Praying For A Hail Mary - 2. Chapter 2

It was pure silence for almost ten minutes before the first person spoke and when he did, it restarted the same argument they just had. Jerry Jones and Coach Campbell looked on as the coaches tried to sell their vision of where the team should go. Each of them had good and bad ideas in their vision and it was up to Campbell and Jones to weed through it all.

“Okay, okay!” Campbell yelled trying to get control of the conversation. “There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that each and every one of us at this table loves our team. We’d do anything to get back to the level of playing it should be and the fans are accustomed to getting. But fighting each other is not going to get it done. We have to work together on this or we’ll fail.”

“I agree with Ross, you all need to work together to fix the problems this team has. Besides coaching your line, you have to fix whatever comes down the pike. Hopefully you see it before it gets out of control.” Jones chuckled. “Like now! We have been pushed into the corner gentlemen and we need to come out fighting to continue winning games this season. So get your heads out of your asses and start working together on solving the problems we are facing right now!”

Once again silence fell in the room. It was so quiet; you could hear the ground keepers and cleaning crew working outside. They just looked at each other with the same looks on their faces. Looks you normally see on kids that just finished getting scolded by their parents. Even though they are adults, they were just scolded by their parent, the owner, their boss, Jerry Jones. A man that you don’t want to piss off and land up on his shit list.

“For now let’s table the quarterback conversation and talk about what got us into this predicament in the first place!” Mark Brown, the defensive line coach spoke for the first time. “That offensive line is bullshit and we all know it. We have tried everything to get that front four back to the level they once played at, but they are just lazy. They think they have their contracts now; they don’t have to perform at that level anymore. I say bullshit. If at any time a player should perform at that level is when they get their contracts because they want to keep them. Because of their laziness we lost two quarterbacks in half of a game of football. That is unacceptable, unacceptable!”

Brown said what was on everyone’s mind but was too afraid to put it on the table. Now that he has, it has to be dealt with, which Campbell was thankful the subject is up for discussion. He was going to bring it up, but not the way his defensive line coach did. He was going to do it in private with his boss, Jerry Jones.

“Those four are tied into multimillion dollar contracts that can’t be changed in any way!” Jones fired back along with a look that you never want to get from him.

“Yes they do have contracts that can’t be changed.” Campbell quickly jumped in trying to get the heat off his staff. “And yes that works in their favor, but it also works in ours as well. In each of our players contracts there are clauses put in to safe guard them and this organization. One of the clauses to safeguard this team is a performance clause. If a player doesn’t perform at the level in which he needs to perform at, he can be benched. After being benched for six consecutive regular season games, we can release him to free agency, not costing us a penny.”

The room went alive with chatter between the coaches. They liked what they just heard. Now they have another weapon in their arsenal that they can use if needed when a player starts to not play at the level they know he can play at. They would use it as their last resort, but it feels good knowing now they have it there to use.

“None of you will get an objection from me if you chose to use that clause in their contracts. Just don’t start using whenever a player has a bad day.” Jones said with concern in his voice. “If you do that, the threat would be worthless because the players will know all they have to do is step up their game for a while and they’ll be okay.”

“I agree with Jerry on that. In fact I’m going to go a little bit further here.” When Campbell glanced over at his boss, he saw that he was worried on what he was about to say. “Before any of you threaten a player that you are going to bench them, you need to clear it with me. Then if the day comes we have to bench a player, the okay on that has to be cleared through me and Jones. Do you all understand how this is going to work?” It took a few seconds, but all the coaches agreed.

“Good now that is cleared up, let’s get back to the subject at hand.” Campbell looked over at his offensive coordinator. “Look at our second string, third string and practice squad players to see if any of them can be moved to the first string offensive line. If we don’t have anyone that can do it, look and see who is out there in the free agency market. If we can pick them up, we will after taking a very long hard look at them to see if they can play our kind of football.” Lewis nodded his head as he jotted down what he was just told.

“Now, as far as our quarterback situation that should be our top priority at this moment. Let’s go out there and hold open trials over the next couple of days. Invite every good quarterback that we think can play our game and see if they can play it. By the end, we chose the two that fits our scheme here. There is no doubt we’ll be able to get two quarterbacks out of the bunch.”

“Um, Ross, one question, really more as a suggestion.” Lewis looked up from his notepad. “I say we extend an invitation to Jason as well. If anything he has earned that at least by the way he played for us yesterday. Let him go up against the veterans of the game and see if he comes up on top. If he does, he gets the starting quarterback position. What do you say?”

“Of course he was going to get an invitation. He has already made my short list by the way he went out there yesterday and brought home a win for us.” As Campbell talked, an evil grin started to form. “And if he is the one we land up picking for the position, the press can’t rip our decision apart. He went against the best that is out there and won it fair and square.”

The coaches started going back and forth on the ideas that were thrown on the table. Coach Campbell and owner Jerry Jones were not waiting for them to agree with what they have offered up. At the end of the day, it was their decision and their decision alone to make. An assistant coach’s name isn’t in the press when things go wrong. It is always the owners and the head coaches names.

Meanwhile as the coaches devised a plan to fix the offense line, back at the hotel Jason was already up, watching T.V. Well not really watching T.V. It was on, but his mind was elsewhere, mainly what had happened to him the day before. He was still reeling from that experience that is all he is able to think about since he got to his room after the game.

The ringing of his cell phone brought him out of his mind and back to reality. He reached over to the night stand and pulled his phone off its charger. Taking a quick glance at the number, he pressed ignore before putting the phone back. He didn’t feel like talking to anyone back home because he knew what the conversation was going to be about and he didn’t have answers to the questions they were probably going to be asking him, at least not yet.

Trying everything he could to relax, but failing. Jason gave up and jumped out of bed. As he walked to the restroom, he saw the reflection of himself in the mirror above his dresser, making him stop short of where he was going. He turned and looked at himself in the mirror. Still dressed in the same clothes he wore to bed the night before, white boxer briefs and white socks, he was able to see the bruises he got from the game the day before. If it wasn’t for his daily session at in the gym, he knew he could have got hurt a lot worse than the bruises he is sporting now.

