Part 2

That night, Alan didn’t say as much as he usually did at dinner, which was probably smart because his dad still looked pretty mad about what had happened. Forcing a smile, Fred asked, “Alan, did you tell Boone?” “No,” Alan bluntly answered, “But I told the team and they didn’t take it very well. May I be excused?” Alan slammed his fork down on his plate and left. “Oh, no, not again!” Alan cried as he kicked his jammed locker. *This has not been my best week*, he thought. Then, a girl approached him. She was short with strawberry blonde hair, a light sprinkle of freckles, green eyes and wore a light blue dress. “Here,” she said, “Let me help you. What’s your locker combination?” Realizing what she was doing, Alan stepped out of the way. The girl pushed her one foot against the bottom of the locker and her left hand at the top, waiting for his combination. “Twenty-four, thirty-nine, nineteen,” Alan said. The girl finished the last number and opened the locker smoothly. “Thanks,” Alan said as he got his books, “Hey my name’s-“ “Alan Bosley,” she interrupted, “I know. You went to my school a few years back.” Confused, Alan asked, “Who are you, then?” “Joann. I’m Jamie’s little sister.” “J-Jamie? As in Jamie Timberwolf?” “He’s my step brother. His mom married my dad.” “Oh,” Alan sighed with relief, “So, why are you being nice to me?” Joann laughed, “I’ve seen what my hot-headed half brother did to you.” She pointed to his wound, “And I don’t think you deserved it.” “Oh, thanks. Hey, why haven’t I seen you around before today?” he asked. “I just happened to move here,” Joann laughed. “Right, sorry. So, what’s your next class?” “American Lit.” “That’s where I’m going next. I’ll take you there,” he smiled. “Are you completely out of your mind, boy?” Boone asked. “No, I’m completely serious, Coach Boone,” Alan said quietly, “My dad wants me off. Look Coach, my dad practically controls my life.” “Well, we’ll just have to have a talk with your father, Alan,” Yoast chimed in. “No!” Fred yelled. “Listen Fred, I’ve said it before, Alan cannot go play for another school district. You won’t be able to afford it, Fred- especially the lions,” Yoast said. “I don’t care! Alan needs to win!” “You can’t pull your boy from my team unless we say so,” Boone told him. “Whatcha plan to do now?” Yoast added. “I could go to court,” Fred said just as calmly. Glaring sternly at Fred, Boone said after a moment of silence, “Bill, go get Alan’s release forms. We’ve got some writin’ to do tonight.” “I’ll say this much, I’m gonna miss ya, Alan,” Sheryl told him. “I’m gonna miss you too, Sheryl,” Alan said, sitting down next to the nine year old. “What is with your father, Alan? Doesn’t he know how much this means to you?” Shaking his head, Alan answered, “He doesn’t care. He seriously doesn’t care. It’s like, he missed out on being all this stuff when he was a kid and now he’s making me do it, you know? Even if I get a C on my report card, I’m grounded for a month. I can’t do anything. He’s controlling my life and I hate him for it.” “Alan, Alan, no,” Sheryl comforted, “You don’t hate your daddy and know it. You hate the things he does.” “You’re probably right,” Alan sighed. Gasping, Sheryl said, “Alan! I have a plan!” “What is it? I could use one right now,” Alan told her. He leaned down and let her whisper it in his ear. He smiled. *This plan was going to be good*, he thought. “I’ve asked you gentlemen here tonight to, um, to tell you the news,” Jerry Buck said. “News? What news?” Boone asked. “Since you didn’t win the game...” he started. “No, we didn’t. We tied,” Yoast interrupted. “But you didn’t technically win. They’re replacing you with real basketball coaches,” Buck finished. “*What*?” Boone exclaimed, getting up out of his chair, “You mean to tell me that stinkin’ school board’s not even gonna give us a chance to win fairly? Well you can have it!” Boone walked away. “Why can’t they just give us a chance?” Yoast asked. “I don’t know,” Buck answered, “It’s out of my hands now. I-I’m sorry.” “Gary! Gary, talk to me, brother!” Julius said. Sighing heavily, Gary said, “Man, what if Alan was telling the truth?” “Gary, give it up, brother,” Julius told him, ”He’s gone now.” “You don’t know what I said to him in the locker room, Julius! I told him off! I practically told him to join the Lions!” “Bertier, you know what you have to do then,” Julius said quietly, “Want me to come with you?” “You could