Monday at 2:49 pm
Clea I heard that too, that’s what I’ve been saying.
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Monday at 4:39 pm
Amanda Shut up you guys, seriously I mean it. Just get off this page if you want to be like that.
3
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JANEY
Teddy
I have to be quiet
Mom and Dad didn’t even see me come in here just now because they’re in the visitors’ lounge and they’re whispering to each other. They think they’re being quiet, but everyone can hear them
Nana is here too
She’s talking to this man whose wife is really sick or something. He’s really nice even though he’s sad. He brings me back a chocolate milk from the cafeteria when he goes down there. He was in the lounge before we came in—I think maybe he could hear what Mom and Dad were saying
They were kind of fighting, Mom and Dad, but not about the usual stuff
Different stuff, like, I think it has to do with last night
It was crazy. I looked out the window and I couldn’t believe it, a police car in our driveway, lights flashing, so weird
I freaked out
Ollie was barking his head off. He hates strangers, remember?
This policeman ended up talking with Dad outside the front door for like five minutes, maybe like ten, but Dad was kind of different after that, he was quiet all night, I mean he’s been really quiet the last few days obviously but even quieter than usual
Mom was at her apartment, so she doesn’t know about the police thing, and Dad told me he doesn’t want to tell her yet, he’s nervous she’ll get like freaked out or something
I think the police think something happened, that somebody did something to you
Did they?
Did, like, someone hurt you on purpose?
I probably shouldn’t be in here talking about this, but I just want to know what happened and everyone else wants to know
I went to the beach today and everyone was talking about it
I wish you could tell Mom and Dad
They really need to know—
MOM
Janey
You can’t be in here right now
We need to let him rest.
DAD
Sarah
Sarah, please don’t raise your voice, I know you think you’re talking at a normal tone of voice, you don’t hear it, but the rest of us hear it, please
We cannot bring our stress in here
We’re both doing it and we have to stop
I get how frustrating this is
We will address this, we will fix it, but not now
MOM
If not now, when?
If not now, then when?
You just told me there are rumors something else may have happened, and you expect me not to react?
Why didn’t I know about this?
DAD
Well, to be honest, you don’t generally want to be kept in the loop on any football stuff
MOM
Please don’t be unfair
This is different and you know it
I need to know what is happening
Tell me what is happening
DAD
Fine, you’re right
But I don’t know
I’m as confused as you
And please let’s not get into this now
Not while our son is lying here
We can discuss it later
Right now, can we just focus on him?
No outside visitors today, none
We just need to be with him, and take care of him, and—
Oh
Oh my God
OH MY GOD.
INSIDE
Color
Form
Shape
Brightness
Sound
Distant sound
Darkness inside the light
Circles
Memories I almost remember
Thoughts
Thoughts
But no words
Still no words
DAD
Janey.
MOM
Janey, look.
DAD
It’s Teddy
It’s your brother
Teddy
He opened his eyes
He opened his eyes.
Monday at 9:18 pm
Camille I haven’t read the page for a while but now looking at all this stuff I’m thinking about taking it down. I wish I never started it. You guys are so gross, I didn’t realize people could be so ugly and insensitive.
19
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Monday at 9:32 pm
Wassup Camille do you have a crush on Teddy? Because you are sure acting like u do.
3
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Monday at 10:01 pm
Rebecca Can we please not do this? Can we please remember who we are, that we’re nice people and one of our friends is in trouble. PLEASE.
14
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Monday at 10:59 pm
Wassup As soon as we can all admit the truth, that kids do stupid things sometimes, to themselves and to each other, and covering it up makes it so much worse.
5
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Monday at 11:08 pm
Clea I agree ^^
We need to talk about it
It helps to talk about this stuff.
4
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11:39 PM
Text from Alec
ethan
i have no idea if you’re looking at texts but if you are
i wanted to let u know that people are starting to figure out what happened
it’s only a matter of time before everything comes out
i hope you’re okay
text me back okay?
please
i have something i have to tell you
it’s important
DAD
They were open
For a moment
Teddy’s eyes were open
I swear
They were open
And clear
And blue
And strong
And
I saw
He was here
He was right here with us
He was back
Our Teddy was back.
PART TWO
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30
8:08 AM
PATIENT REPORT
SEMI-COMATOSE, IMPROVED RESPONSE TO VERBAL STIMULI.
