Wishbone #3: Back to The Shadows

Follow Casey Thompson, star quarterback for the Los Angeles Condors, as he struggles to come out of the closet and win - both on and off the field of play.

“Come on in and close the door.” Coach Commons was sitting behind his desk, and Coach Ocasek was seated in a chair. Casey Thompson took a seat next to Coach Ocasek. “First off, are you alright? Have you been to a doctor?”

“I’m fine, Coach. This was really nothing. I mean, not a big deal.”

Coach Commons sat in stone silence for a few moments, and then let it rip. “What the fuck is in your head, boy? I mean, just tell me, what exactly is going on in there? I ain’t even talking about whatever the hell you got into last night – I’ll get to that in a minute. I want to know just what the fuck is in your head, what you have been thinking about while you been playing football, because it sure as hell ain’t football!”

Two hours later, Casey emerged from the meeting, with one message clearly resonating in his head: play well on Sunday, or ride the bench the following week.

______

Petrius Jackson, Condors Tight End, had befriended Casey Thompson the first day in spring camp after Thompson was signed as the Condors’ number one draft pick. Petrius was a 4-year veteran in the League, and his contract was up after this season. He was in line for a major new contract, and, while he hoped to stay with the Condors – they could afford it, the fan-based loved him, and he could both block and catch like no other tight end in the League – his wife, Annie, simply wanted to take the largest offer possible, wherever that took them.

Annie and Petrius had met in grade school, in a small town in Alabama. They had been together ever since. Annie loved her family back in Alabama, but she decided early on in life that she wanted out, permanently. And Petrius agreed. They made a deal with each other, back in high school, that they would ride football as far as it could take them, cash out, and leave it completely behind. They wanted to raise a family and live as people, not football stars.

Annie made it clear all the time – to anyone that would listen – that the NFL was just a stepping-stone in their lives.

Casey and the Jacksons were friends, close friends, so when Petrius called Casey after his meeting with Coach Commons, and asked – actually told – Casey to come on over to the Jackson’s for dinner and then stay the night, Casey obliged. He sure didn’t want to go home.

As Casey entered the Jackson’s home, Annie ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Casey, boy, you sure know how to go Hollywood!”

“Yeah, I guess so. All I need now is a better agent.”

“Don’t let Trish hear you say that. I bet she already wants to kick your ass!”

“Oh, Annie, she wants to kick a lot more than Casey’s ass.” Petrius took Casey’s duffle off his shoulder, and they all headed into the living room. “Hey, Wishbone, let’s go into the den. Annie, do you want to grill tonight? Casey’s staying over. Let’s throw some steaks out. Casey and I will handle the grill.”

“Petey, set him up in the guest house, so he has some room. Don’t stick him up in that den of yours for the night.”

Petrius and Casey headed out to the guesthouse. It was a stand-alone studio, with a little kitchen, tables and chairs, a bed, and one hell of an entertainment center.

“Petey – why don’t you live out here and leave the house to Annie. It’s hers anyways.”

“Got that right. I so much as move a picture and it’s my ass! The couch folds out into a bed, so you’ll be fine. I got clothes upstairs in the house, so just take what you need.”

“Petrius, thanks man.  I need some rest and some quiet.”

“Casey. What did Coach say?”

“I got one more start to turn things around. Then? Well, let’s not get into that.”

Casey was sitting on the couch, and Petrius came and stood over him. “Wishbone, is something going on? I mean, I ain’t saying anything about last night – I been in bars, and I know what happens when some drunk won’t keep to himself. I ain’t talking about that. I’m talking about you, what’s up with you. You have been distant for months now. You rarely stop by here – hell, you haven’t been over here since the 4^th of July. And you have been playing like shit, boy! You got more talent than anybody I ever played with. Absolutely, without question. Last season, you carried this team. Period. But I don’t know where you been - in your head.”

Casey stood up and headed towards the door. “That’s funny, Petrius. That’s the same thing that Commons screamed at me.”

“Hey, I ain’t your coach. I’m your friend. If there’s something you want to talk about, talk to me, man.”

“Petey, a few bad games are a few bad games. That’s it.”

“Yeah, ok. We’ll go with that. For now. Enough of this. Let’s get the steaks going. Grab some beers from the fridge and meet me at the grill.”

“I gotta call Trish, Petey, then I’ll be out.” Petrius left the guesthouse, and Casey took his cell out of his pocket and dialed Trish’s office.

“Trish? It’s Casey. I’m staying at Petrius and Annie’s tonight. Call my cell if you need me.”

“What did Coach Commons have to say about all this shit?”
“Not much. Just that I got one game to get it together then I’m riding the bench.”

“Great. Did he tell you that we are meeting with Ownership tomorrow afternoon?

“No. Shit!”

“Oh, that’s nothing. We’re also meeting with your criminal attorney tomorrow evening. See you at the Condor Compound at 4. Arrive sober.”

“Hysterical, bitch. See you there.”

Casey grabbed a six-pack from the fridge and headed out to the grill to join Annie and Petrius. Petrius was standing by the grill, but looking towards the patio table, where a TV screen had been placed. Annie was sitting at the table, watching as well.

When Casey got close enough, he could see that they were watching the news.

“Arnold Wiles, the alleged victim in last night’s Casey Thompson bar-brawl, has released a statement to the media, explaining the events, as he sees them. Among the claims is Wiles’ statement that Casey Thompson, starting quarterback for the California Condors, admitted to being gay before he hit Wiles.”

Petrius Jackson started to laugh. “That’s what it is! Ha! They got you, boy! They got you comin’ and going!”

“Yeah, they sure do! Turn that junk off and let’s have a beer.” Casey handed Petrius, who was still laughing hard, a beer, then took a seat at the table and looked straight ahead into the open yard.

“Well, now I know what’s going on with you, boy!”

Annie looked at Petrius laughing, then looked at Casey - not laughing, and staring blankly into the yard. Annie reached over to the TV and clicked it off. She turned to her husband and said, “Petrius, don’t be an asshole. Go get the steaks out of the kitchen and let’s get some food going.”

As Petrius headed into the house, Annie leaned over to Casey, and said softly, “Casey. There ain’t no answers in that yard.”

______

To be continued...

A Cubs and Northwestern fan, Joe Moag is a major sports junkie, and although he still runs, he hasn't been able to dunk anything more than a donut for decades.

Comments

[briand]

want to know the rest of the story

[Joe Moag]

We're running installments on Tuesdays, so keep checking in...it should get interesting!

Thanks for reading!

joe