Page 73 of Out of Bounds

“I was captain of my team in high school.”

“Well, Toto, we’re not in high school anymore.” Coach shot him a wry smile that questioned if he was ready for this.

Cliff nodded firmly. He wasn’t going to give Coach any reason to doubt him. He could handle the jump to the big leagues.

“Good. It’s going to be a much greater time commitment.” Coach elaborated on the longer practice times so he could better gel with the team. They’d also have one-on-one meetings to go over plays, discuss strategies, and review video of opposing teams.

Again, Cliff nodded without hesitation. It was a lot, and the full magnitude hadn’t hit him yet, but he wasn’t going to give up this chance. To lead a college basketball team as a freshman was a huge deal. It could put Cliff on the national radar for basketball.

“I see a great deal of potential in you, and I know you have the hustle to lead this team to more victories.”

“I won’t let you down, Coach.” That sounded like such an earnest cliche, but it was true. Cliff wasn’t going to squander this opportunity.

Coach mapped out their new schedule this week, and between practices and games, that left little time over for classes and homework, and even less time for other things, like seeing Brennan.

Cliff turned his head when he heard a knock at the door. Mr. Wyndham, the big donor who came with the pastor to their first game, stood in the doorway. Up close, his barrel chest and gut seemed more imposing than when he was in the locker room.

“Gene.” A wary look flickered on Coach’s face for a second. It reminded Cliff of when he had to psych himself up for holidays with boring relatives asking what grade he was in.

“Is it still a good time Bob?” Mr. Wyndham entered without waiting for an answer.

“Yeah, yeah. Of course.”

Mr. Wyndham beelined to Cliff, who stood up to greet him.

“You are incredible. I’m still replaying that last play at the Canadensis game,” Mr. Wyndham said, shaking his hand hard, a real businessman shake.

Coach took a seat behind his desk, while Cliff and Mr. Wyndham sat next to each other on the other side.

“Cliff has a great future here. His dad was a Whitetail. Played ball for Browerton about thirty years ago.” Coach nodded with pride.

Mr. Wyndham turned his heavy breathing and intense eyes on Cliff. “Is that so?”

Cliff nodded, unsure if he should say something since he was the topic of conversation. He felt like a dog being paraded at a pageant.

“He’s a great student, too. I spoke to some of his professors, and they all speak very highly of him.”

Cliff hid his confusion over Coach conferring with his professors. He didn’t like not having control with people who weren’t Brennan.

Mr. Wyndham clapped his hands together and stared at Cliff like he was some messiah. “I wanted to meet you, Cliff, and congratulate you on a stellar game. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and he has tapped you for something special. You stepped up at one of the most stressful moments in Browerton sports. That’s what real leaders do.”

“Thank you. We have a great team. It was a team effort.”

Mr. Wyndham laughed and pointed at Cliff, looking at Coach in a joke Cliff didn’t get. “Look at this guy. So modest. Cliff, you are truly a role model.”

“I…” Cliff felt his face go red at the naked compliments.

“I mean it. A lot of college athletes that are great don’t have the best attitudes. They want the spotlight, the victory, and not much else. But I can tell you’re different. You’re thoughtful and smart. Your peers look up to you.”

Cliff doubted that, but he knew it wasn’t his place to have an opinion.

“You are setting the example for a model player. Intelligent, caring, morally straight,” Mr. Wyndham said, echoing the same words the pastor had uttered before the first game’s prayer.

What did he mean by morally straight? Cliff had morals; he treated people well. But was the straight part about sexuality? Cliff would have to live with the ambiguity because there was no way he was asking for clarification.

“Bob, could you get us two waters?” Mr. Wyndham asked the Coach. It was weird hearing the Coach being addressed by his first name, and weirder to watch him fetch water for them.

Coach left; awkward silence hung in the room. Cliff’s lack of smalltalk skills became readily apparent.