EYES BRIEFLY OPENED OVERNIGHT.
NON-VERBAL RESPONSIVENESS TO TOUCH.
BRAIN SWELLING FURTHER REDUCED.
BREATHING WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FOR SHORT PERIODS.
CONDITION: SERIOUS
WALTHORNENEWS.COM
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30 8:18 AM
Hospitalized Teen Showing Signs of Recovery
There was positive news out of TriCounty Memorial Hospital last night as the condition of Edward Youngblood, age 13, was upgraded from guarded to serious.
The young football player suffered a head injury at preseason camp last Friday. Sources at the hospital report that doctors have been encouraged by Edward’s progress and are cautiously optimistic that he will emerge from his coma in the next day or two.
The Youngblood family—as well as the head of the camp, Walthorne High Hall of Fame football coach Louis Bizetti—were unavailable for comment.
9:26 AM
Group Text from Will
16 People
guys so i think it’s out
i think someone told
i don’t know who
we need to stick together now more than ever
remember this town loves football
people will stand by us no matter what
we just need to stick by each other
we’re still the walthorne wildcats
remember that
Tuesd
ay at 9:57 am
Susie it’s a new day, please everyone be kind 2 each other, think positive thoughts pleeeez we need our friend to get better.
22
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Tuesday at 10:06 am
Amanda I love you guys.
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20
WALTHORNE DEPT. OF EDUCATION
PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO RECORDING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30 AT 10:09 AM
MR. RASHAD: You want some?
ETHAN: Not really. I’m not hungry.
MR. RASHAD: Okay great, more for me.
So.
I wasn’t sure you would want to meet today.
ETHAN: I didn’t.
MR. RASHAD: Okay, then why did your mom call?
ETHAN: I just had, I just wanted to know what you . . .
MR. RASHAD: Go on.
ETHAN: I want to know what you know.
MR. RASHAD: What do you mean?
ETHAN: Come on. I know you know something, I could tell by the stuff you were asking me yesterday. And last night I got a text from a kid who said people are starting to figure out what happened.
MR. RASHAD: I thought you said you weren’t reading texts.
ETHAN: I wasn’t.
MR. RASHAD: Okay.
ETHAN: You’re talking to other kids. I just want to—I just want to know what people are saying.
MR. RASHAD: Well, I can tell you that people are upset and shocked and on edge. I already told you my colleagues and I are talking to the kids who want to talk.
ETHAN: I don’t get why—
MR. RASHAD: Ethan, you have to understand something. For some people, it helps to get things off their chests. It helps to talk about it. Even if they did something wrong.
ETHAN: Who said I did anything wrong? I didn’t do anything wrong.
MR. RASHAD: I never said you did.
ETHAN: Then what’s there to talk about? I told you a zillion times nothing happened.
MR. RASHAD: But you just seemed to suggest something did happen. That your friend texted you—
ETHAN: You’re confusing me.
MR. RASHAD: Okay, let’s take a step back. I want to be straight with you. You’re right, we’re starting to hear some other things. We’re starting to hear that maybe this wasn’t just a simple football injury.
ETHAN: What are you talking about?
MR. RASHAD: Tell me again why you came here today?
ETHAN: I—my parents wanted me to.
MR. RASHAD: I talked to your parents, and they said this was your decision. Yesterday, you said you were done talking to me, that there was nothing more to say. And yet, you’re here. Why?
ETHAN: I told you. I want to know what people are saying.
MR. RASHAD: Do you want to talk about what happened to Teddy?
ETHAN: What?
MR. RASHAD: Other people are starting to talk, so I thought maybe you were ready too.
ETHAN: Who’s starting to talk?
MR. RASHAD: I can’t tell you that right now.
ETHAN: You said you weren’t a cop, why are you acting like a cop—
MR. RASHAD: If someone forced you to do something, you will not be in trouble, I promise you that.
ETHAN: Stop asking me—
MR. RASHAD: Okay. Okay, Ethan.
Just one more question. Do you know what hazing is?
ETHAN: Hazing?
MR. RASHAD: That’s right.
ETHAN: No.
MR. RASHAD: It’s when a group of people initiates someone from the outside into their organization, or onto their team, by making them do something they might not want to do. It’s like a ritual, or a tradition. Usually it’s stupid. Sometimes it’s dangerous. But people do it because they’re desperate to belong, and because the ones with the power pressure them to do it. We’re learning that there have been rumors of hazing in the football program at this high school over the years, but no one has ever come out and admitted it. We’re just trying to find out if these reports are true, that’s all. We’re trying to see if some good can come out of all this.
