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1 Mad Skills

Jessie

It eeks until I officially began classes at East Franklin High as the new guy, but today I was getting a preview of my new teammates and competition on the football field From what I had heard and read about Coach Osborne, he was serious about this tea less thanThe spot was necessary if I planned to get a football scholarship and get the hell out of the place I currently hunglot next to the field house didn’t look like it was filled with vehicles belonging to high school kids – it lookedat The Peabody My old jalopy definitely didn’t fit in, so I took this as the first clue that I wouldn’t either

I joined the crowd of guys sitting on the bleachers and thebefore us announced, "I’m Coach Osborne and this is my assistant, Coach Sheffield Before I can put you on the field, I need a copy of your physical"

We didn’t have to get physicals at Collinsville, so as up with that? A physicala doctor, which required ht of the injury towhat I would do if I couldn’t find a doc to release me to play because of the extensive trauma Physical therapy had helped, but it wasn’t a hundred percent and I still had a lot of pain, which I’d chosen to deal with, rather than control with narcotics

I watched the other players as they lined up to turn in their physicals and thought about how soed fors I needed and here I stood, 18 years old, still doing the sa

"Coach, I haven’t had a physical yet I’m a transfer student and I didn’t know I needed one They weren’t required at my old school" I tried torather than lack of money

"I can’t let you participate in practice until you are released and I have the paperwork on file It’s a new policy, but one other schools will be requiring soon What’s your naan writing "Which school did you play for?"

I sighed It was only a ured er than one day The likelihood of standing a chance with these brats plummeted to zilch when I announced I previously attended Collinsville, because everyone knew only poor, disadvantaged kids attended Collinsville High School

Coach Osborne didn’t look up froe what my attendance at Collinsvillequarterback, sir," I arrogantly announced, then turned to look at the crowd of guys, who’d erupted into laughter at that

"Looks like you’ve got souy I assumed was Henderson sized me up and I did the same to prove I wasn’t afraid of a little co, then returned his eyes to his clipboard and continued taking notes "You throith your right or left arm, Boone?"

"Both," I answered

"Okay, letar the coach, "Both are pretty much equal because I’m ambidextrous I can throw about 60 yards from either ar the crowd, then, "He’s full of it"

Coach’s interest in me was peaked and he was curious to see if what I claimed was true

"Only one way to find out" He escortedto see proof of my rare ability Coach Sheffield tossed a ball to ot Cooper, you can be his receiver"

A preppy guy in a polo shirt and expensive jeans sprinted to the end zone and waited for my throalked out to the center of the field and stretched both of ht and I prayed it didn’t letchance to prove naled the guy naavethe football a little under sixty yards The pass was coht it in the end zone

Coach Osborne nodded and said, "Very nice Now, shohat you can do with the other arm"

Cooper tossed the ball to me and I rolled my other shoulder in preparation I cued Cooper to start running again and gave it my best shot I watched the football spiral toward Cooper and he easily coave a silent thanks tome in front of the coach and team

"That was fine job, son Of course, I’ve heard of quarterbacks that could throith both arms, but I’ve never seen it for myself and I certainly never drea to play for me I think you just found a place on this team, but I can’t let you practice until you’re cleared Do you think you can get a physical this week?"

"Yes, sir," I lied

"Okay, work on getting that as quickly as possible so I can put you in Until you’re cleared, I want you observing the teaether"

I nodded and took a seat on the bench while the others dressed out As the players caet used to sitting on the bench because that’s where your garin and I couldn’t resist knocking him down a notch "Aot his ass handed to hiame last season?"