It Emptied Us Read online

  “I should have made it in. I let you guys down,” Andy said shakily.

  His teammates helped him climb onto the bus and found him a seat and knew the game would have been a blowout if not for Andy Jones.

  Meanwhile, the West Junior High Squad of seventh and eighth graders hosted Billerica. It was the second half when West’s eighth grade starting quarterback, Daniel Russell, took the ball around his left end. The Billerica defense swarmed on top of Daniel. His body crumpled under the weight of the Billerica players and his ankle twisted awkwardly. The Billerica players celebrated while Daniel writhed on the ground. The trainer and the head coach raced onto the field. They checked his ankle and tried to get him to stand up, but it was clear that Daniel was done for the game. Two of the West players helped Daniel to the sideline. He could put no weight on his ankle and let out a curse when his leg grazed the ground.

  “Tim. You’re in,” the coach called over to Tim.

  He quickly buttoned his chin strap and raced onto the field. Daniel reached out a hand and Tim gave it a quick fist bump. He jogged to the huddle and called a play.

  “Ok, slant pass, right. Ready, break!” The huddle broke off. Tim set up under center and called out the signals. “Popcorn 52, Popcorn, 52, ready, Go!” The ball was snapped and Tim kept his hands firmly against the center’s backside. This time, on Tim’s first play, the football did not come loose. He pulled the ball up to chest level and sprinted in an arc toward the sideline. His running back, Bill Bradner, angled toward the sideline seven yards down field, while the split end, Jeff Tony, ran a deep route. A defensive back raced toward Tim and leveled him with a wicked tackle, but not before Tim made the pass. Bill caught the ball and turned up field and raced down the sideline. Jeff Tony threw a great block and Bill sped past into the end zone. He held the ball high above his head and the entire West sideline erupted.

  Tim did not see Bill score, but he did hear the crowd scream. He pulled himself up and saw cheerleaders dance and he shook some mud from his facemask and joined his teammates in the end zone. The West Beaumont eleven set up their huddle for the two-point conversion. Tim took the snap, faked to his fullback, Lou Zarro, and pitched the ball to Steve Staber, one of the team’s best players. Tim was buried by a Billerica player and never saw Steve waltz into the end zone. Bill Bradner reached down to help Tim back to his feet.

  “You’re missing a great game lying face down on the ground.”

  “Thanks, Bill,” Tim managed to say. He wiped another clump of mud from his facemask.

  Tim made a touchdown saving tackle later in the game. He also picked off a deep pass and eluded three Billerica players on his way to a touchdown. Steve and Bill scored twice more and Lou Zarro roamed the field on defense like a madman.

  Throughout the game, Coach Joe watched from the far sideline. When it ended, he walked to his car and started it up and drove away with one last look to the field where his son’s team celebrated.

  By the time they were freshmen, Tim and Andy were the best players in the league. They called each other often during the season. They ribbed each other about the long-anticipated game between East and West. West was 9-0 and East was 8-1. Tim’s team already clinched the Valley freshman league title, but if East won, they would share the crown with West. That was very much East’s intention, especially Andy Jones.

  Alex and Zeke Jones played on Coach Joe’s varsity. Their team was undefeated and headed to a state semi-final game in a few weeks, but the most important thing was the big game between both freshman teams just one day away. Side bets were made by the varsity players over who would win the East/West classic. There was still an intense rivalry between the East and West alumni. It was all in good fun. The varsity players had great memories of playing in the classic. For each classic, the whole town showed up. Part of the reason was Coach Joe. East and West had their own battered fields. By the end of the season, both fields were more dirt or mud than grass. So years ago, Coach Joe decided to move the game from one of the junior high fields to Memorial Field, home of the Beaumont Warrior varsity.

  It was the dream for young boys in town to play in the game. When they were freshman, Zeke and Alex Jones led their East team to a come from behind victory over West. Both scored touchdowns late in the game to seal the win and hold bragging rights through their senior year.

  The week of the classic, Tim and Andy did not talk to each other. They were best friends, and that might be forever, but not that week. The game was too important. Their friendship would have to wait.

  Chapter 8

  A Change at the Top

  On Monday before the big game, Coach Lippman called the team together before practice.

