117

Lauren

Tears well up when the blue-and-gold Eagles fly onto the field and through the big paper banner. The crowd explodes as all the players turn and look at their fans in the stands. I jump up and down, waving, but I know the chance of Colby seeing me is nearly zero. He’s too far away, and there are just too many of us here tonight. First quarter, everyone’s a bundle of nerves. A couple of big mistakes put us down by seven. Second quarter, Colby catches two impressive passes, one of them getting us close to the end zone. When we score on the next play, it’s a hug-fest with me and the little ones. Tied at half time.

118

Colby

In the locker room, Coach comes down hard on us for the stupid mistakes we made in the first half.

“Too many lost opportunities!” he says. “And if you don’t find your focus and play the way I know you can play, this entire game will be a lost opportunity.”

He talks about courage and teamwork. About dedication and drive. About putting it all on the line right now, because this is it. This is all we’ve got.

“This is the end of the story,” he tells us. “Right here. It’s up to you how you want to write it. How you want to be remembered. But even more importantly, how you want to remember this night for the rest of your lives.”

He finishes up, and we take a minute for ourselves before we break and hit the field.

I’m trying to focus on what I need to do when we go out there again, but I can’t stop thinking about the surprise I got a little while ago. As we were running into the locker room at the half, I looked up at the crowd, trying to spot my dad sitting with Gram and Grandpa.

I couldn’t find them.

But I saw four blue-and-gold hats, all in a row. I’d know those awesome hats anywhere.

My heart feels like a balloon about to pop, because she’s here. Whether she’s going to the airport afterward, who knows, but she’s here now. She couldn’t stay away.

This must have been how Superman felt when he found out Lois Lane had feelings for him.

I bet Superman would have been a helluva football player.

119

Lauren

Colby is the star of the second half. It’s like he’s been gifted with superpowers. He catches pass after pass after pass. We are on our feet the entire time because the air is full of excitement and hope. Just like Colby said. It feels good to believe and hope. As the clock counts down the final seconds, we count with it. Ten             I will Nine              never forget Eight              this Seven               night Six               and how Five               good Four               it felt Three                to Two                belong One It feels so good to win. I look at my aunt and uncle, arms high, cheering loud, and my little cousins dancing around. All I can think is, what a team. What a great team I’m on.

120

Colby

We did it. We took state.

There is running, yelling, and group hugging, and then, when I get a chance, I stand there for a moment and take it all in.

The cheering blue-and-gold crowd.

The final score in bright lights.

The feeling that anything truly is possible, with the right people by your side.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. All I know is right now, despite everything that’s happened this season, we did what we set out to do.

It’s amazing to know I was a part of something the town will talk about forever. And it’s something good.

Finally. Something good.

If someone in the stands needed some hope that things will be all right, they got a good, healthy dose of it tonight.

All of us did.

121

Lauren

The eagles soar. It’s the end of the game. The end of the season. The end of awe-inspiring dedication. And yet, in so many ways, it’s only the beginning. They worked so hard to get here, which makes it all the sweeter. I did too. The journey had its ups and downs, but here we are, looking out at the horizon, dreaming about what comes next. The Eagles soar, and the town soars with them. I get it now. It’s not just a game. It’s life, played out on the field. And whether you win or lose, the important thing is who you are when it’s over.