Ever since my father got transferred to Fort Sill when I was just entering eighth grade, I had come to depend on football as my escape from my drill instructor father. That man lives to tell me I need to focus on my grades and go in the Army like he did. There is no way in hell I was going in the Army.
My plan was to take the football scholarship I was offered at the University of Texas and get back to my grandfather and the ranch. Some of my best childhood memories are from his ranch. Man I love that place. I could practically smell my Grams’ Chicken and Dumplins’.
I told my grandfather that my dream was football and to get into Architectural engineering. He is, of course, one hundred percent supportive which I think pisses my father off even more.
The minute the door shut to his F150 black truck I knew the shit was about to hit the fan.
“What the FUCK do you think you are doing getting into ANOTHER fight Drew? Your mother is going to be devastated by this!”
Sure, bring my mom into it you asshole. “It’s Gunner, I like to be called Gunner. ” I shot back at him a little too pissed off. I was mad that he was trying to bring my mom into this and guilt me yet again.
“The last time I looked on your birth certificate it clearly stated your name was Drew Garrett Mathews. Not fucking Gunner. Where the fuck did you come up with that name?” My father hissed at me through gritted teeth.
“Coach was telling the rest of the team how to play positions right. Said I made it down the field fast and made the most tackles and that I was an example of how to play the gunner position right. It just stuck. He started to call me Gunner and so did the guys. ”
“Is that so? Think you are a hot shot ‘cause you are some star football high school player? Bullshit! You are never going to make anything out of your life playing goddamn football! Nothing! Where could you possible go in your life? You think football is going to get you anywhere?” My father said with so much hatred I cringed.
I had yet to tell him about my scholarship and made my mother and grandfather promise not to tell him. I was going to wait until after football season but fuck it.
“Sir, I got accepted into The University of Texas. I got my letter this summer. I intend on going. ”
My father let out a laugh that just about made my stomach drop. “How the hell you think you are going to pay for college? I’m not helping I can tell you that right now. “
“I got a football scholarship sir; and Gramps said he would help out with a place to stay in Austin. ” I said with as much strength in my voice as I could muster. He didn’t need to know Gramps already said he would cover any other expenses my scholarship lacked.
“Is that so? Well, just to let you know. Do not call me when you fail. Which you will, I guarantee it. Do not call me when you need help. Do not call me when your little football plan does not work out. As of right now, I am done with you. ”
4 Years later……
“Dude I cannot believe we only have one more year of college!” My best friend Jeff shouted over Tim McGraw’s Truck Yeah song. Shit, if he played that song one more time I might have to knock the shit out of him.
“No doubt! I’m just glad school is done. Man this year has been kicking my ass!” I shouted back over the damn song. Just then Jeff’s phone vibrated and lit up. We were at a stop light so he picked it up to read it.
“I’m getting a text from Ellie, that’s weird. ” Jeff said as he turned the music down.
Jeff’s little sister Ellie was a senior in high school and was about to graduate in two days. I had never personally met her face to face but sure knew enough about her to feel like she was my little sister as well. He was throwing her a graduation party Saturday night. She had turned 18 in November and he had been putting off having her come to any of our parties until she was out of high school.
No one on the team was to meet her until then and even then, she was pretty much off limits. He was very protective of his little sister.
I was an only child so I didn’t get the whole tighter than tight sibling thing. I did know that Jefferson and his sister where pretty damn close though. They grew up with a drunk as a mother and Jeff pretty much raised his sister.
“Ahhh Shit, we need to swing by and pick up my sister. Something must be wrong if she wants to leave school early. ” Jeff said as he made a quick U-turn.
“Holy shit……. you are actually going to allow me to meet your baby sister?! HOLY FUCK…. Let me write this shit down! I get to me meet the ever elusive baby sister of Jefferson Johnson!” I said as I let out a laugh.
“Shut the fuck up douche bag!” Jeff said as he punched me on my left arm. “Hey, I’m sorry, I know you wanted to stop by McBride’s and look at that gun. ”
“I can take a look at it later today or tomorrow. No worries. ” I had my eye on a Remmington Model 870 12 gage pump action for a few months now. I could always head over to McBride’s gun shop another time.
Jeff and I were planning on going out to my grandfather’s ranch in Mason in a few weeks to catch up with the old man and help out with some things he needed done around the place. Nothing made me happier than hanging out with my Gramps and helping out on the ranch. Most of the happy memories from my childhood are thanks to my grandfather and grandmother. There is nothing that I would not do for them. Nothing.
“What do you think is going on? I mean she never asks you to pick her up early. ” I said to Jeff as I looked at my watch. His sister had to have at least another hour of school left.
“Shit I don’t know. I know she was happy the other day knowing everything was set for her scholarship to UT. She has worked her ass off in school. The money from our grandmother should help cover the additional costs that her scholarship won’t. I had it invested and it has done really well. ” Jeff said as he sped towards Ellie’s school.
From what I gathered from hearing Jeff talk about his sister was that she was pretty damn smart. She was third in her class. Worked her ass off in high school taking every Pre-AP class she could get into and even took some ACC classes to get a jump start on her college classes. She already had enough college credits to enter UT as a sophomore. Jefferson was pretty damn proud of her and bragged about her all the time.
“Hey man, do me a favor…. send her a text from my phone giving our ETA of five minutes will ya?” Jeff asked as he sped even faster towards her school. To say that he was over protective of his baby sister was putting it lightly.