Standing there in the mirror, Jason examined himself. Standing at six feet, four, he at times had to squat down in order to see from his forehead and up. Spending between an hour and half to two hours a day in the gym since a freshman in high school, it is finally showing. He isn’t buff, but cut. When he was weighed in before suiting up for yesterday’s game, he was weighing one hundred and eighty four pounds, which is all muscle spread evenly around his body. A well-defined six pack is now showing, along with his cut chest, arms and muscles on his thighs and calves. His hair, when worn short, is a dark blonde, like he is wearing it now. His eyes are the favorite part of his body, they are emerald green that just glow. The girls that he has gone out with didn’t like his eyes as much as he did, but instead liked his face in general, mainly his chin. All in all, from top to bottom all the hours that he has put in the weight room and his healthy diet is showing.

Once again the ringing of his cell phone brought him back to reality. Jason decided to ignore his phone, but his curiosity got the better of him. He turned and quickly jumped on his bed. On his way down, he reached out and grabbed his cell phone off the end table. As he turned around to lie on his back, he glanced at the caller ID to see who was calling. Excited to see the familiar number and face on his phone, he quickly accepted the call. “Thelma, how’s it going down there in dry El Paso?” Jason spoke with excitement in his voice.

“It’s going great, how about you up there living the big life!” Thelma giggled as she continued. “I saw your handsome ass all over my T.V. yesterday. I thought you were just the kicker, not a quarterback?” Jason told Thelma how he landed up playing in the quarterback position. “Wow man that is fucking awesome! I mean not for those two that got hurt and might not be able to play the game again. I feel for them, but you now have the shot you have always talked about since you were able to put two words together.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t want it to come the way it did! I mean I want to play quarterback in the NFL and for this team, but I want it honestly. I don’t want to get the position by being in the right place at the right time.” Jason sighed. “Well all that doesn’t really matter! The Cowboys are looking for an experienced player to take over, and that Thelma I don’t have.”

“Screw that and screw them if they don’t see what they have right guy in front of them. I mean damn Jason; you shredded that other team yesterday. They had you guys and they would have probably have won if fate didn’t step in and put you in that position. Those mother-fuckers up there have to realize that and give you that position for at least the rest of the season.”

“It doesn’t work that way Thelma. I wish it did, but it don’t! These guys, like every other NFL team are trying to get to the Super Bowl. They don’t see that I’m the one able to deliver that to them as their starting quarterback. No Thelma, I need to get my head out of the clouds and be thankful for the chance I have been given as their extra point and three point kicker.”

Thelma tried to interject, but Jason kept going, talking over her. “At least I’m playing in the NFL on the team I have dreamed to play for. Plus I’m playing in a position that no one really looks at the player that plays that position too closely. You know as well as I do if I would get the quarterback position, the things I don’t want out will eventually come out and screw me at the end.”

“Screw you at the end, what the hell are talking about Jason?” Thelma yelled. “If they can’t take you for who you are, to hell with them. They will be losing out, not you. So stop thinking the way you are thinking and march into that coach’s office and get what you deserve.”

“It is sad that you can’t be yourself, very fucking sad. My offer still stands Jason. Day or night, call me and all you have to say is you are taking me up on my offer and I will be on the next plane out. You know I have loved you since high school and will do anything for you so that your dreams can become reality. That includes signing a pre-nup before we get married so you feel safe that what is yours will remain yours no matter what happens between us.”

Jason couldn’t think straight. He has known Thelma has loved him since he could remember. They have even gone out for a spell, but ended up breaking up and staying very close friends. He likes it like that. The biggest fear he has is if he takes her up on her offer and things end up not working out, they might not be able to go back to being close friends like they are right now. It took too many years for them to build this friendship; he doesn’t want to destroy it for anything.

After a couple minutes of dead air, Jason finally broke the silence. “You will always have a special place in my heart. If the day ever comes that I need to call in that kind of favor, you will be the only one I will dial. But for now, let’s just leave things how they are. I love it, and I know you love it as well, right?’ Jason tried to sound enthusiastic, but Thelma saw right through it.

“Well I promise you gorgeous I’ll be waiting for that call! Until then, I agree we should keep things the way that they are, okay?” Jason agreed. “Good, now are you or are you not going to march in your coach’s office and ask for that position. I need to know because if you answer me that you are not, I’m going to fly down there and kick your gorgeous bubble butt ass!”

That got a laugh out of Jason, lighting up the mood. “I will see how things are when I go in on Wednesday for scheduled practice. But for the meantime, I’m going bananas being cooped up in this run down hotel room. I need to get out of here and do something before I actually do go completely bananas. Since you have been here several times, where do you think I should go?”

Just as Jason got out the last word, someone knocked on his room’s door really hard causing him to jump. As soon as he landed back on his bed, he yelled out that he didn’t need any room service, thinking that is who was at the door, but boy was he wrong. The voice that came through the door made Jason jump to attention faster than he ever has done in his life.

Forgetting that Thelma was still on the phone, he ran to the door and opened it, leaving the chain still latched. Standing on the other side was Coach Lewis staring back at him. “Are you going to let me in or not?” Coach Lewis spoke in a low, but commanding voice. Jason nodded his head as he closed the door, unlatched the chain and reopened it all the way, letting his coach in.

As the coach walked in, he couldn’t help but notice that Jason was standing there in just his boxer briefs and white tube socks. “Jason before we say another word, why don’t you throw on something to wear. The girls may love seeing you the way you are right now, but son I don’t.” Coach Lewis grinned as he turned and walked over to the only chair in the room.

Jason ran to the restroom and as he sat his phone down, he remembered that Thelma was on the other end. “I’m so sorry Thelma for leaving you hanging the way I did, but I couldn’t help it. One of my new coaches is here and wants to talk to me. So I will call you back as soon as I can, okay?”

He didn’t give Thelma a chance to respond, he just ended the call. Tossing his phone into the sink, Jason quickly opened one of his suitcases and pulled out a pair of running pants. Tossing them on top of his phone, he pulled the suitcase underneath the one he just pulled out the running pants from and pulled out a white T-shirt. As fast as he could, he got dressed and rejoined Lewis in the room. A little afraid, but he did everything he could to hide it.

