CH 120

The biggest problem John now had was was enforcing the congressional term limits. Another cry of despair from congress was now representatives pay and allowances were tied to how well the country was doing. If the US was doing well, they got raises. If the economy was doing poorly, they also got pay cuts. Some were fine with this, others howled to the rafters. One newly elected house member immediately resigned. The 12 year Congressman was one of the ones who was over his term limits anyway, so no big deal there. His state just had to elect someone else in his place.

Three days after the election, The new President elect came to the White House and was readily received. Although John was still officially 'in charge', John let him take the lead as they turned control over to the new President and congress. It was going to be constant meetings and briefings, but at least now, John saw an end in sight.

One of the private 'lunches' they had, just the new president, his wife, John and his wives, they talked about cyborgs. John gave him all the information about the 'Homeland Security' army of the now 230 cyborgs and 210 plasma tanks that were designated strictly for homeland defense. John also told him about the mermaid population his family was protecting and the biologists who were gathering information on them and being non-invasive. Since General Watson was going to retire anyway, the new President put John in charge of the new Driftwood Area Preserve, and made him lead General of the Homeland Security Army. Under this new designation, John answered only to the President. It was a secret part of the Homeland security organization, in that John was expected to keep a low of profile as possible, but any 'mess', caused he had the authority to call up whoever he needed to fix it. He also had full authority to hold anyone he deemed a 'national threat' until it was decided what to do with the person in holding. If the person happened to be very aggressive or attacked anyone, John had the authority to end their life.

Essentially, it would be up to John to ensure the bad guy did not get away. Once this was established, John immediately got a hold of Mrs. Weaver and John Henry to let them know. The cyborgs that had been tucked here and there being used randomly now had a specific mission. Them along with all the other Homeland Security agents and personnel working for the Public HS General were under John Connor.

.

A group of the powerful House Representatives who could no longer hold office due to the new constitution got together to figure out how this happened. They all blamed the ousted President for pushing too hard in his agendas and feeding people changes faster than they were comfortable with. They also blamed many state Governors for going along with that unfair plan to trash the old Federal government. What they all agreed on was they needed to focus their anger on a few key individuals what had wrecked their cushy and very profitable lives. To get revenge, they chose the ex President and his vice president who tried and miserably failed to get back into office as the president. The other one they needed to punish was this John Connor.

Their former leaders wasn't hard to figure out how to punish them. Made up drug dealings, sex scandals, slipping proof of illegal deals would bury them. The problem was what to do about Connor. Once the new President was secured in office, none of their usual tricks was going to work. He was all but unknown before taking office, and once he left office, they were sure he was going to fade back into the crowds. No one even had any idea where he lived. Something like an assassination was not going to work with all those cyborgs around him. He'd even been hit in the side at close range and walked it off. They were thinking he was one of those metal things as well. There was talk about going after his children, but if it came to light who was behind it, they were sure to become a target not only to Connor, but also to the media.

.

Spring was coming, and so was women's football. Austin wasn't that far away, so Joan and Allison drove there. Going to the team dorms, they went in and it was like meeting old friends. Luckily, none of their team mates had been hurt by those Demon rats, and were eager to get back on the field. Things were calming down in the city and more people were going back to work since all those stupid 'Executive orders' had been cancelled. That also meant more people would be coming to the games.

Coach Benson called a team meeting of all the players, including the farm team. Out on the edge of the field, all the players sitting in a big semi-circle around him Coach Benson announced, "This year we are going to have three strings of players to support this and get some of the better Farm team players on the team. Susan Maple, Karen Lupin and Jessica Weston, you three are now on the Acoustics team."

The girls called out cheered and clapped.

"Joan, Karen is going to be third string quarterback, You're her mentor. Teach her everything you know."

"Will do, coach!" Joan replied. Joan found her in the group and said, "See me right after the warmups."

Karen nodded, then realized Joan was one of the Connors at the concert that had faced off with them. Suddenly, she felt nervous about being here.

