CH 83

"I got it!" Gus announced. "We use bolos! Instead of rope, we use wire to wrap around them! We get them tied up, and we can do whatever we want with them," he said happily.

Charles pondered a moment. "That may work.'

"Doubt it," a female voice said from behind them. They spun to see Cameron standing in the living room watching them with a blank face.

"How did you get in here?" Charles yelled.

"Why were you following my daughter?" Cameron asked flatly.

"Leave, or I'll call the police!" Charles said.

"Ahh, chuck, we don't have to look for her. she's here." Gus said.

Charles scowled at him, "You imbicile, MY NAME IS CHARLES! I'm calling the cops!"

Cameron reached behind her and pulled her pistol. "Pick up the phone, I dare you."

"Ah, that's not fair, we don't have guns," Gus said.

"Who's paying you?"

"Charlie there," Gus said, pointing.

"It's Charles!"

Cameron said, "Chuck, tell me who's paying you, or I kneecap you."

"I can't tell you."

BANG

Charles' right knee blew apart. He fell screaming.

"Who's paying you?" Cameron asked again, aiming at his other knee.

"Charlie, tell her," Gus coaxed.

"YOU SHUT UP!" Charles cried.

"Last chance. Who's paying you?" Cameron asked.

"That embassy guy? Isn't it?" Gus cried.

"SHUT UP!" Charles wailed.

Cameron looked at Gus. "Name, location. Now."

"I don't know his name. He's at the Chinese embassy," Gus said. "Charlie meets with him."

"Does he know you?"

"Yeah, He's seen me."

"Then you will go see him. Tell him charlie died, and you need to talk to him."

Gus looked, Charles was on the floor bleeding and gripping just above his knee. His face was crimped up in pain. "He's not dead."

BANG Charles dropped limp.

"He is now. Do you want to be dead?

"No, no!" Gus said quickly and raised his hands up.

"Then you will come with me and tell this man what I tell you to, or you will be dead."

"I'll do it, I don't wanna be dead!"

"Let's go."

.

Joan got dressed in her uniform and went down on the field where some guys were throwing footballs back and forth, and some others were talking to Coach Emerson.

A couple guys saw Joan coming.

"Hey, check it out!"

"Damn, lookit the hams on That hen!"

"Entertainment, Coach?"

"Boys, this is Joan Connor," the coach said.

"Whoa, I'd love to tackle her."

The guy smiling at Joan was about six foot six, she figured 240, 250 pounds. She stopped and put her helmet on, then motioned him forward. "Tackle me."

His smile dimmed, "You don't mean..."

"Tackle me. Bet you can't."

"You'll break."

"Chickenshit, huh?" she asked.

"There's no need for that," he said firmly.

"You don't want to be embarrassed, do you?" she asked.

"Lady, I hit you and you'll be in the hospital!" he barked, jabbing a finger at her.

Others were clearing away to the sides.

Joan crouched. "I'm going to come at you. You can try to tackle me, or I'm going to run you over."

The man laughed, "OK, short shit, here we go!"

They charged together. Joan was all but swallowed when he leaped on her. The impact was loud and he bounced up over her to land on his back. Mouths of the players dropped open. Joan stopped and bent down to ask, "Are you OK?"

He scrambled up and rubbed his stomach. "What did you hit me with?"

Joan explained, "When you're running and you have a safety in front of you, don't try to avoid him. Run straight at him! Just before you connect, get low, aim your head right at his crotch. On impact straiten up fast, his own momentum will help you. He'll fly right over you and you'll have a straight shot at the goal."

"That was COOL!" another player said.

"She weighs what, not much more than a hundred, and she knocked Brady there right off his feet and flipped him out of the way! He's 255!"

"That's why she's here, gentlemen!" Coach Emerson said. "Every time Joan gets the ball, it goes straight to the end zone. She's done it the entire season. I think she has a few plays that can help us."

"Dude, show us what you got, babe!" a blonde player said.

