Game Changer
Page 5
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Saturday at 11:20 pm
Camille Thank you Janey! You are so brave!!! And I completely agree!!
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11:31 PM
Group Text from Will
16 People
guys
i went to see teddy today
i seriously freakin almost cried seeing that kid lying there
he is so tough
it made me proud to be a walthorne wildcat
because that’s who we are
we’re tough
we’re proud
we’re a team
everyone needs to pray for his recovery and remember to be cool
people are starting to spread rumors and stuff
so it’s more important than ever to stick together
otherwise we could lose everything
the team, the season, our chance at states
everything
it will all be over
everyone please remember that
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28
8:30 AM
PATIENT REPORT
BRAIN SWELLING REDUCED.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR FOR INTERNAL BLEEDING.
POSSIBLE RESPONSE TO VERBAL COMMUNICATION.
POSSIBLE RESPONSE TO HAND SQUEEZE.
RAPID EYE MOVEMENT WITH LIDS REMAINING CLOSED.
HOURLY MONITORING OF ALL VITAL SIGNS AND EVIDENCE OF COMMUNICATION.
CONDITION: CRITICAL
9:09 AM
Text from Alec
hey ethan
were you there last night?
i didn’t see you
listen dude sorry to keep texting you but if you feel like you need to talk to someone just let me know
and yo i know i messed up too
i totally should have helped you up after that hit
this is not all on you
i hope you know that
Sunday at 9:44 am
Amy I was at the vigil and I agree it was so nice but I could tell there was some rumor going around or something. The thing about a fight though is weird, I thought Teddy got hurt playing football, like a concussion but worse?
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Sunday at 9:57 am
Nick I was there when Teddy got hurt, I’m on the high school football team. there was no fight it was just football stuff, if you don’t know what you’re talking about you should step off, seriously.
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Sunday at 10:04 am
Joey I’m on the football team too, you kids who haven’t even started high school yet shouldn’t be on sites like this so stop spreading BS rumors and grow up.
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Sunday at 10:12 am
Emily This is supposed to be a page to pray for Teddy’s recovery please stop arguing with each other that’s so not cool.
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Sunday at 11:16 am
Clea I heard the police were there.
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WALTHORNE DEPT. OF EDUCATION
PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO RECORDING
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 AT 11:52 AM
MR. RASHAD: Nice to see you again, Ethan.
ETHAN: You too.
MR. RASHAD: Everything okay? You want some water or juice?
ETHAN: No, I’m good, thanks.
MR. RASHAD: Great. So, did you go to the vigil last night?
ETHAN: No, I, uh, couldn’t make it.
MR. RASHAD: Ah. Well, I heard it was a really nice event. When something like this happens, sometimes it helps to be with other people who are going through the same thing, to all come together and support each other.
ETHAN: Yeah.
MR. RASHAD: But not for you, huh?
ETHAN: I was really tired.
MR. RASHAD: I’ll bet. How about today? Did you sleep okay last night?
ETHAN: Not great, but uh, okay I guess.
MR. RASHAD: Well, I’d really like to help you deal with this whole thing, and the first step is making sure you fully comprehend exactly what happened to your friend. It seems there still might be some confusion about that.
ETHAN: What do you mean?
MR. RASHAD: Well, there are a few conflicting reports about what did exactly happen, which is not at all uncommon in situations like this. Everyone’s memories are different, especially when something traumatic occurs.
ETHAN: Conflicting reports from who?
MR. RASHAD: I really just want to concentrate on what you remember and how it made you feel.
ETHAN: Well, I know what I saw. It’s like I said before, we were playing in the Rookie Rumble, and something must have happened to Teddy, he took a hit I guess, but no one noticed and he didn’t tell anyone. Then after practice was over and we were hanging around, he fell. Like, just collapsed, from one second to the next.
MR. RASHAD: How did you react? Did you try to help him?
ETHAN: Of course. I mean, we all did. The coaches came right away. Someone called 911 and then they told us to leave the field.
MR. RASHAD: That must have been so hard for you, to leave your friend.
ETHAN: It was horrible.
MR. RASHAD: You mentioned he took a hit. Was it a particularly hard hit?
ETHAN: I guess. I mean, I don’t really remember. It was the Rookie Rumble, so everyone was hitting hard.
MR. RASHAD: What do you mean exactly? What does the Rookie Rumble have to do with it?
ETHAN: It’s like this big tradition, where every year, on the last day of camp, the seniors coach the incoming freshmen in a scrimmage, and it’s a big deal, because we’re all trying to prove ourselves to the older kids. So everyone was playing really hard.
