Phil Struzziero - Teen Ref: A Good No Call

TEEN
REF

A GOOD NO CALL

TEEN
REF
A GOOD NO CALL

PHIL STRUZZIERO

NEW YORK

NASHVILLEMELBOURNEVANCOUVER

TEEN REF

A Good No Call

2018 Phil Struzziero

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in New York, New York, by Morgan James Publishing in partnership with Difference Press. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

The Morgan James Speakers Group can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event visit The Morgan James Speakers Group at www.TheMorganJamesSpeakersGroup.com.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

ISBN 9781683505716 paperback

ISBN 9781683505723 eBook

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017907089

Cover Design by:

Megan Whitney

Interior Design by:

Chris Treccani

www.3dogcreative.net

In an effort to support local communities, raise awareness and funds, Morgan James Publishing donates a percentage of all book sales for the life of each book to Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.

Get involved today! Visit
www.MorganJamesBuilds.com

For Kate, Caroline, and Libby

All the girls want you, and all of the boys want to be you, thought Drew Hennings as he walked into the cafeteria at Hingham Middle School. Drew was fourteen, but he looked more like the new Spanish teacher working lunch duty than he did like his classmates. He was almost six feet tall. He had short brown hair and hazel eyes. Drew wore his black game jersey with red numbers; the team only wore black for big games. This was the big game, a Super Bowl game against archrival Duxbury. Drew was number 10, just like his Dad wore when he played wide receiver at Brown University. Drews game jersey looked good, it smelled good, and Drew loved how he felt when he wore it. One of the cheerleaders liked how he looked in it too. When he walked by their table, she said, Hey, Drew!

Drew smiled as he walked by, Shes not as cute as Callie Walker, he thought. It was pizza day at school, and Drew had bought pizza every Friday since he was in Kindergarten. The middle school had been built three years ago, and the cafeteria looked more like it belonged to Wheaton College than to a middle school in the Boston suburbs. There were floor to ceiling windows on three sides of the room. Drew walked slowly to his place at the table with the rest of the eighth grade football team. They sat against the window halfway between the entrance and the exit. They could see everybody, and everybody could see them. If it was a nice day and their teachers were in a good mood, then the boys could sneak out onto the new grass and throw the ball around.

Drew took his place in the center of the table and put his tray down. His best friend, Scott Myers, sat on his right. Scott was the starting left tackle. He had blond hair, a round face, and a formidable upper body. His cheeks were almost always red, but today he looked pale.

Drew ate half a slice of pizza in one bite and said, Whats wrong with you?

Trying to make weight, said Scott. He had a salad and a bottle of water in front of him.

So you cant eat one of these? teased Brendan Foster, the tailback, as he waved a golden cupcake with chocolate frosting in Scotts face. Scott did not look up.

Knock it off, Foster! said Drew.

Sorry, Drew, said Brendan.

Drew stared at him.

Sorry, Scott, said Brendan.

The 170 pound weight limit is ridiculous, Drew said.

Easy for you to say. Youre five pounds under, said Scott.

Drew had planned to eat the two slices on his plate, jump back into line, and buy two more. Better wait until I get home, he thought.

Last one, Scotty Boy, said Drew. After we win on Sunday, Ill hand the trophy over to you and run to the snack shack. Ill buy you one of everything.

Its gonna be awesome, said Scott.

And just think: theres no weight limit in high school football. Hang in for two more days, and youll never have to go through this again, Drew said.

Following Drews lead, everyone at the table encouraged Scott.

I heard that the Head Coach from Thayer Academy might come down to watch the game, said Troy Callahan, a receiver and Drews favorite target.

Who cares? said Drew. No one from their team ever gets scholarship offers from Division One schools. They all play at Division Three schools like Tufts or Wesleyan or Mass. Maritime.

Thayer is more of a hockey school, said Scott.

Callie likes some freshman at Hingham High who plays on the JV hockey team. Drew looked over at Callie and took a deep breath. He caught himself. Get a grip, kid. Drew glanced at his friends, and they were trying not to laugh. Busted, thought Drew. He looked back at them and shrugged. I wonder if I can change her mind? he thought.

Do you think that the Milton Academy Coach will be at the game? asked Scott.

Hell be there, said Drew.

How do you know? asked Brendan.

Drew chugged his sports drink. He slammed the empty bottle down on the table, and he said, Because he told me on the phone last night!

Ohhh! said the boys.

Drew continued, He talked to me and my dad for like twenty minutes. He kept talking about how their quarterback signed with Yale, and Yale finally beat Harvard in The Game.

Cool, said Troy.

Yeah, Drew replied. But Milton only plays eight games, and I couldnt play with all of you guys.

What about Boston College High School? asked Brendan.

Their Coach will be at the game too. I talked to him last week, said Drew.

Wait a second, said Scott. Youre not even Catholic!

I told him that, but he didnt seem to mind, said Drew.

Theyre good, said Troy. Dont they send a lot of guys to Boston College?

They usually do, but not this year, replied Drew. My dad and I looked it up. They had six seniors commit to play college football, but none of them received offers from Division One schools.

Really? said Troy.

Yup, said Drew. They only won six games this year. Anyway, theres no way Im going to an all boys school. Drew looked at the cheerleaders table again. His teammates followed his lead.

Are you looking at Callie again? asked Troy.

Yeah, said Drew.

Forget it, Drew, said Scott. I heard that shes going out with some freshman hockey player.

Things change, said Drew. Come on. Look over here, thought Drew. Callie was talking with her teammates. She wore her long, dark hair in a high pony tail tied with red ribbon. The ribbon had little, white Hs on it. Drew was looking at the curls at the ends of her pony tail when he suddenly realized that she was looking directly at him. Drew smiled, and Callie giggled and kept talking to her friends. Is she laughing at me? thought Drew.

Real smooth, Romeo, said Scott.

Troy tried to help Drew by changing the subject, So what plays do you think Coach is going to call on Sunday night?

Slot Right 95 Sprint Pass, said Drew.

Troys touchdown catch on that play last week against Marshfield was absolutely savage! said Brendan.