Climb the Ladder

Thankfully, it didn't take Jackson long to get an appointment with the doctor, and a few days later, he was in the clinic, sitting on the sterile, blue-sheeted bed, explaining what he had done and why he and Tommy were seeing the good doctor that day.

The doctor ran him through some quick, simple tests, having Jackson push, lift and stretch his leg in various ways.

After the doctor finished these exercises, they sat in their chair, and stared at their computer, looking over Jackson's file.

'And how long did the pain last after you ran without the crutches?'

'It was back to normal after a couple of days,' Jackson answered.

Dr Saha spun around, facing Jackson. 'It wasn't good to aggravate things like that, though I'm sure you realised that. It's best if you continue to take things slow. You said you played football, yes?'

Jackson nodded.

'I know you might be anxious to play again, but if you rush things like this, you'll only be doing more damage to yourself in the long run. It could be best to put football out of your mind until you recover.'

Jackson sighed. 'Thank you, Doctor. I'll… I won't do that again. I'm sorry.'

'It's okay. You're perfectly fine to continue doing the exercises I assigned previously, but let's not go for any more night runs, or day runs either.'

Jackson nodded sheepishly, keeping his head down.

'Thanks, doc. I'll keep a closer eye on him and ease off on the mindset that he needs to recover as soon as possible,' Tommy said.

'I'm sure he'll have a great recovery. He's lucky to have such a strong support system.'

The brothers left soon after, Dr Saha reminding them that they could call her at any time if they had further questions.

During the drive home, Tommy lowered the volume of the radio as they sat at a red light. 'Maybe … I've been pushing you a bit too much, trying to get you back into the game earlier than you should.'

'But I want to get back out there and help.'

'I know you do.' Tommy smiled at him, though there was a sadness to his smile. 'But, it's just one season, Jackie. Whether you miss it or make it back, it won't be the end of the world; you have to think of the bigger picture, your career as a whole.'

Jackson went quiet.

'A broken leg that bad is serious, and if you don't recover from it properly, it can mess you up forever. We can't rush these things. I'm sorry that I haven't seen that until now. Let's just take things easy from here on out.'

'O-Okay.' Jackson's hands picked at his pants and scratched at his legs. 'B-But we can keep doing the exercises right? The doctor said so, didn't she?'

'She did.'

'And I promise I won't run around the backyard anymore, not until I'm ready. That was… that was really stupid and … I wasn't thinking properly.'

Tommy reached out, placing a steadying hand on Jackson's shoulder. 'I know, little bro. We'll get through this together.'

The volume was dialled back up, and the two continued home.

Friday rolled around, and with it, the last day of practice before the Titans' next game. Despite Dr Saha suggesting that Jackson put football out of his mind, there was just no way he could do such a thing, so of course, he was there to spectate the team's practice.

During the drinks break about halfway through the session, Kenny sat with Jackson. The pair decided not to focus on the previous week's game, nor even the upcoming game, and instead looked further into the future.

'I don't know if I'll be able to recover in time for Regionals,' Jackson said.

Kenny swallowed his last mouthful and frowned. 'When is the first game of Regionals exactly?'

Jackson's brow furrowed. 'A little over three weeks away? Right at the start of November, I think.''

Kenny shook his head. 'Ah, it doesn't matter. You don't need to worry about that crap, just do your best and take all the time that you need. But, you shouldn't worry about Regionals for the JV team, instead, you should be looking towards the State tourney for the varsity team.'

Jackson blinked. 'For the varsity team?'

Kenny grinned. 'Yep. I mean, that's where I'll be, and you should be right there with me.'

Jackson looked around. Both squads were on break simultaneously, but even so, the JV and varsity players were mostly separated from one another in their own groups as they rested. 'What about the others?' he asked.

'What about them? If they're good enough, they'll be on the varsity team too, and the benchwarmers will move down to take their place on JV. But I'm not worried about them, that's on them if they can move up or not, I'm talking about you and me, man.'

Jackson fidgeted. 'I mean, I know varsity is the goal… but don't you think you should be focused on the JV team? I mean, you're not even on the varsity team yet.'

'But I should be!'

Jackson flinched, surprised by the heightened tone of voice. Kenny spoke with conviction, but also anger and resentment.

'I'm better than the players over there. I should be a starting Receiver on the varsity team.'

Jackson chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment. 'But…'

'But what?'

'Well… the varsity team is still undefeated. And, you know, you and the JV team just lost last week… and don't we have a negative record?'

'Okay, and what's your point? Just because they haven't lost and we have doesn't mean the individuals I'm talking about are better than me, it just means they're part of a better team. I mean, look at what happens during the games. For the JV team—and me in particular—I'm the focus of the opposition's defence. They always put the most resources into stopping me, they always have their best defender on me, or multiple at a time.'