MR. RASHAD: Aha, so kids are coaching other kids?
Where are the regular coaches?
ETHAN: I think some were on the hill watching and taking notes, a few others were training the sophomores and juniors, stuff like that.
MR. RASHAD: Sounds like quite an opportunity to prove yourself. How did you feel? Were you excited? Nervous?
ETHAN: I guess. It’s really competitive. Like I said, everyone tries to impress the seniors so they’ll tell the coaches how tough we are. It’s the first time they’ve ever seen any of us play in a game.
MR. RASHAD: What position did you play? Did you feel like you played well?
ETHAN: I thought I did pretty good. I mean, I’m small, but I’m pretty quick, so they put me at outside linebacker. I got hit really hard once or twice, this kid Alec hit me really hard on one play, but I made some tackles.
MR. RASHAD: So it was full pads, full hitting, everything?
ETHAN: Yeah, full pads and stuff. Also it was really hot. I think maybe Teddy collapsed because of that.
MR. RASHAD: Well, sure, yes, that may have had something to do with it. But his brain was injured. Bleeding. His head must have taken a real wallop at some point.
ETHAN: I guess, yeah. But anyway, how many more days do we have to talk about this? I don’t get it. Kids get hurt all the time.
MR. RASHAD: Not quite like this, Ethan. But these conversations are certainly something you don’t have to do if you don’t want to. That’s up to you and your parents.
ETHAN: Well, I mean, of course it’s a really horrible thing that happened. But this is like, this feels like it’s making it worse.
MR. RASHAD: I get why you feel that way.
ETHAN: Then can we stop? I just want to go home and not think about it. I want to be left alone.
MR. RASHAD: Well, that’s just it, Ethan—I’m not sure it’s a great idea for you to be alone at a time like this. I think it’s better to be with people, to talk about it. And I think your parents agree with me.
ETHAN: Okay fine, whatever.
MR. RASHAD: Did you enjoy being at camp with the older kids?
ETHAN: I guess.
MR. RASHAD: Were they cool? Friendly?
Didn’t give you young guys too much of a hard time or anything?
ETHAN: What? What does that have to do with anything?
MR. RASHAD: I’m just curious how it made you feel, that’s all.
ETHAN: Can I go?
MR. RASHAD: Sure, you can.
ETHAN: I need to go.
INSIDE
Keep working
Keep working
In the heat
In the rain
Early in the morning
Late at night
There is nothing better than being on the team
You will never work harder
You will never feel closer
You will never be prouder
This is what life is
Life is football
Football is life
Down
Up
Down
Up
Be the best
I can do this
I can get bigger
I can get faster
I can get stronger
I can get meaner
Listen to the coaches
Listen to the captains
Follow them
Do what they say
Do what they do
I can do this
I can do this
Practice
Practice
Practice
Sweat
Be a man
Be men
Prove it
Do it
Do it
Do it for the team
Be men
There is nothing better
There is nothing better
There is nothing
MOM
Good morning, sweetie
I
I didn’t sleep much last night
I was up thinking
And I decided that, well, I wanted to talk to you about something
Something I haven’t really been able to talk about with anyone
Something you deserve to know
So
So here goes
The day I left
I wasn’t planning on leaving
It was supposed to be a day like any other day. You were already out the door, I was getting your sister ready for school, we had a few minutes before the bus was supposed to come, I was making her lunch, and I just started to cry. I was frozen, I couldn’t move. I had no idea what was going on, that had never happened before, but there I was, crying, and Janey walked in and asked me what was wrong, and I couldn’t tell her, because I wasn’t sure I knew myself. Or maybe I just couldn’t admit it to myself, or anyone else. I couldn’t tell her that I was unhappy, that Daddy and I weren’t sure we still loved each other, that I missed having time to paint, and that I loved you both too much to let you see your mom falling apart. So instead, I just told her I heard something sad on TV, and later that morning, I was staring into the mirror, and I realized that the only thing I could do to save myself and save my relationship with the two of you was to leave and to figure out a way to live so that I could be what the two of you needed me to be
And I know I’ve told you and Janey this over and over, but I’m not sure you’ve ever believed me, so I just want to say again that this was never about not loving you guys or not wanting to be your mom
If anything it was about loving you too much
And figuring out a way to make myself a better person and a better mom
The mom that you both deserve
And I will always be there for you
Always always
So that’s what I wanted to say
Oh
Here, let me fix that
I’ve told the nurses ten times not to let your pillow get scrunched up
I told them how you like it kind of folded under your head
So, Teddy
Last night there was a vigil at the high school
It was very moving
You would have hated all the attention though
But I wanted to tell you
I don’t want you to worry but there was something
There were some people who were talking
They might have been parents, I couldn’t be sure
But they were saying that they’d heard stuff about what happened to you
Like there was more to the story, and people were hiding something
I guess it’s standard when something like this happens
But other parents weren’t happy about it and told them to be quiet
The coach was not happy at all
He asked them to stop disturbing the event
Other people told them it was inappropriate to talk that way at a ceremony of hope and community and recovery, but I’m not sure I agree
I think we should get to the bottom of it
I’m not looking to blame someone, this isn’t just me hating football or anything like that, I promise
I just want answers
Like, for instance, why are freshmen practicing with seniors on ninety-degree days?
