Loading...
“4th and 9!”, boomed the announcer. Fans poured out of the old metal bleachers. The Bulldogs needed a miracle while trailing against the Knights in the finals. Freshman quarterback Teddy calls the play, Hail Mary. Brandon perches on the line. Teddy calls an audible for everyone to stay back except Brandon. He waits for the word, the one word that starts the chaos, “Hike!” It is almost like a general yelling fire and from there it is just chaos. Brandon darted down the field beating the corner back with speed, now it's a one on one. The safety stared into Brandon’s eyes like a lion staring down its prey. Brandon stutters for a second and then cuts in, Teddy plays it over his shoulder. Brandon tracked down the ball.
Brandon woke up for training and got ready to step on the field. He was the first one there bouncing on his feet, the sun hiding behind the trees. Brandon whispered to himself with a gleam in his eyes, “Today is gonna be a good day.” Brandon trotted confidently, throwing on his helmet. His teammates arrived later and they started warming up. Brandon, who was a high schooler, loves to play football. Football was his
life, not just a sport.
“Did you hear about the new kid?”, asked Malik.
“No I didn’t, tell me about him?”, questioned Brandon.
“But we already went through tryouts,” remarked Teddy.
“Plus we have a full roster,” added Brandon.
“I heard he hasn't even played football before but his dad paid the school a lot of money to get put on the team,” explained Malik.
“I have always wanted a towel boy,” said Teddy.
“Maybe he can even hold our waters,” added Malik as everyone snickered. Everyone except Brandon.
That night Brandon listened to the chirp of the crickets as he softly laid his head on his pillow. Was everyone being too harsh? Anyone can grow in anything as long as you put the work in. The next day Brandon was the first one at practice as usual, but the new kid was there next getting passes from their coach. “He really is bad,” thought Brandon, “he was dropping
“Did you hear about the new kid?”, asked Malik.
“No I didn’t, tell me about him?”, questioned Brandon.
“But we already went through tryouts,” remarked Teddy.
“Plus we have a full roster,” added Brandon.
“I heard he hasn't even played football before but his dad paid the school a lot of money to get put on the team,” explained Malik.
“I have always wanted a towel boy,” said Teddy.
“Maybe he can even hold our waters,” added Malik as everyone snickered. Everyone except Brandon.
That night Brandon listened to the chirp of the crickets as he softly laid his head on his pillow. Was everyone being too harsh? Anyone can grow in anything as long as you put the work in. The next day Brandon was the first one at practice as usual, but the new kid was there next getting passes from their coach. “He really is bad,” thought Brandon, “he was dropping
“4th and 9!”, boomed the announcer. Fans poured out of the old metal bleachers. The Bulldogs needed a miracle while trailing against the Knights in the finals. Freshman quarterback Teddy calls the play, Hail Mary. Brandon perches on the line. Teddy calls an audible for everyone to stay back except Brandon. He waits for the word, the one word that starts the chaos, “Hike!” It is almost like a general yelling fire and from there it is just chaos. Brandon darted down the field beating the corner back with speed, now it's a one on one. The safety stared into Brandon’s eyes like a lion staring down its prey. Brandon stutters for a second and then cuts in, Teddy plays it over his shoulder. Brandon tracked down the ball.
Brandon woke up for training and got ready to step on the field. He was the first one there bouncing on his feet, the sun hiding behind the trees. Brandon whispered to himself with a gleam in his eyes, “Today is gonna be a good day.” Brandon trotted confidently, throwing on his helmet. His teammates arrived later and they started warming up. Brandon, who was a high schooler, loves to play football. Football was his
life, not just a sport.
“Did you hear about the new kid?”, asked Malik.
“No I didn’t, tell me about him?”, questioned Brandon.
“But we already went through tryouts,” remarked Teddy.
“Plus we have a full roster,” added Brandon.
“I heard he hasn't even played football before but his dad paid the school a lot of money to get put on the team,” explained Malik.
