Rated PG16
crit yeah
The air was hot, all of us dressed in our armor of choice branded with the number of our choosing. Mine was 90; I was marked branded as if I were a cow. Like the rest of my brothers who had stepped on that field of battle I waited for my turn, to become one of the eleven to step up and make a play. I stood back gripping my helmet watching studying what was going on, not being filled with fear but more of anticipation. My uniform was clean seemingly never given a chance to become stained with glory of the gridiron. I had waited all day for this moment.
Oddie walked up to me and placed his hand firmly on my shoulder pads alerting me that he was there. Sweat was dripping from his brow. “You ready?” He said simply with a smile on his face. I didn’t answer not right away; I was focused studying as our foe ran the ball. “Brother, you there?” He shook me awaking me from my daze.
“Yeah. I’m always ready O. You know that.” I responded to him with a small smile, trying not to lose my focus. I looked him over, his uniform stained from grass. I noticed all the rips and tares that had been fixed time and time again. Then looked down at mine nothing had ever damaged it, no rips, no stains, nothing. I felt small compared to him, but strangely equal. Know that we were on the same side, brothers.
It seemed to be an endless wait for my turn. Oddie sat on the side resting for the next play, when I was finally allowed to have my shot. I placed my helmet on and strapped it on tight. Then proceeded to hit my head with my hand clearing my mind. I felt like a warrior getting ready for war. I ran into the huddle eager for my instructions. When I reached the huddle all I could smell was must and sweat protruding off of my fellow teammates. None of whom were like my true brother. We stood shoulder to shoulder around Coach Lowery. “Jamie you kick this ball as hard as you can. And damn it if you boys don’t get your asses down that field and cover that kickoff. Now get in here.”
We all placed our hands in the center. The feeling of tape and sweat was all that could be felt. We proceeded to count down and yell our battle cry. I took my place on the line, lowering my butt down so that I could take off faster. I knew I was not the fastest person on the field but I was determined not to be last. I wanted more than anything else to be the one to make this place show them all who were watching that I was the tougher man, stronger than all those around me. I tried to put the last play behind me where I let him run past me, not even laying a hand on him. It was my time to shine. Kiwi raised his hands showing us that it was time. Time slowed down, all my adrenaline was pumping. I flexed my muscles preparing them for the task at hand. “READY?!” was all that was said. Jamie started running for the ball to kick it off. I was barely behind him, making sure I was not offside’s.
I saw fear in their eyes, I knew I was faster, they couldn’t touch me. I was wrong. I wish now that he would have locked on me as if he were a snapping turtle on some poor young child’s finger never letting go until forcible removed. I ran past him thinking this one is mine. I can do it until I felt a pull on my jersey. It pulled me back causing my right leg to plate into the ground. I thought nothing of it.
Time slowed. Pop! Pop! Pop! I saw the huge guy whom was lined up in the center of the field on the ground. I could hear his laughter as the two of them left me on the ground. Time resumed like nothing had happened. My knee felt as if a knife had dug underneath the back of my kneecap and was being pulled backwards as slow as it could go. I reached down it hurt to touch. My head hit the ground I left my knee where it was and tried to stand. Mistake. Pop! Pop! Pop! I fell back to the ground. The pain came rushing back to me worse than ever. I laid my head back gently undoing my straps of my helmet. I was alone. I shut my eyes holding back tears. Not from pain but of failure. I shook the tears away and waited for help.
The whistle blew and our trainer Mills came running over. It was hard for me to see from my helmet. “Johnson, Johnson where is it hurting?” I pointed to my knee. “Ok I’m going to lock it out.” The only sound of my screams could be heard over the crowd whom how was completely silent. “Ok, ok. We are going to get you up and off the field.” Mills removed my helmet from my head, and then helped me to my feet. “Ok Colby this is important give your mom a smile and a thumbs up. So she knows you are ok.” I nodded my head and gave a weak smile and thumbs up while scanning the crowd for Malia. It was like an old I Spy book from my youth I knew her general direction but not her location. “I’m fine.” I mouthed in her direction once I found her.
I was placed on the bench as Mill began adjusting my leg. Every time he touched it made me cringe as if I was a sacred puppy. I wanted to cry more than anything else. But I held them back, I was a worrier. And worriers don’t cry. “Tommy, get us some Ice and a bandage wrap so we can stop swelling.” Gentle was not an option here. The ice was tight next to my leg held together with tape and bandage wrap. Mom and Dad were there. They gave me some pain killer which never worked; the knife was always there, cutting deep into my nerves and tendons.
Oddie and Juanne came over to me every chance they got. They gave me updates on how the game was going, score updates, who hit who. I was a ghost there, a fallen warrior who no one knew or ever would know. We won that night 49-7; my fellow teammates ran into the locker room, I had to wait to be carried by cart to join them. When I got there the celebration was over they were removing the gear. I was helped to my locker as I sat myself down I rested my head and covered my eyes. “I’m sorry brother.” It was Oddie. He placed his hand on my shoulder in a soft manner. “I promise I’ll score one for you each and every week. And take the other team down hard for you.” It made me smile, the first smile I had all night that was real.
I was helped to my mother’s car and taken home. The couch became my new bed for the next few weeks. My loved ones were there trying to comfort me but it was sadly in vain. After everyone else had gone to bed or left me to be alone. I took the pillow over my head and tried to cry. But I couldn’t instead I rose till I was sitting up. I shook my head and popped my neck and softly said. “I am a warrior and I live by the code. I knew the stakes and I accept them.” I paused for a moment, and then said. “The warrior’s code.” Finally shutting my eyes and slept.
