Eagle River (19 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Predictions

~ Ben ~

“This is Ben Happe of WKBJ, the voice of Great Lakes University. As everyone knows, Saturday is the big game. The Great Lakes University Coyotes versus the Illinois University Bearcats and WKBJ seeks to provide a balanced view of the news and of sports. So today we have two Bearcats with us. Welcome Marvin Richardson and Galen Odgers.”

“Thank you for inviting us,” Marvin countered smoothly. “We appreciate the opportunity to promote the great sport of football.”

“Marvin, the Wolverines have had another fine year. Your record is currently nine and one, an improvement from last year’s eight and three. What do you foresee happening in the near future?”

“Us winning big.”

“Galen?” Ben questioned.

“I’m not going to be making any predictions about the game. I don’t want to tempt fate this close to a big game,” Galen replied stiffly.

Marvin rolled his eyes at his friend. “Listen here, Ben. I’m gonna call this one, just like Namath did his Super Bowl. This game’s in the bag. The Bearcats are going to roll over the Coyotes.”

“Wow. Those are bold words, but not completely out of hand with the way the Bearcats continue to show improvement. For all of those listeners out there who have just joined us, you just heard those bold words from Marvin Richardson, running back for the Illinois Bearcats.”

“Well, it could happen. But we gotta stay focused. It won’t be easy, but we have a solid team. The Coyotes aren’t going to just give it to us.” Galen swallowed nervously.

“You’re right about that,” Ben commented, nodding at Galen. Calm down, dude. You’re doing fine.

Still, Galen appeared awkward and uncomfortable seated behind the microphone. The table was low and there wasn’t much room under it to accommodate his long legs, so he kept shifting them around, banging the table with his knees. Ben knew that any interview was way out of Galen’s comfort zone but he’d agreed to this one as a favor to Ben.

“Galen, how does it feel to be considered one of the premier up and coming young quarterbacks?”

“I just want to do my best for the team.”

Deciding to give Galen a break, Ben shifted his attention to the tangibly more comfortable Richardson. “Folks, the Bearcats have a great throwing game, a good defensive line, and also a good running game. This combination is what makes them one of the most potent teams in the Midwest today. Marvin, you’re considered to be one of the best running backs playing the college game today. What do you consider your greatest contribution to your team?”

“Ben.” Marvin’s amused baritone was warm caramel over the air waves. “I’ve got happy legs. I’m fast and I’m tough. Yeah, those would be my greatest strengths.”

“We’ve certainly seen evidence of that this season.”

“I think you’re wrong there, Marvin,” Galen interrupted.

“What?” Marvin was a little affronted.

Ben paused, too, surprised that Galen had opened his mouth unprompted.

“Yeah. Marvin’s super-fast, like track star fast. And I’ve seen you stand up from some huge hits and then get back into the game and run twenty or thirty yards. But what Marvin does that is so great is he makes other guys on the team feel like they can do it, too. Marvin pumps his team up.”

“It ain’t hard being pumped up when you got the best QB on the field,” Marvin countered smoothly, smiling at his friend.

“It’s easy to see why this Bearcats team has been so successful this season with such camaraderie between the players. We have a caller.”

“Hi, this is Tania Fred.”

“Just Tania will do,” Ben broke in.

“Okay. I just want to tell Galen Odgers,” the high female voice broke into hysterical giggles, “that he has the cutest butt I’ve ever seen and I want to give him my number.”

“Thank you, Tania,” Ben hastily interrupted once more. “We have another caller on line three. Do things like that happen to you guys a lot?”

Galen blushed and Marvin just shook his head.

“Hello... Hello?” A deep and familiar voice broke in. “You guys know who this is?”

“Sal? Sal, is that you?” Galen queried incredulously.

“Sure is. Hi, kid. Kyle told me that you two boys were gonna be on the radio down there, so I got the number. Galen just about grew up in my bar.” Sal boomed. “Are you kidding? I’m practically a blood relation. Hey there, boys.”

“Hi Sal,” Galen leaned in to his microphone.

