Free Full Impact by Suzanne Weyn Page B

that. I just didn’t know you had that in mind. I’m not sure I want to play pro. I haven’t thought that far ahead. Right now I’m just hoping for a free ride through school to play some college ball.”
    â€œNot me. Ever since I played peewee touch football, going pro’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
    Norval remembered Arnie as a little kid in their peewee football days. Arnie would complain that it was touch football and not tackle. He couldn’t wait to really mix it up with the other team. And that’s exactly what he did once they got to middle school.
    No one was more fearless than Arnie. Some of the kids took to calling him Bouncing Arnie Johnson because he seemed to bounce back after every tackle. It wasn’t surprising that Arnie wanted to play pro ball, once Norval thought about it. Football was what he lived for.
    â€œSorry for yelling at you, man,” Arnie said, walking again. “I’ve just been cranky ever since the game ended.”
    â€œYou seemed okay right after it,” Norval pointed out. “Did something happen?”
    â€œIt’s my head. It started pounding once I got to the party.”
    â€œShould you get it checked out?” Norval asked.
    â€œIt’ll stop. The same thing happened after the last game. But it went away in a couple of hours.”
    They came to Arnie’s apartment building, which was just a few buildings down from Norval’s place. With a quick fist bump, Arnie headed up the front steps. “Later,” he said as he pulled open the front door.
    â€œTake something for your head. Get some sleep,” Norval said from the sidewalk. “Call Lara.”
    â€œSure, sure,” Arnie replied. Flashing Norval a grin, he went inside.
    As Norval walked toward his family’s own apartment, he put Arnie out of his mind. A headache could make anyone cranky.

T
    he Titans’ next big game was two weeks later, against Northside High. Norval joined his teammates at the thirty-yard line and got ready for kickoff.
    Arnie looked distracted, like he was searching the bleachers. Following Arnie’s gaze, Norval noticed scouts in the stands. He recognized the scouts from Wendell College and State U again. Then he spotted two more. One was from Croft College and the other from Phillips University.
    Arnie turned to Norval and jerked his head toward the scouts. Norval nodded, then started trying to block the scouts from his mind. He needed to focus on the game. Hopefully Arnie would do the same.
    Kadeem got into position and began calling plays. When he received the snap from the center, he quickly handed the ball off to Norval.
    Norval raced forward for five yards while Arnie ran interference against the Northside defensive end. With his head down, Norval barreled his way for another yard, confident that Arnie would block the defender. In the next second, though, Norval noticed two more Northside players coming at him from a different direction. Too fast—he couldn’t outrun them. He had to get rid of the ball.
    Is Arnie open, or is that defensive end still on him?
Norval wondered.
    No. Arnie was clear! The defensive end was heading toward Norval.
    Pivoting, Norval lateralled the ball to Arnie. Before Arnie could catch it, the Northside defensive end turned back and slammed into him. The two players who’d been threatening Norval also changed course and piled onto Arnie.
    The whistle blew.
    Norval watched as the Northside defense got to their feet. Arnie lay on the ground, still.
    Assistant Coach Green hurried out onto the field and knelt beside Arnie. Norval was relieved to see Arnie get up onto his elbows. At least he was conscious.
    Head Coach Gannon called for a time-out as the medics came onto the field. Arnie lifted up his helmet to speak to them.
    Even though Norval couldn’t hear what was being said, he had the feeling that Arnie was telling them he was okay. To prove the point, Arnie rose to