Susan Maple was going to be a running back, so Allison was her mentor.

They did their loosening up exercises then a run. During the run, Joan let a few others get ahead of her. Looking at the pack, she noted Karen was towards the back. Joan had to stop and let team members run past to get in the back of the pack and run up beside Karen.

"Come on, you can run faster that this," Joan coached her.

Karen saw Joan, and sure Joan was after her, she took off. Joan ran right behind her. "That's better!" Joan called.

Karen ran faster, Joan kept up. They passed the middle of the pack, then came even with the front. Karen was really moving now. Joan actually had to push some to keep up with her.

"Much better!" Joan cheered. "Come on, Karen, show me what you got!"

While everyone else slowed after the whole field run, Karen pushed hard to run back to the other end of the field, Joan right right behind her.

"Push hard, Zig Zag!" Joan called.

Karen shot to the left, left again and then to the right. Joan was still behind her.

"Plant a foot and push into your jogs!" Joan coaxed loudly.

Karen did, desperately trying to get some distance between them. A hard push to the right and she fell. She didn't just land, from her speed she bounced a couple times before she stopped.

"Very good!" Joan said smiling and stuck a hand out to help her up. "If you're going to be a QB, you need to be able to change your direction quickly."

Panting, Karen looked up at her and took the offered hand.

Joan helped her up and said, "That's one secret of being a good quarterback. Speed is good, but being able to dodge tackles is better. Have you had much practice at throwing passes?"

Karen swallowed. "I'm sorry," she said quickly.

"You slipped, it happens. Can you throw passes?" Joan asked.

"You're not angry with me?' Karen asked.

"For falling?"

"No, for the concert thing," Karen asked meekly.

Joan shook her head. "Karen, that's over and done with. We're here to play football and do our best aren't we?"

"So, you don't hate me?" Karen asked cautiously.

"I don't even really know you. OK we had a big misunderstanding, forget about it. Focus on the here and now," Joan told her. "We have a bunch of plays you need to learn and practice at. You will need to be good so when you go out on the field during the game, you won't let us down."

"Yeah, OK, I want to be the best!" Karen stated.

"That's the spirit!" Joan announced with a fist in the air. "We'll work at it. Let's go grab a ball and a backstop, I want to see your throw."

Joan rigged up a car tire on front of a net, and had Karen throw a pass from 30 yards away. She watched closely as Karen cocked back and threw the ball. Karen missed the tire, but not by much. The ball flew pretty quick, but Joan noted a couple things she could do better.

Joan picked up a ball. "Karen, that was a good arm throw. To be more accurate and get longer range, here's a couple things I want you to practice at..."

Karen was mildly surprised Joan was really helping her. How to hold the ball, how to 'plant' her feet for a solid throw, and putting your whole body into the throw, not just your arm strength. Joan threw a couple balls to show her. Karen was amazed at the speed Joan threw at, and every one she threw went right through the center of the tire.

After their throwing practice, Joan sat with Karen and explained the best way to 'meet' the receiver with the pass was to accurately predict where the receiver was going to be when the ball arrived. Karen knew about 'leading' her target, but Joan explained it differently. "Watch them run, If you know how long the ball is going to take the get there, and you can plan where they are going to be when it does, you'll never miss a pass. Keep in mind also that there will be a safety trying to stop or intercept that pass. Practice your throws. Once you are dropping the ball through the middle of the tire at 30 yards, move back to 40, then 50 yards."

"Connor!" the coach yelled.

Joan looked over at the coach and waved. To Karen, she said, "Go ahead and practice your throws. Remember use your whole body for the throw, not just your arm. I'll be back soon." Joan then ran over to see what the coach wanted.

Karen went and threw a few more balls, using whole body throws as Joan taught her. She tired quicker, but more or her throws were going through the center of the tire. Their families might not get along the best, but Joan knew her stuff on the football field.

