Dad and I entered the room and all the guys were over now eating some lunch before the game. Mom had made a couple dozen bologna sandwiches and put out some chips that everyone was eating. I sat down and grabbed a sandwich. Bologna wasn't my favorite, but I didn't mind it to much. There were worse meals that Mom would concoct. Some of her leftover dinner casseroles were better left untouched. Bologna sandwiches were at least simple and safe.
The guys were all joking around and getting excited for the game. Darry and I looked at each other, but didn't say anything. Neither one of us were really the apologizing type. Whenever we fought we usually would just scream at each other, since physical fighting was out of the question with Darry being twice my size. He would never lay a hand on me more than the occasional shove or a push. Mom and Dad would kill him if he did, but even if they didn't care I don't think Darry would ever want to hurt me even if I was getting on his nerves. Darry isn't a bad guy he just is a jerk a lot of the time. Especially to me. After yelling is out we wouldn't talk or acknowledge each other for a few days and then eventually would just go back to normal as if nothing happened. It drove Soda nuts because we never would just work things out and communicate and with Soda you couldn't do anything but communicate. He didn't understand us, but this is what worked for Darry and I. I certainly wasn't going to start apologizing for things. This time it wasn't my fault anyways.
After everyone had eaten their fill, we all started getting shoes on and talking trash to each other about who was going to win. Since we played most Sundays we had a running game record going. The teams were split the same every time and we were evenly matched because of it. Darry and Dad were both the team captains since they were both the biggest and best players. Darry had Steve, Dally, and Johnny and Dad, Soda, Two-Bit, and I were on the other team. It made for a very even match up. Darry vs Dad, Soda and Steve, Dally and Two-Bit, and me and Johnny. Right now the games were actually even. We were tied for the first time in a long time, Darry's team usually had more wins, but today was our chance to finally be leading in games won!
We were all ready and started heading for the door when Mom called out "Ponyboy. Sodapop. jackets please! I don't want either of you getting sick this break and missing school when it starts back up."
Soda, never the one to let anything phase him, bounded over to the closet to get his jacket. He pulled mine out too and threw it at me. I didn't want to put it on though. It wasn't that cold and this jacket was bright yellow and I looked like an idiot in it. "Mom I don't need a jacket. It's not that cold. I wont get sick."
"Ponyboy you can either wear a jacket or you can stay home from the game. Choice is up to you." she gave me a look and put her hands on her hips. Luckily most of the guys had already left the house and only Johnny was still there. He looked nervous wondering what I was going to do and how this was going to play out. I wanted to fight back, but I knew they wouldn't wait for me to get started, so with a sigh I slipped the jacket on knowing I would take it off as soon as I was out of sight from the house.
Mom must have sensed my plan and called out "Don't you dare take that jacket off out there! I'll know if you do!" as the door closed behind me. I rolled my eyes. Sure she would.
Johnny and I ran to the lot where the teams were already huddling up. I noticed that Soda didn't have his jacket on anymore so I slipped mine off and threw it on the side. If Mom really did find out at least we would go down together. I hurried over to Dads team and Johnny ran over to Darry.
"Alright boys. This is our moment. This is our game. We can finally take the lead if we win today. I believe in us. We start with the ball today so this is what we are going to do. Man your usual people. Two-Bit you hike the ball to me. Pony go long as a distraction and Soda get open. I'll pass to you." Dad instructed and called our play move. We all broke and started to line up. I was staring down Johnny who had a smile on his face. We all were happiest playing football together. "I'm coming for you Pon" Johnny called out. I just laughed. He could never catch me.
Two-Bit hiked the ball and I took off running. I slipped right pass Johnny and ran down to the other side of the lot. This distraction technic worked because Dally turned and slammed into me thus opening the way for Soda. Unfortunately Steve was also a pretty fast runner and he was able to catch up with Soda and tackle him down before Soda could catch the ball. Dally stood up and held a hand out to me to help me up. I took it and was hoisted to my feet. I dusted off my jeans and then we all went to huddle up again.
"Ok that was a good try. Lets run a similar play but this time I'm going to throw the ball to you Ponyboy." Dad directed us. I felt my stomach drop a bit. I was fast and could take a hit pretty well. I was an even match to Johnny and had even once taken down Steve with enough built up force. He was really mad about that and flattened me to the ground the next play, but catching the ball. That I wasn't good at. Guess you can't be talented at everything and I was a horrible catch. But I did as Dad instructed and we lined up once again.
