Wrecked (Clayton Falls) - By Alyssa Rose Ivy Page 0,11
have disappeared as soon as possible, but my license had already been revoked. I waited for my dad by his car, just anxious to get home and crash. I was feeling better, but I still got tired all the time.
You’d think after the whole “I’m an alcoholic” admission Dad would have been sympathetic, but he was still spitting mad. We rode in silence till we reached my place.
“I’ll pick you up at eight thirty tomorrow.”
“Great.” I got out of the car, resisting the urge to slam the door.
***
“Do you agree to the terms?” The judge repeated his question.
My mouth was still hanging open. “I thought community service meant picking up trash.”
“In this situation, you have a special skill that can help your community.” The judge leaned back in his leather chair and laced his hands together behind his head. He looked all too relaxed, but then again, he wasn’t the one whose future was on the line.
“So you’re serious? You want me to coach the football team?”
“Yes.”
“And why is that again?”
I expected we’d be having this conversation in a courtroom, but we were all sitting around the judge’s desk in his chambers. The deal I’d been offered had seemed straightforward until the last part. No jail, nothing on my permanent record, the mandatory one year license revocation and community service. Evidently, community service meant coaching the high school football team. Were they insane?
“Don’t play with us, Jake. You’re one of the best players this town’s had. You’ll get the team excited again. Maybe we’ll have a chance. It’s the best team we’ve had since you graduated. Coach Wilkinson didn’t give any warning with his retirement, but who can blame him with that cancer diagnosis. We don’t have time to go through the usual channels to find a replacement. The team just needs the right coach, and those boys could use a role model.”
That had to be a joke. “Role model? I’m here because of a DUI.”
“You got us to win state for the first time in over twenty-five years. You’re a role model.”
I fidgeted in my seat. “I think you’re forgetting one very important detail.”
“Yes?” The judge looked bored.
“I don’t know how to coach.”
“You’ll figure it out. Besides, Anderson and Mitchell are staying around as assistant coaches. They’ll help out.”
“Why not promote one of them? Why me? Do you think my former coaches want to listen to me?” I loosened my tie. It must have been one hundred degrees in there.
“Do I really need to explain this again?” The judge sat forward. “If you don’t want this deal, I’m sure we could come up with a different solution.” From the look he shot me, that one would be a hell of a lot worse. His next words confirmed it. “One that doesn’t involve keeping this off your record.”
“I accept the terms.”
“Smart choice. You should have your limited license in two weeks.”
“What does that mean exactly?” The idea of any sort of license sounded good.
“You can drive to work and community service only.”
“Okay, I get it.”
Dad nodded. At least I’d done something right.
I signed some papers, and Dad and I left.
“You got lucky.” He opened his car door.
“Lucky? How am I going to coach?” I got in and looked at him.
“You’ll figure it out. But you’re going to have to start getting up early. Just because you’re coaching doesn’t mean I’m okay with you cutting back your hours at work.”
“What? Are you serious?” I leaned my head back against the seat.
“Yes. I don’t pay you for nothing.” He started the engine.
“Fine. But how am I getting anywhere without a car? The judge said I won’t get a limited license for two weeks.”
“You can walk to the high school.” He pulled out onto the road, driving so slow I thought we’d never get to my house.
“It’s over three and a half miles.”
“Like I said, you can walk to the high school.”
“And work? I guess I’m walking there too?”
“That’s a much shorter walk.” He gripped the wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. I must have been stressing him out more than I thought.
“Fine.”
“And on the bright side, Molly already offered to drive you home from practice if you need it.”
“Molly? Why would she do that?”
“Because she’s family, and a family helps each other.”
“At least it’s only two weeks.”
“Don’t get any ideas that the limited license is for anything but what the judge said it was. If they catch you driving any other time, you’ll be in hot water.”
I reached to turn on