I don’t get that
Your father disagrees, of course
He thinks this Coach Bizetti is a god
We talked about it last night
The same argument about football we always used to have
Dad was very stubborn
He said you don’t really practice with the older boys, just do stretches with them
And the younger kids love it because they worship the upperclassmen
Whatever, it just seems wrong
Believe it or not, your dad even thinks you might play again someday, which is pretty much the craziest thing I’ve ever heard
On this, Nana and I agree at least
I think he’s in denial because of the shock, but still it’s crazy
This whole sport is crazy
Oh sure, everybody says the same thing, football is dangerous, sometimes players get hurt, I’m not sure what the parents can do to stop that
That’s what they say
But guess what?
I think there’s a lot that parents can do actually
Parents need to do the research
They need to know the risks
They need to be more aware than I was, that’s for sure
Way more aware than I was
I have no one to blame but myself
Honey!
Did you just
Did you just move your eyebrows?
Am I upsetting you?
Oh no, I shouldn’t be talking about this
Are you okay?
I saw something
Oh my gosh
I should get the doctor
Hold on
Let me get her
I just told Nurse Ricky
He said it’s just something that happens
But the doctor will be here later of course
Ricky is great
Everyone is so concerned
Alec is waiting outside, he just got here
He still seems so upset
He is taking this really hard
Daddy is picking up Nana and I have to take Janey to practice, so Alec will keep you company for a little while
I know today is going to be a good day for you
We are all ready for a good day
Sweetie
We’re all ready for a good day, aren’t we?
ALEC
Yo, Teddy
It’s just me this time
Your mom just left
Your dad’s not here yet
My parents said I could come say hey
I told them I haven’t been sleeping that great and it makes me feel a little better to come by, so they said okay
I just yeah
You know I think maybe
I wanted to tell you
I think maybe people are starting to wonder about how you really got hurt
This therapist lady I’ve been talking to was all about how I was doing at first, but now she’s asking me a lot of
questions about what happened, almost like she’s a cop or something
I mean I haven’t told her anything
But it’s hard, Teddy
It’s hard not talking about it
I feel like bursting sometimes
And I get being loyal to the team and everything, but it doesn’t feel right
And last night at the ceremony thing, people were asking questions like they know something
It’s like, it’s gonna come out at some point you know?
Hey
I can see your eyes moving beneath your eyelids
That’s so
Is that good?
Is that a good thing?
It’s
Wow
They’re darting back and forth
Teddy?
I’m getting
Hold on, I’m getting somebody.
INSIDE
Don’t be lazy
Don’t be late
Don’t miss practice unless you’re dead or dying
Don’t talk back
Don’t question the coaches
And most important
Don’t be soft
Do not be soft you hear me?
DO NOT BE SOFT
NURSE RICKY
Easy
Easy, fella
You’re sweating
You’re drenched
You’re having some sort of something
A dream
A bad dream
Okay now
Let me take care of this
We got you
We got you.
DR. SPARKS
Hello, young man
It’s good to see you
I understand you’ve been doing some serious thinking
Dreaming
Worrying, even
Well, we don’t want you worrying about anything
We’re taking good care of you
But we need you to take care of you too
We need to be careful
We want you relaxed and resting
You need rest, Mr. Youngblood
Rest, relax, recovery
We’re going to help you relax so you don’t have to worry about anything
You just take it easy, okay?
Sunday at 2:14 pm
Liam I agree with Nick and James and those guys, people need to stop dumping on football and football players, it’s like you’re jealous or something, you guys gotta knock it off. Teddy’s a great kid and he’s going to be a stud football player some day, you watch.