Gladiators of the Gridiron

The final bell signalled the end of the school week and released the students into the freedom of the weekend. Ty was indifferent towards the bell. It was the day before the first game of Regionals, which was exciting, but as it was the day before a game, that also meant there was no practice. JJ wouldn’t even go to the gym.

Everyone always told him to take it easy the day before the game, so Ty would. He could still train through watching film, he’d burn every play into his memory if he had to.

It had been hard to focus throughout the day, his thoughts had been overtaken by Kaiser’s film. Even as he pedalled back home it was on his mind.

He drifted back home, arriving to find it peaceful and empty for once. It was a disturbing quietness. Usually, someone was home, but today Ty was the first to return. He shrugged off the strange feeling and went straight to his room. On his bed, he pulled out his laptop and replayed Kaiser’s film, watching every one of Seven’s receptions.

He forgot the disquieting emptiness of the house, then, and was lost in his own little world as he looked for any sign or weakness, any tick or tell that he could exploit in the upcoming game.

Seven would’ve been around six feet tall, taller than most of his opponents in the footage Ty had, but he liked to hunch over in his stance. His shoulders were right there, anyone could get their hands on them and push him back, but it seemed like bait.

“He’s never lost a press in any of these clips.” Even if all the clips were successful receptions, there still wasn’t a single one that started with Seven struggling against his opponent’s press.

Ty was pulled out of his world when he felt four little hands hit and pull on his leg. His eyes flashed to the twins who now stood beside his bed. He was too confused to be angry. ‘What?’ he asked.

‘Meggie said to tell you dinner’s ready,’ Josh said this. Jason never called his siblings by name.

‘Ya comin’ big brudder?’ Jason said, pulling Ty’s leg off the bed. Ty had no clue how anyone could fail to tell these two apart.

‘I’m coming. Get off me.’

The twins giggled and pulled faces at Ty—Josh pulled the corners of his mouth down, while Jason pulled his mouth up—snarling and growling at him before they turned and ran out of the room. Ty frowned, setting his laptop aside. He stood and felt his sharp, irregular teeth.

No one else in his family had such teeth. He reminded himself that they were a marker of how special he was. “Destined to greatness from birth.”

He left his room. The twins were banging on the door to the girls’ room, screaming at Vicky to let them in and to come to dinner. She shouted back, telling them to go away.

‘The hell is all that racket?’ Mother shouted.

Ty pulled the twins away from Vicky’s door and sent them down the hall. They raced past Mother.

‘I don’t want to hear no more screaming,’ she warned them before entering her room.

At the dining table, Megan had set out a few plates of food. There was barbeque chicken along with a medley of vegetables, currently she was pouring out some juice for the twins. Devon wasn’t in sight, nor was Father.

Mother didn’t join them at the table, nor did Victoria. The twins ate not even half of their food before they were running around again, leaving just Meg and Ty.

‘Regionals start tomorrow,’ Ty said.

Meg perked up. ‘Really? That’s exciting.’

Ty grunted. ‘It’s the same as any other game … except this one’s out of town. We’re taking a bus.’

‘See, that’s exciting isn’t it? But of course you’ll win, ‘cause you’re the best.’

Ty smiled. Meg was a smart girl. Smarter than anyone in the family. Smarter than anyone he knew. If she could see how special he was, it was proof he was the best.

‘Yeah … but, you won’t be able to come. Only team members are allowed on the bus, so, there won’t be any ride for you to take to the game.’

‘Oh…’ The sparkle left Meg’s eyes for a moment, though she soon perked up again. ‘But, what if we all came. Then the whole family could cheer you on.’ She grinned.

Ty’s fork scratched across his plate. He looked away, his teeth grinding. ‘Like they care. They can’t even come to home games, why would they drive an hour out of town for one?’

‘Well. You can still ask. I know I’d always come to support you, no matter how far I had to go. There’s no harm in asking, right?’