Joan wanted to see how the linemen blocked. Several volunteers showed her. They plowed into each other, shouldering and forcing each other up. She watched, the had one come over and had them watch her.

"Don't use your shoulders! You boys got big strong arms. Watch." she got in a lineman's position and said, "Don't be so quick to stand up! Use you arms as leverage on his shoulders. Push up and back. This forces him up and you keep pushing. You'll force him back if not knock him over."

"What if he knocks your hands away?"

"Keep pushing into him and get your arms back in position. If you hit him fast, he won't have time to stop you."

Joan had fun with the linemen, it was like she was the coach. Surprisingly, they listened and even talked about exercises to help strengthen their arms to do the fast up-shove. On the uprights they used for practicing blocking, instead of shouldering into it, she had them jumping up and pushing. Instead of just powering into it, she had them practicing how fast they could push into it.

Joan then talked to the offense about plays. The quarterback seemed leery about a couple plays, so she let him watch. Offense and defense lined up, Joan had her line push past the defense and run a few yards to turn and get ready to receive. They thought she was nuts, but wanted to see what happened. On the hike, Joan jumped back and ran. The defense got through and chased her. She stopped saw the middle was clear and threw before the defenders got to her.

"Now, guard than man with the ball, and you'll find yourself in the end zone," Joan announced.

Setting up again, Joan had the linemen heavy on the left side, and use the push up and back. She set up the shotgun and and had the receivers ready to run. The defense was expecting a pass. Joan hiked, and charged as the ball came at her. On the left, there was a small hole. One man was down. She leaped to hurdle the line and ran another 20 yards before stopping.

Next she did to a pass. Running back 20 yards she stopped and saw a receiver open. She threw. He caught it but stumbled and fell. The player that was about to tackle her, she bend low then when he hit she pushed up. He flew over her. She went over and bent down to look at him.

"You OK?" she asked.

"Christ lady, what are you made of? It was like I hit a block of steel!"

Joan helped him up. "Really, you OK?"

"Soon as I get my breath back."

The receiver also commented on the 'rock' that hit him. He had a bruise on his arm.

Coach Emerson got a radar gun on the field and had Joan throw a pass to go by it. Joan threw a good hard pass. The coach and the team looked at the speed in disbelief. 98 MPH. The ball was thrown back to Joan to have her throw it as hard as she could. Joan cocked back and threw.

127 MPH. Joan was throwing rockets.

.

While Joan was working with the Dallas Cowboys, Cameron was near the private place where this man met with Charles to do their business. It was shielded by a wall but was right off the street with people passing by on the other side. She was squatted down in some decorative brush.

Gus came out with the man. "Do you have information?" the man asked in a hard tone. "I am paying you for one of them!"

Cameron stood up, gun in hand. "Hey, chubby!"

The man looked at her, she shot him in the heart. Gus gaped at her

"Catch," she said and tossed him the gun. He caught it, she ran away.

"What? but..."

"DROP THE GUN!" a cop barked, aiming at Gus. He dropped the gun and put his hands up.

A short while later he was in an interrogation room. A detective came in and sat down across from him. "You told the arresting officer an Allison Young shot Mr. Wong, tossed you the gun and fled?"

"Yeah, that's what happened."

"Then tell me, why are yours the only fingerprints on that gun?"

"Maybe she doesn't have any."

The detective frowned. "We found this woman, Allison Young, thatou say shot Mr. Wong. She is 360 miles from here, and the local Sheriff verified it. Why did you kill him?"

"I didn't!" Gus stated. "She did!"

"Then how did she get so far away so fast?"

"I don't know!"

"She shot Charles Letcher in his apartment too?"

"She did, I saw her do it."

The detective got up. "You should have a public defender by the end of the day."

"I didn't do it!" Gus cried at his departing form.

.

