Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him, it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at lea...
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I leave our walk-through feeling good. I've spent the last week watching Penn's film. I've memorized their plays and player's weak spots. All while fine tuning our own team's to the point that I could run every route in my sleep. And I haven't slept much because of it. It doesn't matter though. I finally feel like I'm back. I feel more like myself than I have in a while. Moving my knee has felt so good that even Dr. Kramer said he can't believe the bounce back. He admitted that at the start of the season he wasn't confident in my recovery or that I would play at all this season.
I head home to pack up my things to take to the hotel with me. The team stays together at the one on campus, right across from the stadium, the night before every home game. Just like only active players get to travel, this will be my first time getting to stay with the team in the hotel this season instead of being forced to go home after dinner.
When you're not dressing out for the games you might as well not be on the team. You're only invited to the most necessary rituals and excluded from all others. Coach blames the university and football program for not wanting to fund things like hotel rooms or travel expenses for players who aren't actually playing. I guess it makes sense. If they approved everyone their budget would need to double from the amount of players who sit on the injured or red shirt list every game.
Regardless, I'm back and it feels so good. I might go stand on the roof of the hotel and yell it before going to bed tonight just to let everyone else hear it in my voice. Even then, I don't think anyone would feel a fraction of the excitement inside of me.
Just as I'm about to walk out the door, my mom calls me. She cries again when I tell her what I'm doing. Just like she cried when I told her that I would finally see the field tomorrow. My heart broke at the realization that she won't be here to see it, but she promises me that they've already got the DVR set to record the game. They can watch it in real time, but also play it back with me the next time I'm home. Part of me just assumed that once I got to this point in the season, and she got to this point in her treatment, she would be able to travel. I don't even ask though, I can't. I need her to focus on getting better. Soon she'll be at all of my games again.
We continue to talk, catching up on other things like her treatments and how she's feeling. Even though the phone screen, her body language doesn't match her insistence that she's great. She also doesn't let me ask any follow up questions before she dives into Nora's season, and my midterms. My midterm grades, to my surprise, didn't suck. I shush my mom as she teases me about my good luck charm, whom she thinks is Camryn.
"Good things started happening when you met her," she says. My comeback has always been the same each time she turns to the list of good things she's compiled. Just because I've gotten a few good grades and had a successful rehab doesn't constitute a good luck charm. My mom doesn't push it further, just changes the subject which I guess I should be thankful for.
We hang up just as I reach my destination. I tell my mom I love her, before gripping the cold metal handle and pushing through the door. A doorbell sounds from somewhere in the room. I'm quickly greeted by an overjoyed group of women ranging from their twenties to middle aged. The owner, Carol, quickly rushes over to shake my hand. "Taylor Reed!"she cries. "What do we owe this pleasure today! Shouldn't you be getting ready for the bonfire?"
