Chapter 1
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The rain gunned the field as the scoreboard shined 14-0 with the home team losing. Football is an intense sport, maniacs running around frantically to get a pig skinned ball past a special white line to score a touchdown. The field is 100 yards across, and each team tries to get to the other side to score 6 points, then can go for a kick over the yellow goal posts to get an extra point. In the game presented at the rainy field, the North Height Hawks hosted the visiting Pahokee Bucks. Hawk middle line backer Danny Fatone lead the defensive fort. During the first half, the Bucks had dominated with their ever present ogre offensive and defensive line, as well as their quickster running back. Danny analysed the offense over and again, knowing it was an I-Form. "Cluster, cluster!" he yelled, the other Hawk line backers moving in closer, anticipating a run up the middle.
Accompanying Danny in the linebacker position were Luis Farge, a tall and skinny kid, along with Saul Howe, a chunkier linebacker. The main defensive linemen were Frank Waye and Cameron Cone. Unlike the rest of the team, Cameron always does his own thing, making it harder to command the defense. Frank keeps him in check when needed, but this one preseason game, Cameron went complete Benedict on Danny's calls. "It is a pierce, a pierce!" Danny bellowed, all but Cameron making an effort to move into better position to defend the run up the middle. Cameron sat in his three point stance while everyone else positioned themselves better. 'They are going to run all over Cameron again'
As the Buck's quarterback took the snap, the ball being catapulted from the center faster than a western shotgun, the ogre offensive line dove forward. Danny had expected this, but their size was something that could not be beat. Combined with the puddles the rain had formed, every linemen got flipped over like a chef does a pancake. Cameron faired the worst, being out of position and unable to gain anything one would brag about. The line made its way toward the linebackers, attempting to pancake them as well. The running back, now having the ball, moved into a gap Cameron had formed by being out of position. The Hawk linebackers faired no better than the linemen, being pancaked in the wreckage of the bulldozing ogre line's wedge play. Danny faced down the center, who stood nearly a foot taller and have over a hundred pound advantage. 'If I take him head on, I stand no chance. But, if I attack half the man, I can win' Danny thought, taking on half of the center, spinning around. Now all that was left was to make the tackle.
Buck's running back, numbered 21, bolted toward Danny, not even attempting to make a move. Danny saw this as an easy tackle, diving forward. The running back, now faced with a close encounter, took steps back. "That is no good, I'll still get you," Danny told him, extending his arms out. The running back, still moving back, finally cut to the right, dodging both of Danny's arms, making a move that would inspire any kid to play. Danny landed in a puddle, his sorrows replaying in the reflection of the water. The running back was later brought down by the safeties 20 yards up the field.
The Hawk's coach, William Right, watched on, having a stonewall look as his defense was overtaken by the ogre line's power in the wedge. The Buck's made continuous first downs, the Hawk's defensive huddles resonating repeating sounds, "Dig line, dig. Lower backers, lower," Danny instructed. 'Here at the 5 yard line, it is best to do the ultimate defense, a 5 linemen play' he thought, moving into a position a linemen would have, head up on the center, a nose guard.
"Move out of my way Dan," Cameron yelled in frustration. "I'm making this play." Danny ignored his cries, knowing full well he was the only one with the ability to stop the running back in close range one on one. As predicted, the snapped ball went through a similar fashion, the wedge being formed into it's wrecking wall, pancaking most linemen.. Danny did his spin move to evade the center, attacking half his body as before. The running back flinched, Danny diving forward as before. The back chuckled, spinning around out of tacking range once more. Luck was not on Danny's side, landing in a puddle once more, sorrows showcasing pain of missing a perfect play once again. The runner scored a touchdown, earning six points. The kicker then made a perfect shot through the yellow posts, earning his team an extra point, the scoreboard now shinning 21-0.
"You ass Cameron!," yelled Frank, a tone of pure frustration only a mother would show to a kid who just ruined her carpet would exhibit. "How many pancakes have they done on you? I counted seven so far, and counting." Danny tried to get in between the two, but to no avail. Both are heavy sized, and had frustration built throughout the game, playing offense as well as defense. Frank knocked the smaller height Cameron down, but was stopped from jumping on top of him.
Coach Right said nothing, writing on a white board an offensive play while the two linemen disputed.