help me there, but I have to do the rest of this on my own. I’m the one caused all this trouble.” “All right,” Julius smiled. “Hi, Mrs. Bosley, how are you today? Um, I’m Gary Bertier, one of Alan’s friends. I have to tell him something. Is he home?” “Sure, Gary, come right in,” Anne said, helping his chair up the two steps, “Alan’s in his room. That’s the second room on the right side down that hallway.” “Thank you very much, Mrs. Bosley,” Gary said, wheeling down the hallway. He sighed as he knocked on Alan’s door. Out came Alan, not realizing Gary was there. “Gary?” he asked, “What do you want?” “Listen, Alan, I need to tell you a few things. May come in?” Thinking about it briefly, he said, “All right, but make it quick.” After Gary got inside his room, Alan closed the door completely. Gary glanced around his room. He saw a new color TV sitting on a shelf, an ATRAK player/ radio was sitting next to it with a pile of ATRAKs next to that, and all four of his walls decorated with Titan things. Flags, pictures of Boone, Yoast, Sunshine, Blue, Lewis, Petey, The Rev, Julius and even Gary, and most importantly, his football uniform was hung up perfectly on a hanger in front of his curtained window. “You got something to say?” Alan asked. “Alan, man, I am so sorry about the other day,” Gary apologized, “I feel horrible. I mean, it’s bad enough that Boone and Yoast are being replaced, but-“ “Wait hold on a second,” Alan interrupted, “Boone and Yoast are being replaced? Why?” “We tied and didn’t technically win, so, they’re bringing the real basketball coaches in.” “And now Boone and Yoast are being replaced on my account? Just for tying the game?” “Alan, it’s not your fault. Listen, I came here to apologize and I’m not leaving until I give you one. Brothers?” Gary said, raising his arm up slightly. “We never weren’t,” Alan smiled, taking his hand in a brotherly shake, and then they embraced. Things were starting to look up for Alan. A little. “*Towel Boy*? Joining our team? Better watch out boys, this guy’s an all-star player!” Jamie Timberwolf laughed cruelly. Alan closed his eyes and sighed. *Today is going to be a very bad day*, he thought. “You!” yelled a voice. Alan looked around to see who said that. He was still talking. “Yeah, you with your sloppy, untucked shirt.” “Me?” “Yeah!” the voice startled Alan. He turned around to see a very tall, much more older and experienced man wearing a bright yellow Lion t-shirt. “You the transferring member, Alan Bosley?” “W-well, yeah, b-but-“ “Where you comin’ from?” “T.C. Williams, b-but I have a question, I-“ “Shut up!” he boomed, “I am the one askin’ the questions! And when you finish a sentence you will address me as ‘sir’, am I clear?” “Yes, sir, but with all due respect, who are you?” Alan asked. “I’m Coach Whitman, and I will be your daddy!” he sneered. “Don’t make fun of Coach Boone like that!” Alan exclaimed. “Apparently you don’t learn the rules very well, Bosley,” Whitman said, “You will not speak unless spoken to. Before each practice, you shall run ten laps with the basketball. No one speaks in the locker room. Before each practice is over, you are to complete ten fowl shots, do you understand?” “Yes, I mean, yes sir,” Alan said. “Now, you shall at all times have your shirt tucked into your pants, even during practice. If it comes down, Stupid, put ‘em back in, am I in anyway unclear?” *And I thought Boone was hard-core*. “No, uh, sir.” “Good.” Then he whispered, “Now go over to Assistant Coach Tyrell and,” then he raised his voice, screaming in Alan’s ear, “Get your uniform!” A scared Alan hustled over to Coach Tyrell. *Wait a second. Coach Tyrell? Tyrell*! “Alan?” a voice said, “Couldn’t stay away, now could ya?” Alan was shocked to look at Ray Budds standing next to Jamie. “Ray? What are you and Coach Tyrell doing here?” “Well, they both, along with me, decided that Boone was unfair,” Jamie answered. “Boone is not unfair and I didn’t ask you in the first place, Jamie,” Alan told him. “Bosley!” Tyrell yelled. Alan hurried up. *Today is a very stressing day*, he thought. “Today, this practice, I nor Coach Yoast will be coachin’ ya,” Boone told the Titans, “Both of us are being replaced by Coach Donnerson and Assistant Coach Lloyd. They, unlike Coach Yoast and myself, are qualified basketball coaches. And now, I’ll turn it over to them. See ya boys.” The Titans turned their attention to the two men standing next to their favorite