Eyeshield 21: Queen of the Comeback
Chapter 2: Finding Your Footing
I am from Gatineau, Quebec and I was raised by a very liberal family. My mother Trisha is also my coach on the oval track. My father Demetrios was always there to cheer me on from the stands. They met when my mom was on vacation in Santorini when she got out of college, and everything just clicked from there as she always told me.
When I told my mom I wanted to play football, she was surprisingly fine with it. As she put it 'Hey, if it helps your out on the ice, then I won't stop you, I just want to see you happy and not sitting around the house all day,' This is my first time on my own here in Tokyo. I am getting used to life in my dorm from eating out to doing my homework,
A few of the features about my appearance are for practicality reasons for both long-track speedskating and football. For example, I cut my hair short and boyish to make it easier to fit a speedskating hood and my helmet. This is a new league with new teams and new opportunities to prove myself to both other teams and my own teammates.
It was another day of practice with the team. The offensive line was grouped up outside the boys locker room like they were waiting for me to come out, "Uh...Hey Noemi, the guys and I wanted to apologize for yesterday, the defense told us to do it, so I'm hoping we're still cool," He said, I swear these guys can easily pass for grizzly bears.
"Hey don't worry about it," I said accepting their apology,
"Before you start saying anything, none of us gave you the finger yesterday," said the center for the offense. The only center for the offense really, "I'm Orlando Wilkins, that's Sammy Williams, Javon Kirkland, and Vince Adams, we're the line, you got any trouble at all, just call on us and we'll do the rest," I smiled at the offensive line.
Another guy was walking out of the locker room, "If you need someone to for the little bit extra, just call on me," That was Timothy Nguyen, the teams punter and placekicker. I saw him practicing the first day we got out onto the field. His foot is as accurate as my passing arm. He's 5'7 and 140lbs of kicker, and he can hit on the punt.
"Meh, must've been one of the defensive line, come on guys let's go practice," I said heading onto the field. They really seem like a good bunch of guys. Practice starts with three laps around the field, stretching exercises, and up-downs. Then the regular practice begins. Today, I was to work on running plays with the runningback and fullback.
"So you're the QB, huh? That's cool, hey I'm not one to judge, I've played a lot of ball, I've seen it all, sistah," said the runningback that looked like Predator with his long dreadlocks and a helmet with an iridium eyeshield that likened him to Marshawn Lynch, "I'm Tre, it's nice to meet chu," That is Tre Wilkinson, an all-round threat on offense.
I put on my helmet for a practice scrimmage, "Got any goals this season?" I asked,
"I dunno, rush for a thousand yards," he said shrugging his shoulders. I patted his shoulder pad as he got into position in I-formation, and I went under center. On 'set!' the ball was hiked into my hands, and I dropped back to pass. I threw a quick screen pass to him to see what he can do in the open field. I was amazed by Tre's running skills.
He had a wicked burst of speed followed by a stiff arm job. He isn't afraid to hit below the belt either. He gained thirteen yards on my first practice play with him. I also have three receivers in Lance Woodley, Devon James, and Antoine Blades, "Way to read the defense, Chabeau, try out your receivers on the next set of plays!" she called out.
"Yes coach!" I called back, and went under center in shotgun formation. Darius Smith had a look to kill in his eye, but I was not intimidated. I took the snap from center, and looked to pass after a three step drop. I found Lance Woodley in the open field, but I was blindsided by a freight train named Darius. He had a grip on the back of my helmet.
"This is a man's game, roll over bitch!" Darius yelled into my earhole.
"Man, get off her!" Orlando blasted back, pushing off the linebacker. I got back on my knees and hands on my own power. I was helped on my feet by the center, "man girl, I don't like the way he's looking at you, makes me think he doesn't want you to make it to the start of the season," Orlando said expressing his concern about my well-being.
"Don't worry, it will take more than that to bring me down," I replied, walking back up to center, "let's run that again," I called out to the offense. I looked at my receivers, and nodded a single nod to each of them. There is a reason why I am called the 'Cannon', "2-38 Tiger...2-38 Tiger...2-38-hut!" The football was snapped into my hands.
I dropped back to pass, and Darius overpowered his blockers easily and rushed up the gut. Time seemed to slow down as I spun around him to avoid the blitz, and sped back up as I rolled out to the right. I saw Devon James thirty yards down field, and threw the ball to him. The ball spun in a perfect spiral, and flew like a guided missile in flight.
Devon caught the ball, but landed smack in the back of a lineman waiting to do blocking drills on the sled, "That's going to leave a mark,"
"Oh he's gonna be fine," said Antoine while I saw Devon James flat on his back staring up at the sky. I sighed, and shook my head. I jogged on up to the receiver, and gave him a hand up. When practice was over, I was happy that I was settling down with the offense. Now I have to learn to work with the defense because I am a strong safety.
I practiced coverage and tackling drills with the coach and the other members of the secondary which included my receivers on offense. Devon James and Antoine Blades are both cornerbacks. The only one that does not play defense is Lance. He is the punt and kickoff returner. Tre was lined up as a receiver, and coach would throw him the ball.
I shedded my blocker, and tackled him pushing the powerful runningback back two yards and down to the turf, "Nice hit, you better bring it this season," said Tre as I got off him, and helped him up. Darius looked at me, and lightly shook his head in disapproval, "don't let him get to you, he's just not used to this kinda stuff on the field," said Tre.
"What? A girl that can hit?" I asked,
"Something like that," said the runningback, the day's practice ended on a high note. The coach seemed impressed with the progress our team was making. My body ached as I took a bath that night in my dorm. In sports like speedskating and football, you have to work through pain. I will not let one person's opinion about me bring me down.