Ty grumbled. ‘No… fine, I’ll ask. It’s not like it makes a difference whether they come or not.’

Meg reacted as if Ty had just stabbed her.

‘I didn’t mean you!’ His usually hardened exterior flickered. ‘I know you actually want to show up. It’s...It’s different when you have to force someone to come.’ He sighed. ‘Forget it. I’m sorry.’

Her smile returned, much more faintly. ‘No, I think I get it.’

Ty stood, taking his and the twins’ dishes over to the sink. Meg stood as well, and together they cleared the table and cleaned up.

‘Thanks for the help,’ she said.

‘Thanks for the food. Your cooking’s already better than Mother’s.’

Meg’s cheeks darkened and she lowered her face. ‘I-It was nothing. It was just store bought.’

‘…Speaking of Mother, I’ll go ask her about the game.’

Before Ty left, Meg turned and kissed him on the cheek, wishing him luck. Ty wandered down the hall, rubbing said cheek. He knocked on his parents’ door.

‘What is it?’ Mother called.

‘Can I come in?’

‘Ugh … fine, make it quick.’

Ty entered. Mother was dressed in a black dress, leaning over her dresser, close to the mirror as she was pampering herself. Ty knew what such measures meant when it came to Mother—she was going to see her “friend”.

‘Don’t look at me like that. I’ll smack that look right off your face, boy,’ she side-eyed him, not even turning to face him.

Ty looked away, it was easier than washing away his disgust. ‘I’ve got a football game tomorrow. It’s Regionals.’

‘Uh-huh. Well good luck, sweetie, Mommy’s sure you’ll do great.’

‘I was checking if you wanted to come. You know, cheer me on in person. Like everyone else’s Mother does.’

She put her makeup down and turned her head to him. ‘You know I don’t like it when you use that word.’

“Why do you think I say it?”

Her finger tapped against the dresser as she thought for a moment. ‘Tommorrow’s Saturday. You know that’s Mommy’s bingo day.’

Ty bit his tongue. “Don’t you mean casino day?”

‘And you know Mommy’s gotta watch the twins, you know they can’t sit still, they’re not good at those big public events. I don’t think Mommy can make this one, sweetie, but I’m sure you’ll still win the championship.’ She turned back to the mirror.

Ty silently lingered in the doorway. He watched his mother doll herself up more. There was so much he wanted to say. The words piled on one another, burying him under them. He turned and left without saying anything, closing the door on his way out.

Maybe Father would still come, but he wasn’t even here to ask yet. Neither was Devon. He turned to Vicky’s room. He knocked softly.

‘Go away.’

‘It’s me.’

‘Uh, okay? Go away, Tyrese.’

His fist clenched tighter. ‘I was just asking if you wanted to come to my game tomorrow.’

Silence. He was about to turn away when the door suddenly opened. Victoria stood there, looking down at him. She was dressed up too, not in a dress per say, she was a bit more reserved in that sense at least, but she was going out that night too, just waiting for Mother to leave.

She really was like a mini version of their mother. She had their mother’s hair, thick brown curls, but it was their eyes that made the resemblance clear, they had such striking, hazel eyes … and they loved looking down their nose at you.

‘Are any of your teammates hot?’ Vicky asked.

Why did he bother. ‘Fuck you.’ He turned away.

‘Yeah, I’m hoping they will.’

Ty gagged. He stalked down the hall, pausing at Mother’s door. ‘Mooom! Vicky’s trying to sneak out.’

‘Fuck you, Ty!’ Vicky shouted.

‘Victoria?!’ Mother cried.

Ty snickered and continued to the living room as the fight brewed behind him. Meg was watching the twins—who were watching TV—with her nose in a school textbook.

‘I’m going for a ride. I’ll be back later,’ Ty said.

‘Oh, stay … safe.’ When Meg looked up, he was already gone. She heard the front door close a moment later.