“I have always wanted a towel boy,” said Teddy.
“Maybe he can even hold our waters,” added Malik as everyone snickered. Everyone except Brandon.
That night Brandon listened to the chirp of the crickets as he softly laid his head on his pillow. Was everyone being too harsh? Anyone can grow in anything as long as you put the work in. The next day Brandon was the first one at practice as usual, but the new kid was there next getting passes from their coach. “He really is bad,” thought Brandon, “he was dropping
“Did you hear about the new kid?”, asked Malik.
“No I didn’t, tell me about him?”, questioned Brandon.
“But we already went through tryouts,” remarked Teddy.
“Plus we have a full roster,” added Brandon.
“I heard he hasn't even played football before but his dad paid the school a lot of money to get put on the team,” explained Malik.
“I have always wanted a towel boy,” said Teddy.
“Maybe he can even hold our waters,” added Malik as everyone snickered. Everyone except Brandon.
That night Brandon listened to the chirp of the crickets as he softly laid his head on his pillow. Was everyone being too harsh? Anyone can grow in anything as long as you put the work in. The next day Brandon was the first one at practice as usual, but the new kid was there next getting passes from their coach. “He really is bad,” thought Brandon, “he was dropping
everything, except one pass that is, if you count the time it hit a tree branch and fell into his hands.”
“Brandon!” Exclaimed their coach. “ Meet your new teammate Isaac!”
“H he hi,” they both awkwardly said. Their teammates came later and they got on with their day. Touchdown another reception for Brandon.
At practice Teddy said, “I don’t think anybody can stop him.” Brandon has been shredding up all opposing teams secondarys setting a school record of 1,112 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns. Brandon had always dreamt of making it to the NFL. so he woke up at 4:30 every morning to be 30 minutes early to every practice. It was pretty clear to everyone on the team that Brandon was going to be a star.
“It's almost like wherever you throw it is a touchdown when Brandon is on the field,” said Teddy. Brandon had one of the best practices of his life. “Brandon, why don’t you give Isaac some advice,” said the coach as he wandered off into
“Brandon!” Exclaimed their coach. “ Meet your new teammate Isaac!”
“H he hi,” they both awkwardly said. Their teammates came later and they got on with their day. Touchdown another reception for Brandon.
At practice Teddy said, “I don’t think anybody can stop him.” Brandon has been shredding up all opposing teams secondarys setting a school record of 1,112 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns. Brandon had always dreamt of making it to the NFL. so he woke up at 4:30 every morning to be 30 minutes early to every practice. It was pretty clear to everyone on the team that Brandon was going to be a star.
“It's almost like wherever you throw it is a touchdown when Brandon is on the field,” said Teddy. Brandon had one of the best practices of his life. “Brandon, why don’t you give Isaac some advice,” said the coach as he wandered off into
the hazy distance.
“Listen I gotta a lot of homework to catch up on ; I need to get to work,” Brandon lied to Isaac. He always did his homework before practice so that he could practice more. “I gotta go.” said Brandon, picking up a ball on the ground. “Practice makes perfect, hard work is not an act it's more of a mindset,” Brandon said. Brandon then felt different; like he forgot how to hold the ball, and his muscles felt like they were hibernating. “That's weird,” Brandon thought.
The next day Brandon’s stats at practice looked like this : incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, a completion but then fumbled, and incomplete. He got benched. The gray gloomy cloud loomed over as Brandon sat in the rain as it was shattering on his head. Brandon could get cut from the team… ”Brandon!” Shrieked a voice as a chill went down his spine. Brandon picked his head up as the rest of his body jolted. There before him stood a figure looming over Brandon. He could not quite make out who it was until he stepped forward. Brandon saw that it was his coach. Brandon's body wilted back down.
