Game Changer

by Tommy Greenwald

  Okay I will

  Thx for checking in

  MOM

  Honey, Alec is here

  He’s outside with his parents

  He is brave to come here

  It says a lot

  He’s a real friend

  It’s not easy

  We’re going to let him see you for a few minutes

  He just really wants to say hi

  The doctors think it’s okay

  A good idea, even if just for a few minutes

  He really wants to see you, and I bet you want to see him too

  Hold on okay?

  ALEC

  Hey

  Uh, hey

  So, like

  How are you doing?

  They treating you okay in here?

  I

  Yeah, so

  You got a window

  That’s cool

  The view is pretty good

  That nurse is pretty weird

  Funny though

  I never met a guy nurse before

  I bet the food sucks, huh?

  Can you

  You probably can’t eat yet

  So yeah

  Camille started this group online

  Which was really awesome

  But then right away it got a little weird because a few people started talking about how it happened

  You know, like, was it really just a football injury or not

  But Camille was like, shut up, that is so inappropriate

  So I heard too that the varsity might cancel their first couple of games

  Or even the whole season

  One of the captains DM’d me

  That kid Will

  He keeps calling me Alex, which is pretty funny

  I’m too nervous to correct him though

  Anyway he said, uh

  He said that Coach Bizetti told him we shouldn’t be thinking about football right now

  Which is

  Which is, uh

  To be honest I don’t know if I ever want to think about football again

  I mean

  I always loved being out there with you and the guys and stuff

  And sometimes it was so awesome, like I totally remember the first time I ever scored a touchdown, in fourth grade. I was about to get tackled but you threw this amazing block and I just barely made it into the end zone, and you were the first kid there. You picked me up and gave me this massive hug and we yelled at the top of our lungs and it was so great

  I’ll never forget it

  But now it’s like, I don’t know

  I just

  I’m not that into it anymore

  I haven’t been for a while

  I didn’t want to tell you because you’re my best friend and I know how much you love it

  But, like

  My parents are saying there’s no way you’re going to be able to play again, like, ever

  And I definitely don’t want to play if you’re not playing

  So anyway

  Oh yeah

  This kid Will also wanted to know if I’d talked to Ethan, but I haven’t

  None of us have

  Ethan answered one text but that was it

  I kind of wonder how he’s doing though

  Must be like

  Must be really weird for him right now

  I mean it’s weird for all of us, but probably especially for him, because of what happened and everything

  Wishing it never did, you know?

  But

  Someone said Ethan deleted all his accounts

  I guess he just doesn’t want to deal with all this right now

  I feel bad for him

  I feel like this whole thing started when I hit him

  I should have helped him up

  If I did, maybe things would’ve been different

  But you can’t think like that, right?

  But this sucks so bad

  Oh, hey, yeah, I also heard the varsity wants to dedicate the season to you

  And they want you to come to a game and, like, do the coin toss or something

  That would be cool

  So, um I should go I guess

  Tonight there’s this thing at the school

  Think about the coin toss thing, okay, Teddy?

  Everyone’s praying for you

  I’ll be back tomorrow if it’s okay

  Hang in there

  See you later, Teddy

  I’ll

  Yeah.

  NURSE RICKY

  You know what the thing is with growing boys?

  You start to stink

  That’s right

  B.O.

  And plenty of it

  So how about a wash?

  How about that bath?

  You won’t even know I’m here

  Well, maybe you will, a little. Just need to shift you around a little bit

  That’s it

  Dang, you’re a big kid, you know that?

  Good thing I work out

  Free weights

  But football, I mean come on

  Never in a million years my friend

  That’s a dangerous game

  Too dangerous for my blood

  Makes people crazy

  We were savages once

  Still are, I guess, right?

  So yeah, no

  Not a fan of that crazy game

  Whoops

  I need to watch my mouth

  Now

  There we go

  Perfect

  All good

  All perfect on the outside

  Now let’s get that inside figured out.

  Saturday at 2:08 pm

  Rafael I just wanted to say I don’t really know Teddy but one time in the library I couldn’t reach a book because I’m short and Teddy was there and he got it down for me and he seemed like a really nice kid so I really really hope he gets better and is okay.

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  Saturday at 2:16 pm

  Clea Yeah I heard he’s like the nicest kid ever. Also my friend heard some kids downtown saying that there was a fight during the game or something and that’s how Teddy got hurt, does anyone know anything about that??