“Good now that you are dressed, we can get down to why I’m here.” Stopping, Lewis looked around the room. “Before we get to why I’m here I need to tell you one thing. You can’t be staying here. We have great deals with hotels near the stadium that we use whenever we sign a new player that needs a little bit of time to find a place of their own here. And they are a lot nicer than this. So before the day is up, I’m going to get you into one of those rooms.”

It wasn’t a question that Lewis was asking, it was more of an order. So when Jason opened his mouth to thank him, the coach didn’t let him. Instead he went right into the reason why he stopped by in the first place, which stunned Jason. He wasn’t expecting what he was being told. No, he was expecting the total opposite and since it wasn’t that. He couldn’t help himself from smiling.

“Now the reason why I came all the way over here to see you. Coach Campbell and I feel that you are the right fit for our team in the quarterback position, but there are a few unknowns that’s keeping us from offering you the position straight out. I’m pretty sure you know what the unknowns that I’m talking about since you’ve been around the game for a while now.”

On the outside Jason looked confident in himself as he nodded, but in the inside he was a mess. He couldn’t believe that they already found out about all the skeletons that he has been able to successfully keep hidden from everyone. Furthermore to make matters worse, one of his new coaches is sitting in front of him and somewhat asking him to put it all out on the table. That for sure isn’t going to happen, which he knows it means only one thing. He will lose this opportunity.

“No matter how much we want to, we can’t just hand you the quarterback position!” Lewis looked up to the roof for a few seconds and when he remade eye contact with Jason he had an evil grin across his face. “Well that is a lie, we can, but that will put you in a living hell. The press will be all over it and when they are done, they will paint you in the bad. That is what we don’t want and hopefully it won’t happen after we announce that we are going to be holding tryouts.”

“I’m sorry, tryouts?” Jason was confused on what Coach Lewis was telling him. “I don’t mean to be questioning you, but what are these tryouts you keep mentioning?”

“I guess the easiest way to say it is…” Coach Lewis looked down at the clipboard in his lap. “We are going to be inviting seven quarterbacks that are free agents here to Cowboy Stadium try and compete for our two quarterback positions. You have been added to that list, which makes eight quarterbacks who will be going through three grilling days of competition. The top two will be offered the open quarterback positions and one other be offered to stay on the practice squad.”

As Coach Lewis went down the names of those that they decided on inviting to this competition, Jason couldn’t help but get nervous. Each and every single one of the names are well known quarterbacks and in their own right deserve the quarterback positions that are open more than he does. On top of that, he has never gone through anything like what Coach Lewis is proposing.

“Look I know I’m throwing around all these big names and this competition you probably have never been through, but as sure as I’m sitting here you have nothing to worry about. Coach Campbell and I will help you through these three days. As I said you are the one we want, but we are not going to show any favoritism once the competition starts towards you.”

“Um, no I’m not asking for special treatment, it’s just as you said I have never done anything like what you guys are going to hold. I have had to compete and re-earn my positions every year, but with fellow teammates. Never another quarterback from another team I have to go against. But I know I can do it if it comes down to the game of football, physical and all that, you know?”

Shaking his head, Jason stopped talking. He knew he was all over the place and more than likely sounded like he had no education at all. Coach Lewis and Coach Campbell know what he has and hasn’t done in his career. In return he hopes that they would never ask something of him that he is unable to do, or simply can’t do.

Coach Lewis slid to the edge of the bed and looked Jason straight into his eyes. “Look I’m going to be frank with you. As you and I get to know each other, you will find out that I’m the type of guy you will never walk away from after having a conversation not knowing where you stand. In fact, Coach Campbell is this way as well. We are straight shooters when it comes down to coaching this team. It is the only way we know how to get what we want to get done.

With that said, let me talk about what the next three days are going to be like. All eight of you will be brought to our training facility and put through various training exercises on the first day. It isn’t going to be easy. Half of the day you won’t be in full pads, but the other half you will. The day is also going to be long. All of you are to report at the training facility at six in the a.m.

The second day, the eight of you will be taken out to the field and ran through several different plays. On that day we are going to have the practice squads playing alongside of you. So there is going to be a complete defense line going after you eight, but you guys will also have a complete offensive line to run through the plays we ask you guys to run.

Now on the third day, it will be pretty much like the second, but those that are out on the field with you guys. On that day we will be bringing the first string lines. The defense will have orders to do whatever they can to take you guys out of your game, even tackle you. At the same time, the offense will be told to do everything they can to help you guys as if it was a real game.

The last two days will be done with full gear on.” Coach Lewis chuckled. “Now here is the kicker. Not all of you guys are going to make it to that last day. Two will be weeded out on the first day and then two more will be weeded out on the second day. Leaving four, but as you know we only need three, so another one of the four that make it to the third day will be going home.”

It wasn’t that Jason didn’t think he wasn’t going to be among the three chosen that has him worried. As long as it’s judged on performance, not the amount of time the person has been playing football in the NFL. What has him a little worried is if he somehow had a bad day or it is a lot harder than he is thinking it will be, will he be cut and sent home or will he be able to go back to the position that they looked at him originally for. He threw out that concern to Coach Lewis.

“As far as I see it Jason, you not only going to make the final cut, but get the starting quarterback position. That predication though is based on what you did this last Sunday. If that wasn’t a fluke, you will get the nod. If it was a fluke, and you do end up being cut, you won’t go. You will simply go back to special teams and be our extra point and three point kicker. But come on Jason, we both know that isn’t going to be the case. Plus again I will be working with you the whole time.”

Hearing the last part gave Jason just what he needed, the final confidence boost that he really has a chance on making his dream a reality. The dream that he was just talking to Thelma about moments before the coach knocked on his door. One day he will not only be playing in the NFL, but for what he believes to be true, the greatest team in football, The Dallas Cowboys.