“Listen I gotta a lot of homework to catch up on ; I need to get to work,” Brandon lied to Isaac. He always did his homework before practice so that he could practice more. “I gotta go.” said Brandon, picking up a ball on the ground. “Practice makes perfect, hard work is not an act it's more of a mindset,” Brandon said. Brandon then felt different; like he forgot how to hold the ball, and his muscles felt like they were hibernating. “That's weird,” Brandon thought.
The next day Brandon’s stats at practice looked like this : incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, a completion but then fumbled, and incomplete. He got benched. The gray gloomy cloud loomed over as Brandon sat in the rain as it was shattering on his head. Brandon could get cut from the team… ”Brandon!” Shrieked a voice as a chill went down his spine. Brandon picked his head up as the rest of his body jolted. There before him stood a figure looming over Brandon. He could not quite make out who it was until he stepped forward. Brandon saw that it was his coach. Brandon's body wilted back down.
everything, except one pass that is, if you count the time it hit a tree branch and fell into his hands.”
“Brandon!” Exclaimed their coach. “ Meet your new teammate Isaac!”
“H he hi,” they both awkwardly said. Their teammates came later and they got on with their day. Touchdown another reception for Brandon.
At practice Teddy said, “I don’t think anybody can stop him.” Brandon has been shredding up all opposing teams secondarys setting a school record of 1,112 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns. Brandon had always dreamt of making it to the NFL. so he woke up at 4:30 every morning to be 30 minutes early to every practice. It was pretty clear to everyone on the team that Brandon was going to be a star.
“It's almost like wherever you throw it is a touchdown when Brandon is on the field,” said Teddy. Brandon had one of the best practices of his life. “Brandon, why don’t you give Isaac some advice,” said the coach as he wandered off into
“Brandon!” Exclaimed their coach. “ Meet your new teammate Isaac!”
“H he hi,” they both awkwardly said. Their teammates came later and they got on with their day. Touchdown another reception for Brandon.
At practice Teddy said, “I don’t think anybody can stop him.” Brandon has been shredding up all opposing teams secondarys setting a school record of 1,112 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns. Brandon had always dreamt of making it to the NFL. so he woke up at 4:30 every morning to be 30 minutes early to every practice. It was pretty clear to everyone on the team that Brandon was going to be a star.
“It's almost like wherever you throw it is a touchdown when Brandon is on the field,” said Teddy. Brandon had one of the best practices of his life. “Brandon, why don’t you give Isaac some advice,” said the coach as he wandered off into
the hazy distance.
“Listen I gotta a lot of homework to catch up on ; I need to get to work,” Brandon lied to Isaac. He always did his homework before practice so that he could practice more. “I gotta go.” said Brandon, picking up a ball on the ground. “Practice makes perfect, hard work is not an act it's more of a mindset,” Brandon said. Brandon then felt different; like he forgot how to hold the ball, and his muscles felt like they were hibernating. “That's weird,” Brandon thought.
The next day Brandon’s stats at practice looked like this : incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, a completion but then fumbled, and incomplete. He got benched. The gray gloomy cloud loomed over as Brandon sat in the rain as it was shattering on his head. Brandon could get cut from the team… ”Brandon!” Shrieked a voice as a chill went down his spine. Brandon picked his head up as the rest of his body jolted. There before him stood a figure looming over Brandon. He could not quite make out who it was until he stepped forward. Brandon saw that it was his coach. Brandon's body wilted back down.
“Listen I gotta a lot of homework to catch up on ; I need to get to work,” Brandon lied to Isaac. He always did his homework before practice so that he could practice more. “I gotta go.” said Brandon, picking up a ball on the ground. “Practice makes perfect, hard work is not an act it's more of a mindset,” Brandon said. Brandon then felt different; like he forgot how to hold the ball, and his muscles felt like they were hibernating. “That's weird,” Brandon thought.
