We Got A Long Way To Go [ALAN BOSLEY] [REMEMBER THE TITANS] (SLOW UPDATES)

Chapter 2: Joining the Team

[Ernie, pronounced Er-knee.]

"We gonna play some ball, y'all!"

I chuckled as I watched a boy go through his teammates, all while holding his hands up for high fives. Mitch and I had arrived at the gym after many others had, I got a few weird looks because I was a girl but not many dwelled on it.

"Black inside, black inside, black inside." The boy continued, grunting as more people slapped his hands including my brother and I. The boy grinned at me, waggling his eyebrows. I grinned back but shook my head. A voice called out and the boy turned to see another boy with darker skin calling to him.

"Yo, Petey, how many yards you figure you gonna get this season, bro?" He asked.

"You know, I ain't one to brag, Big Blue, but I figure on at least a thousand." Petey replied, "but I ain't one to brag." He added after we all started laughing and making sounds of disbelief.

"Didn't I tell you all them white boys weren't gonna play for no brother?" Another boy asked. I nodded as there were no white people in the gym.

"Well, who needs 'em, baby? From now on the Titans gonna be powered by soul power, bro." Big Blue stated joyfully. I laughed along with Mitch and everyone else.

"He said soul power." Blue sang, causing grins and chuckles from everyone. Mitch and I clapped for him as the boy next to him grabbed his face and put him in a head lock, jokingly telling him to shut up. Suddenly a shrill whistle rang out. We all quieted as two black men walked into the gym. I think the one with the whistle is Coach Boone.

He made his way towards Petey who had his hand up with a goofy grin on his face, expecting a high five.

"Put your hand down." Coach Boone ordered. Petey slowly did so but continued to grin happily.

"You're smiling." Coach Boone stated.

"Yes." Petey nodded, said smile not faltering.

"Yes, sir." Coach corrected.

"Yes, sir." Petey repeated.

"Why are you smiling?" Coach questioned.

" 'Cause I love football. Football's fun?" Petey answered, the end of his statement sounding more like a question as he raised his eyebrows.

"Fun, sir." Coach said.

"Fun, sir." Petey nodded.

"It's fun?" Coach interrogated.

"Yes." Petey confirmed.

"You sure?"

"I think--" Petey began.

"Now you're thinkin'. First you smile, then you thinkin'. You think football is still fun?" Coach interrupted.

"Uh, yes." Petey said, his smile gone.

"Sir." Coach corrected again.

"Sir. Yes-- no, sir." Petey stammered.

"No?" Coach questioned.

"It was fun." Petey said.

"Not anymore, though, is it?" Coach asked. I mentally shook my head, no it wasn't.

"No, not right now." Petey tried.

"No. It's not fun even more. Not even a little bit."

"Uh... No."

"Make up your mind. Think since you're thinking. Go on, think. Is it fun?" Coach asked again.

"No, sir." Petey confirmed.

"No?"

"No, sir."

"Absolutely not?"

"Zero fun, sir." Petey said. Mitch and I glanced at each other.

"Who pissed in his breakfast?" I whispered to Mitch. He grinned a bit but quickly regained composure.

"Alright, listen up. I'm Coach Boone. I'm gonna tell you all about how much 'fun' you're gonna have this season. We leave for camp, Gettysburg College, August 15th, 7:29 A.M. If you report at 7:30, you will not be playing football this season, you will be watching. You will wear a jacket, shirt, and tie. If you don't have one, buy one. Can't afford one, borrow one from your old man. If you don't have an old man, then find a drunk, trade him for his. 'Cause I can guarantee you there isn't a bum on the street that looks as raggedy and ridiculous as what I'm looking at right now." Coach called. I looked down at myself. What's wrong with what I'm wearing? My mom forced me to wear a red polo shirt with a black skirt that went to my knees with black flats. My hair was down to my mid back in soft and voluminous waves. I looked back at the coach.

"This is no democracy. It is a dictatorship. I am the law. If you survive camp, you will be on the team. If you survive. Check 'em in, Coach."

"Checkin' 'em in." The other Coach parroted.

"I'm Coach Hinds, your offensive line coach, yell out your name and position starting from the right." Coach Hinds instructed.

"Petey Jones, running back. The running back, y'all." Petey called cockily. We all started laughing and jeering as he nodded.

"Get outta here!" One guy jokingly called.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jerry Harris, quarterback." A boy interjected. Mitch nudged me excitedly when he realized he was next. I grinned, but was nervous because after him, I was next. Everyone cheered for Jerry, calling him Rev and saying Hallelujah.

"Rev?" Coach Hinds asked.

"It's just a nickname." He assured. Coach Hinds nodded and turned to Mitch, not seeming to notice me.

"Mitchell Wallace. Defense." My brother proudly stated. I grinned and bumped him. Coach Hinds looked to me before doing a double take, he was about to say something but I quickly cut him off.

"I know what you're gonna say, but I've been playing football my whole life. I'm good at it, and I've played on a high school team before."

"It's true, sir. She even beat me." My brother added, and Coach Hinds looked to Coach Boone.

"Yeah, but you're not very good." I joked. Mitch gasped and shoved me.

"Like you're any better." Mitch retorted. I scoffed and flipped my hair, purposefully hitting him in the face with it.

"Please, I'm amazing." I huffed, causing chuckles from everyone else. Coach Boone gave a nod after studying me and Coach Hinds shrugged before turning back to me.

"Name and position?" He questioned. I blinked, I thought there'd be more of a fight.

"Erm, Earnest Wallace. Defense. Linebacker. Oh, you can just put Ernie." I stated nervously, but Coach Hinds simply nodded after I gave him a substitute name for me since Ernie was considered a boys name, and it would probably cause less trouble if people thought I was a boy.

All of the sudden a door opened and there was the sound of someone jogging. A very large boy, with fair skin and blonde hair ran in and came to a stop beside me. I looked up at him as everyone watched him like he was some kind of animal.

"And who in the name of heaven might you be?" Coach Hinds asked. The boy took a breath as he was gasping for it before speaking.

"Louie Lastik, offensive lineman. Naval family, just moved here from Bayonne. Someone said football, so I come runnin'. What's going on everybody?" Louie asked. Everyone was silent. But suddenly the doors to the gym opened. The old Coach, I think, walked in along with the white boys who were on the team before.

"Ah, shit." Mitch mumbled from beside me. I watched as they all walked into the gym and came to a stop across from us, I studied each of them before meeting one boy's eyes. I recognized him, he was one of the boys who tried to get to the store when the riot broke out. He was the only one who wasn't in gym clothes that day, he had worn an outfit much like the one he was wearing now. He had golden blonde hair, and pretty blue eyes, his skin was a golden tan from being in the sun, I guess. He met my eyes and gave me quite a shock. He smiled.

What the flip?