I drove home, unpacked and as usual began laundry detail. It took several hours, but I finished everything, put all the clothes away and decided to take a nap. It was close to five o'clock when I finally got up, Ashley still wasn't home. I went to the family room, turned on the TV and began watching a movie. I guess it was about thirty minutes later, Ashley came through the back door, announcing in her sultry voice that she was home.
"Hey Brian, what do you have planned for tonight ?", she asked.
"Nothing, I am staying home and relaxing.", I answered.
"Oh, ok... Well Stephanie and I are going to the movie's and out to eat after, you want to join us ?", she inquired.
As much as a night out with two beautiful women could be a much needed distraction from the hectic pace I had led for the past few months, I just wasn't up to it.
"No thanks, I am going to hang out here.", I responded.
"Ok, suit yourself.", she said, heading for her bedroom.
I heard the water running in the back bathroom, Ashley was in the shower. I was watching TV about thirty minutes later when she walked into the family room. She looked absolutely stunning, I had to look twice. She had on a very short black skirt, a very sheer white button down the front blouse, with black high heels. When she passed close to me, I could smell her fragrance, it lingered in the air, clean, fresh and intoxicating. She sat down looking at her watch, then glancing at the TV. Maybe fifteen minutes later, Stephanie blew her horn as she pulled into the driveway. Ashley jumped up, waved a quick goodbye and rushed out of the backdoor.
I laid around for a few hours watching TV, not much was on. I was just about to call it quits, when I ran across a program on the Sports Network pertaining to this year's draft class. I decided to watch for a while, maybe get some useful information. As is usual with programs of this nature, the glamor positions such as quarterback, running back, and wide receiver get top billing. Finally after about two hours, they got around to the defensive side of the ball. As I had been told, there was definitely a lack of pure quality pass rushers in this draft class. In fact after the top two obvious choices, they made mention of several underclassmen that might declare. I sat up startled as my name was mentioned, several highlights of the National Championship game were shown, especially the last defensive play I had made. Two of the three analysts on the show felt that if I declared, I could possibly be a late first round draft choice. They all agreed that while even young, I had a tremendous upside, and they thought I had the tools to play in the pro's. I watched for about thirty more minutes then decided to go and take a shower.
I took about a fifteen minute, long, hot shower. The water felt really good, bringing me back to life. As I got out of the shower, I noticed I had forgotten to grab a tee shirt out of my drawer. I dried off, put my shorts on, brushed my teeth and walked to the laundry room to toss in the towels and dirty clothes. I stopped in the kitchen to pour a glass of tea before heading back to my room. I had just put the pitcher back into the refrigerator, when the back door opened , both Ashley and Stephanie walked into the kitchen. There was nowhere to go, I was trapped, just standing there in workout shorts and no shirt.
"Jesus Christ, this boy is some kind of fine.", giggled Stephanie, to Ashley, "Any way you can hook me up ?"
Ashley looked at her friend kind of funny, grinning, but it was an uncomfortable one at best. She mumbled something back to her friend, I was not sure what she said.
"I'm sorry Ashley, I just got out of the shower, I forgot my tee shirt.", I said, extremely embarrassed.
"Oh honey, you don't need a shirt on my account. I could look at you all day and night. I have never seen muscles like that in person.", laughed Stephanie.
I excused myself quickly and went into my room and grabbed a tee shirt out of the drawer. I went back towards the family room and grabbed my normal spot on the sofa. Ashley and Stephanie stayed in the kitchen whispering back and forth quietly, I couldn't make out what they were talking about but they were obviously enjoying themselves. I decided to call it a night, turned off the TV and went to bed, it didn't take me too long to drift off.
I woke up Saturday morning early, it was about seven o'clock, I laid in bed for a few minutes listening to see if Ashley was up but I heard nothing. I got up, dressed, then left the house and drove into town. I stopped at the local diner and had breakfast, everyone was congratulating me on the big win. I finished breakfast, drove across town to the gym and stopped in to see Carl, as I always did. As usual the gym owner was already on the floor instructing people, answering questions, making sure things run smoothly. He smiled as soon as he saw me crossing the floor towards him, excusing himself from his student.
"Well if it isn't one of my star pupils, great job in the big game, I saw every play.", he said, shaking my hand.
"Thank you Carl, I really appreciate it, we were very fortunate.", I answered.
