Freight Train

By Danny YEE

Bam! He slowly opened his eyes. Blurred colors and shapes surrounded him. He struggled to sit but his muscle failed. Had he been hit by a freight train? Joe looked around and saw the hulking giant that just slammed into him. The giant’s face seemed to say, “Welcome to college football”.
“Maybe I can’t hang with the big kids,” thought Joe disappointingly. Joe, a new freshman, had been recruited not even a year ago. He was the starting quarterback on the struggling BYU University football team and this was his first game. His teammates offered him their hands and pulled him up. Joe could feel the sting of their disappointment and disgust. Joe had not been paying attention and had gotten sacked with only two minutes left and his team behind only by three points. The next play was third and inches. Joe called out the play and hiked the football.
“Running bear! Chambers!” he called out.
He rushed to the left, faking a handoff to the fullback, then he handed off the football to the running back. He watched as the running back crossed the line for the first down. Next, he hiked the ball and drew back into the pocket. From the corner of his eye, he could see one open receiver. He quickly threw his arm back, grasped the ball a little better and started to bring his arm forward with the speed of a charging rhino. Joe released the ball just at an exact 45-degree angle. His perfect throw shot right into the hands of his intended receiver. The receiver took off like a Lamborghini speeding on the autostrada and crossed the touchdown line. The whole team started jumping up and down with excitement.
“Maybe I can hang with the big kids,” he thought ecstatically.