The next day, Cameron went with Joan to the stadium and sat in the bleachers as Joan talked to the quarterback stressing speed and agility. Joan showed him how to 'hurdle'. Well she tried. His legs were thick with muscle but in his best jump, he couldn't stretch them out or jump even more than a couple feet off the ground. Joan ran with him. he couldn't keep up with her, even when she was looking back and coaxing him on.

To try and show her up at something,he did the radar test throw. the best he could get was a 68 MPH ball. Coach Emerson was approached by a few players, asking that Joan be their quarterback.

If the NFL would allow it, he'd try to steal her away from Austin.

Cameron watched Joan trying to get the Cowboys quarterback to do leg stretches. She grinned at Joan, who kept slapping his knee and telling him to get it straight, not bent.

A few players came up in the stands, the lead one smiled. "Cameron?"he asked.

Cameron studied his facial features. "Hi Greg, long time no see. How have you been?"

"Good, how about yourself?" he beamed.

"I'm getting along, I see you made a career out of football."

"It's been good too." He then turned to the players with him. "Guys, this is THE toughest woman you'll ever meet! She was our quarterback in college. Cameron Connor, the Iron Maiden!" He then paused and said, "Joan! She's your daughter?"

Cameron laughed at his revelation. "Yes, Greg. Joan's my first born. She likes to play football also."

"No wonder she's go good. Say, whatever happened to Delilah?"

"She's home. Her daughter, Jackie had an accident. She's recovering You haven't been peeing off any waterfalls lately, have you?" she asked with a smirk.

"What's this?" a player asked.

Greg chuckled. "One time we had a party at Canyon falls park. I got silly and peed off the top of the waterfalls. I almost went over. Cameron saved me, and ended up going over herself. I thought she died! Guys were looking for her, and here she comes walking up out of the water, staring at me. I knew she was pissed. I tried to apologize then ran. She chased me down, picked me up over her head and threw me in the water. She waded out and kept dunking me until I promised I'd never do that again."

The players laughed.

"You did something dangerous, Greg." Cameron stated.

"Yeah, I did. You made me feel like a five years old the way you woman-handled me. Thanks for saving me, by the way."

"How tall were these falls?"

"Bout what, a hundred feet?" Greg asked.

"107 from the water level to the top," Cameron said. "You still play right center?"

"Depends on the game, but yeah, I'm still a lineman. Say, if you and Joan would like to come over later, I'd be glad to have you. I got a nice place, It'll save you from getting a hotel room."

"I'll ask Joan, see what she wants to do," Cameron said not committing.

"Ok, well, you're more than welcome. You know, football is a pretty good gig. I've made tons of money playing."

Cameron smiled. "We are doing all right, the kids are active and a bit on the adventurous side. Joan's Boyfriend Bob calls her an Energizer Bunny."

"She gets into trouble?" he asked.

"Not so much now. Ask her to show you the alligator lovin video that Bob took."

"What's this? I take it Joan likes alligators?"

Cameron rolled her eyes. "She's got one at the house. Nine foot female. At least it doesn't get in the house any more."

The boys laughed, "Yeah, I want to see this video!" Greg said.

A whistle blew on the field. Coach Emerson yelled, "This is practice, not social hour!"

"Gotta go, see you later?" Greg asked.

"Later," Cameron agreed.

Going back down on the field, Greg ran up to Emerson. "Coach, that's Cameron Connor up there! Joan's her daughter! We GOT to get her on the team."

"She's already playing for someone else. Unless she's willing to break her contract AND the NFL decides to allow a woman on the line, there's nothing we can do."

"That's a crying shame."

"Tell me about it."

.

After practice, Greg did ask to see the alligator lovin video. Hearing about it, they all wanted to see it, thinking this was a nature video. Joan put it in the big screen TV with a huff. "She was just glad I was home," she said.

At first concerned when the alligator walked over to Joan, they laughed when it knocked her down, then grabbed her shirt and pulled her down to the dock and off the end. When she was in the water with it, feeding it when it was only a foot in front of her, they were in awe.

