Chapter Three of New Book
3
We didn’t talk anymore at dinner, and Hunter Gates didn’t come up again for the rest of the summer. But my time with him only increased. Enjoyed it, until I was exhausted. Got better at running routes. Mr. Gates would show me how to plant my foot (research wide receiver techniques). Weirdly, I was getting better at better at football, which made them want to pass it to me. And Mr. Gates gave me more in the way of coaching. All for hunter; he didn’t care about me. But I still learned.
Stuff at Gilman park went on until August 1. , Hunter’s dad asks me if I want to play football on a team. What team. I was headed to 6th grade and there was no school football team until 8th grade. I’d run on the cross country team and track team, played soccer through community center and basketball through community center, but no football teams. Wilson Jr. Football he tells me. Raiders Son is 11, I’m 10, turning 11 in December.
You’re old enough. Pee wee football years ago.
Play. Catch passes. Cheerleaders (girls)
Talks about how much fun it would be. Hunter throwing the ball to me just like in the park, only there’d be cheerleaders (girls) and parents and I’d score touchdowns. Played at ight sometimes under the lights. Full uniform just like the Raiders
In the back I see Hunter pounding the football into his hand.
. Not sure, have to ask my parents. I don’t think they’ll let me though. My mom has a thing about concussion
How about if I talk to them. Where do you live.
After dinner he knocks
Comes in. brochure on junior football. Talks about how great it is. Directon and all that. Leg up when I got to Wilson and play on the team there. Builds character. I have natural talent for the game
My dad and mom look at each other and look at me. He weighs 90 pounds my mom says. He can’t play football
Hunters dad says hes the coach of the junior football team, that he’d play me strictly at wide receiver. No tackling, no defense. Your son has a got a gift for catching the ball; his son has a gift for throwing it. Great together.
My dad says he’ll think bout it. Hunter’s dad. Starts August 6th. Great oppty for your son. I’m head coach at High school. Get him started right. Could go far. Scholarship even. Leaves
Leaves.
My mother laughs, Football scholarship. What a salesman.
Dad asks me what I think.
You’d have to give up just hanging out at the park with your friends. Practices, wearing a helmet, hot. Might conflict with soccer.
I don’t know. Remembered how glum Hunter always looked.
My mother says. He doesn’t know, then I say no.
That made up my mind. No, I think I want to, I said, not sure at all what I want.
Dad says, we’ll talk again when you’re in eighth grade. That’s when your school starts kids playing. They do it for a reason. It’s soon enough. year.
Phone call. H. dad is pretty insistent. My father tells him no. Then listens, then says I’m sure it would be good for him, biut not this year. Too small. Listens Hard to believe that he’s missing his chance at 10 years old. Surely he’ll have another chance.
I think maybe I am. Suddenly feel terrible
Not getting anwywhere. Our decision is firm. No football until 8th grade
Hangs up
We didn’t talk anymore at dinner, and Hunter Gates didn’t come up again for the rest of the summer. But my time with him only increased. Enjoyed it, until I was exhausted. Got better at running routes. Mr. Gates would show me how to plant my foot (research wide receiver techniques). Weirdly, I was getting better at better at football, which made them want to pass it to me. And Mr. Gates gave me more in the way of coaching. All for hunter; he didn’t care about me. But I still learned.
Stuff at Gilman park went on until August 1. , Hunter’s dad asks me if I want to play football on a team. What team. I was headed to 6th grade and there was no school football team until 8th grade. I’d run on the cross country team and track team, played soccer through community center and basketball through community center, but no football teams. Wilson Jr. Football he tells me. Raiders Son is 11, I’m 10, turning 11 in December.
You’re old enough. Pee wee football years ago.
Play. Catch passes. Cheerleaders (girls)
Talks about how much fun it would be. Hunter throwing the ball to me just like in the park, only there’d be cheerleaders (girls) and parents and I’d score touchdowns. Played at ight sometimes under the lights. Full uniform just like the Raiders
In the back I see Hunter pounding the football into his hand.
. Not sure, have to ask my parents. I don’t think they’ll let me though. My mom has a thing about concussion
How about if I talk to them. Where do you live.
After dinner he knocks
Comes in. brochure on junior football. Talks about how great it is. Directon and all that. Leg up when I got to Wilson and play on the team there. Builds character. I have natural talent for the game
My dad and mom look at each other and look at me. He weighs 90 pounds my mom says. He can’t play football
Hunters dad says hes the coach of the junior football team, that he’d play me strictly at wide receiver. No tackling, no defense. Your son has a got a gift for catching the ball; his son has a gift for throwing it. Great together.
My dad says he’ll think bout it. Hunter’s dad. Starts August 6th. Great oppty for your son. I’m head coach at High school. Get him started right. Could go far. Scholarship even. Leaves
Leaves.
My mother laughs, Football scholarship. What a salesman.
Dad asks me what I think.
You’d have to give up just hanging out at the park with your friends. Practices, wearing a helmet, hot. Might conflict with soccer.
I don’t know. Remembered how glum Hunter always looked.
My mother says. He doesn’t know, then I say no.
That made up my mind. No, I think I want to, I said, not sure at all what I want.
Dad says, we’ll talk again when you’re in eighth grade. That’s when your school starts kids playing. They do it for a reason. It’s soon enough. year.
Phone call. H. dad is pretty insistent. My father tells him no. Then listens, then says I’m sure it would be good for him, biut not this year. Too small. Listens Hard to believe that he’s missing his chance at 10 years old. Surely he’ll have another chance.
I think maybe I am. Suddenly feel terrible
Not getting anwywhere. Our decision is firm. No football until 8th grade
Hangs up
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