We talked for a few more minutes, he offered me the use of his facilities while I was in town, as he always did, then excused himself back to his client. I left the gym, drove back across town to my house, it was close to ten o'clock when I got home. Ashley was up, drinking coffee in the kitchen as I walked in. She asked what my plans were for the day, although I really didn't have any. I really only had one thing I really wanted to do before I left town. I went back into my room and unzipped the large duffel bag I had brought home with me from school. In it was all the gear we had been given before, during and after the National Championship game. As I sorted through the many shirts, shoes and warm ups, I finally came across the items I had been searching for. I had been issued two jersey's for the National Championship game, I had worn one, the other was my backup. Each jersey was specifically cut for my size, my name and number embroidered on the back with the National Championship patch on the front of the jersey. I was intending to have the one I wore in the game framed and mounted for myself, the extra one I wanted to give to Mr. Timmons. Especially after he had so graciously given me his watch at Christmas time. I also had thrown a few pairs of cleats in my bag, I fished out the shoes I had worn on the game, white tape still wrapped around both mid shoe areas for support. I took both the jersey and the shoes and went back into the kitchen. Ashley was still in the kitchen cleaning up as I tossed the shoes and jersey on the table. She turned and looked in my direction.
"What ya doing ?', she asked.
"I am going to give this jersey and the shoes I wore in the National Championship game to Courtney's Dad. Do you have a Sharpie around here anywhere ?", I answered.
"Yes I think I do, be right back.", she said, going back to her room.
She reappeared a minute or so later with three different colored permanent markers in her hand. She offered me all three, I chose the basic black one. I laid the jersey across the table carefully so that the number 99 was smooth and flat across the back.
"Is that a jersey from the Championship Game ?", Ashley asked.
"Yes, it is.", I answered.
"You don't want to keep that for yourself ?", she asked, rather strangely.
"It's not the jersey I wore in the game, it was my backup, I have the game worn jersey in my room.", I responded.
"Oh…well…. alright.", she stated, sounding disappointed.
"Is something wrong Ashley ?", I asked her.
"Well…. Uh…. I don't want to…..never mind.", she answered.
"No, tell me, what is it ?", I inquired, once again.
"I feel terrible asking this…..but… I would really like to have one of your jerseys for myself.", she said softly, looking down.
"Oh, well it's ok then, you can have this one. I still have two more from the regular season in my bag, I will give him one of those.", I told her.
"No, no… I can take one of those for myself, you give him that one, it will mean a lot to him.", she said smiling.
"You sure ? I want you to get the one you want, I really do.", I coaxed.
"I am sure, I will take one of the others, thank you Brian.", she said.
I then bent over the jersey and inscribed the following words inside of the two large gold number nines on the back of the shirt.
"National Championship Game Issued - Brian Stevens #99"
I took the shoes as well and inscribed the following :
"Game Worn - National Championship - Brian Stevens #99"
I handed the marker back to Ashley and left the items to dry properly on the kitchen table. I would go see Mr. Timmons tonight if he was not busy. I would call him later in the day to see what his schedule was. I ate a small lunch then laid down to take a nap, it was about noon. I woke up sometime around three that afternoon, the house was very quiet. I got up and looked around, Ashley was out. I took a shower, got dressed then decided to call Mr. Timmons to see if he would be home later this evening. The phone rang several times before someone picked it up.
"Hello.", said the soft voice, it was Courtney.
"Hey Court, it's Brian, how are you ?", I asked.
"Hi Brian, I am doing ok, how about you ?", she answered cheerfully.
"I'm good, thanks.", I replied.
There was an awkward pause, the kind of one that goes on between two people who were very close at one time, now being worlds apart. I finally broke the silence.
"Is your Dad there by any chance ?", I asked.
"Uh, no. He and my Mom are out, he will be back in a few hours.", she answered, sounding somewhat disappointed.
"Oh alright, I just have something for him, no big deal.", I said.
"Oh my God Brian, he watched the National Championship game over here with his buddies. They were absolutely insane, my Dad was screaming at the TV, cheering you guys on. When you made that last play, when you hit the guy's arm, he was crying. He was so happy for you.", she said.
"I'm glad he got to see it, I wish he could have been there.", I replied.
"So, you coming over tonight ?", she asked.
"Yeah, if it's ok," I asked.
"Sure, I will tell him to call you later.", she answered.