Defeating the Odds

Chapter 2

As the day went on, students in her classes volunteered to take Maisie from class to class. During lunch the cheerleading squad invited her to sit with them.

"You are so pretty! What's your name?"

"I'm Maisie. I'm new to the school."

"I'm Claire. I'm the captain of the cheer squad. Sit down and eat with us."

Maisie sat down and ate her meal with the girls. "Have you thought about joining and activities?"

"Ya, a few."

"You should tots try out for the cheer squad."

"I'm not really cheerleader material. I would much rather play a contact sport."

"Oh, so you're into like soccer or basketball?"

"Haha, no more like football."

The girls stared at her in amazement. "Are you really thinking about going out for football?"

"Yah I am" Maisie replied with a straight face."

"Haha, there is no way you will be allowed to play. Coach would never let a girl step foot on that field. And the boys won't be very happy having a girl intervene on their game. They make it to the state championship game every year and always come in second. This year they plan to surpass that and take the first place trophy."

"We'll just see what happens."

After school that day, Julia, the housekeeper, picked her up from school. "Your father is at home. He is exited to talk to you about your first day."

Maisie walked into her house and sat down in a chair in her dad's office. "So how was your first day?"

"It was great. I think I have already made new friends. But..."

"No buts."

"No it's a good but. Anyways, I want to try out for the football team. I know that it's not normal and it will be challenging and all the blah blah blah, but you know how much I love football."

"You need to start training if you think you are going to play with those guys."

"That's what I need you for. I was thinking maybe you would let me go to evening practices with you at the college?"

"No goofing around Maisie! You practice just as hard as my men and don't let your school work get affected!"

Maisie jumped up and gave her dad a huge hug. She was the happiest she had ever been since her mother died.

She started to leave the room. "I'm leaving for practice in five minutes. Be ready!"

Maisie sprinted up the stairs and threw on some work out clothes. She snatched her cleats out of the garage and they were on their way to the college.

"Listen up guys! This is my daughter Maisie. She is going to try out for her high school football team. You all know its rare and she needs to be very prepared and skilled. She will be working out and practicing with all of you. She is to not be treated any different then your teammates! You hear me!?"

"Yes coach!" the team yelled back in unison.

"Okay then! Line up on the goal line!"

The team including Maisie began to do sprints and agilities. Maisie tried her hardest to keep up with the guys. After a three hour practice of all conditioning the men headed back to the locker room to shower. Maisie went in the girls locker room.

"Come back to my office when you're done showering."

Maisie showered real fast and threw her hair back up into a ponytail. She knocked on her dad's office door and entered. "Tomorrow is a full pad practice. Come with me and I'll give you a practice set."

Maisie packed up her gear and they headed home. She laid her head on her pillow exhausted from her workout. Her dad passed her room on his way to bed, also. "Don't forget, the team lifts weights at 6 a.m. Be ready and you can ride in with me."

Maisie took in a deep breath and exhaled. She thought to herself, this will all be worth it. And with that final thought in her mind she drifted off into a deep sleep.