A short while later, Karen moved back to 40 yards and kept throwing. She was hitting the tire, but some were bouncing off the rubber and not going through the center.

"Hey, Karen, how you doing?" Allison asked jogging up.

"Better," Karen said and focusing, she threw a ball that went through the center of the tire.

"I'm Allison Young, second string quarterback, wide receiver and safety. Want to toss the ball back and forth with me?"

Karen recognized her too. Another of the Connor clan. "Sure! Joan helped me a lot already."

"OK, we'll use half the field. I'll go down to the end zone and run cross. Pass to me, then you run across the field here, and I'll pass it back." Allison said.

Practicing accurate passes, Karen understood Joan's reasoning for determining the speed of her ball as well as how fast the receiver was moving. Allison had to speed up or slow down a few times to catch it. Allison put the ball right were she was going to be every time.

At the end of practice, Karen was a bit sore all over, but she'd had a great day.

.

Near the small lake, a group of seven, four foot alligators were in the woods, lying in a circle, their tails inside, heads looking out around them. Off in the brush, something moved. The alligator watching it opened it's mouth a bit, intent on the long snake flicking it's tongue. The snake was approaching slowly, eyeing it in return.

The alligator hissed and tensed. All the other alligators looked. The snake stopped as the alligators on the other side of the circle moved around to the sides to watch the snake.

The eight foot Rat snake sensed danger. The alligators on the sides moved slowly closer. The snake coiled up and raised the first few feet of it's body up, threatening to strike.

On their feet, but low and ready to pounce, then alligators slowly circled the snake, every one faced it. slowly, the alligators completed the circle and cautiously moved in. Facing one of them, the Rat snake hissed and readied itself to strike. The alligator to it's right snapped it's jaws. The snake turned at seeing the movement. The alligator to the left opened it's mouth and shot forward. When it snapped it's jaws shut, it had the snake in it's mouth, the head of the snake just beyond.

The snake opened it's mouth to bite back and flailed. All the other alligators lunged on it. One snapped down on the head, another got a section mid body. A couple missed, another got it's tail. All the alligators pulled and rolled.

The snake twisted and tried to get free. It's struggles ended quickly as it's neck snapped and the head came off. The alligators pulled and yanked, shaking their heads. The ones who missed grabbed a mouthful of snake and helped pull and yank.

The snake came apart. The head and much of the tail was gone off the snake as the alligator pack continued to rip it apart. Once each got a couple mouthfuls of snake in their bellies. They got the remains in their mouths and got back in the water to return to the dock and spit out the bits of leftover snake so the little ones could snap them up. The dock was the place of feeding, the Home place. They had learned that from birth. The little ones were eating, they climbed on the shore and climbed the fence into the Safe place where Momma Gator was and laid down to sun themselves.

.

Peggy and Lily went out to feed the alligators. Allie Gator was ready and opened her mouth. Peggy fed her. Lily went over to one of the smaller alligators. It didn't move so she tapped it on the end of it's snout. It looked at her and opened it's mouth a little, briefly, then closed it's mouth and it's eyes.

"Not hungry?" Lily asked. Yes, she felt it had already eaten something. She went around to the other ones. None of them were hungry. "I think they were out hunting," she said absently.

"Most likely. That's OK, they should be hunting for themselves," Peggy replied.

Nana ran out and stopped. "Oh! Nana wanted to help," she whined.

"They aren't hungry, I think they were out hunting and got their own," Lily explained.

Nana frowned. "Well OK. "

"They are growing up, Nana, "Peggy explained. "They need to know how to hunt."

Nana put a finger to her lip in thought, then asked, "So, it's like an alligator school?"

Peggy and Lily laughed. "Yeah, Nana it's like Alligator school," Peggy said.

Nana brightened up and said, "Then, it's good they are learning!"

.

