This Winter

Chapter 6

Present

Jefferson High brings back painful memories of the past. I had experienced a fair amount of ups and downs throughout those four years before everything in my world came crashing down before graduation.

I drive my car around back to the parking lot where I see luscious green turf with white lines painted on it. The football field. 

In high school I was a 'jock'. I tried-out for football one year with Noah and didn't expect myself to like it so much. It was some sorta passion back then for me and one of the only good things about high school.

I can still see myself on that field. I can see my mom cheering in the stands and wearing a blue Jefferson shirt with the number '44' on the back. She was so damn proud of me. 

I was 'smaller' than the average football player, but fast and quickly became strong for my size, so I played safety for the defensive line. I didn't know much about football, but quickly learned as I realized how much fucking fun it was to chase down a guy and tackle him to the grown without getting in trouble. Football was kind of my way to get all my aggression out and I definitely needed it.

While I'm sitting in my car, dwelling on the past I'm a little caught off-guard when I see a silver Toyota truck driving into the parking lot and parking right next to me. I look out my window, trying to see who the driver is and whether or not I am about to get kicked out of the parking lot.

Suddenly a man emerges from the driver's side, but all I can make out through tinted windows is grey hair. The man walks around the front of the truck and stands in front of my car. Grey hair, short stocky build, and a Jefferson Football long-sleeve shirt.  It's my old football coach.

He stands there for a moment, trying to understand why he recognizes me before breaking out into a huge grin. I unbuckle from my seat, open the car-door and instantly feel the crisp air. "Coach?" I question, shutting the door in disbelief. 

"Calaway!" he yells, voice slightly hoarse for his age and arms wide-open as he waits for a hug. He pulls me into a bro-hug and I'm shocked that coach is actually hugging me. He was such a tough-guy back then and I could never imagine him as a hugger, but here he is. "What brings you back here? Hey, want to play again?" he chuckles at his own joke and it brings me back. Coach was always full of himself, laughing at his own jokes. 

"I came back because of well.. Kurtis," I cough a little, slightly awkward. I didn't come back for Kurtis, but I don't want to exactly tell him I could give two shits about his death and really came back for Noah, but I refrain.

Coach looks a bit taken back, feigns a little remorse and says, "Yeah, I read about it in the paper. It's sad, so sudden." He comes off a bit sarcastic and I think he notices himself because he adds a dramatic sigh at the end and fakes a frown for dramatic effect.

Sudden? "Hey, coach, do you know how he died?" He looks slightly confused as to why I am asking. If I really came back for Kurtis, shouldn't I know how he died?

"Uh.. yeah. Um, it was a heart attack," he's still has a confused look on his face and I feel like he's trying to read me. He already sees through my lies. 

I cough awkwardly before attempting to change the subject, "Hey, what are you doing here?"

He nods to the feel, "Checking out how the constructions going. There supposed to build a new concession building before spring." I see the construction through the fencing around the field. It's torn half-way down, wood and wires littered around the bare building. "The teams going to shit," he mutters. "I need another player like you, always so focused and eager." We share a glance before he scratches his head and says bye before climbing back into his truck and driving off.