  “Gentlemen, I have someone I’d like you to meet. This is Bobby Wilson. His family just moved here from California. He has a twin sister Donna who will be on the soccer team. Bobby played ball in California. He’s going to join the team this week. Please welcome him as part of West Junior High.”

  Tim sized Bobby up. Bobby was already over six feet and his long, blond hair hung down to his shoulders. Everyone on the team could see that Bobby was an athlete. His arms were already built. He had long, powerful legs and brilliant blue eyes to go along with his shimmering blond hair. Tim caught himself in a stare. He shook it off and walked up to Bobby’s locker.

  “Hey. I’m Tim. Welcome to the team. You timed it just right. This is the week we play East.”

  “Yeah, well, this isn’t Californian football. But, sure. I’ll play.” Tim sensed the edge to Bobby’s voice. The whole team did. But the kid looked like he could play.

  “I’m a middle linebacker. I play fullback on offense. But middle linebacker’s my thing.” His blue eyes pierced Tim. “Yeah, I don’t have to play fullback. Won’t have time to learn the offense. Just put me on defense and get out of my way.”

  Tim was quiet for a moment.

  “Like I said, I’m glad you’re here.”

  Tim extended a hand. Bobby took it and put his full strength into the grip. It caught Tim off guard.

  “Bring your best football to practice, Bobby.”

  “I’ll bring it. Don’t worry about that. See you on the field.” Coach Lippman set up a locker for Bobby. He took his shirt off and the whole team noticed that, not only was Bobby built, he was jacked. He had ripped abs, bulging shoulders, and a man’s chest. Tim swallowed hard and walked away and suited up and wondered what the hell just happened to his team.

  Coach Lippman decided the team needed some extra tackling drills to get ready for East.

  “You better stick Andy Jones and wrap him up. He never goes down on the first hit. We gang tackle, we win. You try solo tackles and Andy Jones will eat us up. He’s one of the best backs this town has ever produced. It’s going to take all of us working as a team to win this game.”

  “Who’s this Andy Jones?”

  Bobby grabbed Tim’s shoulder and spun him around just before the tacking drill began. Tim stepped back and looked at Bobby.

  “He’s the best player for East. I’ve known him forever. He’s my best friend, but not this week. We stop Andy, we win, just like Coach says.”

  “We’ll see about this Andy Jones.”

  And with that, Bobby lined up in the tackling drill opposite Jeff Tony. Coach Lippman called everyone to attention.

  “Ok, gentlemen, this is a drill. Tacklers, let up as you are about to make contact. Wide base, eyes up, wrap your arms, drive your legs. Bobby? Jeff? Ready?” Coach Lippman placed the whistle between his lips.

  “Ready, coach,” Jeff shouted.

  Bobby said nothing. He set himself in a perfect linebacker stance, shoulders squared toward Jeff, hands on his knees. Coach Lippman blew his whistle and Jeff and Bobby raced towards each other. Jeff held the football firmly under his left armpit. Bobby covered the distance in surprising speed and drove his shoulder pads into Jeff’s chest. Bobby drove his legs and wrapped his bulging arms around Jeff’s lower back and lifted him a full foot off the ground
. Bobby kept driving and lowered his center of gravity and pummeled Jeff into the turf. The air in Jeff’s lungs burst out with a yelp as Bobby rolled off. He gathered himself and leaped up and ran back to the drill and cut off the next guy in line.

  “What the hell?” Jeff cried, desperately trying to get air back into his lungs. “It’s a freaking drill. You heard what coach said.”

  “Get up and let’s do it again. I can do this all day.”

  Bobby turned his head from player to player.

  “Anyone else?”

  His eyes settled on Tim.

  “What about you? Want to give me a try?”

  Tim met Bobby’s eyes with a glare of his own. He wasn’t about to back out of a challenge, especially from a guy who just leveled his buddy.

  “Ok, Wilson, let’s go.” Tim took the ball from Jeff who by now regained his breath. “I’m ready. Blow the whistle, coach.

  “Gentlemen, it’s just a drill. Please remember that.”

  He raised the whistle to his lips. The piercing sound was magnified by the silence from the rest of the team.