Kaede was also having a good time being 'house mother' while the Connors were out. Yuka took some responsibility doing the cooking and directing kitchen duties. Kaede pretty much got the rest, assigning chores, laundry and other housework. It was nice that since Yuka had her big frightening shock at sitting on Allie Gator, she would no longer go in the living room, which meant Kaede could sit with Kouta on the couch with no interference, or go out and sit in the front yard. Yuka wouldn't go out there either because of the alligators.

All the children here were good kids, which helped. A little mischievous, yeah, and very active. Nana loved to swim in her tail and got Mayu to at least swim in the pool, even if one of the smaller alligators were in it. In many ways the Connor house was like a different form of the Maple Inn. Only here, she didn't have to worry about anyone coming after them. Kouta was working now as an accountant for Sonya down at the furniture factory. He was feeling useful and his mood was better. Even Yuka was acting like a decent person, and had not hit Kouta for months now. She would even talk to Kaede. It was nice to go to the grocery store with her and not have to snip-fight.

Another good thing was they had decided where they wanted to build their own house. Yuka was afraid of those alligators, but Nana was really liking swimming in the lake. They decided on a patch of ground on the road to the lake, on the edge of the Connor property. It was away from the lake so the chance of 'alligator' visitors was low, but close enough so Nana could still go swim. It was also closer to town and the Furniture factory, yet fairly isolated and quiet.

Kaede grew a smile as she thought abut these things. Nana was right, they had a pleasant life here in Far Away.

.

Joan was insane, but there was a method to her madness as Karen discovered. Joan had her doing 'leaping' practice and some gymnastics. At first, Karen had no clue why any of this had anything to do with playing football. Then she got to watch a scrimmage game, their offense against their defense. Things like Joan leaping over the line instead of running through it, and that long bomb pass was common knowledge. Watching Joan carefully, she saw Joan pull other tricks, like charging a defender, going low at the last second to throw the defender over her back, and in once case as they met, Joan leaped up and did a flip over the defender. A fast jog to the side to avoid a tackle, a spin and even a flip to the side to keep from being tackled. As she watched, all those strange things Joan was teaching her, now made sense.

The only one on the team Joan could not out-run was Allison. They were both speed demons. When they hit, the impact was audible, but they would get up laughing.

Karen got her turn to quarterback in a practice game. These were one play games where they always started mid field and returned to mid field after the play was over to discuss what went right or wrong, then do it again.

For Karen's first time, the Coach gave her instructions on what to play. It was a run play to the right. Fake to her receiver, then take off to the right side and get past the defense.

Karen was a little nervous, this wasn't the farm team, this was the real team and they were all good. Karen went out, huddled and they all lined up. Karen called two numbers then hiked. She did the fake pass then charged hard to the right. The lines were colliding. Running fast, she got to the end of the line and turned to go down field. Seeing Patty right by her and coming fast, she ducked. Near the out of bounds line the only place he could go was into Patty. Or stop. Bent low, Karen skidded to a stop, Patty flew in front of her. before Karen could rise up and get started moving again, she was hit from behind, knocking her down.

In the discussion after the play, A grinning Joan clapped her on the shoulder. "Nice try avoiding Patty, but the girl behind you tackled you. Stopping to force a miss is a good tactic, but NOT at the line of scrimmage. Once you're clear, you have a better chance of that working."

"What should I have done?" Karen asked, frustrated.

"Run into her, ram and lift would have been your best chance," Joan stated. "It may or may not work, but you wouldn't have been stationary, waiting for someone on the line to tackle you."

"Yeah, OK," Karen said in a huff.

"Hey, it's not easy getting through," Joan said firmly, "But that's your job to get that ball to the end zone."

Coach Baker called Karen over and also warned against stopping when she had the ball. He had them line up again, this time, Karen could make the call on the play.

Karen huddled her team and went for a pass. In the shotgun, she hiked the ball then looked for a receiver. Both were covered. Worse yet, a couple girls got through the line and Patty was coming at her fast. Karen waited as long as she could, then threw the ball into the bleachers before Patty could tackle her.