"You really must trust that thing," one player said.

"Yeah, it could bite her head off, being that close."

When she went under and lifted the alligator up out of the water so it could get on the dock, there were a few "Damn"s than sounded out.

"That thing must weigh what, six, seven hundred pounds, and you lifted it?" Greg asked in a squeak.

Coach Emerson said, "A full grown alligator can weight up over a thousand pounds. That was heavy bit of lifting."

"No shit. You sure are Cameron's daughter," Greg said.

.

The murder of a Chinese Ambassador made the headlines. In the write up the article told of the man who was arrested for it, bun in hand, wailing about his innocence. His lawyer was working on an incompetence defense, sure that the phantom woman the man was claiming shot the Ambassador, and another man in his apartment, was a figment of his imagination. The suspect cried and wailed to anyone who would listen that he was innocent. Since it was a multiple murder and the suspect had gone into the embassy to get the Ambassador to come out, the DA was going for the death penalty for first degree murder.

Cameron read the article, taking note China was angry at the shooting, and wanted to 'oversee' his conviction. That could be a political football.

In another article, Cameron noted a small piece about a faction that was raided for attacking a college science lab and injuring students. This faction was an anti-tech group that insisted the government was replacing real humans with machines. The raid gathered some of the members, but others had escaped. She wondered if this group was going to be a threat.

.

James Horton bore the scars of his battles. Watching out the window of the abandoned house he was in, he heard a fellow cleanser came up behind him.

"We lost a few members, and all our equipment. All we have is what we got on us."

James replied, "Yes, another set back. Just remember, we are the only ones who clean away the filth of these un natural creatures, aliens that don't belong here and now, those pathetic imitation brains they call AI's. It is up to us, Simon, to ensure humanity rules this planet. Our fight is not easy. It is win or die. We need to stay strong, and informed, and we must never give up. Has any news come in?"

"No, sir. In the search for our known targets, we only have that wine farm in mid Texas that those aliens run. They are easy to kill, just shoot them. We don't have to take their heads or burn them down to nothing."

James grew a brief grin. "We squash one nest and the others hide. Don't kill them right away, find out where more are before you remove them."

.

The challenge for Joan was getting Dennis the quarterback to get some flexibility into him. After a week of stretching exercises and practice, he was managing about a four foot hurdle and tucking his body at the top of the jump to get him an extra few inches. That and practice plays, he wasn't doing great, but he was improving.

Joan was watching a game, offense against defense where Dennis was quarterbacking. He was doing run plays. So far he had ran through a hole, and did a lateral pass to a receiver who got through. He tried a shotgun start, and grabbed the ball as he ran at it. His attempt at a hurdle over the line plowed him into a defender though. Well, he did make two yards before he tumbled to a stop.

She had showed them everything she knew, and they were getting better. The let the line though play worked all right when Dennis was back in the shotgun, but up on the line, he didn't have the speed to pull it off.

Coach Emerson came over by her. "You did some good here. At least the guys are thinking and and training a little harder. I know a few are a feeling a little embarrassed that you can show them up."

Joan grinned. "Whatever makes them better, Coach."

"They've even been watching some of your games. If it were possible, most of them have asked if you could come quarterback for us. They see you as a winner."

"I don't think I can."

"Well, the men and women's seasons are opposite, so you could play both. If I talk to the league, think you might be interested?" he asked.

Joan pondered for a moment, then asked. "Can I bring Allie with me? She's my receiver. Fast on her feet and she's never dropped a pass."

"I have to get clearance from the league, but I'll find out, and if it's a go, I can give you your starting salary."

"I'll talk to Allie and Bob, I think they will be OK with it."

"Bob your boyfriend?"

"Yes. He plays too but he can't play in the women's league, so he just operates the drone cameras for us. That way, he can stay with us."

"Tell you what, if you can play for us, I'll give him a try out. If he's good, I'll get him a spot on the team."