ETHAN: This wasn’t that. We’re not on the high school team. We haven’t even started high school yet. This was a summer camp.
MR. RASHAD: With high school kids.
ETHAN: Yeah, I guess.
MR. RASHAD: Tell me more about the Rookie Rumble.
ETHAN: Why? What about it?
MR. RASHAD: You told me it’s a freshmen scrimmage that the seniors coach. Is that all?
ETHAN: What?
What do you mean?
MR. RASHAD: I mean I’ve heard there’s more to it than that.
ETHAN: I can’t—
I don’t really remember—
MR. RASHAD: Ethan, if you don’t help us, the same thing that happened to Teddy might happen to someone else. Other kids are going to get hurt.
ETHAN: I thought you said you weren’t trying to get anyone in trouble.
MR. RASHAD: I’m not. I’m just trying to protect kids like Teddy. Like you. That’s all.
ETHAN: I don’t believe you.
MR. RASHAD: Ethan—
ETHAN: I don’t believe you.
INSIDE
I can’t
I can’t remember
What
How
After
Eden
Come on, Eden
Let’s do this
Don’t be soft
Waiting
Shouting
Me
You
Teammates
Brothers
This wasn’t supposed to
This wasn’t supposed to
Please
Please
You have to believe me.
MOM
Good morning, honey
It’s really good to see you
Hey guess what, I got some rest
I feel like a person
I feel human for the first time since this all happened
Last night, I was worried I scared you when I screamed
I just couldn’t believe it
You know how when you pray for something so hard
And you try to have faith but a part of you just isn’t sure
And so when it happens
When you opened your eyes, if only for a few seconds
I knew it was the beginning
It’s almost like a miracle
It is a miracle
So I finally slept
So that was good
And when your dad told me that Janey actually sang in the car this morning, I cried
Oops, too sappy?
No more sappiness I promise
I just want to say
I love you
And all the other stuff
The rumors or whatever
I don’t know what is true and what isn’t true, but I do know we’ll figure it all out later
Because I honestly don’t care about any of it right now
I truly don’t
I just care about you
I love you.
NANA
Well
Don’t you look fresh as a daisy
Relatively speaking
I’m not going to sit here and chew your ear off, you get enough of that around here
But I just want to show you what I’ve been up to
Yup, that’s right, I baked your favorite cookies
Take a look at these babies
How’s that for cruel?
Smell that melted chocolate
Just the way you like it
Come and get it, Teddy
I got a whole plateful for you.
Just as soon as you’re ready, Teddy Bear
Just as soon as you’re ready.
DAD
Can you squeeze my hand?
Oh man
Oh man that’s perfect
Great job, Ted
Look at that
You’re really almost back
I
t is so good to see you, Teddy
So so good
I almost can’t believe it
We love you so much, never forget that
And Mom’s right
We have heard some stories about the football camp
The team-building stuff, the bonding stuff
I called Coach Bizetti this morning to ask him
He swears he had no idea
None
I don’t know
I want to believe him
He sounded stunned
Like he could barely talk
I just, I don’t know, I mean, who knows what’s true?
I don’t want to guess
I don’t want to rush to judgment or anything
We just need you to get well
The doctor is supposed to be here any second
I know she’s going to want to talk to you, Teddy
I’m sure she wants to talk to all of us
Alec is here too
Maybe you want to see him
Teddy
We’re all right here.
DR. SPARKS
It’s good to see you this morning, my friend
You look terrific
Do me a favor and squeeze my hand
Ah yes, great job
You’re a terrific listener
So good to have you with us
Now I just want to tell you and your parents a few things
Teddy has been through a trauma
A significant trauma
Obviously his improvement has been very gratifying, but we have a long way to go
He can hear you, but he is not quite ready to speak
The important thing is for Teddy to get his rest
Stay relaxed
Breathe easy
Conversation is good but easy does it
Fun, nice, easy conversation
A few friends and family
Keep it light
Hopefully in another day or two, Teddy will be able to take a look around
And say hi to everybody
And if things continue to progress, we can remove the breathing tube once and for all
We will keep a close eye on things
A close eye on things, young man
Game Changer Page 7