The coach stayed few more minutes after that to go over minor details of what will be expected of Jason in the next three days. Once he got done with that short list of items, he checked with the young man on his uniform. If had any problem with it and if it fitted right. The few things Jason did have problems with, he let Coach Lewis know.

“Okay kid don’t let me or Coach Campbell down now!” Coach Lewis said as he got up and started making his way to the door. “What we saw yesterday we want to see again in these next three days. Then in every game from that moment on. I truly believe you are the final piece that will make this team whole so we can get to the Super Bowl again.”

With a smile on his face, Jason thanked the coach as they shook hands. Coach Lewis turned and walked out of the room, but right before Jason completely shut the door, he put his arm in. “One last question, or more of a concern really!” Coach Lewis popped his head in the crack between the door and the door frame. “You could say this is none of my business and I will go on my happy way, but I have to ask. Do you have a girlfriend or wife back home by any chance?”

Nervously Jason nodded his head as he started to run away with conspiracy theories on why the question was asked in the first place. “Well son if you do have a little gal back home, better get her up here. We have found in the past that players don’t play at their highest when they are not with their girlfriends or wives. Their minds are just not one hundred percent in the game.”

“Um, I didn’t know what the rules were when it came down to girlfriends. I have a girlfriend back home, but I figured since we were not married, I wouldn’t be allowed to bring her here until I moved into a place of my own. Now by what you are telling me I was wrong. You guys want us to have our girlfriends and wives living with us so our minds are on the game.”

“You got it son! It is simple when it comes down to the human heart, it gets what it wants. If the one you love isn’t there at your side, you will always be worried about that person. It hurts your game and it hurts the team’s game. So why don’t you get that gal on the next flight down here so your mind can be one hundred percent where it should be, the try outs.”

“I promise coach that I will get her down here when she is able to fly out.” With a smile on his face, Coach Lewis said his goodbyes for the second time as he turned and made his way to his car. Jason didn’t shut the door this time until he saw the coach driving off. Once the coach’s car was no longer in view from his hotel door, he closed the door and walked to his bed.

As he sat down, he looked around for his phone. After looking on the nightstand, the dresser and all over the bed, he started to get nervous. The same thought kept popping into his head, making him even more nervous, the coach accidently took it. But after going over the same areas several times, Jason sat down and started to retrace his steps. After retracing his steps, he realized the last place he remembered having his phone was when he was changing in the bathroom.

Quickly he jumped up and walked over to the restroom, and as soon as he walked in, he saw his phone in the sink flashing. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Jason picked up the phone to see who had called him. He was surprised on the amount of not only missed calls, but texts that were on his phone. Both of them were in double digits.

Knowing how he is when it comes to texts, he left them for last to look at. Instead, he pressed the button on his screen to take him to his missed calls. One by one he looked at who called him. It was mostly the same people, his parents, brothers, sisters, a few other family members, Thelma, a couple friends from back home and a couple friends from college.

However he didn’t return any of those calls, but instead called his voice mail to listen to the messages that were left. It took him almost thirty minutes to get through the voice messages before he was able to start returning calls. It wasn’t a question for him which call to return first, his parents. He let the phone ring and ring for several minutes before hanging up.

Since his parents didn’t answer, he called his brothers and sisters, in order of age, staying only a few minutes on the line with each of them. All of them congratulated their brother on his performance before going into almost the same questions. By the time Jason got to his younger sister, he had his spiel down on what to say after she gave her congratulations. That call was the shortest of all the calls he made to his brothers and sisters.

Once he hung up with his younger sister, he tried his parents again, but like the first call there was no answer. After not getting an answer at his parents’ home, he called Thelma, who answered after the second ring. She was her normal cheerful self, which put Jason at ease. Immediately she demanded him tell her everything that happened in the meeting and not leave anything out. So he did what he was asked by his best friend and she didn’t say peep as he talked.

“But I haven’t told you the worse part of the meeting.” Almost word for word, Jason told her about the conversation he had with Coach Lewis before he finally left. “I don’t know if they know anything about me and are either too afraid to ask or hoping I will just come out and tell them. Whatever the reason for it, I’m really worried. They might kick me off the team no matter how I perform in the tryouts. No NFL team or any sports team for that matter wants a….”

“Stop thinking that way Jason, damn it.” Thelma interrupted almost yelling at her friend. The moment he heard his friend’s voice, Jason could hear the frustration in it. “You are a damn good football player. No forget what I just said. You are an awesome football player, quarterback, kicker and whatever else you choose to do. The only problem that you have is that you beat yourself up for being human, being you. You need to stop doing that and believe in yourself.”

“Your right, I know your right, but…” Once again Thelma interrupted him. “I don’t want to hear the word but or any other negative talk come out of your mouth anymore. If you go out there and do what we all know you can do. You will get what you have always dreamed on getting. Don’t mess this thing up with all these negative thoughts and what ifs. Tomorrow is the beginning of the life you have always dreamed of, so go out there and take it.”

“That is exactly what I’m going to do. Thanks Thelma I really needed this.” Jason paused for a second to breath. “I really needed you to be you and to tell me what you told me. For the immediate future all I need to be thinking about is getting that position. Once I do that, I can deal with the other issues that are before me. Of course with your help I hope!”

“Of course! All you have to do J is ask me, you know I will do anything for you!” There was complete silence for almost a minute. Thelma somehow knew where this conversation was going, but didn’t want to force her hand. Make Jason go where he isn’t ready to go just yet. So she decided to let him do it on his own time table. “You know I love you J and I’ll do anything to protect you. If you need me to help you on anything as I just said all you have to do is ask!”

She stopped abruptly, thinking that she might have gone too far on getting Jason to open up and ask her what he wanted to ask. However, she started to think that maybe that is just what he needs, to be pushed the final inch to open up. Then her mind went back to not pushing him. It was like she had an angel on her shoulder saying give him a chance and the devil on the other shoulder telling her forget the chance, make him spill his beans, but before she could say another word, Jason final broke the silence.

