Page 44 of Scored

“Mr. Hubbard,” Josh Jackson said, “he used to have those meetings too. I thought it was pretty cool.”

“It is,” I said. “The coach asked Vee to carry on the tradition.” I turned to Josh. “How did you know about the meetings?”

“I like to get here early. Sometimes I’ll work out or soak in a tub, depending on my muscles. I’d see them walking around the complex.”

“Walking around?”

“Yeah, like Coach was filling Mr. Hubbard in on shit.” He shrugged. “Sometimes they’d laugh and joke. I thought it was fire.”

I finished my lunch and sat back. “I’m going to head to the training facility before position meeting.” I looked at Josh and Troy. “If I’m late, let Coach Pratt know.”

“Sure thing.”

The training facility was nearly as empty as it was early this morning. I went to Lacy Reynolds’ office and knocked on the doorjamb. She looked up from her lunch.

“I’m sorry to interrupt.”

Lacy shook her head as she wiped her lips with a napkin. “Come in.” She motioned to the chair opposite her desk. “I was just reviewing your scan.”

“And I’m cleared to play.”

“And you’re not on injury reserve,” she said. “Luckily, you had minimal tissue damage. No tears. I think we mentioned that last week.”

I shook my head. “I don’t remember.”

“Well, it’s a good thing. Having no tears doesn’t mean there was no damage. You have ligament sprains. The ligaments that reinforce the shoulder-joint capsule are overstretched. There is also stretching of the axillary nerve. That can cause a feeling of numbness. Have you noticed that?”

“No,” I replied honestly. “When I take off the sling, like, to shower, the arm is stiff.”

Lacy nodded. “That’s primarily from the immobilization. What we need to do now is slowly reacclimate the shoulder joint and arm to moving. That means, starting this afternoon, you can remove the sling.” She furrowed her brow. “That doesn’t mean you go back to full use. Is that clear?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll help you take it off. After this afternoon’s meetings wrap up, come back and I’ll help you put it back on. I’ll also go through strengthening exercises.”

“What’s my status?” I asked.

“For the next two days, no contact practice. Tomorrow, come in and do the strengthening exercises with the trainers.”

“Can I lift with Dennison and Jackson tomorrow?”

Lacy sighed. “Right arm only. That left shoulder isn’t ready for weights.”

“Next Saturday?”

“We’ll decide by the deadline.”

I stood. “Thanks, Lacy. You know, it would be easier if you just went ahead and said I was likely to play Saturday.”

Her lips curled into a smile. “Where’s the fun of anticipation in that?” She stood. “Let me help you with the sling.”

CHAPTER 18

Vee

Isat across the table from Aunt Rachel in her office. We both had our lunches in front of us. It seemed that with our various schedules, lunch was the only time we could talk, just the two of us.

“The pregame party sounds like it’s coming along,” she said between bites of her salad.