coaches. One was very short, was balding and had a very milky white complexion. The other man was much taller, had an afro and very dark skin. He spoke. “Hello, I’m Coach Donnerson and the little man standing next to me is Assistant Coach Lloyd. Now, I know Coach Boone had rules and regulations that you know and you practice them regularly. I want you to forget them. Every single one of them. You are mine now. If I remember correctly, Boone told me that you go by a dictatorship. Before, Boone was the law. Now, I am the law. You abide my rules and you will follow them.” Petey raised his hand. “What about Gerry?” “Gerry? Who in the sand hill is that?” “Me,” Gerry answered. Donnerson turned around and saw Bertier in the wheelchair. “I’m Gerry Bertier.” “Bertier? You the one in the car wreck?” “Yes, I *was*, and I’m also this team’s mascot.” “Mascot, eh?” Donnerson asked, “This team doesn’t need a mascot.” “But our brother gives us our Titan Spirit,” Julius told him, standing up. “He can stay, then,” Donnerson said, “But it won’t be permanent, you can count on that.” “Daddy, what are you doing?” Nicky Boone asked her father. Boone was more depressed than he thought about being replaced, by basketball, even. His two daughters had approached the Coach, who was sitting on the couch in front of the fire. Nicky was the oldest one and Karen was the youngest one. Boone sighed and then he smiled at his girls. “I don’t know, just thinkin’,” Boone answered. “Thinkin’! Mama, he’s thinkin’!” Karen called out to the kitchen. “Karen!” Nicky scolded. Boone chuckled. Now his wife, Carol, was getting their children to pump information out of him. “Well, you know what?” “What?” the two girls asked in unison. “I could sure use a hug right now,” Boone smiled. The girls both jumped upon their loving father, tackling him on the couch in a surrounding laughter that filled the room. Alan walked out of Groveton High that day exhausted. He found none other than Fred, sitting in the family’s old station wagon. He had forgotten that Groveton was too far away to walk, which he was grateful for that because he probably couldn’t even walk half a mile, but then again, he had to survive the ride home with his father. As Alan hobbled into the station wagon, the first words out of Fred’s mouth were, “Did you like practice?” Alan barked a laugh. “No. They run it like the military.” “I heard Whitman’s better than that Coach Coon,” Fred said, starting to head home. “Dad, Boone’s been fired because of me, fired from basketball,” Alan told him. “Good,” Fred sneered. “Dad, you know what? I learned more from Coach Boone and Coach Yoast in one football season than you have ever done in my lifetime.” “*Really*? What did the coaches teach you?” “They taught me that I don’t have to be in the spotlight. If you’re bad at something, you should give the spotlight to someone who’s good,” Alan answered. “W-well, name something else,” Fred stuttered. “What you look like doesn’t really matter. You could be a different race, you could be too big, too small, but no matter what, you’re gonna get it ‘cause your different. But if we learn from mistakes, then and only then can we live in harmony. First, you gotta learn that no one is normal. That’s how we ride the peace train. I don’t think I learned that from you, huh?” Alan finished with a smile. Frustrated, Fred turned his head and didn’t talk to Alan the rest of the way home. *I won a battle*, Alan thought, *But now I’ve got a war to win*. “It’ll be all right, Coach,” Sheryl said to Yoast at home. “You know, you said that to me last time I was depressed,” Yoast told her. “I know, it’s just that ya gotta stick it out.” Yoast chuckled, “Me? Stick it out? You really think I can do that?” “Well, Coach that’s just up to you.” “You think the, eh, Titans will win the game against the Lions this Friday?” “Titans against Lions? This Friday night!? Ugh! We’re not ready, yet!” Frustrated, Sheryl ran into her room to think. She was gonna need to talk to Alan to get out of this one. GAME #2 Titans against Lions The Lions ran onto the basketball court with their heads held high. Alan scanned the area for Sheryl. He spotted her and she gave him a thumbs up. He nodded back at the young girl. The plan was going to come into action. The referee held the ball high into the air. He blew the whistle and threw the ball up. Jamie and The Rev jumped for it. Timberwolf got it and dribbled down the court. He