  Tim and Bobby hurtled toward each other. Time slowed, like a lightning bolt moments before the air splits. The collision was a thunder crash. Bobby drove his shoulder pads into Tim’s chest. Tim’s knees drove furiously into Bobby’s gut. The girls’ and boys’ soccer teams heard the collision and they all stopped to watch. Teachers looked on from their cars in the parking lot and kids on buses starred out windows and grounds crew workers stopped cutting grass. Coach Lippman wedged between the combatants and shoved them apart, but not before Bobby threw a haymaker punch. His fist somehow found the space between Tim’s face mask. It landed full on Tim’s nose. Tim twisted and knocked Bobby’s fist away. A streak of blood dripped down Bobby’s knuckles. He bellowed at Tim.

  “That’s California football. Every play’s a war. Get used to it!”

  “Now you see what Beaumont football’s all about. Don’t ever try to take out a teammate of mine again. Ever!”

  Tim tried to get at Bobby but Jeff held him back. He tried to calm everyone down.

  “It’s cool. No harm done. Take it easy, Tim. California here was just showing us his game. Right, California?”

  Jeff eased off his bear hug. Tim’s breathing began to relax. Blood from his nose trickled to his mouth. He tasted it and spat.

  “Save it for the game, if you get in against East. Just save it.”

  Tim backed off and let the football drop and it rolled toward Bobby. Bobby kicked it soccer style and it sailed off toward the girls’ soccer field where his sister stood and watched.

  “Oh, I am playing against East. Count on it. They better be ready for me.”

  Spit from Bobby’s mouth shot out as he paced back and forth. The remainder of the West team gave him space. They didn’t want to mess with this wild animal.

  “You mean they better be ready for us,” Tim countered.

  Coach Lippman held up two hands in a stop sign.

  “That’s enough from both of you. Bobby, I decide who plays and who sits. You’re new here, so now you understand. We win as a team, lose as a team. East/West is the biggest game of the season. You have to earn the honor of playing in this game.”

  Coach Lippman stood face to face with Bobby.

  “Coach, I think I just earned some playing time.”

  He met Coach Lippmann’s stare.

  “We’ll see, Bobby. Now, everyone, let’s work on our plays for East. Let’s go!”

  Coach Lippman shouted and the team ran to the middle of the field. Bobby jogged behind. The knuckles on his left fist bled from the punch he threw at Tim.

  Chapter 9

  Fire and Ice

  During English class, Tim took his normal seat, 2nd row by the window. His favorite teacher, Mr. Kennedy, worked with the class on Symbolism. Tim touched his black and blue nose and remembered Bobby’s sucker punch and thought he understood Mr. Kennedy’s lesson perfectly.

  Tim took notes until he heard the door open. He glanced up, and for a moment, Tim thought Bobby had joined the class. But this was a girl. She walked in and Tim caught himself staring at her blond hair. Then Tim remembered Coach Lippmann mentioned that Bobby had a twin sister who played on the soccer team. This had to be her, so completely did she resemble Bobby. Minus the scowl.

  “We have an addition to our English family. This is Donna Wilson. She moved in earlier this week, but only joins us today as she was helping her family get settled. Such is the character of the young woman we have before us, my dear students.”

  Mr. Kennedy made a flourish and Donna entered. Tim watched her move to an open seat at the other end of the class. She sat gracefully and didn’t seem to have the nervousness of a new student or at least someone not used to moving. Mr. Kennedy handed her a copy of A Song of Ice and Fire.

  “My dear, would you please consider the following passage? Let’s put you directly in the fire, so to speak. What do you make of this?”

  “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”

  “Well, my lady. What say you?”

  Donna read the passage to herself. Her eyes bore into the novel. The class waited. Perhaps this new student was not up to the task.

  “I think. Well, I think we don’t get to choose too often. Not our town, or our school, or our friends, or even our brothers. Not even our parents. And when we do get to choose, we either love them, or we don’t. It’s all of it or it’s none of it.”

  The class was breathless. Mr. Kennedy looked at Donna for quite a while.

  “Well, I suppose we shall let you stay, my lady. Thou has a lyrical heart, it would seem. Now, can anyone else match our new scholar in wit and understanding?”

