Chapter 69
Archer
Elle is stressed. Between finishing up the final touches for Vi’s wedding and the end of the year school stuff, particularly field day, she’s one minor inconvenience away from a meltdown.
Ty said that Sadie is equally stressed. Apparently, their PE teacher, who is in charge of Field Day, quit to go “find himself.” Which normally would be the principal’s problem to handle except his wife just had a baby so he’s out for paternity leave. Talk about a perfect storm.
They needed a game plan, and who better to create a game plan than Super Bowl champs?
The plan consisted of several steps.
Step 1: Find volunteers.
That was easy, DJ, Cam, Mack and a few of Mack’s clients from the Thundersnow were more than willing to give up one of their days to help the kids.
Stephanie also volunteered her time. Ty and specifically said we wanted to keep this under wraps, no advertising this.
Steph was cool with it, she wanted to help; her cousin kids’ go to Elle and Sadie’s school apparently.
Step 2: Go to the central office with the necessary background checks so we can volunteer.
Also, surprisingly easy. Since professional teams are expected to keep background checks on all the employees.
Step 3: Figure out what stations Field Day is going to have and split the additional manpower appropriately.
This was a bit harder. Elle said there was going to be parent volunteers, but she wasn’t sure how many parents were going to be there. The sixth-grade teachers were in charge of the volunteers.
We ultimately had Steph reach out, saying the Wolves would like to donate supplies for Field Day. The organization was surprisingly chill with the idea. I guess it’s easy positive press, donating to a school.
From the correspondence with the school Steph was able to find out the exact number of students and parents that were going to be attending so we were able to donate the appropriate amount of water bottles, snacks and hot lunch for everyone.
I threw in the consumable supplies for the school.
I, meaning Jason, the real MVP of my life, went out and purchased water balloons, regular balloons, cones, extra soccer balls, an additional tug of war rope and medals for the kids to wear after field day as well as two additional blow-up obstacle courses.
I really hope those don’t become consumable but if they do, oh well.
Coach caught wind of all this because honestly nothing gets past that man. He also volunteered his time, snowballing into the rest of the coaches and team coordinators volunteering their time. They said they would happily man the grills for the cookout lunch.
Step 4: Show up and Help Out.
The day finally arrived. Elle left earlier than normal.
Freaking out about getting everything ready.
What she doesn’t realize is that I am right behind her. Well, we all are actually. We meet Coach and the rest of the additional manpower we gathered, in the back parking lot right by the soccer fields where field day is being set up.
We quickly get to work, setting everything up with the help of the other parent volunteers. We state we will happily take pictures after everything is set up which they are all fine with.
Thanks to all the additional manpower and the organizational skills of the teachers preparing everything beforehand. We have 23 stations set up and ready to go before the students are even finished with breakfast.
The kids come out in a tidal wave of giddy screams. The youngest ones are ecstatic because of the simple fact it’s field day, the older ones, are more star struck by their favorite players being there.
I’m working at the water balloon station with DJ, when I see her for the first time since she left in the morning.
Elle is there wearing a purple shirt signaling that she is part of the kindergarten team.
Her brown hair is pulled up in a high ponytail and she looks completely in her element.
Albeit a little shocked. I see it etched on her face, the wonder of how this all came together so perfectly.
Then she sees it. The Wolves logo on the water bottles.
I watch as she scans the crowd. It takes everything I have not to call out to her.
Then she sees me. That beautiful smile stretches across her face.
I know she can’t leave her class, and I don’t want to leave my station, forcing DJ to man the water balloons alone.
“Go get her already!” DJ quips.
I’m already running. Not full speed, I’m afraid I might run over a seven-year-old.
I physically restrain myself from wrapping her in a hug when I reach her, trying to remain professional.
“Archer Earnest Bell!” She whispers. “Did you do all this?!”
“Well,” I smile. “Steph did a lot of the organizing. Ty and I just had the idea.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She covertly tries to wipe her eyes.
“Anything for you, plus the boys really missed you. Mack especially. He drug some of his boys here.” I nod toward Mack and the Thundersnow players.
The players looking like giants compared to the kids.
One of the players has a second grader on his shoulder.
It must be his daughter or niece. She lets out a joyous laugh. “Let me introduce you to my kids.”
I’m introduced to twenty-four tiny children, who stare at me in wide eyed wonder.
I don’t think they know who I am exactly, i think my height is really what wows them.
I crouch down to take a group picture that Elle insists on taking.
She’s standing behind her kids, while I’m surrounded by them.
One of the parents takes the photo for us, and Elle immediately uploads it to her parent app.
After the picture, she explains the station to the children and lets the parent volunteers take over. I take this opportunity to sneak a quick hug.
“I can’t believe you did all this!” She says looking at me.
“I can’t believe you didn’t catch me, there were so many times I thought I was going to be busted by you.” I laugh.
“Thank you Arch, seriously, this is amazing. The kids will remember this forever.”
“Anything for you.” I say giving her one more quick squeeze. “I’ll see you guys at the water balloons.” I blow her a kiss before jogging back off towards my station.