A Fun Saturday Morning

I am surprised as the door swings open almost immediately.

Standing in the entry area is Dennis along with his two sons Daniel and Ben. Dennis and Danny stood there looking ready to head outside as they waited for the younger Ben to tie his shoes. In Danny's hand was an old well used leather football. In behind them I see Kayla, the youngest of Dennis' brood, skip into sight wearing a bright pink ballerina outfit. They are all very happy to see me.

Dennis' broad bearded face brightens into a huge grin. “John!”

My smile widens. “Hey guys. Am I interrupting something?”

“Not at all.” Dennis says warmly. “Now that you're here we can have a proper game.”

Without even asking I had just become a part of their family plans. Dennis had a way of doing that that just made you feel welcome.

Daniel rolls his eyes and lets out a exasperated sigh. “Dad's forcing us to play football.”

I chuckle. Daniel, the 8 year old, was always into video games and other more indoor pursuits. His 6 year old younger brother Benjamin, while much smaller, was the natural athlete of the two. Kayla the youngest, at 3, was still just a bubbly fun loving kid barely out of being a toddler.

I didn't even think about turning down the invitation to play. This sounded fun and was just what the doctor ordered to clear my head.

“Come on Danny, it'll be good for ya.” I say cheerfully.

Dennis pats his boy on the shoulder and says with a jovial spirit. “There ya go. Come on son. Team double D. Let's show these fools how to play football.”

Danny rolls his eyes again, but he was smiling. Dennis holds out his big fist and his son reluctantly gives it a fist bump.

Benjamin, finally having tied his shoe, pops up and rushes straight at me. “Uncle John!” He dives at me with complete disregard to his own well being in that way 6 year olds do. I knew the rambunctious bundle of energy well so I was expecting it. Catching him midair I lift him high and spin him around in a circle then set him back down in front of me. He giggles wildly the whole time.

Getting caught up in the moment Kayla squeals and comes charging in after her brother. Ben joins in the attack once more. With mock fear I back peddle back out into the front yard and allow the pair of them to tackle me to the ground.

“Hey!” I cry out playfully. “I'm on your team Ben! Save it for those two!” I point back at the laughing Dennis and Danny who were now standing in the doorway watching the impromptu wrestling match unfold.

“Kayla!” I hear Rachel's voice call out from inside the house. “If you want to go outside put on some outdoor clothes!”

The kid was far too busy whooping and hooting with laughter as she wrestled with my right arm to pay her mother any mind. Dennis with his deep rumbling voice chuckles as he strides forward. Bending down he easily scoops up his daughter with one hand and carries her back to the house.

“Awwww!” Kayla whines and reaches out for me. “Football! Uncle John!”

He gives her a big furry kiss to the cheek. “Next time baby girl. You and Momma were makin cookies, remember?”

“Awwwww!”

Dennis hands the disappointed kid over to Rachel who takes her in her arms. In that easy natural way moms have she rests Kayla's weight on her hip with her arms around her. She looks at me lying on her front yard...and laughs! She was much more at ease than last I saw her.

“Hello John. To what do we owe the pleasure?” She asks in that pointed way of hers.

“Jane is out with her sister and I was bored.” I reply as I get to my feet and disentangle myself from her youngest son. “I thought I'd pop in.”

She nods. “Have you eaten?”

Even though I was a bit peckish I give her a wave. “I'm fine, thank you.”

She nods again. “Good, well...good luck with these nuts. They are full of energy.” She gives her husband a scolding but good-natured cock of the eyebrow. “The big kid worst of all.”

“Well...the sting of defeat should humble him.” I quip.

Dennis lets out a big laugh and claps his meaty hands together with anticipation. “Ohh ho ho! Big talk!” He points at me. “You won't have me blocking for you twinkle toes!” A reference to high school football where he play offensive line and I played running back.

I shrug. “Pah! You always just got in my way. Slowed me down.”

He laughs and takes mock offense at my dig.

Rachel rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and carries Kayla back inside. Kayla waves and smiles adorably as she is taken away. “Bye Uncle John. Bye-bye Daddy!” Closing the front door behind her Rachel leaves the gaggle of testosterone fueled buffoons to our business.