“Galen, am I on the air?”

“Yeah, Sal.”

“Your brother told me you were gonna be doing this show. Hear that everyone, I’m live,” Sal shouted out to his bar.

“Gale Odgers is the pride of Eagle River, Wisconsin, and I’m sure that folks in Marvin Richardson’s home town feel the same way about him. Only problem with either of those boys is that neither of them play for the Wisconsin Badgers, don’t ya know. Wait,” Sal spoke away from the receiver again. “I’ll ask them. You coming home to Eagle River any time soon, Galen?”

“I hope to,”

“Thanks for the call, Sal,” Ben said. “Boys, we have another caller.”

“Bye, Sal,” Galen stated.

“Okay, caller, we gotcha. You’re on the air.”

“I’d like to know how you guys think the Bearcats will do against the huge Coyotes offensive line? They steamrolled over you last year, and Cam Fawst is playing well.”

“Not as well as Galen here. Our team is primed and ready to rock and roll,” Marvin responded definitively. “We’re gonna be picking Coyotes out of our cleats.”

Galen leaned close to his microphone. His eyes were narrowed and his expression, fierce. “Cam Fawst and the Coyotes are going down tomorrow.”

“Well, there you have it,” Ben stated. “Bold prediction from these two Bearcats. We are all looking forward to the big game tomorrow.”

* * * *

It was a bitterly cold afternoon and from where he stood at the front of his team, Cam glared at the gray and green hoard filling the stadium. The game was a sellout, and Owen Arena fairly thrummed with excitement. He could feel it in the racing of his own pulse, in the adrenalin coursing through him. It all comes down to today, to this game. I will face Galen Odgers in a football game and I will win. I’ll win in front of all of them. In front of Kjersten, in front of all of Eagle River.

He looked up in the stands at that area of the student section where Kjersten used to sit with her friends. She hadn’t come to a home game since they’d broken up two years before, since she’d cut him out of her life. But now, he glimpsed her distinctive silvery pony tail. She wasn’t wearing Coyote or Bearcat colors. She was dressed all in black, but I’ll bet she came for Odgers. Always Odgers! Cam nearly ground his teeth with frustration. This time, he’d show them all. I am going to kick Odger’s ass one way or another. Fuck them all!

For a while, the game went well for Cam and the Coyotes. They advanced the ball through a combination of runs and short passes and then Wrenshall, the kicker, made a field goal. In contrast, in the first quarter, Galen and his Bearcats appeared out of sync. He got sacked a couple of times and failed to make a first down in several critical possessions of the ball. Cam was just beginning to relax enough to smile and enjoy the moment when the unthinkable happened. Odgers lofted a giant arching pass that somehow ended up in the hands of a Bearcat wide receiver who made it nearly to the end zone before he was taken down by Coyote defenders.

As the Coyote defense set up, Cam shouted out, “Watch Richardson!” Still, the Bearcat running back took the hand-off from Odgers and then cut through the Coyotes defensive line like a knife through butter. Touchdown!

The crowd roared and Cam’s hopes sunk. There’s still time, plenty of time. But the tide had turned and the Bearcats were on fire. Seemingly, Odgers had entered that heightened state that only the best of athletes achieve. He could do no wrong. Richardson was also playing brilliantly. Cam and the Coyotes were having a decent game, but luck and fate were definitely not in their corner. The final score was twenty-one to ten, with the Bearcats triumphant.

After the game, a devastated Cam lingered in the locker room. Not sure how it had all gone wrong again, when he’d held it in his hands. He stared down at those same hands that had betrayed him now.

“What’s up, Cam?” one of the offensive linemen asked. “The press is out there to talk to you.”

“I’m not up for it today.” Cam shook his head. He wasn’t up for it at all.
I feel sick, sick about losing in front of everyone, losing to that bastard Odgers.
So, he slowly iced his shoulder, showered, and then dressed, not wanting to see or talk with anyone really. The other guys on his team were aware of his mood and left him alone.

