AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Forty-Nine
Diego
I hadn’t toldCoach Ripley what happened after homecoming, and I was dreading each second, every step to the football field.
I skipped the locker room and walked down the well-worn path between the school and the field. Some girls walked around me, chirping, “Hey, Diego.” “Sorry about your arm.” “I want to sign your cast sometime” as they went.
I managed to send a smile their way, but inside, I was being ripped apart. Step by step.
All too soon, I reached the field. Without thinking, I glanced to the spot in the stands where April always sat. She’d looked so cute during the homecoming game, my number drawn on her cheek with a face paint pen, holding up a glitter sign just for me. Sadie had sat beside her, her turquoise hair just as bright as the stadium lights.
I thought back to the homecoming game. Had I enjoyed it enough? Would I have played differently if I’d known it would be my last game?
Coach Ripley and assistant coach Bryon stood by the water coolers. Ripley stood like he always did. Arms folded across his chest, feet just slightly farther than shoulder width distance apart, chin pulled back, and a serious look on his face as he spoke with Bryon.
“Coach,” I said, my voice steady despite how weak I felt inside.
Both men turned my way. While Ripley’s jaw clenched, Bryon’s lips parted.
“What the hell happened?” Ripley said, no tact.
He was going to make me say it.
I held out my cast. “My wrist is broken. I’m out for six weeks.”
Ripley’s jaw clenched some more. “That’s the rest of the season.”
“Yessir.”
Bryon looked between Ripley and me.
Without even meeting my eyes, Ripley said, “You’ll still come to games and practices, pass out water and towels with the manager.”
It was another punch to the gut. A demotion for something I couldn’t control. And the only thing worse than being injured and unable to play? Sitting on the sidelines and watching everyone else do what I could not.
When I didn’t move, Ripley said, “Is there an issue, son?”
I was about to shake my head, but I had nothing left to lose. “I can’t.”
“Your other arm is okay, right?” he said.
I put my hand over my chest. “But I’m not.”
Bryon twisted his lips to the side. Just the hint of humanity I needed.
“I just found out I’m out for my last year of football. My girlfriend broke up with me. I don’t know what I’m doing next, and I’m feeling... lost.” My voice broke on the last word.
Ripley and Bryon exchanged a glance, then Ripley nodded. Bryon walked away and Coach came toward me, putting his arm around my shoulders. He walked with me, toward the corner of the field, quiet for a few steps. “You take a few days to grieve, and then you come back here to practice.”
I stared at him. Did he really not hear a word I just said?
He cleared his throat. “Football only lasts four years, if we’re lucky. Each year, we get a new crop of freshmen, ready to make their mark. And we say goodbye to seniors. Some are easier to say goodbye to than others. I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to you yet, Diego.”
I met his eyes, full of emotion for the first time.
My tongue felt thick as I nodded. “Yessir.”
Fifty
