Gladiators of the Gridiron

Jackson’s first week back at school had dragged on, but he slowly got used to it once again, and became more accustomed to navigating the halls and stairwells on his crutches.

He was still a bit slow, but not as bad as he had been his first day back. And he was getting used to the extra looks from strangers—or maybe they weren’t looking as much. It was probably a combination of the two, in reality.

Though, he still hadn’t seen Jasmine again. Maybe he’d just hallucinated her; he was taking medication for the pain still.

Tommy was also spending a lot more time at home as well, if there was any night where he didn’t have classes or practice the next morning, he’d sleep over rather than stay at his dorm. He and Jackson were getting back into their zombie-killing groove and getting nearer to their highest-ever round.

But now, it was Saturday—game day. For both Jackson’s team, and Tommy's.

‘You sure you don’t wanna come watch the game?’ Tommy asked Jackson, roughly drying his hair.

‘Actually, my teammates are playing a home game today. I was gonna see if Mom could take me down to the field today.’

Tommy smiled. ‘That’d be a great idea. I’m sure they’d love to have your support, bro.’

Jackson looked over from his bed and returned the smile, though it was only a small one. ‘Right, uh, though, next time you’re playing at home, I’ll have to come watch.’

‘Heh, no worries. I’ll make sure to put on a good show for you, hahah, if I get any playing time that is.’ Tommy laughed.

‘You ready to hit the road, Tommy?’ their dad called out.

‘Yup! Let me grab my bag, one sec.’ Tommy hurried to grab his bag, tossing the towel into the laundry as he made his way down the hall.

‘Is Jack coming?’ their dad asked.

Before Tommy could answer, Jackson himself replied, having hopped down the hall after him, using the walls for support. ‘Not today, Dad. Sorry.’

‘Everything alright, Son?’

‘Oh, of course. Yeah, I’m fine it’s just…’ Jackson looked around for his mom. ‘I was hoping Mom could take me to the Titans’ game today.’

‘Ahhh.’ Their dad nodded and smiled. ‘I’m sure she’d be more than happy to do that. She just went for a walk with your sister, they shouldn’t take too long to get back though.’

‘I’ll come to your guys’ next home game though, promise,’ Jackson told his dad.

‘Hah, hopefully next time our games aren’t on the same day, that’d be good,’ Dad said. ‘Well, Tommy.’ He turned to his eldest son. ‘We best hit the road.’

‘Good luck today!’ Jackson blurted as they were leaving.

Tommy looked back with a grin. ‘Thanks, bro. Tell your team good luck from us as well.’

Jackson stared at the front door for a while longer after they had gone through it. It wasn’t until he heard Dad’s car drive off that he turned his eyes away.

He sat at the dining table, his crutches laid across it in front of him, waiting for his mom and sister’s return.

He hadn’t gone back to watch another practice since his first day back at school, and even then he’d only run into Kenny, Shane, and the coaches… would the rest of his teammates even want him at the game? Or would he just be a reminder that he had let them down and abandoned them?

He was a little startled when the front door opened up again. He looked up, seeing his mom and sister walk back in.

‘Oh! Hey honey, your father and brother left already? You didn’t want to go with them?’ his mom asked, tilting her head.

‘Oh, uh, no I…I was wondering if you could take me to the Titan’s game instead, i-it’s a home game today.’

‘You’re not gonna try playing on your crutches, are you? That’d be silly.’ His little sister giggled.

‘No sweetie, your big brother just wants to go and support his teammates and cheer for them. Isn’t that right, Jackie?’ his mom asked.

Jackson nodded. ‘Y-Yeah. Um, if that’s alright? The JV game should be starting pretty soon actually.’

‘Of course we can.’

The two would quickly get ready while Jackson waited by the front door. They piled into the car, and his little sister sweetly asked to hold onto his crutches, saying she’d protect them while they drove.

It wasn’t a long trip to the Arcadia High football field, and they were one of the first families there.

They could see where the Titans’ bench was set up, and Jackson’s mom started going down the row of seats just above the bench, when Jackson stopped her, tugging on her sleeve.

‘Uh, actually… could we sit a little higher? I want a better view of the field,’ Jackson said.

She looked back at her son, and his gaze nervously darted from her, to the bench, and back. She smiled softly. ‘Of course, hon. Lead the way.’

Jackson sighed and his shoulders sagged a little before he turned away and started heading higher up into the stands, getting a seat closer to the midway point.

He settled into his seat, Mom sat between her two children, adjusting their hats and making sure they were on tight.

Jackson didn’t whine, but his little sister did. He kept his eyes on the field instead, watching some of the players warm up.

Shane was down there, his massive frame stood out amongst the handful of JV boys that surrounded him. And Kenny could be seen amongst the small group as well.

‘Come on guys! I know it’s just a warm-up but we still need to give MAXIMUM effort!’ Coach Vasquez’s voice reached even Jackson’s ears clearly as he ran them through some simple exercises to get them fired up and limber before the game.

Kenny took a deep breath, keeping his eyes on Shane. The older boy was so calm, and completely under control.

Every movement was perfectly controlled and efficient. There was no wasted motion, no excessive force, but still, he wasn’t slow either. With minimal effort, he could utilise the utmost of his strength and speed.