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  Saturday at 2:43 pm

  James Hey first of all there was no fight, and second of all who are you? it’s not cool to spread rumors which you know are BS

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  Saturday at 2:58 pm

  Camille Hi Clea are you new? What grade are u in? I don’t think I know you but nice to meet you, I agree with james tho, rumors don’t help anybody right now, especially Teddy, thanks and I hope to meet you soon at school or wherever!

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  NANA

  My, Edward, look at you

  You are making me worry you know

  You are making me very upset

  I’m not happy with you right now, young man

  Not happy at all

  Your father told me to be nice and upbeat, keep it light

  Yes sure

  But for me, this is how I do it

  By acting normal, right?

  Not sugarcoating it

  So that’s what I’m doing

  I’m behaving the way any person would when they see their grandson lying in a hospital bed

  I mean, oh my goodness, look at you

  And what did I say about football?

  What did I say?

  I don’t get it

  It’s a stupid game

  Smashing into one another for fun

  It’s not normal

  A young boy like you

  Not right

  I told your father I didn’t want you playing that game

  All the newspapers tell you how dangerous it is

  I read all the articles and saw the television shows

  Grown men, famous football superstars, retired

&n
bsp; Now they can’t go to the bathroom by themselves

  They don’t know where they are or who they are

  Can’t remember their own names

  All because of football

  Their brains are like scrambled eggs

  Everyone knows it

  We’ve all seen it on the news

  And what happens?

  What happens?

  No one listens

  Your mother agrees with me, but then she decides to go live her own life, well good for her

  Your parents are too busy fighting

  No one’s paying attention while you go out there and run around like a maniac trying to kill people

  You think that makes you a man?

  That’s not what a man is, Teddy

  It’s nonsense

  I told your father sports make people crazy

  They make him crazy

  Screaming like an idiot

  Win win all the time

  The stress and pressure on children

  This is the end for you and football

  This is it

  Such nonsense

  Okay, that’s enough of that

  When you get better we are going to the movies

  Popcorn and Raisinets mixed together like always

  Right, Teddy?

  Right?

  Okay, I’m getting it together

  If you can stay strong, I can stay strong, am I right?

  Am I right, Edward?

  Wait a second it’s

  I think your mother is here

  I don’t want to see her right now

  I just can’t

  Oh

  Your dad is with her

  Oh boy

  I’m going to go

  I don’t want to see them together right now

  I would get very upset

  I don’t need that and neither do you, my sweet little boy

  Not so little anymore

  So I’m going to go

  I’m staying at the house

  Be back tomorrow

  You look as handsome as ever

  Such a sweet boy

  My sweet little Teddy Bear.

  Saturday at 3:07 pm

  Jackson Teddy I’m pulling for you buddy. You’re definitely the most awesome kid and an amazing athlete, probably the best in our grade. I’m proud to be your teammate and I can’t wait until you’re back on the field with us. I will be there 2night. LET’S GO

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  Saturday at 3:26 pm

  Ellie I heard it wasn’t a fight exactly, whoever said that, but something weird definitely happened at the freshmen game, that’s how Teddy got hurt. Girls were talking about it at practice

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  Saturday at 3:55 pm

  Will Can we let Teddy get better without all the stuff about was there a fight or not, that’s crap and you know it, show some respect everybody

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  Saturday at 4:07 pm

  Henry Hey Will just because you’re the captain of the football team doesn’t mean you get to bully people . . . we have a right to know the truth. Seriously we all want Teddy to get better but if something else happened, people have a right to know and he would want us to know.

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  DAD

  Hey

  So, was it good to see Nana?

  She’s

  She’s a tough lady, your grandmother

  Believe me, I know how tough she is

  Teddy, hey guess what

  I got a message from Coach Bizetti, he’s on his way

  He seems like a class act

  He said the whole football community is very shaken up

  The high school team canceled the first scrimmage

  Not surprising, right?

  So also, I know they’re taking care of this

  Getting to the bottom of what happened

  All the equipment is going to be reexamined and double-checked

  Especially the helmets

  The coach is on top of it, and the school too

  Which reminds me

  I got a call from the principal

  I think her name was Dr. Calder?

