by J. Dursky
#9 Brian Darr, the slipperiest fish in the pond. Most of us know him as Darrfish. Men this small typically cannot play the position he does. Usually being too small means getting injured, but that is not the case for our Darrfish. He earned that nickname from being so small and incredibly difficult to tackle. Standing 5'7" tall and 140 pounds soaking wet. Based off his size, speed, and agility, it seems to be impossible for most teams to tackle him. Every time they get their hands on him he slips right through like trying to catch a fish bare handed.
The last two All-State positions are sort of hard to explain. Especially since this has never happened before. We have someone who has earned first team all-state on offense and defense both! He is not new to being chosen as all-state, like Ford, he is a multi-sport all-state athlete. Previously he has been a state qualifier in track and field for multiple events with his most recent accomplishment being the state champion in the long jump in last year's state track and field meet. This individual leads all receiving categories for the state with 1,904 yards on 37 receptions and 23 touchdowns. He also has 205 yards rushing on 13 attempts with four touchdowns. Not to mention two passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball he has recorded 3 sacks, 111 tackles, and 13 interceptions earning his place in history by becoming all-state as a six foot, 197 pound wide receiver and cornerback, you know him by the number on his jersey, the first all-state iron man, Number Five, Joey Dursky!"
With all 10 athletes at midfield the crowd cheers from both sides of the field.
I look around. I am filled with adrenaline and energy! I have prepared for this since I was 12 years old. Everything that happened this morning is gone. The dream has faded from my mind. Even the announcement has gone in one ear and out the other. My dad told me once, if you are good at something, people will tell you. You have no need to tell anyone how good you are. It helps to keep me humble.
The two teams move to opposite ends. We both stand shoulder to shoulder on opposite goal lines for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. My mind is set on only what is in front of me, the game. I feel my fingers and toes start to tingle. The same tingle I had when I woke up from my dream this afternoon. I don't let it faze me. I often have physical reactions to nervousness or adrenaline. Hell, Ford has thrown up before every single sporting event since we were kids.
As the song ends and the crowd roars both teams make their way to the sidelines. Coach gathers everyone in a circle to choose the play to run on the kickoff return. As he is calling the play the mild tingle I was feeling once before has grown more intense. The feeling is rising up from my fingers and toes to my elbows and knees. Lightning sparks in the west. Is there seriously another storm coming? I don't want the storm to come. I think the weather is perfect how it is now. The sun is setting behind the storm clouds, I can’t smell the popcorn from my location, and it’s replaced with the smell of fresh rain on the grass from earlier today. The lights of the stadium are almost at full power. A second lightning bolt crashes to earth. This one is even closer than the first. I feel the wind pick up. I hear the roar of thunder. This isn't good. They don't cancel games for rain but they will if there is lightning within 11 miles.
The school is surrounded by corn fields on three sides. The fourth side of the property is a medium sized patch of trees maybe 15 square acres or so. This means the highest objects in a 20 mile radius are the light poles on the football field.
Lightning strikes for a third time. This one is very close! It is so close the announcer tells the football teams to go to the locker room and for the fans to wait in their cars. We will post pone the kickoff until the storm passes. As soon as he finishes his sentence the rain starts coming down. It comes over us like a tsunami wave. It is one giant black wall hitting all of us at once. The fans shriek as they try to cover themselves and get to the parking lot.
I have always loved thunderstorms. In fact I wrote a love song to Lila entitled Thunderstorm. I jog toward the locker room but can’t help but notice I still have the tingling feeling. The hair on my neck stands up, as do the ones on my arms. I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. Something is not right. The highway to get to the school is just around the corner from the locker room. As soon as I get to the door to enter the locker room, I hear sirens. It is not a tornado siren. It sounds like police vehicles but the wind is blowing so hard I can’t tell for sure. Instead of entering the locker room, I step around the corner… I see a line of police cars, trucks, and even a few under cover vehicles all heading the same way.
I feel pounding in my head, ringing in my ears, all I see is darkness, and my back is cold. I hear noises that sounds like people talking underwater. I open my eyes and see a crowd of people standing over me. I am lying on the locker room floor.
“What happened?” I ask.
Chapter 6