Andrew

«8»

By sl97aq

Andrew, Carrie and Steve came out of the High School after finishing class.

"Will you have much homework?" Carrie asked Andrew.

"No, I think I will breeze through it," replied Andrew."It is just so easy for me. Will you get through yours okay, or would you like some help?"

"We can work on it together after the game," decided Carrie. "MAy I tell you something I have noticed?"

"You don't have to ask," replied Andrew. "YOu know I always like to hear what you have to say."

"Well, I have noticed that the stronger and larger you become, the more you treat me as a fragile china doll. Why is that?"

“I think he is an old softie,” said Steve. “I think his strength may scare him.”

“It does,” agreed Andrew. “I just don’t want to accidentally hurt anyone, like I did with you this summer.”

“Well you were lucky that I am large enough that I was not hurt too badly,” Steve assured him. “Just learn to be more careful. We would like to avoid sending opposing players off the field on stretchers this year.”

“Didn’t they sign waivers to avoid potential lawsuits?” asked Andrew.

“They did, but that’s not the point,” protested Steve. “Take an example from how you treat Carrie and apply it to all people you meet. Use just enough aggression in the games to let us win, don’t destroy the other players.”

“I will try to remember that,” Andrew agreed. “Maybe I will use the methods I developed in practice.”

At 3:30 pm, the senior football team was on the O.D. field practising for the football game, which would begin at 4:00 pm.

Sarah, her boyfriend Chris, his sister Sue, and Andrew’s girlfriend Carrie were all sitting together in the stands.

“Andrew and Steve really dwarf the other players, don’t they?” Sarah commented to Sue.

“Look closer,” Sue suggested, “and you will see how much Andrew dwarfs Steve, at least in width.”

“You’re right,” agreed Sarah, looking more carefully. “I really get an idea of how big he is when I see him from a distance.”

“Speaking of distance, I think I see the Twin Lakes bus approaching,” Chris said.

Everyone turned to follow his pointing finger and they saw that he was right.

The bus pulled up and the players began to come off. None of them matched Andrew’s size, though some of them were Steve’s size. The players looked over at the O. D. team and were stunned at the growth Andrew had experienced over the summer. Andrew noticed a few of his friends from Twin Lakes and waved to them to put them at ease. They waved back hesitantly.

Andrew and Steve came over during the break.

“Did you see how nervous they looked when they saw me?” Andrew asked. “It appears I am not the only one scared by my size. I hope they’re not too terrified when I put my game face on.”

“Don’t worry, as long as you don’t hurt them, everything will be fine,” Carrie assured him. “Remember, I love you.”

Andrew grinned and hugged her gently, but she could barely fit her arms around him.

“You’re like a brick wall!” she gasped in surprise. “See you at halftime.”

Andrew grinned and headed onto the field with Steve.

During the first half of the game, Orillia District (O. D.) blew away the Twin Lakes team 29 to 0, thanks in part to Andrew and his defensive plays. Andrew handed the ball back to the quarterback, and then broke through the defensive line to receive it. Two players tackled him, but they just bounced off him. Andrew tucked the ball under his left arm and ran for the end zone. He flipped the sole defender up in the air with one arm, and ducked under him to score a touchdown.

When the other team had the ball, Andrew broke through the Twin Lakes defensive line and managed to sack the quarterback before he could throw the ball. Once the whistle blew, ending the play, Andrew quickly got off the quarterback and helped him up effortlessly with one hand.

“Thanks,” the quarterback said.

“No problem man,” replied Andrew, slapping him lightly on the shoulder.

On another play, Andrew let the other team’s quarterback throw the ball to the receiver. Then Andrew effortlessly broke through the defensive line and tackled the receiver before he could get even 10 yards. As before, he helped the other player up as soon as the play ended.

At halftime, Andrew and Steve came over to the stands to get some refreshments.

“You did very well Andrew,” said Carrie, hugging him gently. “Very good sportsmanship, helping the opposing players up after you knocked them down.”