“Um, what I need from you might be asking too much. I value our friendship way too much to allow anything to come between it and destroy it. So if I’m stepping over the line her, please tell me and I will leave it alone.” Thelma was getting antsy. She just wanted Jason to spit it out and stop beating around the bush. “Could you, um, you know, um come down and you know.” Jason’s throat all of a sudden dried up and the sweat on his forehead starting pouring down as if someone was standing above him pouring water from a hose. “I’m just going to spit it out. I would like you to come down here and be with me. No, that didn’t come out right. I need you to come down!”

“All you need to do is say when and I will be on the next flight out.” Without thinking, on total autopilot, Jason interrupted. “If possible as soon as you can. I’ll pay for everything, it’s just I need you here with me so that everyone stays away from my private life, at least for now. By them seeing you at my side, fewer questions will asked about that part of my life.”

“You know I have no problem joining you down there and helping you in any way that I can, but how about others. I mean you are already in the spotlight after yesterday. Because of that the press is already snooping around down here trying to out scoop each other on getting the dirt on you. If they talk to others, what will they say? Will they say something that will make what we are doing meaningless or will they respect you and keep their mouths shut?”

Jason had to take a minute to go over in his mind who knew what. And then try and figure out if any of them would say anything to the press that would harm him. He knew it would come down to basically one thing when they are approached by the press. If offered money, is the friendship worth more to them than the money or their fifteen minutes of fame.

“I really can’t answer that question Thelma, I really can’t.” Jason was once again shaking. “I know my family will not say a word to the press. They will talk to them, but when it comes to my personal life and the skeletons in it, mums the word. Now as far as my friends, I don’t think they know anything that can harm me. They might have picked up on a thing or two, but not enough to put together the thing you and I are trying to keep from coming out.”

“Okay I just mentioned it because I didn’t know if you thought of everything, but knowing you the way I do, I didn’t need to ask. Together we will do everything we can to keep your personal life out of the press. They don’t need to know what goes on in your life when you are not on the field playing football. That includes your coaches, the press and every one in-between.”

“I know it goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway
, THANK YOU! You have always been one of the very few outside my immediate family that I know will always be in my corner and help me in any way you can. What you are agreeing to do here takes a lot of pressure off me. Pressure that more than likely would have affected me at a time that I can’t afford it. I know there is nothing I can ever do that will be able to repay you for this.” Jason chuckled for the first time since the conversation started. “Hell, I’m already in debt to you to the point that it will take my entire life to put a dent into what I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me a thing. What I have done for you in the past and anything I do for you in the future I do it out of love. Not for money or fame, out of love. I love you Jason and I know in your own way you love me. Hopefully by what we are doing here we can put a huge headache behind us and move on. Whole knows what the future holds for the two of us.”

For the first time since the Coach Lewis had showed up unannounced at his hotel room, Jason felt relaxed. It was because of the talk he is having right now with Thelma. A friend who he has come to depend on in moments like this when they pop up in his life, which has been many. Never has he had to worry or even wonder if she would be there whenever he needed a person to lean on.

“Well, before it gets any later, let’s get off so I can get you a ticket to get up here. All I need to know though, in order to do that, is the time you want to leave.” Thelma didn’t care when, just as long as she had a couple hours to pack and say her goodbyes. “Okay, tell you what! I will get on line and book a ticket for you to leave sometime tomorrow. That way it gives you enough time to do what you need to do down there and it gives me enough time to get us a better room. Does that sound like a plan to you?”

Thelma had no objections to the time, but about the room she did. She didn’t want Jason to change anything on her account, but Jason wouldn’t hear of it. They talked a few more minutes, mainly about the room, before they reluctantly said their goodbyes and hung up. The moment the line went dead, Jason felt empty inside. He didn’t understand why he felt that way, but he did.

Trying not to fall into that trap, the depression trap, Jason kept himself busy. He booked Thelma her ticket and sent her all the needed information via email before doing anything else. Once that was complete, he jumped into the shower and then got dressed before heading out. As he was soaping up his body, his stomach started to growl and he realized that he hadn’t eaten yet.

Hearing his stomach growling surprised Jason because he has never forgotten to eat or skipped a meal. Unless he was sick! Other than that, he had never missed a meal since he could remember. But here he stands on the eve of the most important day of his life not getting what his body needs. He knows that if he doesn’t want to fail tomorrow and be sent back to special teams, he can’t start skipping meals and changing his habits now.

Turning off the water in the shower, Jason jumped out and toweled off. Once he was completely dry, he pulled out a pair of jeans, t-shirt, underwear and socks from his suitcase. It didn’t take him long to get dressed and out the door of his room. He stood there in the parking lot of his hotel looking around to see if there was a restaurant in walking distance. When he didn’t see anything, he walked over to the manager’s office to find out if there was a restaurant close by.

When he walked in, the manager was busy with an irate guest. It looked like the manager was at the end of his patience with this guest, but kept trying to solve the problem. However, no matter what he offered, falling short of refunding the room, it was unsatisfactory to the guest. Patiently Jason waited, and after another ten minutes going around in circles, the guest gave up and stormed out.

Jason walked up as the manager closed the cash register. Before Jason could say a word, the manager apologized for the scene in which he just witnessed. “Hey no problem, I understand there are people out there like the one you just had to deal with.” Trying to lighten up the room, Jason chuckled, but the manager just looked at him with a serious face. As quickly as he started to laugh, he stopped. Clearing his throat, he looked straight into the manager’s eyes. “I’m not from around here. I was wondering if there are any stores and restaurants in walking distance.”

“Yes sir there is several shopping centers just up the street from here.” The manager pointed to his right. “They are maybe four or five blocks away. And if you don’t mind going a little further, like a mile, there is Wal-Mart and a few other stores. But if you want a big mall or something like that, you will need to drive. I can call you a taxi if you want?”

“Na, it’s warm and I need to get in some walking in today.” Jason extended his hand over the counter for the manager to shake, which he accepted. “Thanks for your help. I stepped out of my room, looked around and when I didn’t see anything, I thought I was up shit creek.” Once again Jason chuckled and this time the manager laughed as well. “Thanks again for all you help. I really hope your day does get a lot better than what it has been so far.”