tossed it to Alan, who didn’t catch it. Petey did. Blocking Petey, Alan said, “Petey, this is for you and the team.” Alan jumped up and tackled Petey. The referee blew the whistle for a time out. “Penalty for the Lions! Titans, two foul shots.” “What are you doing? You can’t tackle people in basketball! Get over here!” Alan ran over to Coach Whitman. “What on this God forsaken planet was that? I don’t care how much your father’s payin’ me, you’re benched! Get over there!” “Yes, your highness,” Alan smirked before heading to the benches. *Boy, is he gonna get it from my dad*! From the audience stands, Fred saw Alan being taken out. “Not this again! Whitman! Whitman! I paid you! Put him back in!” Sheryl looked at Fred Bosley and giggled. That man sure had a lesson to learn. He was gonna learn it the hard way, too. Sheryl could tell. “The game goes to the Titans! At a score of fifty to fourty!” the announcer cried. “I paid you whoppers of money! Fifty dollars for just this game! Just so my Alan could play basketball!” Fred yelled. Whitman was sitting at his desk. Fred had actually taken Alan along this time. Fred felt like he should be a of it part. “Yeah,” Alan added, hamming the part up, “Why’d you take me out? I just tripped. You didn’t even give me time to explain.” “Tripped, eh?” Whitman challenged. “I saw him, Whitman! You can’t deny it,” Fred yelled. “Well, then, what do you propose?” Whitman asked. “Leave the team,” Alan chimed in, “My dad only agreed if the Lions won, but they didn’t” “Alan, get your jersey. We’re going back to the Titans,” Fred ordered. “Yes, sir!” Alan smiled, hopping out of his seat. *I’m going back to the Titans! Thank you so much, Sheryl*! Alan, though, didn’t know that there was going to be trouble at his house that night. “Mom!” Alan exclaimed, bursting in the door a few minutes before Fred did, “I’m going back! I’m going back to the Titans!” “How in the name of heaven did you do that?” Anne asked her son. “I don’t know,” he answered, out of breath, “It’s a miracle.” “I’m happy for you, Alan, I really am,” Anne told him. “Shh, don’t wake anybody, you idiot,” Jamie ordered. Jamie and Ray knew what was going on with Alan. He had made a plan to get himself off the team and give the Titans a victory. And those two were going make him pay. Tonight, they were going to break all the windows in his house and mess up a few things inside. They got behind the gate and started breaking windows. “Alan! Alan! Come quick! Jamie and Ray are out here!” yelled a voice from the tree. “Joann! What are you doing?” Jamie hissed. Alan rushed out the door and down the steps. He saw Ray and Jamie smashing out his windows. “Hey!” he yelled as he ran over and tackled Ray. He hauled back to punch him, but Jamie grabbed his fist and dragged Alan up, punching his stomach. “You creep!” Joann shot. She jumped on her half brother’s back, distracting him from Alan. Bosley hit the wooden steps in his backyard and groaned with pain as the wood connected with the small of his back. He didn’t have much time to recover, either, because Ray picked him up and punched him in the face. Alan tackled Ray again and both boys started wrestling on the ground. Jamie pushed his sister onto the ground hard. “Stay there,” he ordered as she writhed in pain after hitting her head against the tree. With an evil smile, Jamie ran and threw Alan off of Ray and started punching the former Lion. “*What* is going on out here?” Fred roared. “Sir, it’s my fault,” Joann insisted to Fred. “No, Dad,” Alan corrected, “It’s not. Her brother and Ray came out here to vandalize our house. They did a pretty good job so far, too.” By that time, Jamie and Ray had fled the scene of the crime. Joann had stayed behind to help sort things out. She still had a pounding headache, and it looked like Alan was going to be sore for a few weeks with a shiner. “Listen, Mr. Bosley, they came here because they were holding Alan responsible for the Lions losing, so they wanted to make him pay. My brother, he can’t see over the fact that Alan’s actually a really nice guy. And, with all due respect, Mr. Bosley, I think you should, too.” Shocked, Alan removed the ice pack he had from his swollen eye. His mouth was gaping open. When he realized what he was doing, he closed his mouth and sat up straighter. Fred finally got over his own shock and said, “Uh, here, Alan, let me help you with that eye of yours.” “How ‘bout you and me go