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“No, no, it’s cool,” he says quickly, cutting me off. “Thanks.”
I shake my head. “Don’t thank me yet. I still need to talk to Cass about it.”
Later in the afternoon,once classes are done for the day, I head over to the main campus and search out Cass in their office.
“Let me guess…” Cass says as I stroll in and slump onto the sofa. “Samuel Kenning-Chan.”
“What? I can’t just stop by to say hi?” I ask innocently.
They roll their eyes and return their attention to the screen on their desktop. “When do you ever stop by my officejust to say hi?”
This is true. Despite working at the same school, Cass and I don’t usually see each other all that often on school days. I actually don’t spend all that much time on the main campus considering my office is in the athletic center. And Cass doesn’t really like coming out there considering it’s…well, kind of smelly. So we generally just hang out on weekends.
“I don’t know, but I should do it more often ‘cause this couch iscomfy.”
“Uh huh.” Finally tearing their gaze from the computer, Cass turns their attention to me, lifting one hand to adjust the thick frames of their glasses. “So what’s up then?”
“Okay, fine. KC came to see me.” I admit.
Cass tosses their head back with a groan. “So predictable.”
“Before you start, you should know I read him the whole riot act and I’m definitely not here to ask for any special treatment.”
“Good. So what’s the issue then?”
I detail the conversation I had earlier today with KC and float the possibility of extra credit.
Cass narrows their eyes at me. “I thought youweren’tasking for special treatment?”
“Come on, Cass. I’m not asking for anything you wouldn’t offer any other student. Give him a chance to prove how seriously he’s taking this.”
Cass just shakes their head in exasperation, as though he can’t possibly fathom the notion of my star player taking his history class seriously. Finally, he lets out a resigned sigh. “Fine. But I get to say I told you so when his grade doesn’t improve.”
I shrug. “Be my guest. But I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” It looks like I’ll be spending a big chunk of the next few months hounding KC about his History grade; just all part of the joy of coaching…
“Doyou think maybe we’re relying too much on KC?” my assistant coach, Garrett Nott, suggests the next day when we meet in my office to go over this week’s training format.
“He’s the best player on the team. Of course we’re relying heavily on him.” I let out a heavy sigh and lift a hand to adjust the cap I’m wearing. “Look, I don’t think we’re going to have to worry—he knows what he needs to do to get his grade back up. He’s a good kid, he’ll follow through. And in the meantime, we’ll just have to give Mackey and Giles as much scrimmage time as possible,” I add, referencing the two boys we recruited this year as backup fly-halfs. Both are only freshmen and are obviously very green; all going well, I’ll be able to use them as reserves for the next two seasons and then once they hit junior year KC will have graduated and one or both of them will be ready to take over.
My phone buzzes in my pocket then, distracting me from something Garrett’s saying.
“Sorry, just a sec.”
I check the screen and see the notification is from my family’s WhatsApp thread.
Aidan Kelly:Just letting everyone know Ellie and I are coming out publicly this week. We’re doing an interview on Thursday so it’ll all be out in the open after that
Aileen Kelly reply to Aidan Kelly:You and Ellie are together? That’s wonderful! *Heart emoji*
Aidan Kelly reply to Aileen Kelly:No Mom, we are NOT together! We’re coming out—as in out of the CLOSET! We’re not dating—I’m dating BEN!!
Aileen Kelly reply to Aidan Kelly:Alright, alright, no need to shout!
Brendan Kelly:Would you look at this woman? She tells US off about shouting *eye roll emoji*
Aileen Kelly reply to Brendan Kelly:Don’t get smart with me Brendan!
Alannah Martin-Kelly reply to Aidan Kelly:I think it’s great you guys are coming out and telling your side of the story!