The manager thanked Jason and told him he and his staff were there if he needed any more help as Jason made his way across the lobby to the other door. As Jason pushed open the door, he looked back at the manager, nodded his head and then walked out. Just like he was told, he saw the shopping centers not too far into the distance.

All the noise you would expect to hear on a busy city street on a Monday afternoon in a city the size of Dallas was there. Jason was careful as he made his way, keeping as far away from the street as possible, but not walking on the dirt. In a few areas there wasn’t a side walk, which didn’t bother him. He just kept going and in no time he made it to the first shopping center that had a Disney’s Restaurant. Being as hungry as he was, he didn’t need to go any further.

The hostess that greeted Jason was very chipper and talkative as she escorted him to his table and asked him for his drink order. As he waited for the waitress, he looked around and only found two others in the restaurant in the far corner booth wrapped up in their conversation. Other than them, there was no one else except the few employees who were cleaning up.

Just as he turned his attention back to his menu, his waitress walked up. A young woman who looked like she was still in high school. She wasn’t as chipper as the hostess, but not rude as she took Jason’s order. Once she got his order, she took the menu and offered him a newspaper to read, which he accepted. It hadn’t dawned on him to see if anything was written about him until then.

Eagerly he flipped through it until he got to the sports pages. On the front page of the sports section was a huge caption that read, ‘HAVE THE COWBOYS FINALLY GOT THE RIGHT ONE!’ Right underneath the caption was a close-up of him on the field about to be tackled and the ball being released. Seeing the picture not only gave him a flashback of that play, but the pain that came with it after he got tackled by the four defensive players.

Rubbing his shoulders, Jason began to read the article. It had some positive things about how he played the game, but it also had some negative things as well. The reporter left no doubt to the reader that he didn’t believe that Jason was a right fit for the Cowboys. Mainly because of his lack of experience. At this moment in time, the Cowboys need an experienced quarterback to take the reins, not one that will take months to get up to par with the way the game is played in the NFL.

Frustrated with the article, Jason slammed the newspaper down on the table and looked out the window. He tried not to let the article bother him, but it did. It bothered him because the guy that wrote it has never met him before. If he had, he would know that what he wrote was wrong. The assumption that it will take Jason months to learn to play Cowboys football was premature to say the least.

Not wanting it to ruin his day, Jason pushed the article out of his mind. He picked up the newspaper again and started to read the rest of the sports section. Just as he finished reading the last article, his waitress walked up with his food. Smiling at him, she placed the plate in front of him, but didn’t leave. She stood there in silence for a few seconds before gathering enough nerve to talk to him.

“I, I mean, we were wondering…” The waitress pointed over to the counter where four other employees were standing. The minute Jason looked their direction, they scattered like cockroaches. “By any chance are you this guy?” She pointed her pencil to the picture of Jason on the front page. “My co-workers don’t think it is you, but I do.”

Jason looked down at the newspaper as he cleared his throat. “Is there some kind of bet between you guys whether this is me or not?” The waitress nodded her head. “And your money is on that it is me!” Once again the waitress nodded. “Well why don’t you go over to your co-workers and collect what is yours because yes it is.”

That put a smile on the waitress’s face, but she didn’t leave like Jason thought she would once he confirmed it was him. Instead she sat down across from him and started asking him questions about the game. Not long after she sat down, her fellow co-workers made their over and joined in, not giving Jason a chance to eat his meal.

Being the kind of guy that he was, Jason wasn’t rude to them. He answered all their questions as he ate. Every now and then he would try to polity excuse himself to be alone, but they never got the message. They kept going on and on about the game he had played the day before and if he knew yet if he was going to playing that position in the next game. Not wanting to jinx anything, Jason simply told them he was the kicker and nothing more. At times his answers satisfied the workers, but at other times they felt Jason didn’t answer and tried to get him to give more detail.

Even when Jason was done eating, they wouldn’t let him go. He tried to get up and get his ticket to pay for what he ate, but the workers just wouldn’t let him go. By the time he got to the register, they had pulled out their cell phones and started taking pictures of him. Knowing he wouldn’t get away without giving them something they could take to their friends to prove that not only they saw him, but talked to him as well, he posed for a couple of pictures with each of them.

That seemed to do the trick. They let him pay for his meal and finally leave. When Jason walked out of the restaurant, he took a deep breath and just stood there debating with himself if he should go anywhere else. He wanted to visit a couple of the stores in the shopping centers, but was very reluctant for fear what has happened to him in the restaurant will happen again. After a few minutes going back and forth, he decided to play it safe and go back to his room.

The walk back didn’t seem as long as the walk to the shopping center, which didn’t surprise Jason. Like everything else that he has been excited about in his life or had visited for the first time, the going dragged on, but the returning went fast. So when he reached his hotel he was used to feeling the difference in time. It was just in his mind and nothing else.

As soon as he walked into his room, Jason changed out of the clothes he was wearing and into running pants, a t-shirt and tennis shoes and went right to work on his daily excises. All though he normally does them in a gym, he made do with what he had in his room. He lost himself in his excises and didn’t realize that he had been at it for almost two hours until his phone started to ring.

Wiping the sweat from his face, Jason looked at the screen of his smart phone to see who was calling. His parent’s picture and number appeared, causing Jason to pull his phone off the charger and answer. He had missed their call earlier when he was with Coach Lewis, and when he tried to return it, he couldn’t get a hold of them. There was no way he was going to miss their call again.

“Son, how are you?” It was Jason’s dad, Steven, on the other line. He answered immediately fine and asked how they were doing. “Your mother and I are doing well. We tried to call you earlier today, but didn’t get you. So we decided to go out and do the few things we didn’t get to do over the weekend and when we walked in we saw we missed a couple calls from you.”

“Yeah dad I was just returning you call.” Jason spoke out of breath. “When you and mom called earlier I was with one of my coaches. He was here for a while and when he finally left and I found my phone I saw I missed not only your call, but several others. After listening to all my voicemails, I started returning calls, of which yours was the first.”

