by Ann Herrick
We did warm-ups, practiced some moves, and then it was time to play. Just before kickoff I scanned the sidelines. A madly waving arm drew my attention to Mom, holding a notebook. She pointed to Kirstin, camera in hand, ready to record the scrimmage.
The ref blew the whistle. The kicker booted the ball. I clenched my jaw and started living again.
Epilogue
Late November, at the football team awards banquet
We had a pretty good regular season. Nine wins, two losses. In a few days we were headed for the state playoffs. I had just heard my name called as recipient of the Most Valuable Player award.
My knees shook and my palms were so sweaty when Coach Pickett handed me the plaque that I almost dropped it. I stood in front of the microphone, facing the crowd, wondering what to say after the applause died down.
Just as Glynnie caught my eye, it dawned on me. This was my chance to say the stuff I didn't get to say before.
"I want to thank Coach Pickett for being a great teacher and a great coach. He taught me a lot about football and a lot about working through my mistakes. I want to thank Coach Horton, for making me see there's more than one way of doing a job, and believing in me. I want to thank my teammates, especially Rolf Holst, for pushing me to my limits, but not letting me take myself too seriously.
"I want to thank my Mom and my sister for all their love and patience and for putting up with me.
"I want to thank Glynnie Alden for helping me realize I have to confront my problems, not run from them.
"And most of all … for his love, his guidance, his encouragement and his just plain being there for me … most of all, I want to thank my Dad."
The End
More books by Ann Herrick from Books We Love
All's Fair in Love and Words
Hey, Nobody's Perfect
How to Survive a Summer Romance (Or Two)
It's All in Your Mind
Life, Love, and Surviving High School
My Fake Summer Boyfriend
Snowed In Together
The Perfect Guy
The Real Me
Trading Faces
About the Author
Ann Herrick grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University. She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart. Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-rottweiller-beagle mix. While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Ann loves cats, walking, the Oregon Ducks and working in her back yard. In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her web site: http://annherrickauthor.com
http://bookswelove.net
Table of Contents
The Farewell Season
Copyright
Dedication:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Epilogue
More books by Ann Herrick from Books We Love
About the Author