The Summer of Our Discontent by Robin Alexander

Author:Robin Alexander
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Intaglio Publications
Published: 2013-05-30T20:37:59+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

A warm late afternoon breeze blew over Rachel’s skin as she watched the girls play kickball. Faith was right in the middle of them coaching both teams. Rachel smiled at the way the kids looked at her with total admiration and did their best to do anything she told them. Kaycee seemed to be especially taken with her. When Faith mopped sweat from her brow or tugged on the leg of her shorts when they crept up, Kaycee did the same.

“You can’t play football with a kickball, unless you mean soccer,” Rachel heard Faith say as the girls swarmed around her already bored with the game. “Oh, no, I’d mop the field with your little bodies. I’d run you down and step on your little butts.”

Kaycee said something to Faith, and they all turned and looked at Rachel. The expression on Faith’s face was so diabolical that Rachel swore she could see horns start to sprout on her forehead. “Whatever it is, the answer is no,” Rachel called out.

Kaycee came running over to where she sat. “Momma, we wanna learn how to play football. Ms. Aunt Faith said she’d teach us if you play quarterback.”

“Baby, she just wants an excuse to run over me and step on my butt.”

“Momma, come on, please. You can step on her butt, too.”

It was sound reasoning and enticing. Rachel rose to her feet and the challenge. “What’re the rules, Leblanc?”

“It’s touch, except when the quarterbacks have the ball, they can be tackled.” Faith’s grin was impish. “You and I will play those positions. First, we pick our teams. I draw first.” She grabbed June by the shirt and pulled her close.

June’s grin was huge; it was probably the only time she’d ever been picked first for any team. Rachel frowned. “I was gonna pick June, she looks tough. All right then, let me see who I want.”

Kaycee moved close to Faith. “Don’t pick me, Momma, I wanna play on Ms. Aunt Faith’s team.”

Rachel put a hand over her heart. “My own daughter? I’m so wounded.”

“I’ll play with you,” Sophie offered as she went to Rachel’s side.

The children were quickly divided up, and the team captains began to teach them about the positions they had been assigned to. After a mild debate, it was decided that Rachel’s team would kick off first. Candace, who was known for home runs in kickball, launched the ball deep into the field, and the game was on.

“Okay, remember when you’re blocking, just keep your hands low so no one gets poked in the eye,” Rachel said as her girls lined up against Faith’s.

June was the center and rolled the ball to Faith when she called for it. The first handoff earned them three inches. The second play was a fake handoff, and Faith tried to gain a few yards, but Rachel’s girls and even a few from Faith’s own team climbed her like a pack of wild cats and brought her down.

“June, are you making mean eyes at me?” Rachel teased.

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