  No one moved. They were still too stunned by Donna’s response, Tim not the least. And this was Bobby’s twin?

  When class ended, Tim moved toward the door to the hallway lockers. Donna stayed for a moment to speak with Mr. Kennedy about assignments she needed to complete. She turned as Tim was leaving.

  “So you’re Tim. My brother told me about you. Said you were a bit of a dink.”

  She caught Tim completely off guard. First, why did Bobby bother to tell his sister about him and how did Donna know she was talking to the same Tim? She smirked at him.

  “He said he belted someone in the nose. I figured it was you.”

  “Yeah, well, it was a sucker punch. Maybe if I saw it coming.”

  “Take it easy, Beaumont boy. I’m just giving you a hard time. It’s not the first sucker punch my brother has thrown, especially in football. He has a bit of an anger issue.” She held Tim’s eyes. He found that he could not look away.

  “He’s just trying to make his mark.” Tim tried to smile.

  “You didn’t just actually use a pun about my brother? Maybe you’re not as stupid as he made you out to be.”

  To this, Tim had no answer. She moved past him into the hallway and Tim watched her walk away and he knew the hallway belonged to her now. She swayed as she walked and held her books just so and disappeared around a corner. Tim tried to catch his breath.

  Chapter 10

  The Classic

  The crowd swelled to capacity as the East/West classic was about to begin. East came out in their white helmets, white visitor game shirts, and gold pants. West wore blue from head to toe. The only thing that both teams wore that was the same was a gold stripe, front to back, down the middle of their helmets.

  To everyone in the stands, this would be a test of the will of two teams, led by their captains, Andy Jones for East and Coach Joe’s son, Tim for West. Both players did not disappoint. Early in the game, Tim broke off a 70-yard touchdown run and then kicked his own extra point. Andy caught a pass and broke through two West defenders, including Tim, for a 30-yard score. Later, Tim picked off a pass intended for Andy and raced untouched for a 50-yard pick six. Andy stuffed Tim on a crucial third and short, jarred the ball loose, and scooped the ball up to sco
re a 22-yard touchdown. Tim swayed on his knees and Andy celebrated. It was a bitter reminder of Tim and Andy’s first football game against each other. Just like back when they were nine, Coach Joe stood silently on the sideline. This time, he did not need to encourage his son to get up. Tim pulled himself off the ground and jogged off the field to the encouragement of his teammates.

  “We’ll get it back,” was all Tim said.

  His teammates clapped him on the back.

  Back and forth the battle raged. The West defense could not stop Andy Jones. Somehow, Andy turned certain losses into break away runs, mostly with Tim dragging Andy down from behind.

  On a crucial third and four from the West 33-yard line, after another long drive highlighted by Andy, Coach Lippmann sent in a new player to spell one of his linebackers. The new player wore number 66. Gold hair streamed out from underneath his blue helmet.

  “Number fifty, you’re out. I’m taking your middle linebacker spot.”

  His hands dangled at his side and he bore his steely eyes across the field at Andy Jones. Bobby was sick of everyone saying how good Andy was; how he had to be stopped if West was going to win. He was done listening to that.

  “They’ve got nothing!” Bobby yelled as the East quarterback was about to take the snap.

  “Let’s do this!” Tim yelled.

  The ball was snapped and once again, the East quarterback pivoted and tossed the ball to Andy. This was another toss sweep, this time toward Tim’s outside linebacker spot. He read the play and raced across the line of scrimmage. He barreled over an East player who tried to throw a block for Andy. Tim raced forward and immediately was eye to eye with his best friend. The collision sounded through the stadium as both warriors clashed. Tim had momentum as he plowed into Andy. He drove Andy back, expecting the referee to blow the whistle. And then Bobby collided with the two. He crashed through both Tim and Bobby and buried both of them into the sod. Coach Joe saw the crash. He didn’t know for sure who Bobby was really tackling. During the hit, Andy’s ankle bent over. He screamed in agony as Bobby jumped up and whooped with murderous glee. Tim rolled off his friend and knew immediately that Andy was hurt, and hurt badly. Tim took off his helmet and stood a few feet away as both the East and West coaches raced out to help. The varsity team doctor, there only to watch, rushed onto the field as well.