Game Changer

by Tommy Greenwald

  For Jack, Joe, and Charlie

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Greenwald, Tom, 1962– author.

  Title: Game changer / by Tommy Greenwald.

  Description: New York: Amulet Books, 2018. | Summary: While thirteen-year-old Teddy fights for his life after a football injury at training camp, his friends and family gather to support him and discuss events leading to his coma. Told through dialogue, text messages, newspaper articles, transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy’s inner thoughts.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2017055217 | ISBN 9781419731433 (hardcover with jacket) | eISBN 9781683353928 Subjects: | CYAC: Football—Fiction. | Sports injuries—Fiction. | Coma—Fiction. | Hazing—Fiction. | Family problems—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.G8523 Gam 2018 | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  Text copyright © 2018 Tommy Greenwald

  Cover illustrations © 2018 Neil Swabb

  Book design by Melissa J. Barrett

  Published in 2018 by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

  Amulet Books are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com or the address below.

  Amulet Books® is a registered trademark of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

  ABRAMS The Art of Books

  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

  abramsbooks.com

  game changer n: an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about something

  WINNING THE

  WALTHORNE WAY

  WE ARE THE WALTHORNE WILDCATS.

  WE WIN AS A TEAM.

  WE LOSE AS A TEAM.

  WE WORK TOGETHER.

  WE PLAY TOGETHER.

  WE FIGHT TOGETHER.

  WE TRUST ONE ANOTHER.

  WE PROTECT ONE ANOTHER.

  WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

  WE DEFEND ONE ANOTHER.

  WE RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.

  NO ONE IS ALONE ON THE TEAM.

  NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE TEAM.

  NO ONE COMES BETWEEN YOU AND THE TEAM.

  WE ARE THE WALTHORNE WILDCATS.

  WALTHORNENEWS.COM

  MONDAY, AUGUST 22 9:47 PM

  High Expectations for Walthorne Football This Season

  In a tradition that signals the end of summer almost as much as back-to-school sales and falling leaves, the Walthorne High School Wildcats football program opened their preseason training camp this morning.

  More than one hundred student-athletes, from incoming freshmen to returning varsity stars, gathered together at Wildcat Stadium, participating in what Coach Louis Bizetti called “the first step in our long journey together.” Coach Bizetti, the Hall of Fame legend who is beginning his sixteenth season leading the Wildcats, already has three state titles under his belt and thinks this year could make four. “I’m really excited about our chances,” he said. “We’ve got a ton of talent on this team, and I expect to go a long way.”

  Captain Will Burdeen, a senior all-state running back and defensive back, echoed his coach’s sentiments. “We’ve got some great kids, and I’m really excited,” said Will, during morning stretching. “This camp will give the returning players a head start on achieving our goals while working the new kids in and getting them pumped up about joining our amazing program.”

  Walthorne’s varsity season begins Friday night, September 16, with a home game against Ramsdale High School. The game is already sold out, but there is a standby list for cancellations—visit WalthorneWildcats.com for more information.

  PART ONE

  FRIDAY, AUGUST 26

  5:43 PM

  HOSPITAL ADMITTANCE REPORT

  EDWARD YOUNGBLOOD

  13-YEAR-OLD MALE, HEAD TRAUMA.

  POSSIBLE INTRACRANIAL BLEED.

  NO EXTERNAL INJURIES.

  COMATOSE, NEEDS TOTAL RESPIRATORY CARE.

  CONDITION: CRITICAL

  INSIDE

  Light in the darkness

  Circles without shape

  Colors I can’t see

  Memories I can’t feel

  Voices but no words

  Thoughts but no meaning

  Come on, Eden, let’s do this

  Don’t be soft

  Can you hit somebody?

  Show me you can hit somebody

  Eden

  Eden, come on

  Come on

  Eden

  I’m

  I didn’t

  Don’t be a girl

  This wasn’t

  I’m falling

  I’m falling

  I’m

  I’m

  Is it raining?