call your parents, Joann,” Anne chimed in, “Come on.” “Alan? Where’ve you been my white brother?” Petey whooped in the locker room, “Oh, that is a massive shiner. What’cha been doing?” “Getting in formal fights with Jamie and Ray,” Alan glumly answered. “Ray?” Gerry asked, “As in Ray Budds?” “Yeah,” Alan said, “One of our friends. Oh, and did you know that Coach Tyrell is on the Lions?” “Tyrell?” Sunshine exclaimed, “We’ve gotta tell Boone!” “Hello? Sunshine?” Petey said, “Get it through your Californian head! Boone is no longer here! He won’t be playin’ no basketball no more.” “You know what?” Julius spoke up, “I’m sick of hearing Donnerson and Lloyd every single day! Man, if anyone is to be yellin’ at us, it should be Boone!” There was a surrounding cry of “Yeah!” “We should go tell him!” Blue added. “We should get Boone and Yoast back!” Gerry chimed in. “Yeah!” they all shouted. “Wait,” Lewis said, making everyone stop cheering, “Does anyone know where he lives?” “I can’t,” Boone insisted, “Now, I’ll be back for football next year, but I can’t coach no basketball no more.” “But this guy is like a military officer!” The Rev protested. “Even worse than me?” Boone asked with a small chuckle. “Ten times as worse,” Blue said, “Add with a side of a bull horn to yell into.” “That bad?” Boone inquired. “Yes!” All of them replied in unison. Smiling Boone said, “Well, I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t guarantee no promises. If the school board says no, that’s the end of it. You won’t argue with that, now will you?” The boys shook their heads. “Well, then, let’s play some basketball!” “If anyone be yellin’ at us, it Boone! It’s Boone! Coach Boone!” Petey cried with joy. “Do I really yell at you?” Boone asked. “I, er, uh, uh,” *Petey think fast, and I mean fast,* “No?” “It worked?” exclaimed Sheryl, “It really worked? Your back in?” “Yeah,” Alan smiled. “I’ll tell ya what,” Sheryl directed to the other men, “Ya guys did good. We are winners! The Titans are gonna win! Are we gonna win?” “Yeah!” they all shouted. “Do we want a victory!?” Julius yelled. “Yeah!” “I said, do we want a victory!?” Sheryl cried. “Yeah!” Picking Sheryl up and putting her on his shoulders, Julius shouted, “Turn in!” All the players bunched up in a circle and were yelling and screaming for victory, with Sheryl still on Julius’s shoulders. Watching the entire thing with a smile on his face, Boone said, “You know, Bill, that girl of yours is gonna grow up to be the country’s first female coach.” Chuckling, Yoast agreed, “You’re probably right, Herman. Let’s go talk to Doctor Barker. We need to straighten this whole mess up.” “Please! We need one more chance! Just one! Can’t your John Brown school board do that??” Boone shouted. “Herman, I’ll see what I can do,” Barker said, “But Donnerson needs to decline on his own. He can’t just be taken out.” “And you were saying, Doctor Barker,” Yoast chimed in quietly. “Well, I got an idea that would make Donnerson decline so fast, we’d never see the likes of him again,” Boone said, “See ya on the court.” GAME #3 Titans against Hayfield Hawks “Tonight, if you lose, I’ll kick every last one of ya off the team. You’ll all go home and forget about the Titans,” Donnerson instructed. “Coach,” Blue spoke up, “We, uh, wanted to let you know.” “About what?” “Have you ever actually watched the Titan’s football games before?” Petey asked. “My son did. Why?” *That guy has a son? I never would’ve guess him to be a family man*, Petey thought, I pity his son. “You know how we warmed up?” Alan asked. “Ok, you’d better tell me what’s going on now,” Donnerson said, starting to get angry. “Well, the Titans and I decided that before every game and after each winning game, we’ll do our Titan Victory Dance,” Gerry said with a smile, “It sparks up the, uh, Titan power.” “And here are the Hawks!” the one announcer said. “They’ve been undefeated so far,” the other announcer told the audience, “But so have the T.C. Williams Titans. They’ll both have a load on so far.” “Oh and here come the Titans!’ the first announcer exclaimed, “And what are they doing?” “I don’t know, Chip, it looks like the dance they’ve been doing for football. Let’s watch.” The Titans were all in their assigned spots as they went out. They rolled their hands and then raised them up, shaking them twice before rolling them again. They were moving out to the assigned spot they had chanting, “Hoo ha! We feel! Hoo ha! Real good! Hoo ha! We feel! Hoo ha! Real good! Hoo ha! We feel! Hoo ha! Real good!” They kept chanting that until they got to their spots. “Ready?” Blue asked, “A 5, 6! A 5, 6, 7, 8!” The Titans, in unison, then said while dancing, “Everywhere we go, everywhere we go, people wanna know, people wanna know, who we are, who we are. So we tell them, so we tell them, we are the Titans! We are the Titans! The mighty, mighty Titans! The mighty, mighty Titans! Ooh, ha, oh yeah! Ooh, ha, oh yeah! Ooh, ha, oh, yeah! Ooh, ah, oh, yeah!” Gerry glanced over at Donnerson, who wasn’t even there. He heard the door closing. *He couldn’t even be in the same room! Boone was right*! he thought. Gerry laughed. He looked over at Boone in the stands and gave him a thumbs up. “I was right,” Boone told Yoast, “He’s so embarrassed by those boys, he’s not even in here. Bill, we’re back in!” Blue intercepted the pass from the Hawk. He tossed it to Julius, who made the basket. The score was twelve even and there was only a minute left in the game. The ref threw the ball and the Hawks got it, but Sunshine stole it and dribbled down the court, who gave it to Lewis, and then got to Alan. Alan looked at the clock. Five seconds, four, three, two…Alan jumped for all he was worth. Higher, higher, higher…until…a basket! Alan hung onto the basket as the buzzer sounded. The Titan fans roared with happiness. The team grouped around Alan, cheering. Fred realized that Alan should be a part of the Titans. He saw it that night. Now, the Titans had to get Boone back. “Herman, Bill, I don’t know how you did it, but you did,” Doctor Barker said, “Last night, Donnerson said he’s gonna give it up. He’s turning it back over to you and Yoast.” “We’re back in?” Yoast asked, “You’re sure?” “I’m absolutely sure, Bill,” Barker said, “You guys are allowed to coach the team again.” The Titans cheered. They knew that Boone and Yoast were coming back. “All right every one,” Boone called over everyone, “Listen up. I wanna thank each and every one a ya for believin’ in me and Yoast. Now, we got three weeks before we face off with Millsburg for the title. I don’t know what Coach Donnerson’s been doing with yins, but I’ll tell you one thing. When I was watching the game from the stands last night, I could see that, first of all, Sunshine, your dribbling was a little off. Petey, your free throw was something to be questioned, Blue, both you and Julius need to practice your passes. And Alan Bosley, you were doin’ pretty lousy before those last five seconds, son.” *Life’s back to normal*, Gerry thought, *It’s good*. “You all kicked some butt out there,” Sheryl chimed in, “I’m proud out y’all.” Boone looked down at her, then looked up at Yoast, who shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, there,” Alan said. Joann had started meeting Alan at his locker daily, so they could walk to class together. They had formed a friendship after they first met. Alan had to admit he had an odd liking for the slightly younger girl. What he didn’t know was that she secretly liked him, too. “Hi,” Joann greeted, “Oh, I saw you last night at the game. You scored that final basket right when the buzzer sounded. You were awesome.” Alan blushed, “W-well, I, um, thanks. Um, my dad’s letting me stay on the Titans. And last weekend, he actually took me fishing.” “That’s great!” Joann exclaimed, “Spending quality time with your father is wonderful!” “Yeah, it is. Hey, this Friday night, if we, uh, if we win, would you join me and the team for the party?” Alan asked. Smiling, Joann answered, “I’d love to, Alan.” She then, without thinking, reached up and gave Alan a peck on the cheek. Turning a shade of red, Alan stuttered, “G-great, uh, uh, um, let’s uh, let’s go to class.” Championship Game: Titans against Coyotes “Get ready, men!” Boone yelled, “Tonight is our night. Take no prisoners! This game will separate the winners from the losers. And what are we?” “Winners!’ the Titans cheered. Smiling, Boone then said, “Alright, then, let’s show ‘em whatcha got.” The ref blew the whistle and Blue and a Coyote jumped for the ball. The other team got it and made a basket. Tonight will be a long night, Boone thought. There were three minutes left, the Coyotes had five more points than the Titans did. They were gonna need a miracle to get out of this. Alan sighed. Then he remembered that Joann had come tonight. He looked up at the stands and spotted her. She saw him and smiled. He smiled back. He really wanted her to come to the party with him. He then sparked an idea. “Guys! Guys!” Alan yelled, “I have an idea. Huddle in! Okay, I’ve got a play that could get us six points. It’s confusing, but we can take it.” “Alan’s starting?” Yoast asked. “Let’s just see what happens,” Boone said. The ref threw the ball once more and Alan caught it. He threw it behind him and Sunshine caught it. Sunshine threw it to Julius, who was half way down the court. Julius caught it and threw it back to big Lewis. Lastik passed the ball to Blue, who was half way on the other side. He tossed it to Julius. Julius passed it to Petey. Jones checked it to The Rev, who had moved up the court. Rev then scored just as the buzzer rang. They all glanced at the scoreboard. The Titans went up six, beating the game. “I’m glad you came with us,” Alan told Joann. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” she smiled, “I’m glad the Titans won.” “So am I,” Alan whispered. He leaned down and softly touched his lips with hers. When they separated, they gazed into each other’s eyes. “Whoo!” Petey whooped, “Look at Joann and Alan! They’ve got it goin’ on!” They both looked at each other and turned a shade of red. Joann liked Alan, but she didn’t think Jamie would like that very much. “Alan likes me,” Joann said to herself while biking home that night, “Alan Bosley like me. Me.” She paused at the red light and pressed the button. She waited until the sign said to walk. She started to go across the road. Joann made it half way across when she heard tires screeching. She turned her head in time only to see a pair of headlights coming towards her. Alan rushed into the hospital. This was the third time he had to be there in circumstances he didn’t really want. Either times weren’t so happy and he was thinking this one wouldn’t very much better than the other ones. He saw Jamie. He got brave and walked up to him. “What are you doin’ here, Towel Boy?” Jamie angrily asked, “We don’t need you here.” “Listen, Jamie. Maybe you’ve forgotten. You used to be my friend. Well, Joann’s my friend. How is she?” Putting his anger to the side for the time being Jamie answered, “She’s, she’s not that good. She was hit dead on by a drunk driver. She’s got a lot of problems. The doctors don’t think she’ll survive the night. Towel Boy,” Jamie then corrected himself, “I mean, *Alan*, listen, she’s not my blood sister, but she’s all I got. I don’t wanna lose her.” “The first thing you gotta do is make amends,” Alan offered, “Are we friends again?” Nodding slowly, Jamie agreed, “Yeah, we can be friends again.” The two boys embraced. “Hey man, wanna go see how she’s doin’?” Jamie asked Alan. Alan nodded and followed his new friend to Joann’s room. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Alan entered the room Joann was in. What he saw almost brought tears to his eyes. Joann’s head was wrapped, she had bruises and cuts everywhere, IV’s and monitors. He walked in and sat down next to her. “Hi,” Joann said in a hoarse voice. “Now who’s being unfair,” Alan whispered, “What happened?” “Oh, it was terrible. I was going a-across the uh, the street and alls I remember is a pair of headlights.” “Look at you. This isn’t fair. I-I heard that the other person wasn’t even hurt. Why did this have to happen?” “Alan, at least I’m still alive,” Joann said, “Maybe this, maybe this is my second chance. I’ll live better knowing that I escaped the clutches of death, and maybe I’ll live my life to its full potential. Maybe.” Alan checked his watch. It was a quarter after ten and his father wanted him home by ten thirty. “Hey, Joann,” Alan said, “I hate to say this, but I have to go home. I’ll be back as early as possible tomorrow, all right?” “Ok,” she agreed. Alan got up and was about to leave, but before he did, he told her, “Oh, and Joann?” “What?” Alan leaned over the bed and kissed her. He had a feeling this would be his last chance to express his feelings toward her. To let her know how strongly his feelings for her actually were. He then whispered his last words to her, “I love you.” Then, with a heavy heart, left the hospital. Alan was walking home that night when he spotted Petey. He then remembered that he was supposed to meet up with him two hours ago. “Where were you?” Petey asked. “Listen, Petey, man, I’m sorry,” Alan apologized, “But-but Joann had an accident. Sh-She was hit by a drunk