Jackson couldn't dispute this. In fact, from what he'd seen throughout the games he'd watched, it was more like Kenny was the only TRUE Receiver on the team, and the others were just filling out those positions through necessity.

'Meanwhile, you have Shane getting double and triple-teamed during the varsity games, whilst the WRs are useless and can't even help or relieve any pressure. Even getting all that attention he's still leading all the receiving stats. If I was playing, that wouldn't happen. Other teams wouldn't be able to double Shane or else I'd always be open and scoring, they'd have to choose which one of us scores. I KNOW I'm better than them. I should be starting on that team.'

Jackson and Kenny stared at one another. Jackson saw that Kenny was deadly serious about what he was saying, and Jackson didn't have a way to dispute those claims. Kenny was being incredibly brash and arrogant, but what if he was right? What if he was better than every other WR on the varsity team? How could he tell when they played against two different levels of competition? Surely Coach Otsen or any of the others on the coaching staff would be able to see if it was true, right?

But, maybe it was too hard to tell from practice alone because of how separated the two groups were, and how different their practice regimes were, with all members of the JV team having to perform a wider variety of drills since they covered a lot more positions than their contemporaries who got to focus on just one role, or two if they wanted to play both sides of the ball.

'Um… what if you just, ask Coach Otsen to give you a chance on that team?'

The two turned to Freddy who was sitting nearby and had overheard Kenny's impassioned speech. Freddy squirmed now that the intense gaze was turned his way.

Kenny frowned deeply and shook his head. 'He'll never allow it. He's got that stupid rule, remember? No freshmen allowed on the varsity team for whatever reason. Not even Shane played varsity during his freshman year apparently.' Kenny kicked at the grass. 'Stupid fucking rule. I'm clearly ready, I'm already the better player, so what does me being a freshman have to do with it?'

'W-Well uhh… and what if you could … I don't know, PROVE it to Coach Otsen that you're the better player and ready to be on that team? In a way that he can't possibly refute it.'

'And how would I do that?'

Freddy lowered his gaze to the grass and massaged his temples with one hand. He stayed like this, silent in thought for a few moments before he looked at Kenny with reddened cheeks. 'I-I don't know.'

Kenny groaned but before he could say anything, Jackson interjected. 'What if you beat the other Receivers one-on-one?'

'That… could work.' Kenny grinned and slapped Jackson on the shoulder. 'If the coaches see me beat a starter from the varsity team, they'll HAVE to swap us. Heh, thanks Jackson.'

'Y-Yeah, no worries.' Jackson chuckled nervously. 'I-I still don't think you should do this but uh…'

'What? You don't think I'm good enough to be on the varsity team?' Kenny narrowed his eyes.

'Huh? N-No I didn't say that. It's just—'

'Just what?'

'Um… nothing, nothing. Forget I said anything.'

Kenny stood from the bench. 'Hmm. I'll challenge them after practice. Even if they don't wanna one v one, that'll prove enough of a point don't you think?'

Neither Freddy nor Jackson said anything. Kenny left as break time was over and practice would resume. As Freddy got up, he and Jackson exchanged worried glances.

When practice finished an hour later, Kenny dumped his vest and made straight for a group of varsity Receivers. There were three of them together, grabbing their bags, notably, none were a part of the minority of varsity players that wore their weighted vests during practice.

'Hey!'

The trio turned upon hearing Kenny's voice.

The one in the centre—whom Kenny recognised as a junior named Grant—spoke up. 'Yeah? What do you want?' Grant was on the wrong side of six feet, and the best word to describe him was narrow. From head to toe, he just had a narrow look about him. Kenny had never seen him show up to practice without a folded, black and white bandana wrapped around his head, his hair shaved to a rough stubble.

Kenny took some time finding his nerve and the right words to say now that he was before the larger, older boys. Even with Jackson and Freddy behind him, watching closely, he felt alone before the trio.

'Oh, I just wanted to congratulate you guys on staying undefeated this long. I mean, it's a miracle the team keeps winning even with such a shitty receiving core.'

Two of the boys laughed, shaking their heads. They dismissed Kenny as a jealous brat trying to get under their skin. 'C'mon, Grant. This kid's a nobody. Just a jealous little JV dog, hating on us 'cause the grass is greener on the other side, you know how it is.'

'Yeah, especially with how the JV team just lost … AGAIN. Little dude can only dream of being undefeated.'

Though as they moved away, Grant stayed put, obviously taking offence to Kenny's words. 'Nah, what did you say? I'm not gonna sit here and be disrespected by some small fry punk who doesn't know his place.' He stepped closer to Kenny.