"That makes it very tempting," Joan admitted.

"We'll see how it goes. Can you hang around for another day? I'll see if I can get an approval."

"Sure, as long as you need me."

.

Claire didn't know why the sheriff called asking Allison to come down to his office, but drove her down anyway. If he called she figured he had a good reason behind it.

Once Allison got back from her swim, Claire told her the sheriff wanted to see down to the sheriff's office, Claire noticed another car and a State Police car there also. They went in to hear the sheriff speaking.

" ... like I said, she's a football player with the Austin Acoustics, never been in trouble at all."

With the sheriff there was a State policeman and a man in a suit. The sheriff turned to her. "Claire, Allison, thank you for coming. There is a matter we need Allison's help with." He waved at the man in the suit and said, "Mr. Farnsworth here claims Allison doesn't have any fingerprints. When was the last time you were in Dallas, Allison?"

Allison shrugged, "I've never been to Dallas. We play all over the country, but not Dallas. Our team is out of Austin."

"If you could, I'd like to take your fingerprints to show them to Mr. Farnsworth and Officer Rodriguez here. They will not leave the office, this is just to show you do have fingerprints."

"OK."

The sheriff got out a print record paper and took her fingerprints, then told her were the washroom was so she could clean the ink off her fingers. He held the prints up for the officer and Mr. Farnsworth to see.

"I would like a copy of those," Mr, Farnsworth stated.

"May I see your court order?" the Sheriff asked.

"I can get one."

"Then come back when you do," the sheriff replied.

"Can you tell me how my client was able to provide a perfect sketch of Miss Young?" Mr. Farnsworth asked.

The sheriff shrugged. "Allison is a fairly public figure. There are many photos and videos of her from their football games. Turn around, there's a team photo on the wall behind you."

"May I ask what this is about?" Claire asked.

Officer Rodriguez said, "There was a shooting in Dallas. The perp insists it was Allison who was the shooter, not him, even though he was caught, smoking gun in his hand. Can you vouch for Allison's whereabouts in October 14th?"

"Allison has been home every day since the end of her football season. The farthest she's gone is with me to the grocery store," Claire told him. "Why would Allison shoot anyone?"

"No one seriously thinks she did," Officer Rodriguez explained. "The suspects' defense lawyer here is grasping at straws." To the sheriff, he said, "Thank you and Allison for your cooperation. In the unlikely event that the court does call for them, please hold onto those prints."

"They will be here," the sheriff assured him.

You're kidding!" Allison said as she came back out, on her phone. "Have you told Bob yet? ... well get your butt home so we can celebrate! ... Joan, just being asked is reason to celebrate ... OK, see you then." She closed up her phone and cast a big smile at her mother. "Mom! Joan has been asked to quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys! If it goes through the league and they get approval, she got an agreement for me and Bob to go with her! We can play both teams, and Bob can play for Dallas with us! We will be the first women to play in the NFL on the line!"

"That's great hon, but you'll never have an off season."

"Yes we will. It's only a month in the early spring, and a few weeks in the fall, but we'll still get to come home now and then."

"That will be history making, if it goes through," the sheriff agreed. "Be sure to let me know how it goes."

"We will!" Allison cheered.

.

Coach Emerson made his pitch hard to the manager and the stockholders, including videos of Joan on the field in her Acoustics games as well as some video that showed her on the field in Dallas and the recording of her ultra fast passing throws. They took his pitch in with blank faces as he told about the extra publicity and income from having women on the team as well as winning more games having a superior quarterback.

One of the stockholders, a white haired man said, "The risk of serious injury to women is too great. The novelty is tempting, but she could be killed out there on the field! We cannot allow women to play in the NFL. They have their own league to play in. Would you have a man play in the women's league?"

"I agree, yes, there is inherent risk in the game, but it is managed. I feel this would be pushing the safety limits too far."

