Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“Booo!” the lot of us yell, the loudest of which come from Quinn, Teeny, and Sean.
“I know, I know. It’s the end of an amazing era. But I’m confident we’ll find someone to fill her shoes who will be with us, hopefully, all the way to your generation of players,” Wes tells the kids. Sean comes to stand next to Quinn and Teeny, while Six stays on the other side to get a good camera angle, and Wes continues with the introductions. “Now, these guys, I’m sure you recognize…” He pauses, and within seconds, the kids start to scream and hoot and holler toward us.
“Quinn!”
“Teeny!”
“Oh my God, Sean Phillips is standing right in front of me!”
“QBpie!”
It’s a smattering of yells and a jumble of different affections, but without any doubt, it proves the kids do, indeed, know just who the retired Mavericks players are.
It’s not a surprise, given their interest in a Mavericks football camp, but what does shock me is the number of kids who start to yell my name, unprompted.
“Boden!”
“Blake!”
“Oh my God, I didn’t know Blake Boden was going to be here!”
Quinn turns to me with a waggle of his eyebrows, mouthing, “See? Your year.”
I wave to the kids with a smile, jerking my chin up when one little boy calls my name again.
“And yes, it seems you know him too,” Wes says and flashes a smile in my direction. “Blake Boden is the quarterback at Dickson University and has generously volunteered his time to help you guys learn this year.”
My eyes can’t decide where to look, bouncing around the crowd at all the kids and occasionally looking to where Lexi stands beside her stepdad. When I see she’s looking in my direction, her eyes focused in that analytical way I’ve seen so many times before, I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking right now.
Is she mad I’m here? Is she happy I’m here?
Has she finally decided that she should give in and marry me?
Surely the latter is over the top, but the fact that she’s not tossing glare-daggers my way is all the response I need.
Add in the excitement as the kids scream about getting to work with me, and a warm wave of pride crashes over my chest. Becoming the guy people look up to in a sport I love is an accomplishment in and of itself. Whether I end up making the pros or not, I’m certain this is an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Pulling a ball from the ground at my side, I pass a quick ten-yard lateral to the sideline, where a waiting boy in a Mavericks camp shirt and black jersey shorts waits with his hands up. He completes the catch with the ball tucked to his chest and then does a quick shuffle with his feet to turn upfield. His moves are impressive, reminding me of what I was like when I was just becoming obsessed with the game at eight years old.
Lexi holds court with a group of other kids, talking shop and statistics for pretty much the entire past roster of Mavericks’ football.
I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to her yet today, but as things wind down, I’m hoping I can catch her before she leaves. Her highlight reel video at the beginning of the day was so fucking well done, including a huge tribute to memorialized soldiers at the end and everything.
Graphics and videography may not be her main skill set, but I’m starting to think there isn’t anything her brilliant mind can’t do.
I pick up another ball and repeat the process for the last two kids in line, shouting encouragement as they each make their catch, the second of which wasn’t even that suitable of a pass.
“Good hands!”
They beam under the praise and run to join the group in front of Lexi, tossing their balls back to me on the way. I net them all back into the bag, pull the drawstring, and then follow them over.
Quinn, Sean, Six, Teeny, Wes, and Winnie have already left for the day, so it’s just me, Lexi, and the kids.
The last time we found ourselves alone in a football stadium together, the night ended in a kiss. I can only hope this time goes as well.
“Great job today, everyone,” I say encouragingly as I join Lexi at the front of the group. As in any camp like this, it’s plain to see that some of the kids have more natural talent than others, but the heart of every single one of them was huge. They all put in one hundred percent effort for the whole two hours, which is a lot for kids ten and under, attention-span-wise. “I’m so impressed with everyone’s effort today and can’t wait to see where we can get Wednesday. My goal is to leave you with as many exercises and drills as possible that you can use at home and in your own team’s training to improve your timing, hand-eye coordination, and general knowledge of the game. Speaking of which, Lexi here is a wealth of football knowledge, so be thinking between now and Wednesday of some new questions you can ask in an effort to stump her.”