CHAPTER FOUR #3
I wrap up my last lap and head inside to shower and get out of here.
I may not have a full-time job outside of this like some of the other guys since I’m under a decent contract, but I do have a part-time job at the high school helping coach football in the fall and baseball in the spring.
In the spring, I’m an assistant coach and come to games or practices when I can, but in the fall, I’m one of the head football coaches.
I might have found my place in rugby, but I have discovered that I really enjoy coaching football and baseball.
Watching the guys figure out strategy and the little intricacies that make up the sport is something I don’t tire of.
The baseball players understand RBIs are what helps win games and that doesn’t always mean a home run, and the football players understand that protecting the quarterback can be as important as running for a touchdown.
I walk inside and see that Carter, Zane, and Dustin are right in front of me along with our captain, Anders, and the rookie, Justice.
Right as I reach my locker and grab a couple of towels from the clean pile, the door opens again with a bang, and Zack walks in with a pissed-off look that hasn’t left his face since the match the other day.
He played really poorly, and I imagine that didn’t look good in front of the scouts for the national team.
He’s the kind of guy who will blame everyone but himself.
It couldn’t be his lack of taking his training seriously, no.
He would blame the groundskeeper for the pitch being too muddy.
I’m surprised he didn’t blame the weatherman for predicting the rain.
I mean, it is spring in the Pacific Northwest. It’s gonna rain more days than not.
Zack stomps over to the clean towels and grabs a couple with such force that he knocks over the rest of the pile.
Anders, being one of the few people Zack seems to actually listen to, speaks up.
“Harrison, maybe the last match will teach you that raw talent ain’t fucking enough and that you gotta train hard and fucking work with your teammates.
This ain’t a sport where one person can be a fucking star and win.
It’s a fucking team effort, and if you don’t fucking work with us, you won’t win with us.
” I look around the clubhouse and every guy is nodding his head, some making noises of agreement.
Anders may not be the most vocal captain, but when he does speak, it’s obvious why he’s our captain.
The man’s over forty and has played for many years, some of them in the UK and Australia where he made a name for himself.
He’s got more experience than most of us put together.
I know Coach sees him as a teacher as much as a player.
Zack doesn’t have a quick comeback to what Anders just told him. He mutters out, “Whatever,” and stomps off to the showers.
Dustin, who’s as quiet as can be, surprises all of us by speaking up.
“He’s never going to get it. He’s like those guys we all know, the ones who peaked in high school.
Being captain of the football team when you're in high school is one thing, but it don’t mean shit when you’re twenty-five. Some guys just never learn.”
Dustin isn’t wrong, but that sentence kind of became the end of that whole conversation.
Within a couple of minutes, everyone returned to their own shit, with some guys showering and having to head off to whatever job they might have and some just cleaning up to go home.
I made quick work of my shower and am packing up the stuff I’m taking on the road trip that we leave for tomorrow, when Anders comes up to me, looking like he wants to say something, so I wait him out as I zip up my duffle bag.
“I heard your girlfriend came to the last match.” I nod and look at him because that didn’t sound like a complete thought.
“I know we don’t know each other that well, Evanich, but I think it’s a good thing you’ve got more than rugby goin’ on.
” I’m not sure where he’s going with this, and it must show on my face, so Anders continues.
“You’ve got a natural talent. You have a passion for this sport that reminds me of me at your age.
” He gets a far-off look on his face before he continues.
“This is a great sport, it truly is, but it’s not everything in life.
It’s important to remember that. As someone who didn’t, I don’t want you making that same mistake and finding yourself like me, looking back on so many other things I missed out on.
” I want to ask him what he means, but he claps me on my shoulder.
“You have shit to do. Go do it. Let’s grab dinner one night on this road trip, and I’ll elaborate on what I’m talkin’ about. ”
“Yeah, let’s do that because you’ve left me with more questions than I had before this conversation.” Anders nods, and we both walk out to our trucks and leave for the day. I’m not sure what possesses me, but before I take off, I pull out my phone and send a message to Hanna.
Me: I know I’m not great with words, but I wanted to thank you for coming to see me play, but more importantly, I want to thank you for all the cooking and stuff you did for me. I may not say it, but that definitely didn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated.
I don’t wait for a reply but feel more settled after sending it. Rugby might be my focus, but Hanna’s quickly becoming someone I can’t keep off my mind, and to be honest, I like having her there.
On that note, it’s time to go deal with some stinky, sweaty teenagers who still think every at-bat needs to be a home run.
Junior varsity practice is always a reminder of how dumb we males are at fourteen and fifteen.
Fuck, are we much smarter as adults? Maybe, as long as we’re thinking with our brains that are three feet above our asses.