Without a word the four of us begin making our way down to the city park that was a block away. Much more room there than in the yard. Ben started to natter at his big brother to give him the ball. Danny, as big brother's are want to do, refused just because he could tell Ben wanted it. After a bit of argument and tussling the pair of them take off toward the park. Daniel in the lead and Ben hot on his heels.

Dennis and I walk side by side and watch his sons run out into the wide open green space.

I glance over at my big friend. He looks down at me and gives me the happiest and most heart warming grin I had seen in a very long time. His blue eyes sparkled with joy. It was like some invisible veil had been lifted between us. An unspoken tension that was now laid bare. I knew how he felt about me and that secret had been lifted from his shoulders.

“Hey, thanks for coming over.” He says.

I cannot help but smile back. “Yeah, no problem. Thanks for having me.”

“I'm...I'm happy to see ya.”

“Me too.”

Not another word is said as we walk out onto the field.

Ben had managed to pry the ball from his older brother. He sprints up to me and tosses me the pigskin. “You be quarterback first.”

I spin the ball around in my hand. “You got it big Ben.”

Benjamin was anything but big in actuality. For his age he was tiny. While he was overflowing with energy he had taken after his diminutive mother in the size department. Danny on the other hand was quite obviously taking after his father. At only 8 years old he already had some serious heft to him. For any outside observers our little game of two on two looked like the Davids versus the Goliaths.

I toss my jacket beside a nearby tree and get ready. The rules are quickly covered. It would be two-hand touch, four down football. The boundaries and goal lines are decided and within a minute or two we are lined up and ready to go.

I hold ball in both hands, Dennis only ten or so yards in front of me and ready to charge. Off to my right Ben stood ready to dash, his brother awaited him deeper down the field.

I smile. What the hell, let's start this off right. I call out to Ben. “Hail Mary! Go deep Ben!” Before anyone could react I cry out. “HUT-HUT!”

I dance backward a few steps and await the wall of muscle heading my way. Dennis, taken off guard for a second, hesitates. Perfect, a precious second or two is all I needed. Ben takes off in a mad dash...then commences to plow straight into his older brother who tackles him to the ground. So much for two-touch.

My eyes snap back in front of me to see the terrifying sight of Dennis bearing down on me with menace in his blue eyes. I slide to the left and like matador easily slip aside from the charging bull. Dennis was a monster but one on one and out in the open field he didn't stand a chance. As he steams past me I see Ben and Daniel getting back up. The moment they are to their feet both of them run for the end zone. I avoid another of Dennis' tackles and send the ball deep.

Dennis and I watch as the ball sails through the air in a long smooth arc. Unfortunately for me height wins out this time and Danny snatches the spiraling ball in both hands with a picture perfect interception. Ben immediately tackles his brother to the ground.

Dennis pumps his fist in the air and cheers. “YEAH! Interception!” Spinning back to me he points at me. “Thanks for the ball pal. Team double D! Whhooo!”

We both laugh. Danny jogs back to his father looking as proud as I'd ever seen him. He might not have wanted to play, but he was getting into it now. A good play will do that.

Ben runs back to me and glares up at me. “It's not fair. He's too big!”

I chuckle. “You ran right into him. What did you expect? You gotta run around him, not through him.”

He grimaces. “You threw it too high.”

“True, true. But it's just one play and now they have to respect the pass.” I lean down and say in a quiet voice. “Listen Ben, they're bigger than us so we have to play smarter. Yeah?”

He nods, all ears to what I was saying. With a crooked knowing grin I say. “Watch this. First play will be a hand off. Danny will go left to right, your dad will hand it off then come straight forward to block. He'll come for me. He'll try to block you out too if you let him. Listen, you just stay behind me and don't commit to a side until your brother makes his move.”

He blinks a few times. “You sure?”

I nod. “Yep.” Then I remind him. “Remember, two-touch. If you go for the tackle you might not get it. He's bigger, longer arms. Two-touch is all you need.” I hold my palms out to him.

