It was a huge night and one we had all been waiting for. Even though Charlottesville was an almost three hour drive from Alexandria, a large crowd of the most loyal Titan fans had made the trek to watch our boys play for the Virginia State Championship. Our opponents were tough and formidable and it would be anybody's game. I watched with interest as Julius, Gerry, Ronnie, Alan, Petey and the gang kept the score close. If we won, I knew there'd be one heck of a celebration when we returned home. State champions, next stop the nationals. A chance to be known as the greatest high school Triple A football team in the whole country. That was the goal and I had faith we could pull it off. Even if we didn't, we had nothing to be ashamed of. Coach Boone and Coach Yoast had come together and led the Titans to a perfect, undefeated regular season. More importantly, the guys had banded together like true brothers on the field and off. People from all different types of backgrounds and status, different races. Young men who brought a divided town together and made it united. The T.C. Williams Titans had done a lot more than just win some football games.
"Come on Julius! Come on Petey! Come on Gerry! Look alive boys! This is for the big one!" little Sheryl Yoast screamed at the top of her lungs.
Sheryl always brought a smile to my face, the beautiful tomboy of a nine year old who had been by her daddy's side at every game and every practice since she could walk practically. I remembered fondly the days I used to baby-sit her. Now here she was growing up. Her passion and love for the sport of football always made me smile but more than that it was so nice to look up in the stands and see her sitting beside her new best friend, little Nikki Boone. And beside Mrs. Boone sat Gerry's mother, Mrs. Bertier. At every first down, every tackle and every touch down the women would jump excitedly up and down and hug each other. Two women with one very big difference watching a Saturday night game together like friends. Nothing made me prouder, I thought but my attention quickly diverted back to the action on the field. It was down to the last minute and we were tied. The tension outside was so thick you could slice it with a knife. We couldn't even breathe. Then it happened! Titan quarterback, # 12, Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass made the throw, the key pass that scored another touch down and won the game. It happened! It had finally happened! We were the champions! I already knew there was going to be one heck of a celebration once we got home but it started as soon as we got on the bus. Everyone was psyched and busy making plans. I was thrilled for our team...they truly deserved everything.
"Party on the waterfront! Party on the waterfront!" Petey exclaimed as he ran around the T. C. Williams parking lot.
As happy as I was and knowing it was going to be a good time among friends, I was tired and looking forward to an early night's turn in. It was a crazy and wonderfully chaotic scene though. There were people and cars everywhere. Loud music blasted, fans shouted and waved our school colors. I stood back just taking it all in as I prepared to walk the short distance home.
"Mary-Courtney, hop in with us! We'll give you a ride to the Waterfront", Emma yelled from the front seat of Gerry's Camaro.
"I'm good", I smiled. "Maybe I'll catch up with you guys later. Have a good time."
Gerry nodded and gave me a knowing smile as I kissed his cheek. Then he pulled off and disappeared into the massive sea of cars in the lot. I waved until they could no longer see me and I began walking in the other direction, saying good-bye to all my friends. There was one last person that I had to see before I left.
"Hey Ronnie...I just wanted to say good game tonight. Congratulations."
He turned and smiled.
"Thanks. That means a lot. We had a great season. Now it's on to Nationals I guess. I can't believe it."
"I can. You guys put in the work and the time and you overcame a whole lot more than other teams around here had to. I'm proud of you Ronnie...all of you."
"Thanks Mary-Courtney. Um, are you coming out to party on the Waterfront?"
"I don't know. Probably not. I'm kind of tired."
"Oh that's cool. I think I'll go for a little while. My parents let me have the Vette tonight. If you're going home, I could give you a lift."
"Thanks...but I think I'll walk."
"Okay", he smiled, before taking off his jacket and draping it across my shoulders. "Here. It's chilly out tonight."
"Thank you. Uh, Ronnie?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you...thanks for still being so patient with me. I know it's taking longer than you might like."
"Take all the time you need, babe. I'm not going anywhere."
He gave me one last wave and wink before walking off. I stood there smiling like an idiot forever before continuing up the block to my house. I could smell the cologne from his jacket and it warmed me all over. Being around Ronnie always put me in a good mood in my own little world. I was in dream land as I turned for the corner that led to my street. I could see the big produce truck with the blinding bright lights approaching but I was too caught up in my own world to pay attention. I guess Gerry was too because he didn't see the truck. Or maybe he saw it but it was too late. There was a stop sign there, why didn't the other driver stop? Why didn't Gerry stop? Those questions reeled in my mind for a few seconds of slow motion until there was the loud sound of impact and the piercing scream of Emma. The car spun wildly out of control several times before coming to a complete halt at the end of the block. There was an eerie silence before the panic set in. Then there were screams and all sorts of commotion as onlookers rushed to the scene. The wrecked car was feet away from me and I was the first one to get to them. The car was so mangled it didn't even remotely resemble the Camaro I had ridden in so many times before. I peered in and I saw Gerry, his face covered in windshield glass and blood.