“There is no need to explain anything to us son. Your mother and I know you are going to be very busy for the next couple of days with your new team. We just wanted to call to tell you that we watched you yesterday and let you know how proud we are of you. You are a son that parents dream of having. And I know I don’t have to say this, but I’m going to. Never forget where you came from and how hard you worked to get where you are now. Don’t become one those football players that once they get their contracts they think they are better than those they grew up with.”

“Thank you dad and I promise that I will never forget where I came from. I know how much you and mom gave up and did for me to get me where I’m at today. If it wasn’t for you working two jobs and mom working as well, I wouldn’t have been able to go to college. Without that opportunity, I wouldn’t have the one that I have right now. That I’ll never forget.

Plus if things turn out the way I hope they are going to turn out in the next couple of days, I can help you and mom pay off all those loans you pulled out to put me, my brothers and sisters through college. Also, just maybe, you could at least quit one of the jobs so you could have more time with mom. You know now that we are all out of the house, you guys can start spoiling yourselves on vacations that you have wanted to take, but couldn’t afford.”

That got a chuckle from Steven. “I can’t see myself quitting any of my two jobs right now. Work is what keeps me young and if I don’t have that, I’m afraid that I might get older faster. Your mother and I love each other very much, but we agree there is a time for the vacations we want to take, but this isn’t the time right now.

As far as the money, you keep your money. Use it to start making your life. Because trust me son in a blink of an eye ten years has passed and you will wonder what happened to those ten years. Your mother and I are fine and are able to pay all our debts without a problem. We didn’t send you kids to school so we can live off you guys once you got where you wanted to go.”

Jason could see where his father was coming from, but still wanted to help. He got to where he is today because of his parents. They knew his dream and did everything they could so his dream would become reality someday. Even though he knows that parents are supposed to do that, Jason still wants to do what he can for them now that he’s got where he wanted to go.

Also knowing that he and his father are headed to the point once their mind is made up that nothing will change it this conversation wasn’t going to go anywhere. So he decided to let that part of the conversation go for now, but will figure out a way to help his parents. Maybe when Thelma arrives, together they could figure out a way to get money to his parents without them knowing where it came from. It might be impossible, but if anyone can do it, it would be him and Thelma.

“Son you mother would like to talk with you, but before I let you go I need to make sure you are okay.” Jason tried to reassure his father that he was okay, but his father wasn’t buying it. Even though he wasn’t buying, he let it go. “Make sure you take care of yourself up there. Listen to the coaches and get a better place to live than a hotel room. I’ll be rooting for you alongside my friends every Cowboys game. I love you son very much!” Jason interrupted his father who was starting to tear up. “I love you too Dad!”

Steven handed the phone to his wife, Jason’s mom Pamela. “Hello Jason how are you doing? Are you eating well and sleeping?” Pamela didn’t give her son a chance to answer her questions before throwing more at him. She went on for almost five minutes before taking a breath, and another two before she let Jason say a word. That wasn’t out of the ordinary for her.

“Mom you worry way too much for us. I know, I know what you are going to say! You can’t help it, we are you kids, but you have to figure out a way to stop worrying so much. You guys taught us well and we will always remember what you and dad taught us. So please mom, I don’t want you worrying so much because you might send yourself to an early grave.”

“When you, your brothers and sister become parents you will think differently, trust me!” Pamela chuckles. “What is this I hear that Thelma is going up there? I know you guys are best friends and moving in together might send the wrong message…” Right then and there it hit Pamela like a ton of bricks on what her son and his friend are doing. “Jason I think I know why this is happening, but are you sure it’s the right move. I mean you know as well as we do how much Thelma loves you. And we all know that relationship will never be.”

“I know where you’re coming from mom. I have been straight with Thelma from the get go and on this issue as well. She understands where she stands. In fact, she is the one that offered and I turned it down at first. But after meeting with Coach Lewis and what we all know about what those that are in professional sports today think about the secret we are trying to keep from getting out, I called Thelma back and she jumped at the idea of her coming down here.”

“It’s just, Jason, come on!” There was so much Pamela wanted to tell her son at that very moment, she couldn’t get her thoughts straight. “You guys might be lucky to pull the wool over the eyes of the sports world for a while, but eventually it will get out. When that happens, won’t it be more harmful to your career than it getting out now on your own terms.” Jason could hear the frustration in his mother’s voice. “Forget that for now, what about Thelma. How will it affect her? You know she’s deeply in love with you. Even though you have told her and she has said she understands, this could come back to blow up in your faces. Love is so cruel!”

Jason didn’t respond right away to what his mother just said. He took a moment to really think about what she was trying to get across. He agrees on all the things she said, but at the same time Jason wants to believe in his and Thelma’s friendship. A friendship that is strong enough that can overcome anything that is thrown at it. A friendship that has also dealt with the issue of one of them having feelings for the other and have been able to come out of on the other end stronger.

“Mom I hear you, really I do! Before I even asked Thelma to come down, I thought long and hard on it. It wasn’t a split second decision I made after meeting with one of my coaches. It may seem that way, but it isn’t. I have been thinking about something like this ever since I started college. Then when I was looked at and signed by the Cowboys I thought about it even more. It was only after having the meeting with Coach Lewis that pushed me to make a decision once and for all.”

“Okay, I’m going to drop this for now. You are smart and I believe you when you tell me that you have weighed all the pros and cons on this. Something you have always done since you were a little boy. You have never jumped into anything without looking at the complete picture. With that said, just do me a favor and please be careful. I don’t want her to get hurt, and more importantly you getting hurt when this gets out, and we all know it will!”

For the remainder of the call, Jason tried to put his mother’s worries to bed, but when they said their goodbyes and hung up, he knew he wasn’t successful. This conversation made him realize once again that his mother and father will always worry for him, his brothers and sisters no matter what they say or do to keep them from worrying, but they still try and do what they can to keep them from worrying. However, he knows the relationship he and Thelma are about to get into is unorthodox and can destroy them both.

