Chapter 23

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{September 2026}

It was Adam's first high school football game. And Carrie couldn't believe it. It seemed like she was watching her husband play all over again. Adam looked so much like Harrison down on the field.

With Adam now a freshman in high school, that meant he would be able to get his learners permit in December when he turned 15. Carrie and Harrison were both a little nervous about that. Adam on the road. It was him that they worried about, it was the other idiots out there. His inexperience and someone doing something stupid made them hesitant for when the time came. But he was going to have to learn to drive sometime.

Along with Adam growing up, the rest of the kids had grown a lot as well. Emma now 12, had taken in interest in softball and basketball. But it looked as softball was her preferred sport. Billie now 9, was taking an interest in softball as well. After seeing Emma playing, she wanted in on the action. Ben was 5 and he just started kindergarten, giving Harrison and Carrie the house to themselves during the week now.

During these past few years, Carrie's father got remarried. To who, she didn't know or care, but he'd showed up on her doorstep one night asking to see his grandkids. After consulting with her mom and Harrison, they allowed him to see the kids for a few minutes.

But the whole ordeal was flat out weird. He came from wherever he was living now, out of the blue, wanting to see them. Now he was only allowed to visit a few times a year with his new wife that Carrie hadn't even bothered to learn her name.

She watched Adam line up on the line of scrimmage near the sidelines. As a freshman, he was the number one receiver. Adam said before the game that he'd probably be scouted by college teams already which made Carrie an even prouder mom.

The offense set up for the first snap of his high school career. By the way the running back was also on the line next to Adam, she knew it was a pass play. The ball was snapped and Adam looked like he was on a straight route, but cutback and ran a slant instead.

He was the hot receiver on the play, for the ball was thrown to him and the defense wasn't ready for him to cutback. It was a bad throw, but he made the best of it by catching the ball against his back with his left hand. The defense, not expecting him to catch that pass, reacted late. Adam gained 20 yards on the play before a defender came near him.

All his practice with Harrison in the backyard over the years paid off at that exact moment. The safety cut him off, cornering him against the sidelines. Adam stopped suddenly as the safety's momentum took him a little past Adam. It looked like slow motion to Carrie, having seen him do this so many times, as he spun around the safety and ran for another 10 yards before being brought down.

Beside her, Harrison whistled. "Wow."

"That was pretty smooth dad."

He looked back at Billie who had just said that. "That was dirty."

She laughed. Thinking back to the play, the safety didn't even get a hand on Adam as he spun out of his reach.

From where they sat up in the bleachers, Carrie couldn't mistake her son's smile after that play as he joined his teammates in the huddle. Their offense was no on the other team's 45 yard line, about halfway to field goal range. When the huddle lasted longer than normal, she and Harrison knew something was up.

Adam jogged back to the line of scrimmage as the huddle broke up. Instead of standing on the right side of the line as he normally did, he was on the left. Their running back was in the backfield on the right side of the quarterback. The ball was snapped and the quarterback handed it off to the running back who broke through the line.

All eyes turned to the running back who didn't in fact, have the ball. Adam ran behind the quarterback, taking the handoff and shooting up the sidelines. The play that fooled a football player and his wife, fooled the defense for sure. They looked around in confusion as the running back didn't have the ball. But who did?

Adam pivoted on his right foot and took off along the sidelines. He let his speed take over. After realizing who had the ball, the defensive players were in no position to catch up to him. Looking over his shoulder at the 10 yard line, Adam slowed down as he neared the end zone.

For the first touchdown of his high school career, Adam made it memorable. He took two long strides and flipped over the goal line for a touchdown. Carrie, Harrison, Debbie, Emma, Billie, and little Ben all stood up and cheered with everyone else. They all laughed when Adam broke out his father's touchdown dance once again.

After his celebratory dance, Adam jogged the ball to the ref before joining his teammates on the sidelines. All the guys gave him high fives as he made his way to the bench for a drink.

Leaning against Harrison, she told him, "he really looks so much like you."

His soft chuckle was enough to make her smile. "He really he does."

•••

After the game, the family waited for Adam. According to Harrison, he picked up about 270 yards receiving which was a hell of a lot for a high school game. Once Adam came out, everyone demanded to see the ball he was holding.

"Is this it?" Harrison asked, catching the ball. He flipped it a few times in his hands.

"Yeah dad it is. And I can tell because it has the marks by the Wilson logo."

More than one ball was normally used in a game. Based on what Adam said, it was the actually one he caught for his first touchdown."

"You did really good Adam."

"Thanks mom."

"I want to see a lot of that this season."

He smiled. "You will."

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