Good.
I was able to do that.
Except that I wasn’t. Not really. I could barely contain my disdain for my brother’s ex, and that was after years of pr
actice and a strained relationship. I wanted, hoped that things with Kiara could be more.
What was that saying about trying to force things? They’re not meant to be and disrupted your goals. I didn’t need that in my life, but I did need this job. I still had to upgrade about ninety-seven percent of the district and the busy work would do me good.
“Hey, Mr. Easton!”
I turned around thinking someone was calling my dad and that was weird. I would need some time getting used to that for sure especially in the classroom since I also taught a few intro to programming courses.
“Hi, James?” I said racking my brain for his name.
“That’s right. I remember you saying you used to play football here so I looked you up in the yearbooks our library keeps.”
I felt a little embarrassed from the hero worship. Clearly he had to have seen the regional championship photos.
“All true. Those were good years for our team.” I assumed this kids probably knew about Chase’s injury back then considering Coach Calloway was still here coaching the Varsity team.
“Our assistant coach didn’t come back after summer break.” James left the statement open ended and I wondered where he might be going with this.
“Yeah. And?”
“I was wondering if you might be interested. Coach Calloway is really tough on the Varsity team. Truth is that I think he might have scared off Coach Bower.”
“Ah. I see.” I knew exactly where this kid was going with this.
“Anyway, I thought maybe you might be interested. Maybe since you know Coach Calloway already, he might not be so scary.” James shrugged backing up. If this kid only knew. Coach Calloway’s tough love approach probably prepared me for the military better than boot camp. He was grumpy back then and I was sure knowing Chase that not much had changed.
“I hadn’t planned on coaching James, but let me walk you to the locker room and check in with Coach. He might have other plans.”
“Awesome!” I followed James down the hall to the locker room entrance.
Immediately, I heard yelling from inside and the rattle of equipment being tossed. I pushed James back behind me in case something more than footballs came flying out.
“Whoa, what’s going on?” This was less than awesome. I walked into a locker room filled with kids ranging from freshman to seniors all looking a little shell shocked. Coach Calloway’s face was mottled red and he started blowing his whistle at them waving his hands in the air.
“I’ll tell you what’s going on. These whelps need to get out there and start doing wind sprints up and down the field until they drop. Laziest bunch I’ve had in years.”
“That’s it, you’re suspended until further notice. You run off the assistant coach and now this Calloway! Get to my office now!” Dr. Payne stepped in obviously called down here by another student.
“Fine!” Coach Calloway stormed out ripping his whistle off from around his neck tossing it to the ground. Thirty or so faces watched and I stepped back to let him pass. I saw nothing had changed in the decade plus since I’d been here except for the administration’s tolerance.
“I recall you played football in your interview, is that correct?” Dr. Payne looked at me as he picked up the whistle.
Before I could explain James piped in. “He did, Dr. Payne. I checked the yearbook and he was here the year they won Regionals back to back.”
I looked over to my helper and his classmates half in practice gear. “Thanks James, it’s true.” I didn’t elaborate further.
Payne tossed and caught the whistle seemingly thinking for a moment. “Can you take over? Temporarily until get this worked out? There’s a generous athletic stipend for the position.”
The boys looked at me with hope and a mixture of relief. I couldn’t say I was cut out for this but I also didn’t want them let down with whatever was about to happen with Coach Calloway.
“Alright. For now.” The boys cheered and clapped. “Temporarily.” I growled but I doubted anyone heard me. Payne handed me the whistle and said we talk later. I looked at the whistle remembering my years on the team. What the heck had I gotten myself into?
“We’ll practice all together right now until things get worked out. I want to see ball drills and those wind sprints. We have a game on Friday?”