Whereas when Kenny tried to copy his style, it was like he was moving in slow motion.

More players and families slowly filed onto the field and into the bleachers, though the crowd never did grow too large, even as the opposition started to arrive; JV games weren’t ever too big of a draw.

Coach Otsen had called the players over to the bench not too long after the opposition—the Combs Coyotes—had started arriving. Kenny looked them over as the players started gathering—they looked beatable.

Though, that’d be a hard task, even if they were beatable. His eyes scanned his surrounding teammates until they fell upon Fred. Not only did the Coyotes have enough players for a different offensive and defensive squad, but even substitutes as well.

And the Titans were still stuck with Fred. It was up to Kenny if they wanted to win, he’d have to pull them through by himself.

When it was almost time for the game, Coach Otsen directed the JV players over to the locker room for a final pep talk.

‘Now. I know it’s been a rough start. We’re 0–2 and nobody wants to begin the season that way. But, it doesn’t matter. The past games don’t matter, and the future games don’t matter. Only what’s right here, right in front of us matters right now,’ Coach Otsen said.

Kenny never took his eyes off the imposing man as he circled around the locker room. Most players looked away whenever the coach got near, some were always staring dead ahead at the wall. Fred kept his eyes glued to the floor. Only one other didn’t look away from the coach—the QB, Petey Martin.

Petey’s mixed complexion was that of a permanent, light tan. His cheeks were chubby, and he had a real baby face which made him look like he still should’ve been in middle school, despite the fact that he was a sophomore.

His coarse, brown hair was kept rather short, though one curly lock fell over his forehead.

‘Don’t ever let up. I need you to give it everything you’ve got and hit those motherfuckers out there with your hardest shots right from the first whistle. That’s what it takes to win!’ Coach Otsen said, glaring around the room.

‘You’re stronger than them, tougher than them, and faster than them! So you better not lose because they’re hungrier than you. You hear me? We are NOT going 0–3 to start off, or so help me, if you think I’ve been tough on you in practice so far, you won’t have seen ANYTHING.

‘You are TITANS. Gods fear titans. It’s about damn time you start living up to that name. Bring it in.’ Coach Otsen held a trembling fist out.

The players picked themselves up, Kenny was the first to put his fist against the coach’s, then Fred surprisingly, and Petey was third before the rest added their fists to the pile.

Coach Otsen looked around at all the young faces surrounding him, staring each player in the eye. ‘Win on 3. 1, 2, 3.’

‘Win!’ the players roared.

They rushed back out onto the field to the mild cheers of their parents. Jackson’s mom screamed loudly for the boys, and even his sister added to the cheers, but he himself stayed silent.

He watched his teammates closely, his good leg bouncing and shaking as he leaned forward in his seat.

They looked to be in high spirits at least, but his attention was most focused on the one face he didn’t recognise within the group. “He must be my replacement,” Jackson thought.

It wasn’t hard to spot Fred amongst the team. He was the only player who looked out of place, like the uniform didn’t fit him, like he shouldn’t even be out there.

But Jackson wasn’t about to judge a book by its cover. He was out there for a reason, and even that alone meant Fred belonged on the field more than a coward like himself who had run away from that pressure.

Jackson closed his eyes and silently prayed for a Titans victory.

When the Coyotes came out for their lap around the field, the cheers were sparse, and only a few people clapped for them, though still, Jackson’s mom and sister were amongst those who did—as a show of respect and good sportsmanship—and after a nudge from his mom, even Jackson joined in and clapped for them, albeit very unenthusiastically.

As Kenny, Petey, and a gangly boy named Lonnie—who was the tallest player for the Titans and was as skinny as a scarecrow—made their way out to the centre of the field for the coin toss, Kenny pulled Petey aside.

‘Hey. We need to win today, even without what the coach said. I’m not about to lose every damn game this year… I gotta make it onto the varsity team, quick,’ Kenny said.

‘Hey, it’s not like I’m out here trying to lose, cabrón.’ Petey shoved Kenny’s hand off his collar. ‘And you ain’t the only one trying to get out off this team… ¡Carajo! I’ve been trying to get off this team for over a year.’

Kenny nodded, looking Petey over and patting him on the chest, right over the number 1 on his jersey. ‘Good, then just give me the ball, as much as you can. Let’s win this thing, together.’

‘Haha. Ay, together.’ Petey smirked.

‘Uhh. I guess we’ll take the ball first,’ Lonnie said.

Petey and Kenny looked over. The Coyotes had chosen wrong for the toss, and on behalf of his other—distracted—captains, Lonnie had elected that the Titans would receive the ball first.

The three Titans players jogged back to the bench and let the rest of the team know.

‘Alright, you know what to do. Get out there and hit them hard, show them what you’re fucking made of,’ Coach Otsen said.

Coach Knight grunted, looking the boys over. ‘Make a statement,’ he gruffly said.

They hurried out onto the field, taking up their positions on the field to receive the kickoff. Kenny stood all the way at the back of the formation, awaiting the kick near his endzone. He hunched over, his hands on his knees as he took a deep breath, staring down the field and watching the Coyotes kicker get set up.

This was it. The game was about to start … he HAD to win.