  She’s getting involved

  She was talking about how this is happening more and more

  They’re doing studies

  They’re getting better equipment and medical procedures but there’s always a risk

  The principal is very concerned

  She made it sound like they might drop football or something

  So I told her the story about the time you scored three touchdowns last year and afterward I told you we could go out to eat anywhere you wanted to celebrate, and you said you just wanted to eat hot dogs at home with the guys from the team, because you all wanted to be together, and that’s what football is all about

  I told her you loved the game and we don’t blame anyone for what happened

  But I think she’s worried we’re going to sue or something

  Everybody is worried about lawsuits these days

  But we would never do that of course

  Okay, enough about that, let’s talk about something else

  So guess what?

  Janey had her first soccer game today

  Mom and I both went

  I know, right?

  When’s the last time that happened?

  We were all a little nervous, but Janey played great

  They had her at midfield and she got a goal and two assists

  It was just a practice game, but you would have gone nuts,

  Teddy, I swear

  Oh

  Hold on, my phone

  Someone’s calling me, I’ll be right back

  Hey, Teddy, I’m back, buddy

  That was Coach Bizetti

  So get this

  This is crazy

  Believe it or not, he’s being told he shouldn’t come visit you

  I guess there are some people blaming him

  Like it’s his fault

  He told me he had to call a lawyer

  A lawyer, can you believe that?

  I told him that’s ridiculous, he can’t control everything that happens on the field

  It was an accident

  A sports injury

  Horrible luck

  I told him not to listen to those people who are stirring up trouble

  Told him we want him here and that it would be good for you

  So he’s coming

  He’s in the middle of organizing this event for tonight, but he’s still coming

  He seems like someone who really cares about the kids

  I swear sometimes I just don’t get it, how people can be so hateful

  He wants to see you and tell—

  Huh?

  What?

  Whoa, Teddy, did you just squeeze my hand?

  I felt that

  I’m

  I’m going to go find someone okay?

  Hey, kiddo, this is great

  I’m with you all the way on this thing, Teddy

  I’m with you all the way.

  MOM

  Teddy

  Teddy

  Hi, sweetheart

  I just talked to Dad

  He told me

  He told me you squeezed his hand, Teddy

  I can’t believe it

  I told the nurse, he was so excited

  He’s getting the doctor

  Can you give me a little squeeze?

  A little squeeze?

  Just a little squeeze, honey?

  A little squeeze?

  Okay

  Whenever you’re ready

  It can be later

  For now, I just want you to rest

  Your dad told me he invited Mr. Bizetti to come today

  Coach Bizetti

  I know he wants to see you

  I understand, I’m sure he cares,
but I just don’t know if this is the right time

  I don’t even know this man

  I understand why your dad thinks he can make these decisions without me—I get it, I really do

  But I don’t know

  I don’t know if seeing this man, and being reminded of what happened, is good for you right now

  But your father has

  Well, you know

  So I agreed

  And the rest we can discuss later

  Because I know you’re hearing every word we say to you

  I know you’re with us

  And I really just want you to rest, I really do

  So I said okay, but just for a few minutes

  And he’s bringing his daughter

  I don’t know her, but Dad says she wants to see you too

  And Dr. Sparks says visitors are good

  It’s good to talk to people

  And to listen to people

  As long as it’s not too much for you

  I’m worried it might be getting to be too much

  Everyone wants to see you

  Everyone loves you

  I love you

  The nurse, Nurse Ricky, needs to do something now

  Hold on, honey

  He’s going to make you more comfortable okay?

  Okay, honey?

  NURSE RICKY

  Careful now . . .

  Let me just slide this under your backside . . .

  We don’t want you staying in one position for too long

  The human body needs to move

  You gotta move it move it

  There we go

  There

  There we go

  Oh P.S.

  There’s a fine young lady outside

  Waiting to see you

  Bring your A game, son.

  Saturday at 4:22 pm

  Amanda Noooooo I can’t believe this is happening right now. I can’t believe a sport where people smash their heads against each other is still legal, what is wrong with this country??

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  Saturday at 4:29 pm

  Jessica Uh you’re wrong, football is an amazing game and yes injuries are terrible but I’m a girl and I watch it all the time because it is amazing to watch. Baseball is boring, you have to wait forever for something to happen, they just spit and scratch themselves the whole time. Football is total action. And also they are being incredibly careful with safety these days but nothing is 100 percent foolproof. You could get injured in other sports too you know, like people get hurt in soccer and basketball all the time.

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  Saturday at 4:36 pm

  Emily Camille wants everyone to go to the thing at the school tonight if possible. Do it for Teddy. I just saw Teddy two days ago at the beach. I am praying for you Teddy with every bone in my body. You are the most awesome guy, so funny and always a smile for everyone. I am crying right now.