“But…” Coach Crawford continued. Yet after hisBut, he paused long enough for Tommy to groan.
“It’s such a show,” he mumbled under his breath.
“What is?” Levi asked.
“You don’t remember?” Tommy asked. “Ah, that’s right. You’ve never seen behind the curtain.”
Before Levi could ask for more clarification, Coach Crawford began speaking again.
“We’ve been climbing the ranks for years,” he continued. “But while we have easily risen to the top of our little pocket of Small-Town USA, in competing with the big-city schools in Chicago, with the affluent suburbs whose tax dollars fund things like new turf, uniforms, and elite training camps, Summertown is still a step behind. That means we need to consolidate our efforts…and our funding to truly put Summertown High School back on the map.”
“Muh-SKIES!” a few people chanted, and Coach Crawford let loose a deep, throaty laugh.
“Muskies, indeed,” he replied. “And I can tell by the spirit in this room that you all agree that we need to get behind our team…that we need to do what it takes to compete with the bigger districts, with the stronger teams that have been trying to push us out of our rightful place on top!”
“Muh-SKIES!” several more folks chimed in. But Levi couldn’t help a growing feeling of unease, like this was all leading to something that would pull the rug out from beneath them.
“And so I want to send you off to embark on this new schoolyear knowing that my goal is for all students to thrive, from kindergarten on up to senior year. But I want this town to thrive as well, and that is why I will put everything I can into our team this year. Thank you in advance for your hard work today and the days to come as we kick off the new year. I’ll see you all back here tomorrow morning for a few quick announcements before cutting you loose to prepare for student arrival on Friday. All together now! One… Two… Three…”
“Go, Muskies!”
And with that, the crowd dispersed.
It wasn’t until they were outside, heading toward their cars, that Levi’s shoulders relaxed.
“That was weird, right?” Tommy broke the silence first.
“Thankyou!” Levi replied. “I thought it was all in my head.”
“What do you mean?” Haddie asked.
They stopped beside Levi’s truck.
“So my dad has always had an unwavering love for the football team. That’s nothing out of the ordinary,” Tommy said.
Haddie grinned. “I’m assuming you played too?”
Tommy laughed. “I wore a uniform and rode the bench in ninth grade until I realized one very key piece of information.”
Haddie crossed her arms. “What’s that?”
“That I can’t stand football. Playing it, I mean. I went to every game, supported my buddies on the team, but I had zero desire to be out there with them.” Tommy shrugged. “And so goes the story of how Thomas Crawford the Second, the one and only child of a man who lives and breathes the game, turned out to be a biggerdisappointment than anyone could have imagined.” He spoke the words in the exaggerated voice of a sports announcer, and again Levi felt like he’d been socked in the gut.
Haddie looked Tommy up and down. “Funny,” she told him. “You don’t look like a disappointment.”
Tommy laughed again, and Levi could tell that this time it was real and genuine. Not that he was surprised. Haddie seemed to bring out that type of reaction in people.
“Thanks,” Tommy replied. “I’ll remember that the next time my father tries to cut the debate team’s budget to pay for the football players to take a Coach bus to sectionals instead of a school bus if they make it this year.”
Haddie grimaced. “Yikes.”
“Tommy kicks some big-time ass as the head debate coach,” Levi added. “He did the same when we were students here. So, if you’re looking to lose an argument, look no further than this man right here.”
Tommy chuckled and shook his head. “Yeah, yeah. Enough with compliments, all right? I know I’m hot shit. Sometimes, though, it’d be nice for my old man to realize it.” He shrugged. “Anyway…I gotta get home to the missus,” Tommy added with a grin Levi knew was the happiest smile he’d ever seen on his friend’s face. “See you kids bright and early tomorrow.” He waved to both of them. “Great to meet you, Haddie!” he called as he backed away, then spun on his heel as he headed toward his own car.
Levi tapped the bed of the truck. “Should we head out?” he asked.
Haddie was still staring off in the direction where Tommy hadgone. Finally, she turned to face him again.
