Take My Hand

Chapter 8

'Charity'

I made a promise that I most definitely intend to keep. The moment I was released from the hospital I went into intense planning mode.

The best way for Jeston to accept his condition is for him to maintain a level of normalcy. Meaning still being able to do what one enjoys doing.

And that for me if was photography, for Jeston it's football.

"Thanks for allowing me to borrow the outside premises Mr. Frezno." I said, rolling the football around between my hands.

This took awhile for me to organize this, because in all honesty I didn't know diddly squat about football. I watched one game three years ago with my dad. And I was just dumbfounded.
Like why are they shoving each other.

Anyways for Jestons sake I studied up on it and my dad helpfully explained alot and said he would love to help out. The rehabilitation center has a football program. But it's mostly just playing around in a safe environment.

I know Jeston takes the game alot more seriously. Before I lost my sight, I would eat lunch with Dani on the bleachers. And everyday I would see Jeston practicing. His mom mentioned to me how eventually he wanted to get into UCLA and play college football.

For that to be possible he would to put in alot of work. And would need the help of a professional, so I reached out to a coach that deals with visually impaired athletes. I talked with him a long time over the phone, and he used a lot of terminology that I didn't understand at all. But mainly what I got from the conversation is that it is not only is it possible but he can play actual games if he works hard enough.

I took a deep breath as I heard his moms car pull up. I can recognize the sound of there jeep even from very far away.

"Charity? " I heard someone nearby call for me. I turned to the direction of the noise as in heard the footsteps on the grass getting closer.

"Yes that's me, are you Coach Delton?" I asked. He sounded like the man I talked to on the phone but I just wanted to clarify.

"Yes that's me. It's nice to meet you in person."

"Nice to meet you too. Thanks for coming all the way out here. " I says gratefully, as he drove a long way to get here from California.

"It's my pleasure once you explained the situation I knew it would be worth the trip. I'm even considering going to your school and talking to the coach personally. It's not right for them to kick him off the team. " Coach Delton confirmed what I already knew.

Jeston shouldn't have been kicked off the team just because he can't see anymore. And especially not as harshly as the coach treated him.

"I totally agree. Plus I think if you were to talk to either the coach or the schoolboard there's no way they can refuse." I've heard alot about Coach Delton, he's really famous. My dad nearly did a back flip when he found out I was meeting with him.

Coach Delton laughed at that. And I heard two people walking towards us.

"Hi Charity it's Jenny." Mrs. Wilder greeted.

"Hi Jenny, hi Jeston. Thanks for coming." I said acknowledging their presence.

"Of course, Jeston was so excited he practically forced me out of the door this morning." Mrs. Wilder laughed as Jeston muttered "mom" in a threatening tone.

I smiled at his apparent enthusiasam. This boy and football.

"Nice to meet you Jeston I'm Coach Delton."

"Wait... Are you THE Coach Delton? The same Coach that won NFL two times in a row? " Jeston asked with absolute awe.

What in the world is NFL? Yeah I really need to start brushing up on my football lingo.