"This is enough," Danny attempted to break them up, not wanting a whale war in the end zone. "Get back to the bench and await further instruction from coach Right on offense. This stuff embarrasses us, makes us look weak." Frank listened immediately, allowing Cameron to get back up.
One offense, usually the linemen are a different set. But for the Hawks, four of the linemen play both ways, including the ever aggressive pair of Frank and Cameron, both playing guards, next to the center Hank Dalton. The tackles were played by the two defensive ends, both not having difficulty in playing both ways. Cameron and Frank however gained fatigue much faster due to their larger builds, as Danny calls them, the whale pack of the team. As much as the quarterback, Randy Reves, tried, the line could not defend him from the sack. The running back, Ronnie Boons, tried, he made little progression too.
"See that, even on offense Cameron does exactly as the other guy wants," Saul said.
"Damn guy is a bug," Luis added. "We are losing because of him alone."
"No, it is never just one person on our team. It is all of us," Danny decided to speak up. "But, it can be a player on the opposing team. The running back, I doubt any of us could get him on a man to man occasion. The only reason he is systematically beating us is due to our Safeties having fast reaction times. By the time he reaches them, it is a good eight to twelve yard gain."
"Sure ..." Luis snarled.
"I don't know," Saul interrupted. "I wouldn't doubt it."
Despite this semi-acceptance, the game continued the course it went, the Bucks using the same tactics over and over, Danny continuing to fail, watching his sorrows repeat in the dark puddles the rain had formed on the field.
The final whistle called, the scoreboard reading reflecting Danny's intuition. They had lost 35-0, scoring two more touchdowns. "Everyone, in a single file line into the locker room, now" Coach Right called. There was a scent of anger in his voice, as if he was holding back. His stonewall appearance now resembled that of an army general who had just lost a thousand men. He resembled one, his flat top short hair and veins in his face highlighting his anger. In the locker room, he had the team set in a group while he walked back and forth, his anger building visually. Then, he erupted by punching the locker, knocking it off its hinges. He yelled inaudible, Danny feeling the need to leave.
Danny snuck around to the showers, separate from the locker section of the locker room. He hated a loss, tears streaming. 'Why? Why is it that I can never do this right? First year, I sit on the bench while Zane takes the team to a district title and I watch. Then last year, he does the same and brings us to the City Finals, only to lose to Jamaica High. What am I doing wrong?'
An ominously dark fog entered the room, bringing a cold that only a blizzard cold bring. The fog seemed to cloud the yells of Coach Right. "Eh, hello?" Danny called, expecting someone to answer. Instead, he felt something, as if words were being transmitted into his head.
"I am an ancient Golem brought to you here to offer you a deal you cannot refuse." the words said. Danny looked around, seeing a large, sandy humanoid creature standing amidst the fog. The words sounded faint.
"You want to offer me a deal? What are you and how did you do this?" The cold became more intense, sending a shiver up Danny's back. It was as if a polar bear pancaked him, hovering over to let the cool seep in.
"My creator formed me by making a sand sculpture, then enchanting me to walk," it said, words being said in Danny's mind. The Golem did not speak. "I can offer you powers which will help you in life, but more certainly in achieving your goal of becoming a city champion team." The words changed tone slightly, but the facade of the creature remained a statue.
"I doubt it, this loss was all my fault. It is a good thing this was only preseason, and we still have 4 games of districts." The Golem merely stood there as a statue would. It had no reaction. More words were sent to Danny, sounding like the voice of a tortured man.
"That is why I have come here, your goal is strong, my creator wants you to accept. Just take this piece of paper and read what is on it. But ..." it transmitted, stopping as Danny took the paper. Once in his hands, the sandy Golem collapsed into a dirt pile. The paper read in Hebrew characters, 'א געשעפט איז געשען'. How am I supposed to read this ... Ah. Danny held up the piece of paper, reciting what it said perfectly, "A deal is done". 'I guess it worked, but nothing is happening ...'
The earth started to tremor, but nothing moved. A shiver ran up Danny's body, his despair escaping him. A shiver of confidence flowed the route the despair had left. He walked out into the team meeting, feeling as if whatever he said didn't matter. "Coach, I take full responsibility, this will not happen again."
"You darn right it won't captain," Right nodded, showing no anger he previously showed. "As the middle line backer, the defense is your realm. You best hope this doesn't happen again."
"Yes sir," Coach Right seemed to respond differently than how Danny had expected. 'Is this the Golem's gift at work?'
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