FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Ryan leaned against the cherry wood backing of his football locker just wearing his green football pants and cleats. He hadn’t gotten around to putting on his shoulder pads yet. He only got as far as stretching his jersey over the pads. Other players were in various stages of getting ready. Some were just putting on their pants, others were in full gear minus the helmet and very few were not even in their gear and were just sitting in their locker listening to music.
As Ryan stared off into nothingness, Vince poked his head into view with a giant grin on his face.
“What?” Ryan asked.
“Guess who is wearing my jersey?” he asked.
“I really don’t care,” Ryan said flatly.
“Jade Sparhawk,” Vince said. “She has it tucked into her pants right next to her pussy. I bet it’s rubbing right up against it.”
“So, does that mean you’re going to be smelling it when she gives it back to you?”
Vince’s smile faded almost instantly. “You could only get your sister to wear your jersey. How come your chink girlfriend isn’t wearing it?”
“She doesn’t come back from China until tomorrow. And so what if Riley is wearing my jersey?”
“Jade and Jace are twins and she would rather wear mine than her brother’s.”
“The cheerleaders don’t have their uniforms ready so they’re wearing our jerseys as replacements. She picked yours by chance out of the small pile of jerseys that were offered.”
“I swear yinz are incest,” Vince said.
“Just going to ignore my explanation I see,” Ryan said. He sighed loudly showing his annoyance. “Are you done?”
Vince stared at Ryan for a few more seconds before he surprisingly walked off. Ryan expected another insult or some kind of remark but he wasn’t going to complain. He was glad Vince decided to go elsewhere rather.
“Ryan is listening to Britney Spears,” Vince announced.
“Really?” Landry asked. “I understand she’s hot and all but I didn’t think you would actually listen to that shit. Are you using the Asian girl to cover up the fact you’re gay?”
Ryan felt his face turn hot. He glared at Landry while he continued his ridiculing banter. He didn’t really know any other guy that listened to Britney Spears. While he was open about liking her looks, he was less open about liking her music. What did it matter to anyone else that he liked music that mostly girls or effeminate guys listened to?
Landry suddenly stopped talking and scurried off to his locker. Ryan wondered what made him stop so suddenly. Coach Bailey walked into the room and Ryan had his answer.
Ryan stood on the sidelines as he watched the game unfold. The Thundercats had taken a fourteen to six lead at halftime but after the half, Canon-Mac had battled back to tie the game at fourteen. The Thundercat players were tired and it was obvious. They started the game with high intensity but now were sluggish in executing their plays. At first, it looked as though they would break the typical Liberty Falls routine of not being very good at the varsity level but as it looked now, it appeared that Liberty Falls would keep the losing season tradition alive.
It wasn’t a promising start to the ten-game season. It was late in the fourth quarter and Ryan still hadn’t gone in to play. That was another problem at Liberty Falls. Players with certain names got the ability to start and play more often than others that didn’t possess those names. This wasn’t the first time Ryan had been on the receiving end of the family discrimination and he knew it wouldn’t be the last. He practiced just as hard as everyone else on the team but some of us didn’t get playing time. He wasn’t expecting to be a starter but he figured he’d get the chance to play in each quarter to give the starters a chance to rest for a little bit. That could go a long way in trying to break the losing season tradition.
Canon-Mac had driven downfield and there were eight seconds left on the clock. They were lining up for a field goal to win the game.
“Tereshchenko!”
Ryan’s attention snapped to Coach Adams who was motioning him to come to him. He hurried over to him wondering what the coach could possibly want. He put his arm around Ryan as he approached. “Get out there and replace Landry. You’re better at blocking field goals.”
“Yes, sir.” Ryan sprinted onto the field, his excitement fueling my speed. The other players looked a bit surprised to see him as he approached the defensive huddle. “Landry, you’re out.”
“What?” he asked looking offended.
“Coach Adams told me to replace you for this.”
“That’s fucked up,” he said. He ran off. For Landry, it was one thing to get pulled out but it was another to be replaced by someone to whom he felt superior.
They all lined up to block this field goal. Ryan stood on the right side with a clear sight of the kicker. He tightened his gloves and readied himself to take off once that ball was snapped.
The ball was ripped from its spot and suddenly it was the Battle of the Somme on the French battlefront of World War I. Ryan sprang free from his blocker and headed for the ball. He was certain he could get there. In fact, he knew he could get there. One more step and he would be in range to block the kick if he jumped. He extended his arms and readied himself to jump.
You’re mine!
Suddenly, Ryan was blasted from his feet. He slammed into the ground; the wind knocked out of him. He heard the crowd from both sides react accordingly and in unison. He gasped frantically to regain his breath. His eyes were wide and his body hurt all over as. He could see the stars in the sky past the thin layer of fog that hovered above the field. This was a vicious hit not only to Ryan’s physical being but to his ego and pride. Cheering erupted from the opposing team’s stands.
