Adam arrived at work a little late, not officially late, but late to him. He is usually there by six-thirty because some of the players come in to work out in the morning, so he is there if they need anything. Adam is the football coach of the private high school that he works for it is the beginning of the season. He has been working with his kids since near the end of summer, tryouts were done and over with, school had been in session for a few weeks now.
As Adam came though the sports complex he was turning on lights as his went, he was amazed as he ducked his head in the weight room and there were only two kids this morning. "Hey Coach." They both said at the same time as he waved and walked back out. He went through the locker room, some of the lights were on but not all and he turned them on as he was walking towards his office.
His office door stood wide open, which he knew he locked and closed the night before, he could see the principal of the school with a few parents that he didn't recognize. "Coach?"
"Mike?"
"Everyone this is Coach Adam Cort, Coach these are three transfers that would like to join the team."
Adam looked at the three boys and then at their parents. "They will have to try out."
"Coach they come from other schools and they were good on their teams." Mike responded.
"And the kids on this team are good as well, they will come to practice and I will see how they do. I have seen one maybe two of these boys play before."
"Coach, is there anything I can do to persuade you to let my boy on your team?" One of the fathers stated.
"No, there isn't, and I will not let that go against my judgement of your son. I know your son is a quarterback and I would like to see him in action. As I know this kid is a great tight end. This one I haven't seen before." He looked over at the end and saw a man standing with his son. "What do you play?"
"Full back, Sir."
"What school?"
"Out of state, played at Calgary High."
"What's your name?"
"Theodore Ames, Sir."
"You are a Sophomore?" The kid nodded. "You went to Garfield Middle School, played all three years?"
"Yes, Sir."
"I didn't know your father was in the picture."
"He's not this is my Uncle."
The principle spoke up. "I didn't know you would know this kid personally."
"I don't, I was asked to come watch him play by the high school and his coach as few years ago to give some pointers. Never spoke to him. But the coach was very concerned about him and gave me his background."
At that moment Jeff stopped in the office. "Coach." He didn't look up until he was in the office and saw everyone standing there.
"Yeah Jeff."
"Sorry Coach, I didn't know you were busy."
"No problem Jeff, hey can you take these three and show them around the complex. Pull Cody and Mike out of the weight room and get them warmed up a little, since they are in sweats they can do some drills."
"Yeah Coach."
"Jeff, when I am finished, I will come out and you can tell me what your issue is."
"Yes Coach." The kid looked back down at the ground for a second.
The three boys followed Jeff out the door and he was telling them where everything was then we couldn't hear them anymore. The principal looked at me again. "So are they on the team?"
"Benched until I see what they can do. But yeah they are on the team."
"Benched, you know what my boy can do." The one father that was trying to bribe him was getting upset.
"And I know what my kids can do; he will be benched until I see how well he works with the team." Adam said firmly.
That father stormed out and the principal looked at Adam. "Coach we will talk later."
"I am sure we will." Then the principal and the other father left and the Uncle stayed.
"Can I help you?" Adam looked at the man.
"Steve." He stuck his hand out and Adam took it. "Not going to tell you your job, but I am glad that you had seen my nephew before, I wouldn't have thought since he wasn't from this state."
Adam smiled and finally broke their handshake. "Just luck I guess. Do you live here or just visiting?"
Steve smiled. "I live here, my sister decided to move here to be closer to me, so Teddy can have a father figure in his life."
"Well that is nice of you." Steve was looking Adam up and down and Adam was him. When they both looked at each other they smiled. "I hope to see you at the games."
"Wouldn't miss them for the world." Both of their gaydars were going off, they smiled again and Steve left out of his office. Adam leaned against his desk for a minute smiling and then walked out to the field where the boys were warming up, he grabbed a few more kids as he walked through the complex.
Over the several months, Adam worked the three boys and the team slowly accepted them. Teddy was Steve's nephew, and every time they played Steve was in the stands watching. After every game Steve would be outside the locker room waiting for Teddy, one of the last one for the year, Steve told Teddy to head out to the car that he would like to talk to the Coach. Teddy told him that he would have to go into the locker room to his office that he was in there.
Teddy walked away and Steve went into the locker room. There were just a few more students left and he walked past them to Adams office and knocked on the frame of the door. "Enter." Adam said without looking up, he was expecting one of the kids to be standing there when he finished looking at some of the video of tonight's game. When he looked up he smiled. "Steve."
"Hey Coach, just wanted to stop in to tell you that you are doing a wonderful job with the kids."