Finally, he emerged from the locker room and began to head down the corridor. He heard familiar, throaty, feminine laughter but before he could place it, he’d turned the corner and stood facing Kjersten, Ben Happe, and Galen Odgers.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath.
Why them? Now?

Upon seeing him, the group of three broke apart and stared at him.

Ben spoke first. “We came down to see Galen after the game.”

“No shit,” Cam responded. “That’s just what I need, an Eagle River reunion right in my own stadium. The perfect ending to a crappy day.” He shifted his bag on his shoulder and glared first at Kjersten and then at Galen. “So you’re back with him, huh?” He gestured with an elbow. “What the fuck, Kjersten? I don’t get it. I don’t get it at all, any of it.” He dropped his bag to the ground and moved in towards Galen. He was a little shorter than Galen now, but thicker and royally pissed.

Ben and Kjersten automatically stepped back as an enraged Cam confronted Galen. “Goddammit! What is it about you? First Tom, and he’s your dad.” Cam ignored Kjersten’s gasp. “Then Kjersten, and she keeps coming back even when you dump her. Why is it always your turn? Why are you the golden one? I’m so fucking tired of you being in my life, getting everything that I want, that I deserve. You’re always there like a shadow, a fricking nightmare. Why not me? Ever?” Cam had snapped. He reached out and grabbed the front of Galen’s shirt.

“Fawst, I’ve never liked you, but I don’t have any problem with you tonight. It was a good game. It’s over now.” Galen offered, holding his hands up.

“Shut the fuck up,” Cam interrupted. “I don’t give a shit what you think. I’ve spent my whole life looking over my shoulder at you. You bug the crap out of me. I’m fucking done with it and with you.” Then, shaking off Ben, who grabbed him by the shoulders, Cam swung at Galen, striking a glancing blow to his chin.

Galen fell back against the wall, rubbing his chin. “I don’t want to fight you, Cam. You’re not worth it. You’ve always had a problem with me. I’ve never understood why, but I’m done with it.”

“No, you and your slut girlfriend aren’t worth my time... But the truth is you seriously piss me off.” He raised his fists again and moved in on Galen.

“Leave him alone,” Kjersten interjected, jumping between her two former lovers.

“Stay out of this, Kjersten,” Galen shouted.

“Do you suck his cock the way you did mine, Kjersten?” Cam taunted. “She can make your eyes roll back in your head, can’t she, Odgers. I taught her that.”

“Please, Cam,” Kjersten broke in again.

“Stay the fuck out of this.” He brushed her to the side more roughly than he’d intended. He felt a moment’s remorse when, out of balance, she fell and struck the wall with her shoulder. For a moment, he paused, turned to help her, but then Odgers was on him.

The two were well matched. Galen had a longer reach, but Cam was thicker and more seasoned. Both were enraged with a lifetime of anger and hate. Cam assaulted Galen with a combination of punches to his head and his chest. Galen ducked and dodged and bided his time. Then, launched and landed a heavy blow to Cam’s side and followed it with another.

Cam fell back, and Galen followed up with a few more landed blows.

“Stop them, Ben,” Kjersten pleaded.

“Let them go, Kjersten,” Ben directed, leaning casually against the wall. “This has been a long time coming.”

“I don’t want Galen to get hurt.”

“He can handle himself,” Ben commented dryly, pulling her down the corridor, away from the fighters.

The blows flew, and within a few minutes, several other Bearcat and Coyote players having stepped out of their respective locker rooms, gathered around to watch the fight and cheer on their quarterbacks.

The free for all continued, neither man getting the upper hand until several security guards burst upon the scene. Seeing the security guards, their respective teammates pulled Cam and Galen apart.

Bleeding and panting heavily, held back by their teammates, both men glared at each other.

“This isn’t over, Galen,” Cam promised.

But Galen shook his head. “It’s okay, guys.”  His teammates released him and when Kjersten returned, he pulled her to his side.  “You were the one who made up this contest between us. I’m done, Cam. I’m through with you and all of this bullshit,” he waved his hand. “I’m done letting you mess up what matters to me.”