That was my most satisfying win. We crushed a good team that we had to beat. Fox Sports highlighted the game, and when the Monday morning rankings came out we’d jumped from number ten to number three in Class 5A statewide.
AFTER THE GAME, I WENT out with the team to Monical’s Pizza. This was the first time I’d participated in an after-game get-together. Tracy’s dad had reserved the restaurant’s banquet room for the team.
When I came out of the locker room, Tracy had waited for me. When she saw me, she broke into a huge smile that made me glad she was smiling at me.
“Hey, what do you have me doing tonight?”
She wrapped me in her arms and gave me one of her patented mind-erasing kisses. This was the life. I was sore from playing a game and now in the arms of the most amazing girl. She had her Mustang parked right by the door, so we raced to get in.
“Here’s the schedule for the next 24 hours. We’re going to Monical’s Pizza. I’ve arranged for a couple of the recruiters to ‘bump’ into you. In addition, that cute girl you like at Channel 15 is going to be there for a quick interview. Tomorrow you have seven-on-seven drills and then Pilates.”
I moaned when I heard about Pilates. That sadist was going to try and kill me.
“In the afternoon you have the Band Fundraiser Bachelor Auction and then the party for the fundraiser Saturday night.”
I gave her my best puppy-dog face.
“You are going to bid on me, right?”
I’d volunteered for this when Beth ambushed me earlier in the year. It was all part of her scheme to get Gary Baxter to ask her out. Tracy knew I wasn’t looking forward to doing it, and I made her promise to bid on me. In years past, if the bachelor’s girlfriend bid on him, the rest of the girls backed off. My worst nightmare was to be up on stage and no one bidding on me. Tracy was getting sick of me asking her about it. She just stuck her tongue out at me as we pulled into the parking lot.
“Wow, this place is packed. Why don’t you park across the street at the bank so your car doesn’t get dinged up?”
We were halfway through the parking lot when Tracy stiffened. I looked where she gazed and Bill Rogers glared at us. We didn’t slow down and made it into the restaurant before he could do anything. I knew that at some point he and I would have to settle this. Tracy didn’t need that creep harassing her. As we got inside, I turned to her and pulled her into my arms. I could feel her shaking. I stroked the back of her head and told her everything was okay and that I loved her. When I felt her relax, I let her go. She smiled at me, and the Tracy I loved was back.
We entered the main dining room and ‘bumped’ into Joe Phips, the University of Florida head recruiter. I smiled when I saw him.
“Joe, how’re you doing?”
“Not bad. I was in the neighborhood and decided to take in a game. I see Bo Harrington has been a big help.”
“Yes, he’s worked hard with the team getting them ready. Hey, have you met my right-hand gal, Tracy Dole?”
“Hi, Tracy, we’ve spoken several times on the phone.” He gave me a smirk. “Do you even have a cell phone?”
I blushed.
“I do, but Tracy won’t let me give out its number, so you can stop trying to get her to give it to you.”
He put his hands up in defeat. Tracy winked at me.
“I only give that number out to schools that have made offers.”
Joe took it well.
“Touché. If we were to make an offer, how would we get it to David?”
Tracy slid her hand on Joe’s arm and they went to have a private chat. Before I took a step, the cute Channel 15 Sports girl ambushed me. She was just out of college and covered the local sports scene. The station had launched the careers of many big-market broadcasters. She didn’t introduce herself; she just had the cameraman hit me with the lights and shoved a mic in my face.
Tracy had briefed me on how to handle this tonight. Monical’s had set up an area that showed the school colors and our logo. I also wanted to get Kevin, Magic, Luke and Bill together. I needed Tracy there so if the interview got out of hand, she could step in and stop me from saying something stupid.
I ignored the reporter’s question and caught Tracy’s eye. She broke away from Joe and gathered the guys. I turned back to the reporter.
“Sorry, let’s get out of the way of people trying to get tables and move over there.”
“David, we’re on deadline. I don’t have a lot of time.”
I just smiled at her and started walking over to the stage. I could see she wasn’t happy, but she had no choice but to follow me. I jumped on stage and the crowd quieted down so they could hear. The cameraman blinded us with his light again.
“David Dawson, freshman star for Lincoln High, had another stellar performance tonight. How do you feel tonight’s game went?”
“It all started on the first play. Our coaching staff had a brilliant game plan and called a run. The offensive line played lights-out all night. I think they only touched me a couple of times. Then these two guys lit it up.” I pulled Luke and Bill forward. “Luke Herndon had another All-State performance with over a hundred yards receiving and a hundred yards rushing. Bill Callaway caught everything I threw at him. He’s by far our most improved offensive player.”
“Some would say you’re the most improved,” she said to interrupt me.
“No, Bill’s the man. Our defense held one of the best teams in the state to no score. ‘Magic’ Mike Wade held their leading receiver to one catch for five yards. Kevin Goode, our defensive captain, had 10 tackles, 3 behind the line of scrimmage.”
“There’s a rumor that you five are trying to package yourselves to attend the State University.”
“I’ll let Ms. Tracy Dole answer that.”
Tracy came up and slid her arm around my waist.
“Tonight, State made scholarship offers to all five players you see up here. Coach Lambert and his staff have informed me that Mike Wade, Kevin Goode and Luke Herndon have all verbally accepted. Bill Callaway, being a junior, is waiting to make his decision, and freshman David Dawson is strongly leaning towards State.”
“Is it true that Kentucky has made David an offer?” she asked.
“Yes they have, and David is very impressed with their program, along with several others. The State offers have made him take notice, though.” Tracy said.
“I saw the University of Florida attended tonight’s game. Have they offered?”
“The staff at the University of Florida got in early on David’s recruitment and they’re evaluating him, but as of now they’re waiting.”
The cameraman turned off the lights and the crowd clapped for the guys. I hugged Tracy and her big goofy smile and my mug made the front page of the Saturday paper. The headline read ‘David Dawson and girlfriend Tracy Dole.’ The rest of the night was a blur. At one point, I actually got to eat some pizza. I organized several teammates to walk us out to Tracy’s car and we saw Bill and his thugs back off. She took me home and we were done for the night.
Saturday October 12
I STILL COULDN’T BELIEVE I’d been talked into the bachelor auction, but Beth was in charge, and when she asked, I couldn’t say no. I found myself with nineteen other ‘volunteers.’ I was happy to see Gary Baxter was one of the guys. I had helped Beth create the plan to get Gary in the auction so she could win the date with him. The clueless doofus would then see she liked him. I wasn’t sure what the attraction was, but he seemed like a nice guy, and if Beth wanted him, I hoped she’d get him.
The way the auction worked was the winning bidder would receive one date with the bachelor. The bidder planned and paid for the date. The bachelor was responsible for being a perfect gentleman and showing the bidder a good time. In years past, many new couples had been created this way. This gave the girls a chance to show their interest in the bachelors. Let’s be honest, most of us were clueless. The girls also seemed to have an unwritten rule that if a bachelor were dating someone, then their girlfriend would bid twenty-five dollars and win the bachelor. Tracy and I had agreed that she would make the minimum bid so I would fulfill my obligation.