Both Joan and the coach applauded.

"Good decision!" Joan called. "Instead of a sack that would lose yards, you threw the ball away."

"When the play fails you have to do what you can to minimize the damage," Coach Baker told her.

This was much harder than playing with the farm team.

After a few more tries, and Karen only once gaining 5 yards, she thought she was failing. On the way in after practice, Joan came up beside her.

"Hey! Don't feel bad, you'll get better." Joan told her.

"Says the one who gets the ball in her hands, and it ends up in the end zone," Karen grumbled.

"I've been playing football most of my life," Joan reminded her. "You got a good arm, you're quick and by what I've seen, you just need to get better at thinking fast. The right move at the right time. That will come." Joan then patted her on the back. "Don't ever give up, and you'll get there."

.

The day finally came. On the platform, John stood back with his wives as the new President was sworn in, then his vice President. All the guardsmen had gone home, now it was their turn. In his speech, the new President added praised for John and his family for their hard work and ensuring true democracy was maintained through this 'hard time'. He even called John up to the microphone to shake his hand and thank him for his fine service to his country.

John smiled and replied, "Thank you, Mr. President. We can go home now."

It wasn't that easy to get out of Washington. Before they could get to the gates of the White House, the press mobbed John and his wives. They answered questions and had to 'excuse' their way to the waiting limo. Not trusting the limo was not being tracked, Cameron did pick up on it was being followed. Getting to the airport some press did follow them inside. Luckily, they lost them in the crowds.

Instead of boarding the plane that they had 'complimentary free tickets for, Joan and his wives went to a car rental place and rented a car to sneak out of Washington in. Much of the people following them did get on the plane. A few didn't and heard the rental place telling how great it was meeting THE John Connor. Before Cameron drove them out of the parking lot, The press had their type, year and license plate of the car.

"We're being followed," Delilah noted as they drove through town towards the highway.

Cameron let out a huff. "We'll lose them," she said.

Instead of doing evasion moves inside Washington, she got on the highway and got on the beltway and headed north. At a gas station she pulled into, three other cars did also. Cameron went inside to pay for the gas and snacks, John pumped. Delilah sneaked around the back side of the station. When everyone in the cars was watching John, she crawled up behind the cars and let air out of the back tires. Not all of it, but enough that they were very soft. She got back around the building and got back in their car. Cameron came out with drinks and snacks, John was done pumping. They got in their car and left, taking a secondary road. Cameron drove fast.

After seeing those cars were no longer following them, Cameron drove to a smaller town and seeing a car dealer, she pulled over and parked at a restaurant. John called the rental place and told them they had car troubles, and where their car was while Delilah went to the dealer and bought a car. They left in their new plain blue Chevy by the time one of their pursuers saw the rental car, and assumed they had stopped for a late lunch or early dinner. It was a couple hours before the men got out to go see if the Connors were really in there.

Delilah driving their new car, went back to the beltway on another road then headed southwest.

One of the men who'd been following the Connors checked for any motels around. Here there was only one. He even offered to bribe the man, but no Connor was listed in the check in log. He got on his phone.

"Mason here, they gave us the slip ... no, we get the rental in a parking lot, but they didn't go into the restaurant, or the only motel that's here ... I have no idea where they went! They were heading north ... OK, fine, we'll watch the car for a while. Right, they have to be here someplace."

The next day he watched a tow truck from the rental company pick the car up and take it the rental car was going up on the lift bed, Delilah was driving across the top of Alabama.

"This is kinda like bringing Jackie home after her plane crashed," Delilah said.

"Want me to drive for a while?" Cameron asked from the passenger seat.

In the back seat, John was sacked out, snoring.

Delilah grinned. "When we stop to get John something to eat and get some gas, sure."

Cameron looked back at John. "He's really tired. I'm so glad we're out of that zoo they call the Capitol."

