Chapter 78
She then proceeded to take the microphone from Principal Peters and spoke into it. “Ladies, it has
been an honor to be your coach the past four years. I have watched you grow not only individually,
ɔut also as a team. While some of you may go on to play for your college team, others may not. I ask
hat you keep in mind one thing from your past four years playing for me – there is nothing like sharing a commitment to play a role while doing it together. What you remember are not your stats or your prestige, but the achievements and relationships you’ve cultivated as a group.”
The crowd was eating up every word.
‘Now, I won’t bore you any further because I know you didn’t come here tonight to hear me speak.”
She smiled. “Some of the younger player on the team along with friends of our athletes have
prepared a little something for tonight.”
‘Seniors, if you would please line up in alphabetical order in front of the net.” Principal Peters
continued.
I looked around to see that Naomi and a bunch of the younger girls had disappeared god knows
where. I had no choice but to follow the five other seniors on our team. As we all lined up in front of
he net, with me being the second one because my last name was Dawson.
Oh, sometimes
I get a good feeling, yeah
Get a feeling that I never, never
Never, never had before, no, no
I get a good feeling, yeah
I watched mortified as Naomi and Brooke came out onto the field carrying a large poster with my
last name and number on it, along with various pictures taken throughout the years.
If that wasn’t cringy worthy enough, the song they chose to play to go along with everything
certainly was.
Buddy, you’re a boy, make a big noise
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Chapter 78
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singin‘
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Don’t get me wrong, the gesture was sweet, and if we were in a more intimate setting I would probably appreciate it more.
There’s a quite a few pet peeves I have, and being the center of attention is one of them. Maybe it’s
the introvert in me, but the hundreds of eyes staring at me make me physically uncomfortable.
I watched as two younger players handed Jackie Anderson her poster and a large bouquet of red roses. They all paused to take a picture, along with Coach Garcia and Principal Peters. And it wasn’t an iPhone picture either – the school’s photography club was taking the pictures.
I shifted nervously knowing I was next.
“Next, we have the one player who has never made me hunt her down because she skipped class or
wasn’t doing her homework – Scarlett Dawson!” Coach Garcia announced.
Buddy, you’re a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
We will, we will rock you, sing it!
We will, we will rock you, yeah
Brooke and Naomi both came up to me beaming, as they handed me my poster. I couldn’t help but smile a genuine smile as I hugged the two of them. While I certainly don’t know where Brooke and I will be going to college, I do know that I won’t be seeing Naomi after this
year. She may be a year younger than me, but she’s more mature and down to earth than 99% of my graduating class.
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Caroline had also made her way over to us and she handed me my bouquet of flowers before engulfing me in bone crushing hug. “I’m so proud of you, Nat.”
Who knew all it took to penetrate my stone cold heart was a poster, some flowers, and a few hugs.
“Stop it you guys.” I said as I felt my eyes begin to water.
“Is our ice queen finally melting?” Brooke laughed.
“Big smiles girls!” Lucas shouted from a few yards away.
Buddy, you’re an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna get you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place, do it!
After a few pictures with Brooke, Naomi, and Caroline, it was Coach Garcia and Principal Peters‘
turn.
“I’m really proud of you Scarlett.” Coach Garcia said as she came to stand next to me. “You’re going far kid.”
“Thanks Coach.” I blushed. It’s no secret that I’m ambitious and driven, but it’s weird to hear others say it. Don’t get me wrong, my mom tells me how proud she is of me all the time. But I guess I just never really considered myself to be anything that thousands of other people already aren’t.
We will, we will rock you, yeah, yeah, come on
We will, we will rock you, alright, louder!
We will, we will rock you, one more time
We will, we will rock you
Yeah
After what felt like eternity and hundreds of pictures later, we all went to join Aiden by the bench.
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