Page 60 of Make the Play
Matty turns his red rimmed eyes on Emerson. “Mr. Miller?”
A plan takes shape, one he’s certain he can execute if Jason will agree.
“I’ve got time after class today. I’m sure if your coach will excuse you from practice we can get your book report done in a few hours.”
“You don’t even know what book it is,” Matty protests.
“I’ve read all the books,” Emerson tells him, confident he’s read anything Mr. Caldwell might have assigned. “I can help you.”
Matty frowns. “I can’t miss practice.”
“You can and you will,” Jason challenges. “I don’t want to see you anywhere near that field today. You’re going to meet Em—Mr. Miller after class and work on that report until it’s done, then you’re going to walk it to Mr. Caldwell with a smile because you’re going to be able to play in the game this Friday.”
Matty sighs. “What if I can’t?”
Looking at Matty, it’s hard not to think about Jason, about what he’d just confessed in the truck on the way here. Was this him over a decade ago? It could have been if he hadn’t had a best friend like Theo tutoring him. Emerson makes his mind up; he will not let Matty fail, not over this book report or anything else. He won’t let any of the kids fail. Not if he can help it, which he can.
He’s not some awkward kid anymore, struggling to know his needs or being bullied, and he isn’t going to let some stick in the mud teacher with antiquated, judgmental ideas about how kids should learn make anyone else’s life miserable.
“You can and you will,” Emerson asserts, surprised by the confidence in his tone. “There’s not a single book being used in the English curriculum for any grade this year I haven’t read. I have absolutely no doubt we can get your report done today. You will play in that game this weekend, Matty.”
To his immense surprise, Matty throws himself forward, wrapping Emerson in a hug that has him tumbling back.
“Easy, Matty.”
“Sorry, Coach,” Matty laughs, pulling back. “Sorry, Mr. Miller, I’m just—thank you.”
The two-minute warning bell rings, and Matty laughs, the heavy air around him lifting like the sun peeking out through the clouds after a storm. It makes Emerson feel good, reminds him exactly what it is that he loves about teaching, about his life in Santa Leon. It’s not just the literal sun that’s always out around here, it’s the people too, that make life here feel warm and bright.
“Get to class before you’re late,” Jason grins. “We don’t need you getting detention today.”
“Yes, Coach,” Matty says, stumbling over his feet in his haste to move. “I’ll see you later, Mr. Miller!”
He’s gone before Emerson can reply, sprinting across the quad with all the grace and speed of a star footballer.
“That was damn nice of you, Emmy. You didn’t have to do that, but I’m really fucking grateful you did.”
“I know how much football means to you.”
“Yeah, sure the game means a lot, but it’s the kids. Kids like Matty who never felt confident until they stepped on a field. You’re giving him a shot to prove to Mr. Caldwell, but mostly to himself, that he can do other things, too. You’re exactly the kind of teacher these kids deserve.”
Pride wells up in Emerson, making him feel ten feet tall. There’d been so much doubt when he’d chosen this career. So many people along the way, some well-intentioned and some not, questioning if he’d be able to handle it. At times, his own self-doubt had been the loudest critic of all. Now here he is, proving all of them wrong. Proving himself wrong.
When Jason slips an arm around his shoulder, pulling him close, it’s the easiest thing in the world to lean into the embrace.
“Ready to kick today’s ass, Emmy?”
“I’m ready,” Emerson smiles, meaning every word.
12JASON
“Afternoon, Coach,”Eddie’s smile is clipped tight, his hair in disarray and the buttons on his shirt done up wrong. “Sorry I’m late. The twins are in theirI don’t like clothing phaseso getting them to put something on to get them to my parent’s house was—interesting. It took me almost half an hour to get them to put underwear on.”
“Alec went through that,” Jason laughs, recalling the times one of his parents or hisabuelawould scoop Alec up in a blanket to get him out of the front yard naked. “It was hilarious.”
“It’s hilarious when it’s someone else’s kids and not yours,” Eddie groans. “Archer ended up wearing his Halloween costume, mask and all, and Sawyer went in his bathing suit with a tutu.”
“At least it’s clothing,” Jason grins. “Or clothing adjacent. Is Sawyer still wearing tutus with everything?”
