My notes: I'm in a hurry to get this baby done! I'm almost there! Yay, me! I only have to do this chappie and two more! Yay, yay, yay! This is one of the saddest ones yet. Or at least in my opinion. It goes a little more in depth with the post-accident Gerry!
Disclaimer: None of the people in this chappie belong to me. I wish that Ryan Hurst (the guy that played Gerry) Belonged to me, because he was really cute! But, you know how that goes. Sad, but true! :-( Well, I have disclaimed again, so here I go!
~Chapter 9: Coach Yoast~
I coached Gerry Bertier all through his high school years. He was a great linebacker, and a great guy. A little hot-headed, but, still, a great guy.
When I found out that I was losing my job to Coach Boone, Gerry said he was going to quit. He said he'd only play for me. And as good as it made me feel, I didn't want my boys to quit. So I stayed in Alexandria and assisted Coach Boone.
When Gerry got hurt, he asked me to coach him for the shotput. He talked to me alot about how he felt about things. Like how he hated his wheelchair. He said that sometimes he just wanted to rip it apart. He said, "It's like the only thing between me and the guy I used to be is this stupid wheelchair."
Other times, he talked about Emma. I never knew a teenaged guy who loved a girl as much as he loved her. He talked to me right before he asked her to marry him. He said he felt guilty asking her to marry him. He thought Emma deserved alot better than a "cripple." He wanted her to have the very best. He said, "I can't offer her the all-American linebacker I used to be. All I can give her is what's left of me."
I told him that Emma loved him. And that I'd kick his rear end if I ever heard him call himself a "cripple" again.
Other times, he would tell me how he hated it when his momma tried to do everything for him. "I know she's just doing it because she loves me. But, I hate it, Coach. It's all I can do not to get mad and yell and scream! I hate it!"
I went home with him that particular day. His mother was waiting when he got home. "Are you tired, Gerry?" she asked.
"No, Ma," he said. "But I need a shower."
She hopped up right quick to get the shower chair. Gerry looked at me, and I smiled. He shifted and looked uncomfortable, but he told her how he felt. "Ma, I'll do it myself. I'm not a baby. I'm not a little kid. I'm just in a wheelchair."
She just looked at him for a long minute. She said his name softly. He told her that he was sorry if he was being disrespectful. But he said that he had to do things for himself.
She really tried to let him do things for himself, and it helped him alot. But she still really worried about him. Especially when he got married and left home. But Gerry did a good enough job taking care of himself.
He and Emma surprised everybody when they moved to the 'Burg. But they were never happier.
When I found out that Gerry was gone, it was almost like being told that I'd lost my own son. He was one of the best players who ever played for me. He was one of the most good-hearted people I ever knew. And you kids have him in you. Be proud of that, and never forget it!
-Coach Bill Yoast
Disclaimer: None of the people in this chappie belong to me. I wish that Ryan Hurst (the guy that played Gerry) Belonged to me, because he was really cute! But, you know how that goes. Sad, but true! :-( Well, I have disclaimed again, so here I go!
~Chapter 9: Coach Yoast~
I coached Gerry Bertier all through his high school years. He was a great linebacker, and a great guy. A little hot-headed, but, still, a great guy.
When I found out that I was losing my job to Coach Boone, Gerry said he was going to quit. He said he'd only play for me. And as good as it made me feel, I didn't want my boys to quit. So I stayed in Alexandria and assisted Coach Boone.
When Gerry got hurt, he asked me to coach him for the shotput. He talked to me alot about how he felt about things. Like how he hated his wheelchair. He said that sometimes he just wanted to rip it apart. He said, "It's like the only thing between me and the guy I used to be is this stupid wheelchair."
Other times, he talked about Emma. I never knew a teenaged guy who loved a girl as much as he loved her. He talked to me right before he asked her to marry him. He said he felt guilty asking her to marry him. He thought Emma deserved alot better than a "cripple." He wanted her to have the very best. He said, "I can't offer her the all-American linebacker I used to be. All I can give her is what's left of me."
I told him that Emma loved him. And that I'd kick his rear end if I ever heard him call himself a "cripple" again.
Other times, he would tell me how he hated it when his momma tried to do everything for him. "I know she's just doing it because she loves me. But, I hate it, Coach. It's all I can do not to get mad and yell and scream! I hate it!"
I went home with him that particular day. His mother was waiting when he got home. "Are you tired, Gerry?" she asked.
"No, Ma," he said. "But I need a shower."
She hopped up right quick to get the shower chair. Gerry looked at me, and I smiled. He shifted and looked uncomfortable, but he told her how he felt. "Ma, I'll do it myself. I'm not a baby. I'm not a little kid. I'm just in a wheelchair."
She just looked at him for a long minute. She said his name softly. He told her that he was sorry if he was being disrespectful. But he said that he had to do things for himself.
She really tried to let him do things for himself, and it helped him alot. But she still really worried about him. Especially when he got married and left home. But Gerry did a good enough job taking care of himself.
He and Emma surprised everybody when they moved to the 'Burg. But they were never happier.
When I found out that Gerry was gone, it was almost like being told that I'd lost my own son. He was one of the best players who ever played for me. He was one of the most good-hearted people I ever knew. And you kids have him in you. Be proud of that, and never forget it!
-Coach Bill Yoast