Any questions about who the people are just ask.
crit yeah
The air was hot, all of us dressed in our armor of choice branded with the number of our choosing. Mine was 90; I was marked branded as if I were a cow. Like the rest of my brothers who had stepped on that field of battle I waited for my turn, to become one of the eleven to step up and make a play. I stood back gripping my helmet watching studying what was going on, not being filled with fear but more of anticipation. My uniform was clean seemingly never given a chance to become stained with glory of the gridiron. I had waited all day for this moment.
Oddie walked up to me and placed his hand firmly on my shoulder pads alerting me that he was there. Sweat was dripping from his brow. “You ready?” He said simply with a smile on his face. I didn’t answer not right away; I was focused studying as our foe ran the ball. “Brother, you there?” He shook me awaking me from my daze.
“Yeah. I’m always ready O. You know that.” I responded to him with a small smile, trying not to lose my focus. I looked him over, his uniform stained from grass. I noticed all the rips and tares that had been fixed time and time again. Then looked down at mine nothing had ever damaged it, no rips, no stains, nothing. I felt small compared to him, but strangely equal. Know that we were on the same side, brothers.
It seemed to be an endless wait for my turn. Oddie sat on the side resting for the next play, when I was finally allowed to have my shot. I placed my helmet on and strapped it on tight. Then proceeded to hit my head with my hand clearing my mind. I felt like a warrior getting ready for war. I ran into the huddle eager for my instructions. When I reached the huddle all I could smell was must and sweat protruding off of my fellow teammates. None of whom were like my true brother. We stood shoulder to shoulder around Coach Lowery. “Jamie you kick this ball as hard as you can. And damn it if you boys don’t get your asses down that field and cover that kickoff. Now get in here.”
We all placed our hands in the center. The feeling of tape and sweat was all that could be felt. We proceeded to count down and yell our battle cry. I took my place on the line, lowering my butt down so that I could take off faster. I knew I was not the fastest person on the field but I was determined not to be last. I wanted more than anything else to be the one to make this place show them all who were watching that I was the tougher man, stronger than all those around me. I tried to put the last play behind me where I let him run past me, not even laying a hand on him. It was my time to shine. Kiwi raised his hands showing us that it was time. Time slowed down, all my adrenaline was pumping. I flexed my muscles preparing them for the task at hand. “READY?!” was all that was said. Jamie started running for the ball to kick it off. I was barely behind him, making sure I was not offside’s.
I saw fear in their eyes, I knew I was faster, they couldn’t touch me. I was wrong. I wish now that he would have locked on me as if he were a snapping turtle on some poor young child’s finger never letting go until forcible removed. I ran past him thinking this one is mine. I can do it until I felt a pull on my jersey. It pulled me back causing my right leg to plate into the ground. I thought nothing of it.
Time slowed. Pop! Pop! Pop! I saw the huge guy whom was lined up in the center of the field on the ground. I could hear his laughter as the two of them left me on the ground. Time resumed like nothing had happened. My knee felt as if a knife had dug underneath the back of my kneecap and was being pulled backwards as slow as it could go. I reached down it hurt to touch. My head hit the ground I left my knee where it was and tried to stand. Mistake. Pop! Pop! Pop! I fell back to the ground. The pain came rushing back to me worse than ever. I laid my head back gently undoing my straps of my helmet. I was alone. I shut my eyes holding back tears. Not from pain but of failure. I shook the tears away and waited for help.
The whistle blew and our trainer Mills came running over. It was hard for me to see from my helmet. “Johnson, Johnson where is it hurting?” I pointed to my knee. “Ok I’m going to lock it out.” The only sound of my screams could be heard over the crowd whom how was completely silent. “Ok, ok. We are going to get you up and off the field.” Mills removed my helmet from my head, and then helped me to my feet. “Ok Colby this is important give your mom a smile and a thumbs up. So she knows you are ok.” I nodded my head and gave a weak smile and thumbs up while scanning the crowd for Malia. It was like an old I Spy book from my youth I knew her general direction but not her location. “I’m fine.” I mouthed in her direction once I found her.
I was placed on the bench as Mill began adjusting my leg. Every time he touched it made me cringe as if I was a sacred puppy. I wanted to cry more than anything else. But I held them back, I was a worrier. And worriers don’t cry. “Tommy, get us some Ice and a bandage wrap so we can stop swelling.” Gentle was not an option here. The ice was tight next to my leg held together with tape and bandage wrap. Mom and Dad were there. They gave me some pain killer which never worked; the knife was always there, cutting deep into my nerves and tendons.
Oddie and Juanne came over to me every chance they got. They gave me updates on how the game was going, score updates, who hit who. I was a ghost there, a fallen warrior who no one knew or ever would know. We won that night 49-7; my fellow teammates ran into the locker room, I had to wait to be carried by cart to join them. When I got there the celebration was over they were removing the gear. I was helped to my locker as I sat myself down I rested my head and covered my eyes. “I’m sorry brother.” It was Oddie. He placed his hand on my shoulder in a soft manner. “I promise I’ll score one for you each and every week. And take the other team down hard for you.” It made me smile, the first smile I had all night that was real.
I was helped to my mother’s car and taken home. The couch became my new bed for the next few weeks. My loved ones were there trying to comfort me but it was sadly in vain. After everyone else had gone to bed or left me to be alone. I took the pillow over my head and tried to cry. But I couldn’t instead I rose till I was sitting up. I shook my head and popped my neck and softly said. “I am a warrior and I live by the code. I knew the stakes and I accept them.” I paused for a moment, and then said. “The warrior’s code.” Finally shutting my eyes and slept.
Any questions about who the people are just ask.