Kenny didn't back down. 'Oh, I know my place. I know exactly where I am, and I know exactly where I belong. And I can prove it too. I can beat you, and prove to even a bunch of dumbasses like you three just how much better I am than you all. … Unless you're scared to be beaten by a small fry like me?'

'Ohh fuck, here we go.' One of the two that had been content to walk away turned back around.

The other sighed loudly. 'I don't have time for this shiiit. I gotta study for an exam.'

'Fuck your exam!' Grant snapped. He never took his eyes off Kenny. 'You're on. Stupid ass kids like you don't stop barking until you give them a good kick. Yo Wesley! We need a QB so I can clown this kid.'

Wesley lifted one side of his headphones off his ear then rolled his eyes, setting it back into place. 'Hell nah. Y'all can go on with that, I ain't got time for it.' He kept walking away from the field.

'I'll do it.'

Heads turned towards Petey. Most of the other boys had overheard the commotion as things started to get more heated, even the coaches were looking over, though none moved to stop them yet.

'Nah.' Grant shook his head. 'I ain't fucking with that. You'll just throw nice passes for your little JV friend and screw me over so he wins.'

'What about Oscar?' another of the varsity Receivers suggested.

Grant looked over. 'Hey, Oscar! Get over here, we need a QB.'

'What's this?' Oscar—a bespectacled boy who was short and plain—looked over.

'Just get your ass over here and throw the damn ball,' Grant said.

'And how do I know HE won't just favour YOU?' Kenny said.

''Cause we ain't friends, unlike you but buddies in JV.'

'Fine! Whatever, fuck it, I don't care even if you do try to screw me, I'll still beat you.'

'Pfft, whatever.'

'What if Pete throws for Kenny, and uh, Oscar throws for Grant?' Jackson suggested.

'I don't care.' Kenny snapped. 'Let Oscar throw. I'll still win even if he screws me.'

Grant moved away to get into position and told Oscar what was happening.

Pete sighed and walked with Kenny, following him onto the field. 'I know that guy, Oscar. He was a part of JV last year. Even if I personally don't like him, he's a good guy. You should be alright, I doubt he'll help that asshole cheat.'

Kenny didn't say anything, keeping quiet so he could focus.

Freddy and Jackson, however, spoke almost simultaneously and said: 'Why don't you like him?'

Pete looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. 'It's just … it's stupid really. But, he was the starter for the JV team last year, and well, he's the one who got called up to be a backup for the varsity team this year, that's all. I swear, he's a good dude, he reminds me of Freddy honestly, and it's NOT just because of the glasses.'

'It'll be fine,' Kenny said, 'I doubt that asshole over there would even be satisfied after all this if he had to cheat to beat me anyway.'

He made his way over to Grant again. 'Hey, you can go first, little bitch,' Grant said. 'I'll let you embarrass yourself. Three chances each. You better go figure out what passes you want with your QB.'

Kenny walked to Oscar and leaned in, quietly telling him what route he wanted to run for the first pass. Then, he turned away and lined up in front of Grant.

'Hey, I don't even play defence. So it's gonna make this even worse when you can't make a single catch against ME,' Grant said.

'It'll be fun to watch you beg Coach to keep your spot after I beat you.'

'Uhh, do I just say hut?' Oscar asked, holding the ball and awkwardly standing off to the side.

'Yes!' Both Kenny and Grant shouted at him then glared at one another.

'Uhh… hut?'

Instantly, Kenny felt hands grab onto him, gripping his shirt right at his armpit as Grant pushed against him and shoved him back.

Kenny struggled to wrench the hands off him and writhe out of Grant's grasp before he ran past the larger boy. For his first route, he was keeping things simple, he knew Grant would defend him aggressively, so he would beat him deep with a straight verticle route. He'd trust in his speed to be superior.

But as he sped off down the field, he realised Grant was right there with him. He couldn't get any separation. Oscar let the ball fly, and while it was a decent enough pass, Grant was all over it, and easily swatted it away.

'Get that shit outta here!'

Grant's two friends cheered him on as he got right in Kenny's face.

'C'mon, bitch. You gotta do better than that.'

Kenny shoved by him, gritting his teeth as he returned to Oscar and went through the next step of the game plan.

Kenny soon lined up opposite Grant again. 'Hey, if you call it quits now and beg forgiveness, I won't have to clown you more. We can just forget this shit ever happened, and you won't be the laughingstock of the team. … Not for long anyway.'

Kenny didn't say anything and soon Oscar signalled for the play to start.

This time, Kenny was anticipating the rough hand-fighting, and quickly slapped aside Grant's arms before he burrowed into Grant's shoulder, securing inside leverage by using his smaller stature to his advantage before he shoved the bigger boy off and burst inside with a short slant route.

