Junior Year Box Set

The tryout was crazy. The defense thought it would be fun if I were no longer quarterback. Then they might win some of the drills in practice. It turned out I was either much better than Wolf, or they played him a lot tighter. I, of course, chose to believe I was just better. I’ll give Trent credit, he did throw me some impossible passes. Even Coach Hope groaned when I made some spectacular grabs.

Some other positions changed hands. Roc got beat out by Wolf. Roc, in turn, took down Ed at halfback. Wolf also beat out Milo at defensive tackle. Milo then challenged Neil at offensive tackle and won out. Mike was challenged by several people at middle linebacker, but to his credit beat everyone.

Alan was a little shit and used my social media accounts to put out a vague message that something happened at practice and I wouldn’t start at quarterback but would be able to play wide receiver. He forgot to warn Brandon. The recruiting phone blew up with colleges all over the nation wanting to know how badly I was hurt.

◊◊◊

At the dojo, Coach Hope showed up to partner with Fritz. We were still working with batons, and Cassidy had taught me a cool training exercise where it was her making strikes starting from the outside and working in. The cool part of it was we got into a rhythm, and it sounded almost like working a speed bag. There was a steady ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta. She told me it was one of the demonstrations they would do to impress new recruits.

At the end of practice, Coach Hope and Fritz sparred. Fritz had finally met his match, and it frustrated him to no end. Then he threw out a challenge.

“Give David batons, and I bet he can beat you.”

I had laid out Fritz by mistake just two days ago. I really didn’t want to accidentally hurt Coach Hope. That would be bad on so many levels.

“Daddy, no. David might hurt you,” Cassidy said.

“He’s gotten that good, has he?” Coach Hope almost sneered when he asked.

“No, sir. I agree with Cassidy. I don’t want to hurt you,” I said.

Looking back, Cassidy and I might have phrased our responses better. Coach took it to mean we thought with the additional reach, I would be able to handle myself against him. That was completely different from the truth that we were afraid I would mess up and do some damage. It wasn’t like our matches were filled with love taps. Cassidy explained that if it didn’t hurt, I wouldn’t learn.

“I’ll make you a deal: if you win, even once, I won’t stand in the way of you dating my daughter,” Coach Hope announced.

“Deal!” Cassidy announced.

I looked at her, and she was all smiles. What had Fritz just gotten me into?

Cassidy tossed me the batons, and I fumbled them, and Fritz began to chuckle. He agreed to play referee because Coach didn’t trust his only daughter to be fair. I think she was a little hurt, but she did seem a bit eager. From the start, Coach Hope used the same strategy as Fritz had and attacked. Fritz smiled when I survived Coach’s initial flurry. Coach Hope was stronger than Fritz and just as quick. I still had the reach and was a little faster. I had taken my coaching from Cassidy: I cleared my mind and just reacted to the attack.

On his next attack, Coach Hope used a move I’d seen in my movie training. That training had been all about throws and making it look spectacular for the camera. Coach planned to toss me halfway across the room. The only problem with his plan was that I knew the counter. I think it shocked him when I dropped my batons as he made his move. As he grasped me, I made sure he had me good and tight, and then sprung the counter on him. Coach Hope’s feet were suddenly twelve feet in the air. Cassidy gasped as I directed him straight down onto the mat. The last part was an accident; I was supposed to toss him so he could roll out of it and be okay. The straight down on the mat part was for real fights or fake wrestling.

Again Shiggy came on a dead run to our mat when he heard the sound of 240 pounds of solid muscle slammed into the mat. I had been a little overzealous, and you could probably feel the shock wave for several blocks. I’ve had the air knocked out of me before, so I knew what it felt like and didn’t want to be anywhere near Coach Hope when he was able to breathe again. It didn’t help that Fritz almost burst into tears, he was laughing so hard. The look Shiggy gave me made me wonder if I would have to put him down next.

I started to worry when Coach Hope went from bright red to a little blue. Then his body quit fighting its harsh treatment, and he sucked in a massive breath. We all recognized that Shiggy was pissed. When Coach could finally talk, both he and Fritz took responsibility. Shiggy still wasn’t having it as he went back to his beginners class, mumbling something about how he couldn’t afford the insurance claims.

“Should we go two out of three?” I offered.

Luckily Coach Hope and Fritz thought I was hilarious.

“I didn’t teach him that,” Cassidy said, which made them laugh even harder.