He smiles, nods, and slaps his hands into mine giving me a high ten. “Smarter.”

I nod. “Exactly.”

As a former o-linesman I knew Dennis LOVED the running game. He loved getting mixed up in the trenches. Just the way he had Danny lined up I knew exactly what was going to happen. I could see it all play out like clockwork before it even began.

Everything goes to plan and thirty seconds later the play is over and Danny had only managed a yard or two before his zippy younger brother got him. Ben prances back with cocky confidence for a well earned high five.

I shoot Dennis a finger gun and tease. “Straight run, I knew you couldn't resist.”

Dennis grumbles and looked a bit nonplussed by the effortless defensive stop, but I could see he was proud as could be of his youngest boy. Team double D huddles up and starts to plan. Myself and Ben are ready for them.

Over the next half hour Ben and I absolutely destroy Dennis and Daniel. In the open field I was simply too fast and too elusive for Dennis. And Ben eventually just wore down his slim but out of shape older brother. It was a one sided beat down, a blowout. So much so Ben and I start to take it easy on our bigger opposition.

The longer the game went the more sullen Daniel became. It wasn't so fun being on the losing end. He was pouting, sweaty, and out of breath.

“This is stupid.” Daniel moaned. “This isn't fair. We suck!”

Right at the point Danny looked defeated and ready to quit Dennis put his arm around his son and says. “We do not suck. Come on Danny, stand tall my boy. Don't slump, be proud. It is fair. Fair isn't the same Danny. Fair isn't everyone wins. Fair is both sides trying their hardest under the same set of rules. We started the game and we'll see it through. We are going accept the results, win or lose, and walk over there when this is over and shake their hands. There is no shame in being second best on the day. It is how you handle it that matters. Being a man isn't winning and losing son, it's how you act every day.”

“Oh my god, could you be more lame Dad!?” Daniel protests and glances my way with embarrassment.

Dennis chuckles gives Danny a one armed hug. “Probably not.” He gives his boy a hearty shake of the shoulder. “Now come on, it ain't over yet. We've got one more play, lets give 'em hell.”

Danny sighs once more but the pep talk had obviously helped. He stood straighter and his pout was now replaced by a look of resilience. He sets his shoulders, clenches his jaw, and nods to indicate he was ready to go. Man. Dennis was one hell of a Dad and I was damn proud to be able to call him my friend.

I turn to Ben. “Alright big Ben, let's put these fellas out of their misery.”

“Yeah!” Ben cheers with brazen confidence.

After a quick huddle on both sides I grip the ball and ready myself with Ben out the left and just behind. I had saved the best play for last and had Ben ready for it.

“Hut one, hut two...HUT-HUT!” I bark.

Everyone springs into motion. I toss the ball laterally to Ben who takes a wide path toward the side line. As his brother closes in he doubles back and before he breaks the line of scrimmage he tosses the ball back my way. He cuts 90 degrees and bolts for the end zone leaving his baffled brother in the dust. I catch the ball, turn to throw and.....OHHHHH SHIT!

WHAM!

I am absolutely leveled by almost 300 pounds of solid Dennis slamming into my body. The big man takes me down and lands with surprising gentleness on top of me. The ball flies from my hand and tumbles back toward my own end zone.

Dennis bellows to Daniel. “Fumble! Get the ball boy, get the ball!”

With Ben already 40 yards down the field and me pinned to the ground under Dennis' considerable bulk Danny was free and clear. He runs over to retrieve the ball than runs for the score. Ben does a u-turn and flies past us after his brother, but he was way too late to stop him. I look up to see Daniel doing some sort of end zone dance as he spiked the ball. I look back at my behemoth of a tackler.

Dennis smiles down at me, his blue eyes twinkling. “Gotcha.”

“Unghhh...yeah.” I groan.

With a playful wink he says. “Flea flicker, I knew you couldn't resist.”

We both laugh long and hard. The type of shared warm laughter that builds you up, not tears you down. Dennis holds me down a little longer than what would be considered normal, but I wasn't complaining. As we hear the boys arguing and wrestling in the end zone we laugh and laugh and laugh.