Grant stumbled but recovered quickly, and as Oscar fired the ball inside, he dove across Kenny and spiked it into the ground before it hit Kenny's chest.

Grant tumbled to the turf and then bounced onto his feet. 'Woo! You like that?'

His friends' cheering grew louder, and the faces of Kenny's supporters—almost the whole JV team—grew graver.

Again, Kenny told Oscar the next route before lining up.

'You know, maybe WR just isn't for you. You might have to become a DB after this.'

Kenny remained silent.

'Hut.'

Kenny fought through Grant's tough press for the second time, heading straight forward. Grant kept with him every step of the way, and then Kenny stopped like was stuck in some mud. As suddenly as he had halted, Kenny took off again, but that hesitation was enough to freeze Grant long enough for Kenny to break free.

Or at least he would've if Grant hadn't pulled on Kenny's shirt.

Kenny didn't let the obvious foul stop him, and he heard the fabric rip as he continued to run, tearing himself free as he raised a hand and Oscar threw the pass.

Thanks to holding Kenny back, Grant recovered and was only a step behind him now, so it'd come down to an even contest on this catch. However, the ball was thrown much farther ahead of them than the previous vertical route.

Kenny dove, hands outstretched. The ball hit his fingertips, he bobbled it, then he got his palms to it and raked it in against his chest before he hit the ground hard. Grant crashed on top of him.

Grant's friends were silent, but now it was time for the JV team to cheer and shout.

Lonnie strode over and helped Kenny to his feet after a disgruntled Grant got off him.

'Big fucking deal,' Grant said, brushing himself off. 'I told you I'm not a CB, I'm a WR. Now let me show you how it's done.'

Kenny quickly muttered his thanks to Lonnie for being helped up, but he was still focused on the task at hand. He knew he wasn't as skilled of a defender as he was a Receiver, but if he could just hold Grant to no catches, or even one, he'd show that he was at least on the level of a varsity starter.

Grant quickly told Oscar what to do, then hurried to his spot, no longer having anything to say to Kenny.

The JV players were still cheering on Kenny as they watched closely.

'Hut.'

Grant forced his way forward, driving Kenny back. He reached the top of his route, stuttered, then swiftly turned back and used his body to seal out Kenny. As the pass was fired in quick and low, Grant kept Kenny behind him until the last moment when he lunged forward and snagged the ball just before it hit the ground.

The air was sucked out of the field and all the cheers from the JV team turned to groans of disappointment.

Grant moved quickly, handing the ball back to Oscar. Kenny was panting, but he picked himself up quickly and shook the failure off. He still could stop him, just two stops, that's all he needed.

'You can do it, Kenny!' Jackson cried. 'Come on! It's right there in front of you, everything you want, a spot on the varsity team. Grab it with your own hands!'

Kenny looked over and smiled at Jackson. He clenched his fist tightly; he hadn't given up.

'Hut.'

Kenny had taken a couple of steps back before the snap, no longer trying to jam or press Grant at the release of his route. He backpedalled, watching him closely as Grant went through nearly identical motions to his first route.

He even stuttered at the same point in his sprint forward, however, this time, as Kenny moved forward, scared of another curl, Grant darted to the outside and continued forward.

Kenny scrambled after him, doing his best to make up the distance as there were a few yards between them.

'Ball!' Jackson yelled.

Kenny's head snapped around and he saw the ball floating towards them. He jumped up, hand outstretched, but the ball soared past him and into the clutches of Grant who had leapt into the air, twisting as he did so to catch the ball above his head.

Even Kenny had to admit it was a beautiful, textbook catch.

Grant shoved Kenny aside after they had both landed. 'Sit the fuck down, bitch.' With a flourish and a flick of the wrist, he spun the ball on its point along the ground, then marched off the field. 'I don't want to hear you ever compare yourself to me again! You won't EVER be better than me.'

Kenny put his hands on his head and looked skywards. He had been utterly defeated. He wasn't better than a varsity player. He had been well and truly put in his place, and he belonged there—the JV team.

'You did well.'

Kenny looked at Shane.

Shane picked up the wobbling ball and held it out to Kenny. 'However, I hope you understand the gap between JV and varsity now. And I hope you can trust in Coach Otsen. He's not keeping you in JV to punish you, believe me. But, don't feel bad, now your goal should be all the more clear to you, that mountain top should be easier to visualise, and it should be easier to climb too. Don't stop working, and you'll reach the top, and I'll be right there by your side when you do.'

Kenny took the ball and held onto it tightly. Shane clasped him on the shoulder and then walked away. Kenny watched him go, staring at that broad back.

Kenny knew he'd have to chase after that back, but it filled him with hope to know that such a person was leading the way for him, that such a man was the goal he was aiming towards.

And he knew he wouldn't stop chasing until he'd overtaken Shane.