Damaged Souls (Broken Man) - By Christopher Scott Page 0,21

the defense.

As he put on a pair of boxers, Jack recalled the boisterous locker room environment after that practice, fueled by an excellent first day and led by the star quarterback. The loud music, the banging metal of the locker doors, the crude insults. It was truly a predator’s lair, and unfortunately, a weaker prey chose the wrong day to trespass.

Greg couldn’t remember if the two boys who emerged from the showers were on the cross country team or in the band, it really didn’t matter where they came from. No, it was just the wrong place and wrong time for these skinny kids as they tried to make their way through the obstacle course of overgrown boys on the cusp of manhood. As he heard the sound of snapping towels and watched the animals circle their victims, Greg knew these boys were in trouble.

Greg eyed Mitch, for once not at the center of the huddle that had formed. He waited for the leader to say something, anything to change the play that had been called. But, seeing the look in his eyes and the cruel smile on his face, Greg realized how much his grade school friend had changed and knew he wasn’t going to call the needed audible.

“Cut it out,” Greg broke into the huddle as the lineman broke out the athletic tape and he saw two naked scared boys about to be taped to the bench.

“Who the fuck do you think you are,” Greg remembered the biggest animal of the pack, Jeff Gross, cursing at him and looking to their leader for permission to continue.

“Alright guys, cut it out,” Greg remembered Mitch smirking at him and waving off his soldiers like a Mafia Don. “They’ve had enough.”

Greg had seen enough as well, and as he laid down on his bed, he recalled not returning to football practice the next day. He also remembered his and Mitch’s icy relationship from that day forward.

But, he wasn’t going to tell Delaney that story. No, he had already said enough. Greg was done digging that hole, and knew that right now, being around her could only make matters worse.

I wished I had asked her just a day earlier, Greg regretted one of his many near misses as he thought about Delaney and pictured her lovely face projected on his ceiling. Things would be different right now. We would still be talking, and then, we could figure everything out. If only I had been able to say those simple words.

Then, she could have told that asshole no.

* * *

“We’re home,” Jack looked up from his tablet as he heard Hurricane Logan arrive home with Delaney.

“Hey bud,” he smiled as Logan jumped onto the couch with him and he tried to buy Amanda a couple more minutes of sleep. “How was the movie.”

“It was great, Dad. The dogs got their own hotel and Delaney got me some popcorn,” Logan gave a short description of his day. “Where’s Mommy.”

“She’s in the bedroom napping,” Jack knew not for long as he suggested the inevitable. “Why don’t you go see her.”

“Okay, Daddy,” he replied as he jumped off the couch and ran in the direction of the bedroom.

“How much soda did you give him,” he questioned Delaney as she joined him on the couch.

“Don’t worry, not too much,” Delaney replied without enthusiasm as Jack could tell something was wrong.

“You thinking about Greg again,” he reluctantly assumed his wife’s usual role.

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it all day,” she hesitated to talk to Jack about it. “I just wish I knew what he was thinking.”

“I wish you wouldn’t worry so much,” he tried to make her feel better. “Greg’s okay, everything will be back to normal soon.”

“You think so,” she tried to find hope as she probed for information. “Have you talked to him.”

“Not really about that,” Jack remembered his last girl talk with Greg as he smiled. “You know me and Greg, our conversations aren’t quite like your’s and Amanda’s”

“I know, Jack, but did he say anything.”

“Honey, he really didn’t say anything,” Jack tried to explain the dynamics of how men talked. “But, he implied that he will be back around once the prom is over. I just think he needs a little time.”

“Did he say that,” Delaney still didn’t understand.

“Not quite in those words,” Jack paused and wished for a second that he only had boys. “But, he did bring up a mulching project we had talked about and specifically set a date for next