year,” he told her. “I mean … the kids are capable of big things. I really believe that.”
Her smile told him much about the relief she felt with Cody in charge. “Thank you, Mr. Coleman. The kids … the town … we all appreciate your efforts. You may never know how much.”
While he was in her office, Cody asked about Coach Oliver. Apparently the man was getting counseling for his anger issues, and feeling happier without the burden of coaching and teaching. “It was time for him to step down. A good move for everyone.”
Now it was the day of the barbecue, and Cody had gotten out of bed at six in the morning, unable to sleep. He did pushups and sit-ups and ran three miles through his neighborhood, and still made it back in time to whip up a batch of pancakes for DeMetri. As it turned out, his roommate moved back home for good a few weeks after DeMetri moved in. The rent was a little steep for Cody to handle on his own, but he’d worked out his budget. DeMetri needed to focus on school and football. And since the kid didn’t have a car there was no way he could get a job. Instead he made it his personal goal to keep the apartment spotless. Together they were making it work.
Cody wasn’t much of a cook, but he’d learned a lot this past year. Cooking was something he needed to know — especially since DeMetri’s arrival. He could handle a few basic breakfast menus now — scrambled eggs, omelets, pancakes … and a small assortment of chicken and beef dinners. Enough for him and DeMetri to get by. He’d gotten the okay from Ms. Baker and the administration to have DeMetri live with him, and the boy’s mom had signed over guardianship from prison a week ago. DeMetri was seventeen, but he was still a minor. The paperwork needed to be in order and now it was.
From the back room Cody heard DeMetri get up and make his bed. Again the situation reminded him of his place in the Flanigan house years ago. He flipped the pancakes and thought about the cycle of life. He wasn’t doing much, really. Just giving DeMetri a place to live, a way to be safe and successful in school and sports.
He smiled to himself. All his life he had wanted to thank the Flanigans for what they’d done for him, the way they’d taken him in and showed him what it looked like to live a life for God … to work hard and be successful. Now he understood. The best way he could thank the Flanigans was to do that very thing for someone else. Someone like DeMetri.
Through breakfast DeMetri asked Cody about a number of plays they’d learned. They had playbooks now, and DeMetri had told him that the guys were more excited about football than they’d ever been. The kid was chatty, which Cody liked. So many high school boys didn’t talk much. He had a feeling DeMetri would be a part of his life for a long time. His mother was serving a five-year sentence, and he had no one else.
They picked up Cheyenne on the way out of town, but Tara couldn’t come. It was a Friday, and she was still at work. Chey took the middle seat, since Cody’s truck didn’t have a back row. Cheyenne was moving around easier now. The walker was gone, and she wouldn’t need her cane for long.
As they set out, she situated herself and buckled her belt. “So this is a big deal, huh? The barbecue kickoff?”
“It used to be.” DeMetri was still a little shy around her.
Cody liked DeMetri’s maturity, how he didn’t blame the loss of the picnic on Coach Oliver. No reason to bring up the coach’s name now — especially in light of the fact that he was suffering from a stress disability. He kept his eyes on the road. “Ms. Baker thinks the whole town will show up.” The chamber of commerce had provided burgers, hot dogs, and a dunk tank.
“Sounds perfect.” Chey seemed comfortable close to his side.
On the way there they talked about tomorrow’s football camp. The team would meet at Lyle early in the morning and head for Butler University, where they would stay in dorms and compete with other high school teams from around the state. Butler was on the map lately because of its crazy successful run in