Knowing there is nothing he could do about the decision he and Thelma made anymore, since it was a done deal, he pushed it out of his mind. At least he tried to. Every so often throughout the evening the conversation he had with his mother would sneak back in. Made him think about the what if’s. However, each time he came to the same conclusion that he came to when he first got off the phone with his mother. He can’t go back and change what he and Thelma already decided on even if he wanted to. The ticket has been bought, she is packed and ready to come.

The next morning Jason got up before the alarm clock. He didn’t sleep very well through the night. Not only because his mind was going crazy with thoughts of what is coming, but the bed wasn’t too comfortable as well. It was old and worn out and no matter where he tried to lay on it, something was poking him. He was hoping that this might be the last night he was going to be sleeping on this bed. That is if Coach Lewis follows through on what he promised.

Not wanting to start the first of the three important days of his life the wrong way, Jason didn’t let the night of not sleeping very well become an issue. He got up and changed into sweats and running shoes before heading out into the dark city streets of Dallas for his normal two mile morning run. Once he put that away, he did a few excises in his room before hitting the shower.

As he was getting dressed, Jason called for a cab so it would get here hopefully by the time he was ready, and it did. Nervously he grabbed what he thought he needed for the day he was about to face and climbed into the cab. All the way to the training facility, Jason got lost in his mind, not looking at the scenery he was passing. He had no idea what he was about to face and was going to go up against. All he knew was he needed to be on top of his game.

When the taxi pulled into the parking lot of the training facility, Jason’s jaw dropped to the floor. There in the parking lot were some of the current greats of the game making their way into the training facility. He saw Matt Flynn, who played for Green Bay, already at the door; to his right was Kyle Orton from Kansas City. This guy scared Jason because he plays the positions like he does and has the experience that any team would be looking for.

Getting his feet back under him, Jason paid the taxi driver, grabbed his gear and started his way into the training facility. When he walked into the front doors, reality hit him. Standing there were two more greats talking to each other. Brett Favre, who everyone knows. Jason didn’t think he would be facing someone in his caliber. Then there was the guy he was talking to, Peyton Manning, the older of the Manning brother’s. Even though the guy didn’t play much the season before, he is a very explosive quarterback. The kind of quarterback the Cowboys are looking for. Seeing what he already has seen walking into the training facility, Jason knew he really had no chance on getting the starting quarterback position.

TO BE CONTINUED……………………………

WRITER’S CORNER:

{Welcome one and all to a new chapter in the sage of ‘Praying for a Hail Mary’. Before I go into the summation of this chapter, let me get rid of all the legal mumble jumble I have to do by using real names of people in my story. This story is purely fictional and does not imply anything about the sexuality of the featured people. I also like to note that The Dallas Cowboys and any other team I write about in this story are a copyright and trademark of NFL and its affiliates.

This chapter was a little less about football and more about introducing more of the characters and developing the ones that have already been introduced. You guys got to know more about the main character in this story and who is in his corner, or are they? Again I’m evil and I love mixing things up. So don’t get used to those that you think are friendly to stay friendly towards the main character.

With that said let’s start out where the chapter began. The coaches went into a meeting to discuss what to do with their current problems with the offensive line. First and far more important was the quarterback position. They decided to invite quarterbacks that are in free agency to open try outs. They included Jason, but Jason doesn’t have the name or the experience that most of the quarterbacks that were invited to the tryouts do.

We got to meet Jason’s on again and off again girlfriend in this chapter. She seems to be a very nice girl who will do anything for Jason. The only problem there is the thing she is willing to do for Jason might come back and blow up in their faces. What is it that they are trying to hide? Did Jason kill someone, rape someone, cheat or something worse? Or am I totally off the mark? Whatever it is, they all seem very worried about it getting out.

Including Jason’s parents who we finally get to meet in this chapter. Steven and Pamela seem to be very cool parents and know what their son and Thelma are trying to hide. Pamela seemed to be the most worried and made it clear to her son. But they were both very proud of him and all they want is his happiness. Just like they want for their other sons and daughters, Jason’s brothers and sisters who we don’t know by name, but are there. In the chapters to come we will meet them and see if they are anything like Jason. If they are anything like my brothers and sisters, they should be total opposites, but only time will tell.

We got know which of the coaches are in Jason’s corner. It looks like the head coach, Coach Campbell, and the offensive coordinator, Coach Lewis, are in his supporters. But seem to want Jason as their quarterback, but that can change after the try outs begin. At the end of the day every team and coach in the NFL wants to win and win now, not tomorrow.

Finally the ending of the chapter the open tryouts. The first four we got to see are heavy hitters in the game of football. There is Matt Flynn and Kyle Orton Jason saw when he first drove up. Then in the building he saw the great Bret Favre and Peyton Manning. Two well-known quarterbacks in the NFL. Those were only four of the seven Jason is going to have to face down. Who are the other three? Forget that, the thing we should be asking how in the hell will Jason be able to beat those he already has seen? Tune in and find out that answer, plus other answers to the other questions this chapter put out there and get to know more about the characters of this saga.

I know it was short and sweet, but don’t get used to it. I have big plans for this story, so come on back and keep reading this saga. You will not regret it, I promise. And if I forgot anything in my summation that needed to be mentioned I know my Editor Trevor will pick up on it and write it out in his editor’s corner below. Thanks again for giving this new story a chance.

There is going to be a lot developing in the chapters to come. Stick around and keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!}

EDITOR’S CORNER:

Another chapter full of information and please don’t give up reading or get bored with this. Jacob is a stickler for detail and this is needed when you’re setting up a story like this.

He hinted at what Jason’s secret was? Come on Jacob we all bat for the same team here so it couldn’t be anything else but what we are all thinking.

The price of fame is something Jason will have to get used to. For example the waitress’s in the restaurant who stopped him from eating his meal in peace and while it was hot. This is something he will have to get used to. It is one of the burdens of being famous and of course he became just that overnight.

I say again even if you’re not a football fan and hate the Dallas Cowboys as well don’t give up on this story it as the potential of being great and while Jacob hasn’t confided in me regarding all the storylines he has tucked away in that evil mind of his, I’m sure they are going to be great.

Anyway the excitement is building so stay tuned and please let Jacob know what you think and how he is doing.
Hugs
Trevor.