  6:51 PM

  Group Text from Will

  16 People

  guys

  just checking in to make sure

  everyone has the latest info

  incoming freshman ted youngblood is in the hospital from that hit he took at camp today

  it’s pretty bad, not sure how bad yet but i heard he’s still unconscious

  it sucks

  even though these things happen in football sometimes it totally sucks

  i want to make sure everyone is doing okay

  everyone on the team needs to keep their heads in the game

  be strong and stick together

  we’re a team and we’ll always be a team

  never forget that guys!

  if i hear anything else i’ll update on this thread

  otherwise see everyone at practice monday 8am sharp

  DR. SPARKS

  Mr. and Mrs. Youngblood

  I want you to know your son is in the best hands

  He’s getting the finest care

  The very best care

  The most important thing for him is rest

  So his brain can heal

  And he needs to know you’re there

  It’s important to talk to him

  He can hear you, I promise

  He is listening

  Not in the traditional sense, of course

  And we can’t expect any sort of response just yet

  But he can hear every word you say

  It’s very important to keep talking to him

  One person at a time is best

  Multiple voices can be too much

  We don’t want to overwhelm him

  But he needs to be stimulated

  Stay positive and strong

  Try not to sound upset or scared

  Talk about anything you want, but stay upbeat

  He will get through this as long as you’re right there with him

  Remember

  Every word counts.

  MOM

  Honey

  Teddy

  Can you feel my hand?

  Squeeze my hand if you can feel it

  Squeeze it, honey

  Okay, maybe later

  I

  Am I too close?

  I’m going to sit

  I’ll sit here, okay?

  I stopped by the house and picked up a bunch of your things

  Some posters and your favorite pj’s and other stuff />
  But I forgot your pillow

  I’m so mad I forgot your pillow

  I texted Dad

  He just left to pick up Janey, so I asked him to get it

  I’m going to wash the pillowcase

  Get it nice and soft just the way you like it

  I know how much you love that pillow

  I would get it myself, but I don’t want to leave you right now

  I want to stay right here

  I’m going to stay right here

  I love you so much

  I’m here

  I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart

  I’m never going anywhere again

  I’m back

  I’m here

  I’m back for good.

  DAD

  Hey

  Hey, bud

  How’s my guy?

  How’s my man?

  You look great, Teddy

  You look really good

  You really do

  I’m not just saying that

  You look strong

  Okay, so

  Uh

  I know you saw Mom

  She hasn’t been

  You know

  It’s been a while, kiddo

  But she loves you very much

  More than anything in this world

  She only wants to see you get better

  We all need to be a family right now

  Hey, look what I found

  I guess I had it in the office

  One of your first game balls

  Oh man, remember?

  The sixth-grade championship a few years back?

  That was some game

  You made that goal line tackle and the whole team jumped on you

  Crowd going nuts

  That’s what it’s all about

  Remember they used to call you the “game changer”?

  Because you were always the one who made the difference

  Man was I proud

  Oh yeah

  I brought your speakers

  You can blast your music as loud as you want

  So

  Oh man

  You’ll be just fine, Teddy

  I know you will

  You’re such a tough kid

  So strong and tough

  You look really great, though, you really do

  Oh shoot

  I got Mom’s text about the pillow, but I forgot to bring it

  I better go get it

  Okay, kiddo

  Somebody wants to say hi

  Go ahead, honey

  Don’t be afraid

  Go ahead.

  JANEY

  Hey, Teddy

  Um

  Hi

  Are you

  Are you doing okay?

  Ugh

  That was stupid

  So

  Yeah, no

  They said

  They said just talk to you like I guess I would talk to you any other day, right?

  Okay, so

  I can’t believe Dad forgot your pillow. Of course that turned into a whole thing, what else is new? But anyway, Dad is going back to the house to get it. It’s weird to see Mom and Dad together. Like, it’s the same, but different. Your hair is super dirty by the way. You’re lucky you can’t see it. I mean, obviously you’re not, but you are. What a mess, somebody should totally wash it for you, it’s like really greasy, and like, you would be so mad if you saw your hair right now, you would be like, so mad if you could see yourself. You know how you stare at yourself in the mirror all the time and I yell at you because I need the bathroom

  Maybe Dad can get the nurse to wash it

  I didn’t know they had men nurses

  Or I guess I knew they did, but I don’t think I’ve ever met one before

  Do you want me to check your texts? Or Dad can I guess

  Alec texted me, he said he’s coming

  He got a text from Camille, she is going to come see you too, with her dad

  I guess a lot of people already heard about what happened, like the whole town has heard already, and everybody feels horrible, all the kids in your grade and stuff, they’re all kind of freaking out, especially the boys on the football team, I’m sure you know that already

  Alec sounded so scared

  Oh wait, I forgot Mom said I shouldn’t talk about that stuff

  Uh

  Yeah, so, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?