"Gerry, are you alright?" I asked. "It's okay. Everything is going to be fine. Help is on the way."
"Emma!" he screamed. "Emma! Emma!"
"Gerry, calm down. It's okay. You're fine."
I tried to reassure him but I couldn't see Emma anywhere in the car.
"Mary-Courtney, what happened?" Ronnie asked as he was the first of the passersby to make it to the accident. "Where's Emma?"
"I don't know. I don't see her but I don't think she got thrown from the car or anything", I replied in a frightened whisper.
"It's okay. Somebody went back to the school to call an ambulance. Just stay calm for me...hey Gerry! Gerry man, you okay?"
"I...I can't move. My face hurts so bad...Emma! Where is Emma?"
"Emma's okay, bro, just stay with me, alright? Help is coming."
I looked further inside the car and I could see light brown hair fluttering in the breeze. My heart caught in my throat. At least we'd found her. At least she hadn't been thrown from the car. At least it looked like she was alive.
"Rescue squad is on its way", someone yelled from the crowd forming.
My surroundings were surreal. It was hard to see or breathe or think. There were so many, many people. So much noise. So much blood.
"Mary-Courtney..."
"Shhhh, Gerry, don't speak", I said as I leaned in and tried to touch his arm. "Help is coming, okay? You've got to calm down, sweetie. Try to be real still and real quiet until the ambulance gets here. They're coming soon, I promise."
"Emma...where's Emma?"
"Emma's going to be fine."
I was amazed at how strong and sure my voice sounded while on the inside I was shaking like a leaf. I didn't know if Emma was going to be okay. She hadn't moved one iota since I'd first spotted her crumpled on the Camaro's floor. It was all too much for me. How had everything changed in a few split seconds? One minute we were all standing around laughing and talking, celebrating our victory, the next minute our friends were near death. I couldn't take it, I didn't know what to do. Gerry's sobs, Emma's stillness, that final blood curling scream she let out right before they hit.
"What happened here? What happened? Is he alright? Gerry!"
Julius bounded through the bystanders to be at the side of his best friend. He took one look inside the car at Gerry's bloodied face and lost it. The tough guy, the All American Titan linebacker, the young man who had gallantly stood up to cowardly racists was now simply a broken, defeated, sobbing boy.
"Julius! Julius! Julius, stop it!" I said, grabbing him so that we were face to face. "We have to be strong for Gerry and Emma. It'll only get worse if he gets more upset so we have to be calm out here, okay? Now pull yourself together, you hear me? All that racket and tears isn't gonna make him any better."
Julius was still disoriented but he seemed to get what I was trying to say. He calmed down and the ambulance quickly arrived, immediately getting to work to free our friends from the wreckage. Julius and I latched on to each other for comfort. He cried softly as did some of the others but I couldn't. I wanted to and I felt like I might but the tears just wouldn't come. Instead I stood there stoned face, quiet as a mouse and scared out of my mind.
"Come on Julius! Come on Petey! Come on Gerry! Look alive boys! This is for the big one!" little Sheryl Yoast screamed at the top of her lungs.
Sheryl always brought a smile to my face, the beautiful tomboy of a nine year old who had been by her daddy's side at every game and every practice since she could walk practically. I remembered fondly the days I used to baby-sit her. Now here she was growing up. Her passion and love for the sport of football always made me smile but more than that it was so nice to look up in the stands and see her sitting beside her new best friend, little Nikki Boone. And beside Mrs. Boone sat Gerry's mother, Mrs. Bertier. At every first down, every tackle and every touch down the women would jump excitedly up and down and hug each other. Two women with one very big difference watching a Saturday night game together like friends. Nothing made me prouder, I thought but my attention quickly diverted back to the action on the field. It was down to the last minute and we were tied. The tension outside was so thick you could slice it with a knife. We couldn't even breathe. Then it happened! Titan quarterback, # 12, Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass made the throw, the key pass that scored another touch down and won the game. It happened! It had finally happened! We were the champions! I already knew there was going to be one heck of a celebration once we got home but it started as soon as we got on the bus. Everyone was psyched and busy making plans. I was thrilled for our team...they truly deserved everything.
"Party on the waterfront! Party on the waterfront!" Petey exclaimed as he ran around the T. C. Williams parking lot.
As happy as I was and knowing it was going to be a good time among friends, I was tired and looking forward to an early night's turn in. It was a crazy and wonderfully chaotic scene though. There were people and cars everywhere. Loud music blasted, fans shouted and waved our school colors. I stood back just taking it all in as I prepared to walk the short distance home.
"Mary-Courtney, hop in with us! We'll give you a ride to the Waterfront", Emma yelled from the front seat of Gerry's Camaro.
"I'm good", I smiled. "Maybe I'll catch up with you guys later. Have a good time."
Gerry nodded and gave me a knowing smile as I kissed his cheek. Then he pulled off and disappeared into the massive sea of cars in the lot. I waved until they could no longer see me and I began walking in the other direction, saying good-bye to all my friends. There was one last person that I had to see before I left.
