Turning down Main Street, I spot my mom and dad walking arm in arm laughing at something. I’m tempted to roll down my window and demand to know why they stood me up, but I don’t want to let them off the hook just yet. I want them to get home and feel terrible for blowing me off. Then I want them to wonder where I am. I know this is juvenile, but that’s apparently where I’m at.
I park in front of Rosemary’s before heading inside. It’s still early, so I toy with the idea of texting Noah to see if he still wants to meet for supper tonight. But I could use an early night. I’m not adjusting to being alone in an apartment as quickly as I would like. As such, my sleep hasn’t been very deep.
At the bottom of the stairs, I notice several packages have been delivered. I had wondered how deliveries would work since there’s an outside lock. I assume Faith must have put them there.
It takes me several trips up to my apartment before all the boxes are moved. Once inside, I begin opening them. Even though I can guess what’s inside of them, I still feel like a kid on Christmas morning. When I open them, I discover seven lamps. Each cuter than the next.
While I don’t need seven lamps, I’m going to keep them all. My favorites are a set of two oil-bronzed bedside table lamps that are shaped like monkeys. One has its hand over its mouth the other has its hands covering its ears. They represent my favorite saying, “Hear no evil, speak no evil.” Or in other words, don’t listen to gossip and don’t be a gossip. Which is a good rule for everyone to live by.
While putting my new purchases together, I flip on Netflix in search of something good to watch. Scanning the offerings, I decide October is the perfect month to rewatchGilmore Girls. After all, Elk Lake is a lot like Stars Hollow in its small town, more-charm-than-can-be-believed-in-real-life setting. Also, my best friend is named Lorelai and she’s dating a guy named Luke. How perfect is that?
Once I’m done assembling the lamps, I turn them on and appreciate their respective glows. There’s so much light emanating from them that there’s no way I’ll miss something lurking in the shadows now.
My new life’s motto apparently is, if there are no shadows, nothing can surprise you. Now, if only that were true.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
NOAH
Ten guys showed up for practice this morning, which is enough to have a proper scrimmage. I see definite improvement in my team and for the first time since coming back to Elk Lake, I’m excited for the start of the basketball season.
My phone rings as soon as the first bell rings, so while my class dresses down, I walk into my office and shut the door. “Hello?”
“Noah, it’s Tom.” My mind blanks for a beat, so he clarifies, “Tom Hanks.” Not the actor, rather the father of one of the best basketball players I’ve ever coached.
“Mr. Gump,” I say, greeting him by his nickname. “What’s up?”
“I haven’t heard from you since you moved to Wisconsin. I wanted to check on you and see how you’re doing.”
While I believe him, I also know that Tom is something of an information specialist. As such, he might have been sent on a mission by my old administration to find out how I’m doing. It’s my hope they’re already missing me and wondering what theirchances are that I might come back. While this is a farfetched theory, especially so early in the new school year, I’m a dreamer.
“I’m doing great, Tom. Thanks for checking in.”
“How’s your new team?” he wants to know. “I understand they aren’t very highly ranked.”
While his comment is derogatory, it’s also truthful, so I avoid responding to it. Instead, I tell him, “They’re a great group of guys.”
“Ah, well, good.” After a breath, he adds, “A bunch of us parents were wondering why you’d ever take a job at such a small school.”
Kicking my feet up onto my desk, I lean back in my chair. “Who better to benefit from my coaching skills?”
“Listen, Noah, while I’m glad you’re happy, that’s not why I called. Some of us are worried that basketball practice hasn’t started here yet.”
Typically, high school tryouts don’t take place until November. As such, most teams aren’t even thinking of practicing yet. But that’s not how I run things. I start basketball practice at the same time fall sports begin. That means if you’re on the football teamandbasketball team, you have to decide which sport is going to get your all. While some boys still play both, others choose to specialize in one in hopes of getting an offer from a division one university.
“Not everyone starts basketball as early as I do,” I remind Tom.
“Yeah, but starting early is one of the big reasons we’ve done so well. Some of us are getting nervous the new coach doesn’t have the same work ethic you do.”
“Not to be rude, Tom, but that’s not exactly my problem. Had the administration not brought in a new coach, I assure you the Banks Bulldogs would be hard at work and well on their way to winning state.” I’m not just blowing smoke, either. We could have gotten there this year.
“Not all of us were onboard with the decision to replace you, Noah. I hope you know that.”
“While that’s nice to hear, the result is still the same. By bringing in a new head coach, the message was sent that my skills were not appreciated.”
“You could have stayed. Your salary was going to stay the same and think of the prestige working under a retired NBA player.”
“For me, the prestige came from taking my guys to the top, not working under some retired pro.Ibrought the Bulldogs up, Tom.”