Another stockholder said, "Quarterbacks are rarely seriously injured. Looking at the risk versus reward, I'm thinking we should try it for a year. No long term contract until we look at what we have after this season. And this Joan Connor only. Not the other one."

The manager bore a pouting face said, "I can agree to a one year trial." he then held up a finger and added, "With the stipulation that if she's injured, it's over. She even limps, and she doesn't play again. Can we get a vote on that?"

.

It was actually two days Coach Emerson was gone. Joan didn't mind, she just stayed on the practice field and helped the team practice. She got into a throwing contest with Dennis. They began 40 yards apart and after they each threw, they backed up another ten yards. 80 yards apart, Dennis started falling short, or Joan had to run to catch the ball.

Backing to the end zones, Dennis fell short. Joan was still putting the ball right on him. The last one she threw, he stepped aside and waved. He'd had enough.

The receivers wanted their try at catching Joan's long bombs. The first one catch the ball, stumbled backwards and fell on his ass to the amusement of his team mates. The next one and the next discovered how fast that ball was coming at them. They learned the impact it hit with and keeping their feet after they got it was a real challenge.

The loudspeaker announced, "Joan Connor, come to the Coaching office."

This had to be the answer. Nervous, Joan headed up there to see what it was.

.

Allison was at Bob's house, helping with cleaning when she heard Bob's phone ring. He then called, "Allie! It's Joan, she has news!"

She peek her head out of the laundry room. From the linen closet across the hall, Carol called, "Bob, we're back here."

Bob came trotting back. "Hang on, Allie's here," he said then put the phone on speaker. Carol and Allison came out into the hallway with him.

"So, how'd it go?" Allison asked.

Joan sounded apologetic. "I'm sorry, Allie, the contract I have here is just for me. Bob can come and try out, I'm sure he's good enough, but they will allow only one woman on the team. I... I'll decline if you want."

"Don't you dare!" Alison said firmly. "Joan, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Don't you dare turn it down! It's great Bob has a chance to play with you."

"But, you'll be left out," Joan complained.

"You turn this down and I'll kick your ass!" Allison snapped. "I'll be fine, Joan. You got the opportunity, go for it. How many women can say they play football in the NFL, let alone as a quarterback, huh? You'll be making history!"

"Allie's right Joan. Don't worry about us, go for it," Bob said.

"OK," Joan replied sheepishly.

"Bob, it's Cameron. Go up to the house and take my Jeep when you come. Make sure you pack everything. I'll call and have Delilah pack Joan's things."

"Yes, Mrs. Connor."

"Don't worry, if Joan doesn't sign, she'll be walking home."

"Mom?"

"I'm serious."

A man chuckled in the background.

"So, when's your first game?" Allison asked.

A man said, "A pre season game against Houston, next Sunday, in Houston."

"We'll be there."

Carol called the sheriff and told him the good news.

.

Joan was given a set of workout clothes. Coach Emerson told her no more wearing her Austin stuff, her Dallas uniform was being made. They did some photo ops and a vid of one of Joan's long throws from end zone to end zone. Instead if a receiver, she threw the football into a barrel at the other end of the field. The barrel came off it's mount when her ball hit.

In a strategy meeting, Coach Emerson decided to have Dennis quarterback the first quarter, then Joan would take over.

Joan called Coach Baker and told him the news.

"You are quitting Austin?" he asked in shock.

"No! I'm just playing with Dallas for this season. I'll be back in Austin in time for our season. This is provisional, they might not keep me for next year."

"Well, I plan on coming to your games. I'm sure others will too."

.

Friday, Joan got her Dallas Cowboys uniform and a group from Sports Illustrated arrived to get pictures of her in it. Besides the uniform shots holding a football, they wanted her to do beach shots for an upcoming issue. They fawned over her and told her she was equal to any cover girl out there. Better than some. the director of the group told her 'Her shape and beauty shined like a beacon'. They even got stills from her 'alligator' video they wanted to publish.

