Page 15 of Enemies to Prom Dates
Again, it wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate his journey. His struggles to get a scholarship to play for a Catholic high school where he got noticed by Division One scouts. Then on to a year at Duke, where, as a freshman, he led his team to an NCAA Championship title. Finally, to the 76’ers where he delivered three back-to-back-to-back titles for the city of Philadelphia.
My dad was a basketball legend. Beyond that, the thing only people who knew him really understood, he was way smarter than he was athletic. More brain than body. My dad used basketball as a means to the end. Now an activist for social justice, he and my mother were going change the world for the better.
It was a hell of a thing to live up to that, but it was my destiny to join them. I knew that. I knew what it was to not only push myself in every direction, but also always beyond what was comfortable. Athletically, academically, socially.
However, I also knew my dad would agree that sometimes you have to go along to get along. You just needed to know when to pick your moments. The battle for QB One this year was not one of those moments.
“Dad, please. I get you. I do. But this isn’t East Baltimore. It’s Haddonfield. There is a certain way of doing things here. If I go all out and show up Chas, people are going to think I’m an asshole. I lay low, bide my time, then next year I’m a hero. It’s a game, and part of the game is seniors get to play their senior year. I’ll be QB One next year.”
His lips firmed. He hated when I used logic against him.
“You have all of your mother’s rationalism and none of my passion,” he told me.
As criticisms went it wasn’t too harsh.
It also wasn’t true. I had a lot of his passion; I just did a better job keeping it to myself.
“Wait a minute. Are you saying I’m not passionate?” my mother chimed in with a displeased tone, although I could see the hint of mischief around her mouth.
My dad smiled back at her. “I don’t know, baby, are you? You might have to remind me tonight. I forget.”
Both Gi and I groaned.
“Please no sex innuendo at dinner,” Gi stated firmly. “It’s gross.”
“After twenty years of marriage your mother and I still love each other. We like to express that love physically. You should be proud of us, not grossed out,” my father said pointing a fork in Gigi’s direction.
“My parents like to bang,” Gi said. “Awesome. But can I be proud of you after dinner?”
My father chuckled. My mother gave Gi a dark scowl, but the topic was over for now so I could go back to focusing on my soup and trying not to think about Beth Bennet naked in a closet.
4
Friday Night
Beth
“Go! Run, run. No tackle. No tackle!” I shouted from my seat in the bleachers. While I had no plans to put on a short skirt and kick my legs in the air, that didn’t mean I wasn’t supportive of my high school football team. The Haddonfield Bulldogs.
Tonight was the first home game of the season and the bleachers were packed with students, family and just about everyone else from town.
“Do you have any idea what you’re shouting?” Janie asked me.
I looked at her shrugged. “No. Of course not. I’m not even sure if we’re doing well or not since there is no score yet. But it’s the thought that counts, and you said if you came, you would get into the spirit of it.”
“I’m here instead of making the world a better place. That should be enough for you.”
“Yes, why are you here, by the way? Shouldn’t you be knocking on doors.”
Janie sighed. “They canceled the event. Apparently there weren’t enough youth volunteers.”
“Because it’s Friday night. And football. And everyone from our school is here. I don’t know how they thought they would get any volunteers. How many were there besides you?”
Janie frowned, which made me laugh.
“Right. There were none besides you. Look, Janie I get it. You want to change the world, but please don’t forget to have fun along the way.”
“Fun is a luxury most foster kids don’t have.”