Ty got on his bike and rode away from the house. He didn’t know where he was going, but he didn’t care as long as it was away from there. He followed his feet, letting them guide him.

He tried to clear his head. So what if they weren’t going to the game? They hadn’t shown up to any of them yet, what difference would it make now? Maybe Father would come. He shook the thoughts away and found himself back at school, outside the practice field.

He left his bike and climbed over the fence, walking to the middle of the field. He laid on his back and stared at the sky. No clouds veiled the stars. He reached up.

‘You’re different. You belong up there.’ He grabbed the brightest star he could see, clenching it tight in his fist. ‘You can’t let anything hold you down to this world. You’re special.’ He opened his hand, it was empty. ‘…You’re special.’

He would prove it tomorrow. Regionals wasn’t important. It was just a stepping stone to something greater.

He stood, brushed himself off, then returned to his bike. Someone was standing over it, picking it up onto its wheels.

Ty charged to the fence. ‘Hey! Get your fucking hands of my bike!’ he snarled.

The gaunt man dropped it, startled by Ty’s voice. He stumbled back and fell on his ass, eyes wide within the deep, sunken pits of his sockets, his pupils dilated so much his irises were blocked off.

Ty hopped over the fence and stood between his bike and the raggedy man.

The man scrambled to his feet. ‘Monster! Spare me, demon!’ The man fled.

Ty frowned, watching him go. ‘Monster …’ He picked up his bike and headed for home. If he had to be a monster to win, so be it.

Ty returned home and instantly went to the bathroom. The home was quiet again, meaning Mother and Victoria had left, and Meg had gotten the twins settled. There was no one to disturb Ty as he stared in the mirror, inspecting his teeth.

After a minute, he went back to his room. He grabbed his laptop and took it to the living room, replaying Kaiser’s film repeatedly as he awaited Father.

Ty must’ve been there for hours before Father finally stumbled through the door. His stench entered before him. That was all Ty needed to know he was drunk. Ty looked out the window, Father’s car was parked haphazardly across the lawn. He sighed. This wasn’t going to go well, but he had to ask.

Father was already in the fridge, looking for more alcohol, no doubt. Ty walked up behind him and cleared his throat. ‘Father?’

‘Waz it?’ Father whirled around. ‘Oh, is jus you. Whaddya want?’

‘I’ve got my first game of Regionals tomorrow. I thought maybe you’d want to come.’

‘Yous shtill playhin’ fooball?’ Father turned back to the fridge. ‘Ya knows I wash playhin’ fooball whens I wash yer age.’ He took another beer bottle and stumbled towards the living room. Ty silently followed.

Father fell into his seat, laughing as he cracked open the bottle. ‘Alls tha cheerleedars luved meh. An’ an’ iff is washn’t fer meh shholduh, I wooda made da leak.’ Father hiccuped. Ty followed his gaze to the mantle. Above all of Ty’s trophies from middle school and earlier, there was an ancient JV State championship.

‘I wooda bin shumbady. … if dat bitch De-li-lah ha’n’t got’n prreg’nt.’ Father snarled before taking a long gulp. He wiped his mouth roughly. ‘Wooda bin speshel.’

Ty slipped through the dark house and back to his room, leaving his father to drown himself in memories and regrets.

Ty curled up in bed. He had to wait hours more for Devon to crawl in through the window. Ty should’ve pretended to be asleep, but he had to ask. ‘Are you gonna come to my game tomorrow?’

Devon was startled by the voice. He whacked the lump that was Ty in his bed. ‘Don’t fuckin’ scare me like that, you shit. And no, why the fuck would I care about your JV shit? Nobody gives a fuck ‘bout JV.’

‘I’m on the varsity team.’

‘Shut the fuck up and let me sleep.’ Devon flung his shoes at Ty before crawling into his own bed.

Ty curled into a tighter ball. He trembled under his sheets. He was burning up inside, and the raging fire brewing within him didn’t let him sleep a wink that night.