Page 35 of Spiral
“Watch it, captain. Or else Natalia may not be the only girlfriend I steal from you.”
Drops of rain moisten the top of my hair as I make my way up the steps of the Texas University library, practice gear in hand. Coach Bryer had kept me behind this morning to berate me for not wearing proper gear on the field. Thanks to that prick Watson, my shoulder is dislocated and I’m benched for the next few games while it heals.
“What kind of captain doesn’t wear his helmet?” Coach had asked me, his face set in a permanent sun-damaged scowl.
“My head didn’t get hurt, Coach. It’s my shoulder.”
“I don’t give a damn, Anderson. Point is, you’re out – and you better hope the position of captain is still there for you when you’re back.”
A dull headache pangs against my temples as I rush up the steps, knowing Georgia has been waiting for me upstairs.
The “office” of the TU Tribune is unremarkable: two desks and a dingy filing cabinet. The cinder block walls are covered from floor to ceiling in past editions of the Tribune; some are framed, while others are pinned up crookedly with bright blue putty. I notice the small name plaques on either desk, with GEORGIA CAMPBELL and ELEANOR ADLER written in bold, white lettering. Stacks of papers are strewn about the small room, which can’t be any bigger than a large closet.
I set my gear down on the worn gray carpet and settle into Eleanor’s desk chair. Her table is covered with figurines and knick-knacks, brightly-colored and cluttered around her keyboard and the stacks of papers. I check to make sure the coast is clear before picking up the tiny baseball player balancing on the edge of her computer monitor. It’s only about an inch tall, with TU Titans plastered across the figurine’s chest in maroon lettering.
I'm holding it for less than two seconds before the door opens suddenly and, in my surprise, I toss the figurine back into the mess on Eleanor’s desk.
“I told her not to wear her white sneakers to party on Southgate, Georgie, but she didn’t liste– HENRY! I’m so happy to see you!”
Eleanor greets me with a smile from ear to ear. Enveloping me in a rough hug around my head, she shoots Georgia a soft smirk. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”
She wiggles her eyebrows at us both as she exits, and I laugh.
“She’s quite the character, isn’t she?” I remark, breaking the silence between the two of us.
“You could say that.” Georgia speaks quietly, her plump lips forming into a soft smile.
“So, about yesterday–”
“Thank you again, Henry,” she interrupts, turning her body towards mine as she sits at her own desk. “I-I’m sorry you got hurt. I didn’t realize the sideline could be so dangerous.”
She gestures towards my injured shoulder, which now sits in a sling. Her expression is soft and sympathetic.
Do I tell her Watson tried to hit her on purpose? I don’t want to scare her… I don’t want her to think being around me will hurt her.
I clear my throat and shoot her a confident smirk. “It’s no problem, Campbell. I’m built to take a hit.”
She smiles at me but says nothing. The room is quiet aside from the air conditioning unit above us, which kicks on with a large crashing noise.
“It does that,” Georgia explains, raising her voice practically to a yell so I can hear her. “I guess we should get started with the questions?”
“Sure!” I shout back, glancing up at the deafening AC.
This is where they do all the work for the newspaper? I can barely think in here.
“Okay – um!” She giggles as the roaring sound of the unit seems to get louder and louder. She’s practically screaming when she finally gets to the questions. “QUESTION 1: HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL?”
“WHAT?!” I yell, holding my ear towards her.
“I SAID HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL?”
I scoot my chair until the arms of my own are touching hers.
“YES,” I answer, laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. “MY DAD PLAYED FOR THE TITANS. I ALWAYS KNEW I WOULD, TOO.”
She smiles at me, chuckling as the AC unit continues to blast.
“HE MUST BE VERY PROUD OF YOU!” she replies.