Prologue (not sure yet)

(J.D.)

Static filled…The sound of… The loudspeaker blared… Shrill squeals… Squeals erupted in the crowd as the loudspeaker came to life. I covered my ears until the shrill noise ceased. Finally, a burly voice blurted out, “TONIGHT, our boys are playing this game in memory of Richard Gordon. As y’all know, Richard played right here on this very field for the last four years. And now we’ve all lost a son, a brother, a friend. Our thoughts go out to Richard’s family, and our boys here are going to win this game… for Richard.”

I ran my hand through my hair and closed my eyes. Richie just left here just a couple of months ago for a tour in Vietnam. Not the kind of tour you’d want to take. Anything but, and now he was dead; a victim of “the cause”. Word had it, he’d died quick.

I could still Coach’s voice still echoed in my head, reverberating over and over when what he told us right before we’d left the locker room. “Men, we got a situation that’ll be hard to bear, but I know y’all” can handle this like… His voice broke, and he swiped at his face. Fear filled my gut seeing Coach this way. I couldn’t didn’t want  imagine what happened to know what he was about to say. My heart raced, and I stood froze right there, anticipating the worst.

Coach had sat slumped down on the bench and motioned us closer. I stood back at the edge of the crowd group, trying to conceal myself from Coach’s words. As if I could. I don’t know why, but it was like I totally knew what he was going to say even before he said a word. Richie had been my best friend since I was six, and a feeling of foreboding… well for want of a better word, a sick feeling about him his ghost had been haunting me for days. I’d heard he’d landed in ‘Nam on Monday, just five days ago, and now I just knew in my gut what Coach was about to say.

My younger brother looked around, searching for me. His eyes met mine, and I knew he was thinking the same thing as me. I drew in my breath as Coach spit out, “Richie Gordon gave up his life to save a number of others. I don’t know all the details, yet, but as soon as I know, you’ll know.” Coach hid his face as he walked out of the locker room hiding his face.

“J.D.!” I turned back towards the bench when I heard my brother’s voice. “Not now, Don.” I’d brushed away the hands that crowded me and headed to the field. Now the game was about to begin, and I had to perform. I grabbed my helmet and jogged over to the huddle.

Now, I feel like crying… I just never know where the spirit will lead me when I sit down at the computer. I may be drawn back soon, but for now “Goodnight.”