Delilah chuckled. "Me too. I just hope the kids haven't given Kaede and Yuka a hard time."

"I'm sure everyone at home is fine. You know, tomorrow, we should be in Texas, and Joan has a game in Austin. It's on our way."

Delilah smiled. "Yes, good idea."

"I'll call for tickets." Cameron did, then found out the stadium was sold out. "Well, I tried," she said in a huff.

.

The game was a match between Austin and Seattle, the two toughest teams in the women's league. The hype for the game was high. two hotels were maxed out from people who came to see Seattle play, three more had no rooms left from Texans who'd come to see the game. Many others came to stay with relatives or friends to watch this game. In their previous game, Seattle was only one point behind Austin in their scores. Billed as a 'match between titans', posters and fliers were everywhere, promoting this game as 'who will win? Many people wanted to see. Even the NFL network had cameras on the field to broadcast it live.

The ones who were aching to find out where John Connor lived was also there. Security caught a man breaking into the stadium. Then a woman was caught game day, trying to get into the Austin office. Security around the Austin team was increased. Knowing the popularity of Joan, Coach Baker was sure they were after information about her. He made sure they had extra security for he girls. The high lights of the stadium too were walked by security to verify there was not going to be another assassination attempt on her.

Kendra and Joan had talked earlier. After both teams came out and the National Anthem was played, they went out with their coaches for the coin toss. Te coin was tossed and Seattle had first possession. Joan and Kendra shook hands, wishing each other luck.

In the announcer's box that had their own camera feed, Jake said, "Now that's something you don't see, the quarterbacks shaking hands before the game."

"Joan and Kendra are rivals, but it appears they have great respect for each other. That's true sportsmanship right there."

"All of their games have been only a single point apart, they both must be feeling some pressure."

"No doubt. This is almost like a game for the Cup, seeing these two teams together."

"It's going to be hard fought, that's for sure."

Coach Baker had Karen on defense as a safety for this game. She was nearly as fast as Joan and Allison. He watched the kickoff by Allison. She and Karen raced downfield, following right behind the ball. Seattle put defense in front of the catcher, who got it inside the end zone. Allison leaped over them, Karen went low and got through. The catcher barely had time to kneel before Allison ran into her.

It was so close, the play was replayed from a few different angles. Was it the 15 yard line for Seattle, or a touch back for Austin. The refs determined that Seattle had the ball, and would start on their 15 yard line.

"Half a second earlier, and and it would have been Austin's ball," Jay noted.

The teams lined up. Karen on the left side safety knew this was a strong team they were up against, and had tricks of their own. Focusing on the ball as Joan and Coach Baker insisted, she watched the hike, then the pass to the right side. A receiver was coming at her. She stayed with them and kept watching. The receiver who had it threw it back to the quarterback who then threw it to the left side receiver. Seeing this, Karen ran at the flying ball and jumped to catch it. The receiver hit her, they both fell down. The ball bounced away.

Incomplete pass.

"Good stop!" Allison called to her.

They lined up again. This time at the hike, the receivers both passed behind the quarterback. Karen saw them but lost track of the ball. a flash of brown showed, the receiver coming at her had it. Betty was on her, the receiver turned and tossed the ball to another team mate close by, she ran hard. Karen charged into her, getting a solid tackle.

It was a 6 yard gain.

More plays and it was the same, Seattle sometimes getting only a few yards, but in four downs, they always made ten yards, getting a new first down. By the time Austin had been backed up to their own 25 yard line, Karen was getting tired. Seattle was pushing hard and not taking much time to huddle. That was putting strain on the defense. Seattle went for a pass, this time to the right side receiver. IN a big jump, Allison caught the ball. Upon landing she was immediately tackled by the one who was suppose to catch it. Allison struggled and mnaged a few yards before two more Seattle players forced her to the ground.

