Chapter 26

I met a smiling Bob on the way to the girls’ dorm. He said, “Good morning, Jerry. It’s a good day. I talked with the running backs coach last night when I got to my dorm. Our absence was noted though understood. I think invitations to the team dinner may be different in the future because we weren’t the only ones missing. I’m now first on the depth chart.”

“Congratulations. Your good work yesterday is rewarded.”

“Yeah. Now, I just have to repeat it every week.”

“Bob, I think you will be fine, just don’t fumble twice within two quarters.” We chuckled.

We had reached the girls’ dorm and both Alice and Marilyn came out. I kissed Alice while Bob and Marilyn hugged. I thought that they were becoming more romantic. With each couple of us holding hands, we went to the cafeteria.

There was no line inside and we got our food and picked a table. Sitting down, I prayed a blessing on the meal. We ate. I spread the good news about Bob moving up the depth chart. Marilyn looked very happy and gave his near arm a squeeze. After eating, we left for the short ride to the church. Going inside, we met my parents.

Dad pulled us to one side but was smiling. “Marilyn is right about her parents. We had breakfast with them this morning. I could tell that they tolerated church-going as a nuisance. They left for their home right after breakfast. They told us to tell their daughter, ‘Hello,’ if we saw her.”

Bob said, ‘We’ll just have to manage that issue. I won’t lie or hide but I won’t broadcast my faith to them either.”

“Dad, Bob moved up to first from second on the depth chart for running backs.” Dad congratulated him quite sincerely. It was time so we went into our Sunday school class while my parents went to an adult class.

The class was good. When the teacher called for announcements, Marilyn stood and said, “Bob played well yesterday and, as a result, moved to number one on the depth chart for running backs.”

Alice then took a turn, “Jerry caused a fumble which he ran in for a touchdown almost. Bob finished it off on the next play.”

Our teacher said, “You two seem proud of your guys.” They just smiled.

After a prayer, the class dismissed. We hugged our ladies. A few people shook our hands as our ladies stood close to us. We headed to the sanctuary to meet my parents who were talking to people. I had learned that my father knew people everywhere. My mother was one of those people who pulled others to her automatically. We managed to get seated with my mother next to Alice. Bob was on the other side of me with Marilyn next to him. It was a good service. I enjoyed having my lady Alice next to me as we worshiped and prayed. At the benediction, we headed outside.

Dad said, “Why don’t the four of you join us for lunch?” I nodded. After a look at Marilyn, Bob nodded. We all went to a Chinese buffet.

It was good. Bob admitted that he hadn’t eaten Chinese food before. Marilyn walked him through the different choices. He really enjoyed won-ton soup and sushi though he didn’t use wasabi. His palate didn’t care for very hot foods. Alice, Dad, and I enjoyed the hot items while Mom joined Bob in the milder items. Marilyn had some of each though shied away from the wasabi, too.

We finished eating and finally separated. Mom and Dad were headed home while we went back to our dorms. We went into the girls’ dorm common room and found seating for us together.

Bob said, “That was different and I enjoyed the food.”

Marilyn said, “It’s interesting that you trust all of us enough to be honest about that kind of food. You did seem to enjoy it. I guess that the hotter dishes is an acquired taste that some never acquire.” She smiled at Bob.

I said, “My parents have been taking me for Chinese since I was six years old. Eating the hotter items has only come in the last few years. What about you, Alice?”

“My parents discovered Chinese food about ten years ago. I’m just now eating some of the hotter dishes. Mister and Missus Short seem to know a lot about it. My mom cooked it because there weren’t any Chinese restaurants in town. Now, there is one.”

Bob said, “I hope we go there again. I enjoyed the food. I came to college to learn and not just the formal schooling part.” After a moment, he said, “Jerry, I have a different subject to bring up. I was questioned by one of the coaches about not eating in the athletic dorm. I don’t need special food like some nor heavy diets. The coach seemed to feel that our presence at meals was expected.”

“Bob, I think you’re safe. It would be difficult for anyone to do anything about the number one running back. Let’s continue the current program and wait for any specifics. I don’t think there will be any. You don’t screw up your team over something unimportant if you’re a coach and want to continue to coach.” I grinned.

Marilyn said, “Bob dear, the last head coach and his staff are gone because they were losing and weren’t doing things to change the situation. Like Jerry said, you don’t mess with things that are working well.”

The other three of us all gave Marilyn a quick look. She blushed a little. “He is a dear and he’s ‘my’ football hero.” She gave his hand a squeeze and hugged his arm. Bob looked stunned but happy, very happy.

We all sat in a warm silence for a while. It was getting toward suppertime. We went to the cafeteria for supper and received our trays with the evening meal on it. Joe and Barbara joined us. They had just missed our blessing of the food. We all ate.

Joe said, “Barbara and I went home after the game. You two guys did really, really well.”

Marilyn smiled. “Bob is now the number one running back on the depth chart. Even better, my folks approve of him.”

Joe and Barbara looked suitably impressed.

When we finished eating, we returned to the girls’ dorm common area. Bob and I went for our books to read for next week’s classes. The girls went upstairs to get their books.

Bob was jogging back with his books when I left my dorm with my books. He saw me and came up beside me. We walked. He said, “Jerry, I was asked where I was. Apparently, there was an unannounced team meeting just before supper that we missed.”

I grimaced. “I’ll talk to Coach Wilkins tomorrow. You should talk to the running backs coach to be sure we are notified. I’m not in the athletic dorm and you aren’t spending much time there. This wasn’t thought out just like the dinner last night. Do you know anything about what was discussed?”