Football Fantasy- NFL Years - melody dupree (epub read online books TXT) 📗

mel's point of view

I stared at my team while we sat in the locker room.

"Guys, I know you're a little apprehensive about this game so lets run through the play one more time. Flacco receives the ball and throws to Boldin , while I run for the end zone. Boldin then throws to Pierce, who then throws back to Flacco. Once I'm in the clear, Flacco throws to me. Got it," I asked and they nodded.

I looked up at the clock and said, "Game time guys."

I grabbed my helmet and we walked onto the field. It was the same game as the week before, we played out the game with a play of my own invention and I tore up the field scoring touchdowns no one saw coming.

With a minute left in the game Flacco looked at me with a questioning look and I nodded. We took our positions and Flacco received the ball, quickly throwing it to Boldin, who threw it to Pierce, who threw back to Flacco, who saw my position and threw to me. I spun around, sunk down on one knee and caught the ball, getting back up and diving for the end zone with five seconds left on the clock I scored a touchdown.

 As we scored a field goal the clock ran out leaving us with a win and my team surrounded me asking how I managed it.

"Practice," was my only reply.

"We won the SuperBowl. You said you would tell us," Flacco said as we headed to the locker rooms to change.

"My parents were killed in a car accident about a month ago. My brother was the lone survivor and I took him in. He was watching us play today," I said smiling as I took off my helmet.

"Mel," a voice called from behind me and I turned around to see my brother running over to me.

The guys moved to block him and I waved them away.

"Come here Jason," I said and pulled him into a hug.

"That was amazing Mel! How'd you manage that last touchdown," my little brother said now jumping up and down.

I smiled at his antics and said," Practice is all it takes. Now how much candy did you have?"

"Three or four chocolate bars and a Dr. Pepper," he said and continued to jump up and down.

"What did your coach say about that," I asked with a small smile.

"High school football season is over. I'm a free agent until next season starts," he said pulling another chocolate bar from his pocket.

"Hand it over because you're hyper enough," I said as he placed it in my outstretched hand.

"Come on and you'll hang with the guys while I change in the room next door to the boys locker room," I said turning around and smiling at the team.

"Get him to take off his jacket. If he didn't change his shirt, autograph it guys. He probably won't let me wash it ever again, but it's worth it," I said and walked to my changing room. When I came back out my brother's entire face and t-shirt had been autographed.

"Jason go wash your face," I said with a smile.

"I can't because the ink is permanent," he said trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Flacco I said autograph his shirt not his face," I said turning to face the team.

"We autographed his face first because he wouldn't take his jacket off. It was either that or beat him up," Flacco said with a smile.

 “Get me a camera Boldin,” I said and he came back with an expensive digital camera.

“Give me the marker,” and I proceeded to autograph my brothers' face and then his shirt.

“Thanks a lot Mel. One more name to take off of my face,” he said turning red under the autographs.

I took the camera and said, “This one’s going on face book,” and took the photo.

He groaned and said," Why do you always get satisfaction from making my life miserable?"

"As guardian that's my job," I said pulling him into the bathroom and immediately scrubbing his face clean.

"Mel, stop it! That hurts," he complained as I got the last of the ink off of his face.

"The picture's still going on the internet so I don't know why you're still complaining, Jason," I said pulling him out of the bathroom.

“Are you guys ready yet,” coach called and stopped short when he saw Jason’s red face.

“The guys did it again didn’t they,” he asked and I nodded.

"I took a picture of it so I could put it on face book," I said with a small smile playing around my lips.

"Only after you did it too," Jason complained pointing at my name on the jersey he was wearing.

"Just eat this," I said giving him back the chocolate bar.

"Thank you," he said and ripped the wrapper off in one movement.

I jumped when Ray put his arm around my shoulders and whispered, "The kid can't party with us you know that, right?"

I nodded and said, “Jason I'm dropping you off in the cheerleaders hotel room, so you can party with them. I'll come get you before we leave for home tomorrow morning okay?"

"Okay Mel," he said and started bouncing up and down again.

I scowled and said, "If you don't calm down, I'll make you puke up the five chocolate bars that you ate today."

He stopped bouncing and the team burst into laughter as they walked away. We followed after them and I let Jason get in the limo before me. I sat next to him and punched his arm lightly and pulled him against me as the boys broke out the beer. I took the one that was offered to me but waited until Jason was asleep to open it.

"Why did you wait to open it and drink," Flacco asked.

I sighed and said, "My brother got hurt the last time I got drunk in front of him. I don't want to hurt him anymore because he's been through enough."

I ran the empty can under Jason's nose effectively waking him up.

"Why'd you shove that stuff under my nose, mom," he whimpered trying to go back to sleep with his head on my lap.

"We're at the hotel sweetie," I said and he sat up. I helped him up to the hotel room where I was lodging and he immediately fell asleep on the bed that I had claimed.

"You guys go on and party without me. I'm going to go ahead and go to sleep," I said and they nodded as I closed the door. I pulled a beer and a pack of cigarettes out of my bag and lit up while popping open the can and quietly taking a swallow. I heard movement behind me and I turned around to see Flacco and Boldin standing there.

 "What do you guys want," I asked finishing my beer and throwing the can away.

"Since when do you smoke," Boldin asked and I sighed.

"I only smoke when I'm alone or when my brother's asleep. It's mainly when my brother's asleep though," I said putting out the cigarette in the ash tray.

 "The party is still going on if you want to join us," Flacco said and I nodded.

I walked into the room and immediately got tossed a can of beer. I downed it in one swallow, quietly lighting up another cigarette. The guys just thought I was having a good time. I downed another beer and lit another cigarette only to have Flacco come over to me.

"Your brother's over by the door," he said and I put out the cigarette in the ash tray.

 I got up and made my way over to Jason, my eyes on fire. He backed up and I grabbed him roughly, yanking him out of the room. I dragged him down the hall, back to my room and shoved him into the room (into the pitch black quietness) where he started to cry. I turned on the light and closed the door behind me, yanking off my belt. I folded it in half and dragged Jason over to the bed, bending him over it.

 "Mel, no, please," he screamed now trying to fight me.

I struck him across the face and he slammed into the wall blood beginning to pour from his nose.

"Jason," I cried running over to him. I knelt down beside him and he shrunk back as I tried to wipe the blood away. Then I whispered, "Jason sweetie look at me," gently brushing his hair out of his eyes.

 He looked at me with tears running down his face and I pulled him to me in a warm hug.

"Jason I'm so sorry sweetheart. I didn't mean it," I said soothing his cries.

He pulled back and dried his eyes, but shrunk away when I tried to wipe away the blood from his face.

 "Jason wait here and I'll be right back, okay," I said and he nodded quietly.

 I left the room to find myself face to face with Flacco. "I was coming to get you. I hit my brother a little too hard and now he won't let me wipe the blood from his nose. I'm not sure but it could be broken," I said pulling Flacco into my room.

He took note of the distance between the bed and the wall, where my brother was at , and said, "How hard did you hit him?"

"I don't know," I said and Flacco walked over to my brother, quietly crouching down beside him.

Imprint

Text: melody dupree
Images: nina kari
Editing: melody dupree
Translation: melody dupree
Publication Date: 05-31-2013

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
to the winners of superbowl XLVII