driver. The doctor thinks she won’t even survive one night.” “Alan, it’s ok,” Petey said clasping Alan’s shoulders in his hands. “It’s O K. Joann’ll be fine.” “I hope your right,” Alan told him. Alan walked in the door that night only to see Fred and Anne sitting at the table. “Um, Alan, son,” Fred said, “We just got off the line with the doctor. The doctor who’s helping Joann.” “She’s gonna be all right, right?” Alan asked. “Alan, there’s no real way we can tell you this,” Anne started. This doesn’t sound good, Alan thought, But Joann has to be ok. I know it, she said it herself. She’s strong. “Alan, I’m sorry,” Anne said, “I’m just so sorry.” “What are you getting at? Joann’s gonna be ok. She has to be. I- I just got back from the hospital! She was fine!” Alan started for his room, but Fred grabbed him and looked in his son’s eyes. “Alan, listen to me, just listen,” Fred ordered, “This is hard for us, too. Alan, Joann died right after you left the hospital.” “What? No! This can’t be happening!” Alan shouted. “She died from internal bleeding,” Fred continued, “I’m sorry, son.” “No! I won’t believe it! This was supposed to be Joann’s second chance! What happened to it? What happened?” Alan cried. Saying goodbye to anyone was never easy and Alan found that out the hard way. “We are gathered here to remember a person who was dear to all our hearts,” the priest announced, “Joann Miller was a person you’d never forget. We have something written by a friend: ’To Joann, you remind me of the summer breeze because you took all my worries away. You were the one that patched up the hole in my heart with your love. You gave me something to look forward to and I have no regrets about our binding friendship that you and only you knew about. You made a victory out of defeat and you could move a soul of a man with your smile. What I’m trying to say is don’t forget anything because you never know when a person can leave without any notice. And they’ll be gone. Forever.’ And that was from Alan Bosley. That was very nice. I couldn’t have put it better in words myself.” Alan looked inside the casket. He had been to his grandparents’ funerals before, but instead, there lie a beautiful girl inside. Her blonde hair was pulled back and into a braid. Her pale face glistened off the candlelight that was present. She wore a beautiful dress and was half covered up with a blanket. People had placed trinkets and memoirs inside the death box. He wasn’t alone. The whole team had agreed to come to the funeral. Gerry was the only one willing enough to go up to the casket with him. “She’s too young to be in there, Gerry,” Alan whispered, “She had her whole life planned, only for it to be taken away.” “Nothing will be the same again, will it?” Gerry asked. “I loved her, Gerry. Nothing will ever be the same.” “But you have to move on, man,” Gerry insisted, “It’s what Joann would’ve wanted for you.” “I now know that life isn’t just about basketball and football. It’s a whole lot deeper than that,” Alan said, “I guess I learned that the hard way.” “Alan,” Boone said, coming up, “Joann’s father and step-mother wanna talk to you for a second.” “Hi, Alan,” Mrs. Miller asked, “Jamie told me that you and Joann were close, right?” “Yeah,” Alan answered, “Joann and I were close. I’m sorry.” “Joann’s not here anymore, but you’re certainly welcome to be a friend of the family’s. I know that you’re still Jamie’s friend. You’re welcome to come over anytime, Alan,” Mr. Miller said. “Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Miller. This is a hard time for all of us. If, y-you ever need anything, I’d be happy to help, I-I really would.” Alan embraced both Mr. and Mrs. Miller, not bothering to wipe away his tears. Alan and the Miller family became close friends after that. You know, it’s almost funny how hatred can be lead to love by just one person. Alan had to go on after that. There were more things in store for Alan and he knew it. He never had to attend another funeral up until Gerry’s death in 1981, and as plain as my name is Sheryl Yoast, nobody forgot anything. Daddy and Coach Boone declined from basketball after that year and became full time football coaches. They were better at football. But it goes to show, that when push comes to shove, sometimes there’s no choice but to shove back. Being a team means more than working together, it means being a family. And never, ever forget to remember the Titans. Back