Free Incoming Freshman by Carol Lynne Page A

something that involved a ball to occupy his time.
    It wasn’t until he was in high school that he’d played his first video game at a friend’s house. The only thing Bobby had been allowed to do that didn’t involve a ball was fishing in the family pond. He’d loved his dad, but there were times he’d felt he was living his life for his dad rather than for himself.
    Earl Sikes had been a star football player in high school, and he was bound and determined that his only child would be even better. His dream for Bobby Ray was to play his way through college, something Earl had never been quite good enough to do.
    Watching Chase made Bobby feel like a fake. He spotted the more experienced players jogging towards the practice field and tried to push Chase from his mind.
    After an hour of watching last year’s team practice, Bobby couldn’t take anymore. The junior running back, Colson Farley, was good—damn good. Bobby wondered what Colson thought of a senior dropping in to take his position. He stood and tried to sneak away without garnering Chet’s attention. He managed to evade Chet’s notice, but not Julian’s.
    “Bobby Ray, wait up,” Julian called, running towards him.
    Shit. Bobby stopped and shielded his eyes against the bright afternoon sun. “Hey.”
    Julian slowed to a stop when he reached Bobby. “Is everything okay? You’re not hurtin’ are you?”
    Actually, he felt like he was dying, but he couldn’t tell Julian that. “Just thirsty. Thought I’d go in for a bottle of water.”
    Julian’s eyebrows drew together. “There’s water right down there on the field.”
    “Yeah, for the players. I don’t think I qualify today.” Bobby turned and started moving towards the safety of the locker room.
    “Why don’t you soak your knee in the tub while you’re in there,” Julian suggested.
    Bobby lifted his hand in acknowledgement and continued walking, trying his best not to limp. Once he stepped into the air conditioned facility he grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge in the exercise room. As he drank, he stared at the VertiMax. He knew he wouldn’t be well enough to play until he could gather the guts to work out on that damn thing.
    Bobby put the bottle down, and began the process of setting up the tension bands on the machine. He found the belt draped over the nearby bench and fastened it around his waist. Finally clipped to the tension bands, Bobby took a deep breath. After counting down from three, Bobby attempted his first jump. Although not pretty, he managed to land the jump without crumpling to the ground. He tried again, this time using more force on his push-off. His left leg started to buckle on the landing, but he kept his footing. It seemed he’d reached his limit and he’d barely been able to get off the ground.
    He tore off the belt and left it on the VertiMax still clipped to the tension bands. Bobby grabbed the bottle of water and finished it off on his way to Chet’s office. He sat in one of the chairs in front of Chet’s desk and slid the phone closer, punching in numbers without thought.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, Mom.” Bobby rested his forehead against the edge of the desk with the handset held in a white-knuckle grip.
    “Is everything okay? You don’t sound like yourself.”
    “Right now I don’t even know who I am, so I don’t doubt I sound different.”
    “You’re talking in puzzles, Bobby Ray. Spit it out. What’s going on?” Ellen asked.
    “My knees not getting better. I had a plan before I left home, but now I don’t think I can go through with it.”
    “You need that surgery, don’t you?”
    “Yeah. Either that or give up football.” Bobby turned his head to the side and rested his cheek on the cool metal desktop.
    “What does Chet say?”
    Bobby bit his bottom lip. “I haven’t told him. He thinks I’m getting better.” He knew he had to tell his mom all of it or the guilt would eat him alive. “Here’s the thing. All I have to do is