“Yes, very well done,” agreed a distinguished gentleman sitting beside her. He was wearing a grey pinstriped suit. “Just the sort of player we want on our team.”

“Thank you sir,” said Andrew politely. “May I ask who you are?”

“I am the Dean of Athletics from the University of Miami,” replied the gentleman. “Pleased to meet you sir,” said Andrew, shaking his hand. “I’m glad you came out to see me play.”

“Once your coach phoned me and sent me the videotape of your great feats of strength, I had to fly up to scout you,” replied the Dean, whose name was Mr. Malcolm. “We look forward to seeing you next fall, Mr. Pearson.”

“Please, call me Andrew,” said Andrew. “It makes me feel more comfortable.”

“In that case, you may call me Tony,” said Mr. Malcolm. “I look forward to the rest of the game.”

Halftime ended and the game resumed. Andrew and Steve did just as well in the second half of the game as they had done in the first half. Twin Lakes had learned a few tricks though. They faked a pass to the receiver, and while Andrew flattened him, another receiver caught the ball in the O. D. endzone. Andrew and Steve wised up and their team played the same trick on Twin Lakes.

During the break after the 3rd quarter, Coach Everson decided on some new strategies.

“I think it is time to render the other team incapable of playing that trick on us again,” he said. “Do our two co-captains have any suggestions?”

He turned to Andrew, and the quarterback, Ralph Connor.

“If I faked a pass, Andrew could knock down anyone who comes to intercept the bait,” Ralph said. “Then the true receiver would have a clear shot at the endzone when their defence gangs up on Andrew.”

“I like it,” said Coach Everson. “What do you think, Andrew?”

“I think I can come up with an explosive surprise for the defence when they try to take me down,” Andrew replied. “Something that will really shock them with my strength and give us a psychological edge for the rest of the game.”

In the 4th quarter, O.D.’s plan worked. Andrew watched Ralph fake a pass to Steve. Then he saw the Twin Lake’s largest player coming down the field to run Steve over. Andrew ran up and ploughed through the player, knocking him down. Then the other four linemen swarmed Andrew, trying to get him down. Andrew crouched down under their weight, and the head offensive guard chuckled.

“We’ve got him boys!” he said. “He’s not going anywhere!”

“Oh yeah?” said Andrew, “ watch this!”

He suddenly heaved upwards, sending all four guys flying into the air. Then Andrew ran down the field, knocking Twin Lakes defenders aside like leaves, as he guarded the true receiver. O. D. scored another touchdown with that play.

Andrew and Steve repeated their plan another time, except that Steve actually was the real receiver, but only after Andrew had knocked down his opposition. Then Steve was the one who scored the touchdown, able to knock defenders aside himself as he barrelled into the endzone. By the time the final whistle blew, O.D. had won the game 50 to 6.

Andrew and Steve joined the line of players as they shook hands with the Twin Lakes team.

“Good game man,” a few of the Twin Lakes players said to Andrew. “Call us later, and we’ll get together.”

“Sure thing,” agreed Andrew. “I’ll do that.”

“You seem to have friends in all areas of this city,” Steve said to him.

“Yes, these are people I knew before they moved to the South End,” Andrew said. “We mainly get together after these games.”

“Good game Andrew,” said Mr. Malcolm as Andrew and Steve approached the stands. “I got lots of footage from the game.” He held up the video camera. “I hope you don’t’ mind if I come with you to your house and meet your parents?”

“They won’t be home for a few hours,” said Andrew. “They are quite busy, that’s why they couldn’t be here for this game. But that sounds like a good idea. Try coming around 9:30 pm; we should all be home by then.”

“It’s a deal,” said Mr. Malcolm, shaking Andrew’s hand. “See you then.”

As Mr. Malcolm left, Coach Everson and the rest of the team came over to the stands.

“What can I do for you Coach?” asked Andrew.

“I just wanted to congratulate you and Steve,” replied Coach Everson. “You really made the difference in the game today, especially the plays you came up with.”

“Ralph here should get most of the credit,” said Andrew modestly. “He came up with the ideas, actually.”

