat. Mark is still in the backyard.”
Mark's father and my ex, James, had died overseas two years ago. Since then, other than our furry friend, it had just been Mark and me in the house, with frequent visits by Donna, James' mom.
“I wanted to tell you there’s an event tomorrow at the community center for the military families,” Angela explained. “There are going to be at least a few local athletes. A couple of Leviathan players and a Scorpion have already committed.”
“I don't know, Ang. I'm not anybody's charity case.”
“Hey there. I'm going and neither am I, and really, I'm not sure how you can even say that, after what James’ service to our country cost you and Mark. Don’t think of it as a handout. Consider it an added benefit of our families' sacrifices for our country. These kinds of things that thank us and appreciate us don’t come often enough. I won't lose sleep over accepting additional Christmas presents for my David.”
“Give me the day to think about it.” I sighed.
“Just know that I've been to this type of event before, where they bring in the local sport stars, and they're always loads of fun, with no expense spared to make it a blast for the kids. They usually have a stage with music and dance performances. The players give autographs. I've even seen the same lady a couple of times making the most amazing balloon animals. Honestly, kids willingly and patiently stood in line for her because her creations were that good.”
Mark had come in, hearing the last part of Angela's sales pitch.
“There will be a Santa, of course, and lots of goodies for the kids. The whole thing is completely free. They are also going to return on Christmas Eve to visit families with more presents for the kids and with lots of food for the Christmas dinners.”