The next day Brandon’s stats at practice looked like this : incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, a completion but then fumbled, and incomplete. He got benched. The gray gloomy cloud loomed over as Brandon sat in the rain as it was shattering on his head. Brandon could get cut from the team… ”Brandon!” Shrieked a voice as a chill went down his spine. Brandon picked his head up as the rest of his body jolted. There before him stood a figure looming over Brandon. He could not quite make out who it was until he stepped forward. Brandon saw that it was his coach. Brandon's body wilted back down.
“What do you want?” snarled Brandon.
“Why are you still here?” asked his coach. Brandon shrugged, “Why don't you go home and rest, see if you feel better tomorrow,” said his coach. Brandon hoisted his body off the steel bench.
When Brandon arrived at practice the next day, Isaac ran up to him and said ,“I know you're gonna think I'm crazy, but I think I stole your talent.”
“What do you mean?” questioned Brandon.
“I mean I took your talent!” exclaimed, Isaac.
“That's insane, that was your hard work” , shouted Brandon.
“How do you explain this? '' Isaac pulled out a sheet of paper with Brandon and Isaac’s stats. “Look! I couldn’t even hold on to the ball and then all of a sudden I was catching everything thrown my way. That doesn’t just happen overnight,” remarked Isaac.
“Whatever, I'm still not convinced." Brandon went on with his practice and didn’t do so well. It felt like the ball was resisting Brandon.
“Why are you still here?” asked his coach. Brandon shrugged, “Why don't you go home and rest, see if you feel better tomorrow,” said his coach. Brandon hoisted his body off the steel bench.
When Brandon arrived at practice the next day, Isaac ran up to him and said ,“I know you're gonna think I'm crazy, but I think I stole your talent.”
“What do you mean?” questioned Brandon.
“I mean I took your talent!” exclaimed, Isaac.
“That's insane, that was your hard work” , shouted Brandon.
“How do you explain this? '' Isaac pulled out a sheet of paper with Brandon and Isaac’s stats. “Look! I couldn’t even hold on to the ball and then all of a sudden I was catching everything thrown my way. That doesn’t just happen overnight,” remarked Isaac.
“Whatever, I'm still not convinced." Brandon went on with his practice and didn’t do so well. It felt like the ball was resisting Brandon.
The next day Isaac ran up to Brandon frantically shouting, “I think I know how I took your talent!”
“Again with this stealing my talent thing. I told you that's your hard work.”
` “Listen, just try something. Hold this ball like you did when you gave me that advice.” Brandon rolled his head in disbelief thinking why am I here. ”Now I just have to say what you said, when you gave me the advice.”
“Okaaay,” Brandon sighed. “This is crazy!” Brandon hollered.
“Just try it please.” “Ok here we go.” Isaac stood straight as a pole with hope in his eyes while Brandon drooped his body down. Isaac said, “Practice makes perfect.” Isaac paused “Hard work isn't an act. It's more of a mindset.” They both dropped the ball.
“Did it work?” asked Brandon with curiosity. “I don’t know, go out for a pass.”
Brandon started jogging and Isaac threw him a pass. Brandon caught it with one hand. It worked! They rushed together and collided into a hug.
That year The Bulldogs made it to the finals.
“Hike!” Brandon darted down the field beating
“Again with this stealing my talent thing. I told you that's your hard work.”
` “Listen, just try something. Hold this ball like you did when you gave me that advice.” Brandon rolled his head in disbelief thinking why am I here. ”Now I just have to say what you said, when you gave me the advice.”
“Okaaay,” Brandon sighed. “This is crazy!” Brandon hollered.
“Just try it please.” “Ok here we go.” Isaac stood straight as a pole with hope in his eyes while Brandon drooped his body down. Isaac said, “Practice makes perfect.” Isaac paused “Hard work isn't an act. It's more of a mindset.” They both dropped the ball.
“Did it work?” asked Brandon with curiosity. “I don’t know, go out for a pass.”
Brandon started jogging and Isaac threw him a pass. Brandon caught it with one hand. It worked! They rushed together and collided into a hug.
That year The Bulldogs made it to the finals.
“Hike!” Brandon darted down the field beating