“Of course,” agreed the Coach. “What I meant to say is that you and Steve executed those plays very well.”

“Let’s hear it for Andrew and Steve!” shouted the team. “They’ll win us every game!”

The players tried to get Andrew and Steve up on their shoulders, but they were too heavy. So Steve lifted players in celebration, and Andrew had one player on each shoulder.

Once everyone was on the ground again, everyone began to head home.

Andrew and Steve joined the line of players as they shook hands with the Twin Lakes team.

“Good game man,” a few of the Twin Lakes players said to Andrew. “Call us later, and we’ll get together.”

“Sure thing,” agreed Andrew. “I’ll do that.”

“You seem to have friends in all areas of this city,” Steve said to him.

“Yes, these are people I knew before they moved to the South End,” Andrew said. “We mainly get together after these games.”

“Good game Andrew,” said Mr. Malcolm as Andrew and Steve approached the stands. “I got lots of footage from the game.” He held up the video camera. “I hope you don’t’ mind if I come with you to your house and meet your parents?”

“They won’t be home for a few hours,” said Andrew. “They are quite busy, that’s why they couldn’t be here for this game. But that sounds like a good idea. Try coming around 9:30 pm; we should all be home by then.”

“It’s a deal,” said Mr. Malcolm, shaking Andrew’s hand. “See you then.”

As Mr. Malcolm left, Coach Everson and the rest of the team came over to the stands.

“What can I do for you Coach?” asked Andrew.

“I just wanted to congratulate you and Steve,” replied Coach Everson. “You really made the difference in the game today, especially the plays you came up with.”

“Ralph here should get most of the credit,” said Andrew modestly. “He came up with the ideas, actually.”

“Of course,” agreed the Coach. “What I meant to say is that you and Steve executed those plays very well.”

“Let’s hear it for Andrew and Steve!” shouted the team. “They’ll win us every game!”

The players tried to get Andrew and Steve up on their shoulders, but they were too heavy. So Steve lifted players in celebration, and Andrew had one player on each shoulder.

Once everyone was on the ground again, everyone began to head home.

“See you in practice Andrew,” said Ralph. “You and Steve were amazing.”

“Thanks man,” said Andrew, clapping him lightly on the shoulder. “You were great yourself. See you later.”

The team waved as they headed to the showers. Andrew went inside to change and shower, and then he came back out to find Carrie waiting for him.

“Looks like all the other fans have gone home,” he said.

“Yes,” agreed Carrie. “While you were inside, they were all telling me how amazing you were. Mr. Malcolm said he is going to show the footage to his team when he gets back to Miami. Then his team will know what a powerhouse they will be getting in the fall.”

“Were those his exact words?” asked Andrew in shock. “He really called me that?”

“He did,” agreed Carrie. “Like everyone else, he really has a lot of respect for you. As much for your size as for your ability and manner.”

“That’s very flattering,” said Andrew. “Shall we head home now?”

“Sure,” agreed Carrie. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” asked Andrew, taking her hand.

“Promise you will not get angry,” Carrie said. “The strength you demonstrated on the field today would be terrifying if you had been angry. As it was, everyone was stunned speechless when you threw those guys in the air. Your size becomes really scary when you add anger into the mix. Big strong people like you are supposed to be kind and gentle.”

“I can be kind and gentle,” protested Andrew, hugging her gently with his huge arms. “I will do my best not to get angry, even when I fake it. It is just so hard to control my temper sometimes, even though I am getting better at it.”

“I’ll take care of your temper,” purred Carrie, kissing him on the lips. “By the time I’m through with you, the big man will be a big purring cat.”

“Oh really,” grinned Andrew, as he kissed her back. He lifted her up and carried her to his car. “Who are you calling a cat? I’m a monster!”

“You’re my monster,” teased Carrie, as he set her gently down on her feet. “Now let’s get home and have supper before everyone wonders where we got to.”

“Agreed,” said Andrew, opening the door for her. “Let’s go.”

He got in and closed the door. Then they headed home. •


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