"Hey Ronnie...I just wanted to say good game tonight. Congratulations."
He turned and smiled.
"Thanks. That means a lot. We had a great season. Now it's on to Nationals I guess. I can't believe it."
"I can. You guys put in the work and the time and you overcame a whole lot more than other teams around here had to. I'm proud of you Ronnie...all of you."
"Thanks Mary-Courtney. Um, are you coming out to party on the Waterfront?"
"I don't know. Probably not. I'm kind of tired."
"Oh that's cool. I think I'll go for a little while. My parents let me have the Vette tonight. If you're going home, I could give you a lift."
"Thanks...but I think I'll walk."
"Okay", he smiled, before taking off his jacket and draping it across my shoulders. "Here. It's chilly out tonight."
"Thank you. Uh, Ronnie?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you...thanks for still being so patient with me. I know it's taking longer than you might like."
"Take all the time you need, babe. I'm not going anywhere."
He gave me one last wave and wink before walking off. I stood there smiling like an idiot forever before continuing up the block to my house. I could smell the cologne from his jacket and it warmed me all over. Being around Ronnie always put me in a good mood in my own little world. I was in dream land as I turned for the corner that led to my street. I could see the big produce truck with the blinding bright lights approaching but I was too caught up in my own world to pay attention. I guess Gerry was too because he didn't see the truck. Or maybe he saw it but it was too late. There was a stop sign there, why didn't the other driver stop? Why didn't Gerry stop? Those questions reeled in my mind for a few seconds of slow motion until there was the loud sound of impact and the piercing scream of Emma. The car spun wildly out of control several times before coming to a complete halt at the end of the block. There was an eerie silence before the panic set in. Then there were screams and all sorts of commotion as onlookers rushed to the scene. The wrecked car was feet away from me and I was the first one to get to them. The car was so mangled it didn't even remotely resemble the Camaro I had ridden in so many times before. I peered in and I saw Gerry, his face covered in windshield glass and blood.
"Gerry, are you alright?" I asked. "It's okay. Everything is going to be fine. Help is on the way."
"Emma!" he screamed. "Emma! Emma!"
"Gerry, calm down. It's okay. You're fine."
I tried to reassure him but I couldn't see Emma anywhere in the car.
"Mary-Courtney, what happened?" Ronnie asked as he was the first of the passersby to make it to the accident. "Where's Emma?"
"I don't know. I don't see her but I don't think she got thrown from the car or anything", I replied in a frightened whisper.
"It's okay. Somebody went back to the school to call an ambulance. Just stay calm for me...hey Gerry! Gerry man, you okay?"
"I...I can't move. My face hurts so bad...Emma! Where is Emma?"
"Emma's okay, bro, just stay with me, alright? Help is coming."
I looked further inside the car and I could see light brown hair fluttering in the breeze. My heart caught in my throat. At least we'd found her. At least she hadn't been thrown from the car. At least it looked like she was alive.
"Rescue squad is on its way", someone yelled from the crowd forming.
My surroundings were surreal. It was hard to see or breathe or think. There were so many, many people. So much noise. So much blood.
"Mary-Courtney..."
"Shhhh, Gerry, don't speak", I said as I leaned in and tried to touch his arm. "Help is coming, okay? You've got to calm down, sweetie. Try to be real still and real quiet until the ambulance gets here. They're coming soon, I promise."
"Emma...where's Emma?"
"Emma's going to be fine."
I was amazed at how strong and sure my voice sounded while on the inside I was shaking like a leaf. I didn't know if Emma was going to be okay. She hadn't moved one iota since I'd first spotted her crumpled on the Camaro's floor. It was all too much for me. How had everything changed in a few split seconds? One minute we were all standing around laughing and talking, celebrating our victory, the next minute our friends were near death. I couldn't take it, I didn't know what to do. Gerry's sobs, Emma's stillness, that final blood curling scream she let out right before they hit.
"What happened here? What happened? Is he alright? Gerry!"
Julius bounded through the bystanders to be at the side of his best friend. He took one look inside the car at Gerry's bloodied face and lost it. The tough guy, the All American Titan linebacker, the young man who had gallantly stood up to cowardly racists was now simply a broken, defeated, sobbing boy.
"Julius! Julius! Julius, stop it!" I said, grabbing him so that we were face to face. "We have to be strong for Gerry and Emma. It'll only get worse if he gets more upset so we have to be calm out here, okay? Now pull yourself together, you hear me? All that racket and tears isn't gonna make him any better."
Julius was still disoriented but he seemed to get what I was trying to say. He calmed down and the ambulance quickly arrived, immediately getting to work to free our friends from the wreckage. Julius and I latched on to each other for comfort. He cried softly as did some of the others but I couldn't. I wanted to and I felt like I might but the tears just wouldn't come. Instead I stood there stoned face, quiet as a mouse and scared out of my mind.