Free Raiders Night by Robert Lipsyte

“We’ll see.”
    Pete nodded. It seemed to satisfy him, and he climbed back over Tyrell, who opened one eye, staredat Matt, and closed it slowly.
    The head manager stood up to remind them to wear clean Raider T-shirts to the Welcome Home pep rally tonight. He didn’t get the usual hoots, just low muttering. Nobody was in the mood to be welcomed home.
    Car horns honked as the bus pulled into the school parking lot. Friends, brothers, girlfriends, a few moms and sisters of the freshmen and sophs were waiting. The black Lexus SUV was there, and Chris was in it before the Back Pack climbed down from the bus. Matt’s Jeep was there, too. Good old Mom. He bumped fists with Pete and Tyrell, nodded as the coaches said, “Good camp, rally tonight, practice tomorrow morning,” and grabbed his bag. Brody caught up with him at the Jeep, but he didn’t say anything until they were rolling.
    â€œSo whatcha gonna do?” said Brody.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œYou better have a plan.”
    â€œWhy does it have to be me?” It came out angry.
    â€œYou leave it to them, Matt, they’ll team up and barbecue your balls.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œMandy and Sarah, man. You on another planet?”
    Sometimes you’d think Brody was on another planet, Matt thought. “We got other problems.”
    â€œLike?” Brody made a comic face.
    Matt laughed. Brody was laughing, too. Maybe hewasn’t on another planet. Maybe there was nothing else to do right now.
    Brody said, “Wanna come in, catch the Yankee game?” They were pulling into his big circular driveway.
    â€œI’m whipped. Gonna rack. Need a ride to the rally?”
    â€œNah. See you there.” He dropped out of the Jeep.
    Matt glimpsed Mrs. Brody coming out of the house in her bikini, and he pulled out fast. Didn’t want to deal with anybody.
    He was glad to find his own house empty. Mom had left a note on the refrigerator.
    Welcome back, Matt! The chicken is for dinner, hands off! Shakes on the top shelf. Went to pick up Junie. See you at the rally. Love, Mom.
    He chugged a protein shake while he whizzed in the downstairs bathroom, then wandered the house, enjoying the air-conditioning, the comfort of the rooms. The desk in Dad’s den was stacked with college brochures, videos, CDs, letters, and e-mails from coaches and varsity alumni explaining why Matt and their school were a perfect fit. The shelves on the walls were filled with softball trophies. Rydek Catering isn’t getting one this year, Matt thought. That’s okay with me.
    He went upstairs, dumped his bag on the bed, andglanced at Jerry Rice. Wonder what he would have done on Pride Night.
    He put on running shoes, shorts, and a singlet, grabbed his iPod and car keys, and went out again. He could taste the end of summer in the afternoon air. The fading sweet smell of flowers and vines mixed with the distant silvery edge of fall. He’d always loved this time of year, just before the football season. All the good times lay ahead, excitement right around the corner, a fresh start, the possibility that this year would be different, better. He’d felt some of that expectation hooking up with new girls, even once or twice with new classes. But nothing like the thrilling expectation of a new season. Something in the pit of his stomach made him wonder about this new season.
    He was driving before he realized he had left his cell phone home. On purpose? No one he wanted to talk to. He drove out of town and parked the Jeep in the public lot at the foot of the trail. Few other cars. He slipped on the headphones and found a pounding beat he thought would drive out everything else. He stretched before starting up the narrow dirt path.
    He concentrated on the twists of the trail, the music, and his breathing, but the fingers kept plucking at the corners of his mind. Chris, Dad, Ramp, Mandy, Sarah, Junie. He