As least they had a rest. Karen went back to the benches, very glad Allison had caught that ball. As the offense went out, Coach Baker called new players for the next defense. Karen wasn't that tired. "Coach we can rest a while can't we?" she asked.

"About a minute or so, the defense is going to be back on the field," he told her.

Karen watched their huddle, Joan was back in the shotgun formation, receivers out to the sides. It was going to be a pass play, Karen figured. When Joan hiked she ran fast back another fifteen yards, and held the ball up like she was going to pass.

She didn't. Joan ran to the side as the Seattle player charging her came close. The mixed line of defense and offense was coming closer, Joan raced around and got ahead of the one chasing her, then burst through a hole in the line.

The safeties were being blocked by the receivers. Joan jogged and raced downfield. Only one briefly got close to her. She made the end zone. They set up for the extra point. Joan was in the line, Allison ten yards behind her. Joan hiked, then ran towards Allison as Allison was running at her. Allison tucked and charge the line Joan jogged off to the side and also charge the line far to the right.

It was when Allison leaped high into the air over the line that Karen saw she had the ball. Allison made it into the end zone. Yay, 7-0.

Many of the girls coming out for the defense were new players. Karen got it, the Coach shifting players every time they went out kept fresh players on the field to meet Seattle's main offense, who basically stayed the same. He was working at wearing them down.

This time, Seattle kept the ball on the ground and in their long push for the goal, they made it. They went for two extra points out at the ten yard line. They missed, their ball carrier was taken down a few inches from the goal line.

7-6

Karen was going out again after Joan made a goal. She was ready.

This time, Joan again made like she was going for a pass. She did line jump. Two Seattle players jumped up to grab her, one got knocked over, the other managed to grab her back foot. Her shoe came off, That player also fell down, Joan's shoe in her hand. Joan tore off with only a sock on her left foot. She jogged left to avoid one safety, then jogged right, slipped and fell. The other safety quickly jumped on her.

Getting up, the safety jumped up and down with joy. Joan got up, laughing. She still had made it to the Seattle 40 yard line.

"The longest run ever, the ONLY run ever by a player with only one shoe!" the announcer stated.

Austin called a time out so Joan could retrieve her shoe and get it back on.

The game went on, Austin getting a touchdown, then Seattle getting a touchdown. In the final moments of the game, Seattle did get the extra two point attempt, at the buzzer at the end of the fourth quarter, the score was tied, 56-56. Austin had the ball.

The next scoring points by either team would win the game. A time out was called by Seattle. Coach Baker took advantage of it and put Karen on the left side wide end by Allison.

"Listen girls, we need to get that ball down field fast. Karen, when Joan hikes, forget blocking, Take off for the end zone Don't stop until you get there. Go right down the middle. Allison will be on the left, Betty on the right. Joan, long bomb to whoever's clear."

"Got it!" they all said, then went back out on the field.

Karen went out and got on the line at the end. As soon as she hear Joan yell "HIKE!" she dodged around the defensive end and ran as hard as she could for the end zone. The two safeties watched all three, but thought Karen was a distraction. They did their best to cover Allison and Betty. Getting to the end zone Karen stopped and turned. She couldn't even see Joan at the far end of the field, but she did see the football coming fast, right at her. The safeties both ran, but the ball got to her first. Karen was ready to catch it. Well, she thought she was.

The ball slammed through her hands and punched her in the gut. The impact knocked her back. Only the fact she had her arms around the loose ball that blasted the breath out of her, kept her holding onto it long enough for a ref to call "Touchdown!"

Karen tried to breathe. She couldn't. In tiny squeaks, she tried to take in air. Allison and Betty were beside her.

"Breathe!" Allison commanded.

Karen struggled up, gasping for a breath. It took a moment, then longest moment in her life, she swore! She did get enough air in to keep from passing out.

Both teams came running, seeing her distress.

"Karen, you OK?" Joan asked with a worried look.

Karen nodded weakly, then croaked out, "I don't wanna be a receiver."