Joan had to think about that beach shoot. A little taller than her mother now, not quire as tall as Dad, Joan didn't see anything special about herself. She was in good shape, but that was from playing football and staying active.

Another thing Joan hadn't had to deal with before was the cheer leading squad. They were like a completely separate entity, and from meeting a few of them, they didn't like her one bit. Out on the field they were happy with big smiles. Meeting them off field, they glowered at her and refused to speak to her. They had their own little circle and made sure she knew she wasn't welcome in it.

Fine, screw you, bitches.

It didn't take long for word to be spread about Joan Connor, the female Quarterback for Dallas. When they got to Houston, reporters were waiting to talk to her. Not one or two, there was a whole gaggle of sports reporters waiting to see her and Coach Emerson.

Joan winced from the light of all the camera flashes as she went in the press room with the Coach. He took the podium first.

He raised his hands up and said, "Before any questions, let me tell you why I pushed to get Joan on our team. Watching the games she's played in the women's league, I have to tell you, Joan is the best quarterback I've seen in a long time. She's fast, accurate in passing, runs like the wind and I've personally seen, she can take a hit from our best linemen. Every game she played last season in the women's league, when the ball gets in her hands, it makes it to the end zone. Every time."

"Coach, aren't you worried about her getting hurt?"

"No more than any other player. Like I said, Joan can take a hit and brush it off. Let's let Joan tell her a bit about herself."

Joan stepped up to the podium wearing a weak smile and waved. "Hi everyone, I'm Joan Connor. I live here in Texas. During the summer, I play for the Austin Acoustics in the women's league. Coach Emerson has graciously offered me a place on his team, which I am honored to accept. I do love playing football, so ... here I am."

"Joan, when did you start playing football?"

"I started playing at it as far back as I can remember. In high school I began playing with the team. Then the women's league, and now I'm here with The Cowboys."

"Do you have any other interests?"

"I like swimming with my mermaid tail with my friends, that's always fun and good exercise. Taking care of our alligator is interesting, spending time with my close friends is away fun..."

"You have a pet alligator?"

"She's not really a pet, like you'd think of a dog or a cat. For one thing, Mom don't want her in the house," Joan explained, which cause a few chuckles. "She comes and goes as she pleases, though she does like to sun herself in the yard. She's more or less wild I'd say."

"This alligator has never attacked anyone, being so close to people?"

Joan frowned. "Once, but he brought that on himself. He found out there are alligators in the lake and tried to keep me from going swimming. She saw that and charged him. I got him away from her, so she never bit anyone. He was a bit scared though."

"How did you save him?"

Joan grimaced. "That wasn't one of my best moments. Willie just stood and screamed, so I picked him up over my head. I got the alligator circling around, me, trying to climb up me to get him. He's screaming his head off and I'm yelling at the alligator to stop it and doing my best to keep from falling."

More laughter sounded.

"So, this is a little alligator?"

"No, at the time she was about eight feet long. She's grown a bit more since then. The last time I went home, she dragged me into the lake by my shirt so I'd feed her. Bob got a video of it."

"We'd like to see that video."

Joan rolled her eyes, "Yeah, people like laughing at me. I wasn't what you call very poised during that."

"Joan, I have to ask, are you nervous about playing on the field with men twice your size?"

"Nah. I you're afraid of being tackled, you shouldn't be out there."

"Swimming with and being around alligators, are you afraid of anything?"

Joan pondered that briefly and said, "Getting my Moms mad. That's about it."

That earned her another round of laughter.

"You have lesbian parents?"

Joan shook her head. "No, both my Moms married to Dad. We have a nice family. I can attribute my accomplishments to the support from my parents. Dad hates my Acoustics uniform, but it's what I wanted to do, so he accepts it. He said I wear more when I go swimming. I can partially understand, I am his little girl. None of them like me going someplace by myself to keep something weird from happening to me."

Coach Emerson came up beside her. "Excuse me folks, but we have to get ready for the game. see you there!"