Crackback by John Coy Read Free Book Online Page A

it.
    â€œWho’ll be the new quarterback?” I look to Zach.
    â€œI think it’s Fox. Nobody else was any good in tryouts.”
    â€œWhat do you think, Jonesy?”
    â€œIf it’s Fox, we’re screwed.”
    â€œThere’s a party at Tyson’s tonight,” Zach says. “Let’s check it out.”
    I remember Tyson shoving us around as freshmen. Maybe Zach’s forgotten. “Who’s going to be there?”
    â€œGuys from the team. Sophomore girls.”
    â€œLet’s go.” Jonesy throws his cup at the trash with his left hand. “Depressing sitting here.”
    Tyson greets us at the door holding a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other. “Grab a Bud, boys.”
    The living room is full of senior linemen eating Doritos and drinking beer. I knew Tyson partied after games, but I didn’t know this many guys did.
    â€œHey, guys.” Seniors greet us. We’re the only juniors here.
    Zach hands me a beer. “Drink up.”
    I twist off the cap.
    â€œTo Eagle football.” Zach raises his Bud.
    â€œTo Eagle football.” We clink bottles, and I take a swig of beer. I don’t even like the taste.
    At the dining room table, guys try to bounce quartersinto a glass of beer. Tyson’s lands in the foam and he points to Jonesy.
    â€œChugalug, chugalug,” they chant. Jonesy downs the beer.
    Everybody seems to have forgotten about Stillwell. Maybe they haven’t. Maybe they’re scared about Fox being the quarterback. Maybe they’re drowning their fear.
    It’s getting hot, so I pull off my sweatshirt. Zach grabs me around the shoulder and pulls me to the bathroom. “I’ve got something for you.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of pink pills.
    â€œWhat’s this?” I catch our reflection in the mirror. Zach looks confident. I look worried.
    â€œD-Bol.” He shakes one out for me.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDianabol.” He takes one for himself. “You’ll put on five pounds in a week.”
    â€œI don’t know.” I look at the pill. How does something this tiny make you big?
    â€œIt works. You’ll add muscle fast.”
    I need to be bigger. Five more pounds would help. Zach swallows his pill. “C’mon, Man.”
    I put mine in my mouth and wash it down with beer.
    â€œTake three a day. Doctor’s orders.” Zach hands me the packet. “I’m getting another Bud. Want one?”
    â€œNah, I’m good.”
    In the living room, the DVD of
Gladiator
is playing. Each time a gladiator is injured, everyone drinks.
    Strangler comes over. “No girls. Just football players drinking. I’m heading out.”
    â€œI’ll go with you.” I grab my sweatshirt. I wave to Zach as we leave. He gives me a thumbs-up while he, Jonesy, and Tyson drink to Gladiator.
    When Strangler drops me off, I let myself in. Dad’s snoring in the TV room. The volume’s loud, but I don’t dare turn it off. Instead, I tiptoe upstairs.
    In bed, my mind bounces like a pinball. I close my eyes and see pink pills. I remember signing the Conduct Code with Dad before summer practice. Dad said, “You’ve given your word. Keep it.” I broke it tonight. But so did a lot of guys. If that party got busted, we wouldn’t have much of a team.
    â€œDoctor’s orders.” Does Zach know what he’s doing? Can I trust him on this? I turn on my light and go to the dresser. In the back of my underwear drawer is the packet. I examine the tiny pentagons. They look like little pink houses. Is it cheating to use them if other guys are?
    I can’t fall asleep. My body’s exhausted, but my mind’s wired. I see Stillwell plant his foot and the Clifton guyslam into his leg. That’s how fast your season can end. Not just your season. That’s how fast football can end.
    I see myself smashing into the Pirate quarterback on