  Night, Teddy

  Please come home

  Wash that hair though, okay?

  9:09 PM

  Text from Alec

  ethan

  ethan are you there

  dude what’s going on

  pls text me back

  people want to know how u r doing

  just mking sure you’re okay

  let me know if you want to talk about it

  seriously ethan text me back okay??

  Friday at 9:22 pm

  Camille I don’t know if everyone heard but Teddy Youngblood was hurt today at football preseason camp. He is in the hospital and I’m not sure how serious it is but I think it’s pretty serious because my dad has been on the phone with different people for hours and it seems like it’s bad. I have been crying all night I feel like I have no more tears left. As soon as I have more information from my dad I will let everyone know and if anybody knows anything else they should share it too. I’m so scared.

  37

  Like · Reply

  NURSE RICKY

  Hello there, Mr. Edward Youngblood

  I like that name by the way

  I really do

  Anyway

  I’m Nurse Ricky

  But you can call me just Ricky

  I’ll be looking after you during your stay here with us

  My job is to make your visit as comfortable as possible

  So if there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to holler

  Sound good?

  Your family is here and they love you very much

  That’s a good-looking family you got there by the way

  Not too shabby

  But it’s almost bedtime

  Time to dream

  Forget your troubles, come on get happy

  We’re gonna wipe all your cares away

  You know that song?

  Of course not

  It’s way before your time

  It’s way before my time

  You just get your rest, okay?

  So your kid sister was giving me a hard time about not washing your hair

  Feisty little thing, isn’t she?

  Gotta keep on her good side, yes I do

  So let’s do this

  Here, let me lift you up just a little

  Fix this mop up once and for all

  There we go

  There we are

  That feels better, right?

  That’s the way uh-huh uh-huh

  I like it uh-huh uh-huh

  That’s the way I like it

  You know that song?

  You don’t know that one either?

  We need to educate you in the ways of music

  Yup, there we go

  This oughta make your sister happy

  Tough little cookie, that one

  Tomorrow we’re going to give you a bath

  Deal?

  Okay good, you just get your rest

  My goodness you’re just a child

  They’re just children

  Just babies

  Why is this world getting so crazy?

  MOM

  Sweetie

  Honey

  Tomorrow we start to fight our way back

  We’re gonna fight, honey

  The doctor said you could have a few more visitors

  Friends and family only though

  I guess the team wants to come

  The boys who were there

  They’re still shocked of course

  But they were hoping to see you to mak
e sure you’re okay

  That you’re gonna be okay

  And I guess the high school coach who runs the camp

  Coach Bizetti I think his name is

  He called Dad

  He wants to come by too

  Supposedly he’s a legend around here, like a god or something

  We all know how nuts this town is about football, right?

  Don’t worry though, I won’t embarrass you by telling him how I really feel

  I would never do that to you

  Anyway, he wants to come say hi

  Dad said the coach told him you’re a great player

  Which is very nice, but honestly I’m more interested in finding out what happened

  He needs to tell us exactly what happened

  We have gotten so many calls and texts from people wanting to come

  Everyone wants to see you, Teddy

  Everyone wants to see you get better

  But no one more than me and Janey, and Daddy

  I’m so

  I still can’t believe this

  But if anyone can handle it, it’s you

  So it’s time for bed I guess

  But first I just

  I just need to tell you something, Teddy

  I need to tell you that I wish I’d been here

  I just

  I really do

  So okay, sleep well, honey

  I’m so glad Dad got your pillow

  I’ll be right here if you need me

  Right next to you

  Right here.

  10:32 PM

  Text from Ethan

  hey alec

  thanks for texting but i’m okay

  i don’t really feel like talking about it though

  my parents are making me talk to some guy tomorrow

  but whatever

  thanks for checking in

  10:49 PM

  Group Text from Will

  yo ethan this is will

  captain of varsity

  your buddy alex gave me your number

  he said you texted him a few minutes ago

  i hope you’re okay

  so a lot of kids from camp are gonna be talking to these people from school

  therapists or something

  i’m sure you are too right?

  just want to make sure you’re cool

  thanks

  Today 10:54 PM

  hey ethan this is will again

  just hit me back to let me know you got my last text

  thanks