The ball was hiked and I took off whipping past the line again. I was small and agile and pretty fast because of that so I could usually get past Darry's team line. Darry went right for Dad and as he started to tackle him down Dad threw the ball towards me. I saw Steve hurtling towards me as the ball sailed and I reached out my hands to catch it...but it sailed through my arms and hit the ground. Yeah. Football probably wasn't in my future like Darry. Steve seeing the ball hit the ground turned off to the side and didn't knock me flat, but I looked pretty stupid just standing there with my arms out and the ball on the ground.
Two-Bit called out "Pony! You are supposed to catch the ball. Not watch it fall on the ground!" he started laughing along with most of the other guys. Only Dad and Johnny didn't. I picked up the ball and walked back to the line. Soda threw his arm around my neck. "It's ok Pon. You'll catch it next time" he said with a smile.
We continued to play for probably two hours, but it was starting to get dark and as much as I wouldn't admit it out loud, I was starting to get cold. Maybe I should have worn my jacket. It was a tied game and we had the ball with one play left. We huddled up.
"Ok boys. This is it. We have one play left. Let's make it count. We are going to mix things up this time. I'm going to hike the ball to you Ponyboy. Pepsi-Cola I need you to take down Darry. Two-Bit you have to stop Steve from running. Pony when I hike it to you, I want you to make a run for it. Run as fast as you can and score for us kiddo. I'm going to clear a path for you. I'll get Dally and Johnny." We all stared at Dad. This was a different play. We had never switched up so much. But after looking around the huddle we all nodded. They wouldn't see this coming that's for sure.
We all lined up and I was feeling nervous. I stood behind Dad and looked right at Darry kneeled in front. He looked confused by our set up. Dad almost always was our quarter back so for me to be it now was already a bit unusual. Just like I couldn't catch, I wasn't great at throwing. I could see his mind turning trying to understand our plan. I called out as loud as I could "Hut, Hut. Hike!"
Dad snapped the ball to me and luckily I caught that one. Once the ball was in my hands I took off. I saw Soda come out of no where and tackle Darry. That clearly took him off guard. Two-Bit was on my other side hurtling towards Steve as Steve was turning to run me down. Two-Bit jumped in the air and got Steve around the ankle taking him down. Dad rushed at Dally and pushed Johnny down in the process. The path was clear as I sailed through their line and ran the whole length of the lot. I made it to the end zone and whipped around to see everyone.
Steve must have gotten back up after Two-Bit took him down because he was just out of reach of me. Darry was halfway down the lot with Soda right on his heals. Steve and Darry realized that I already scored the touchdown and slowed their run but Soda ran right past them and slammed into me knocking us both to the ground and laughing the whole time. I heard Two-Bit cheering from farther away and next thing I knew Dad picked me up off the ground and threw me up on his shoulders. Soda and Two-Bit were singing some made up winners song and Johnny was laughing and cheering along with us even though his team just lost. Dally and Steve looked upset about the loss, but even they started to feel the affects of the cheering crowd and seemed to lighten up. Darry met my eyes as I sat on Dads shoulder and he gave me such a look of pride. I knew then that our fight was over. It was stupid anyways. My face beamed and I threw my fist in the air and let out a cheer. That got Soda and Two-Bit really hollering.
Just then Mom walked over to all of us with a smile on her face. There's no way you couldn't join in with all the fun electricity in the air. "I came over to tell you all it was getting dark and to wrap up the game and come home, but I'm so happy I caught that last play! Good job Baby!" Dad set me down and then Mom really looked at me and frowned. She then turned and looked at everyone. "You all are filthy. Ponyboy, Sodapop, where are your jackets?"
Soda pointed over to where they were laying in the grass. "They were cheering us on from the sidelines Mom. That's why we won. We had great cheerleaders. Couldn't do it without them." Everyone burst out laughing even Mom.
"Alright well if you get sick don't expect me to make you any soup" she replied but we all knew from her tone of voice and just from being our mother that she would never do that. Mom was the best when you were sick. She knew exactly how to make you feel better. "Come on you all need to get cleaned up and out of the cold." We all started heading back home. Soda grabbed our jackets off the ground and Dad hoisted me back on his shoulders and wrapped his arm around Mom as we walked back.
The walk didn't last long and we were all buzzing with talk of the game and sharing the best plays of the night. We walked into the warm house and Mom had made plenty of stew for everyone. Perfect for a cold night after football. She always knew just what we all needed. Dad set me down and everyone went to wash up. We grabbed our bowls of stew and dived in still chatting about the game. After eating we were all exhausted and the guys headed out one by one and I went off to bed still grinning about my game winning touchdown. As I walked out of the room Darry called to me "Ponyboy! That was a pretty impressive play. I have never seen someone run that fast. You were there one second and in the endzone the next. I couldn't believe it! Good job kid" and then he ruffled my hair and headed into his room.