Shelter Kid
By: Jon Stewart
(© 2021 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

jstewart@tickiestories.us

Chapter 18

"Do me a favor and call Jesse. Tell him you are going and then I have to speak to him."

Josh dialed Jesse. "Hey bud, I know you were upset about me not going to assembly. Well, Pops called Doc Brown and he said I could go to the assembly.

"Wow, that's great news!! You made my day I was going to declare World War Three if you didn't go."

"I know, I saw the look in your eye. Hey Pops, wants to talk to you about some arrangements,"

Pops got on the phone, "See Jesse, calm wins all the time remember, that."

"I will sir, thanks so much it just wouldn't have been right if he wasn't there."

"I know, now here's the conditions: he'll only go for the assembly; he goes in a wheel chair so he doesn't trip or fall or someone bump into his ribs; the team is his body guard; no one slaps him on his back; no one hugs the life out of him; no one punches him in the arm. No racing the wheel chair. I guess regular handshakes are OK but no pulling or tugging. Can you arrange that?"

"Yes sir, I can. I'll tell Coach."

"Good boy."

Jesse put the phone down and let a whoop. Josh was a little less pleased, and whooping wasn't on his agenda these days. Secretly, Josh was happy, his heart had sunk a little when Jesse said the assembly was Friday. He needed to be with the team again.

Pops called Coach, told of Doc Brown's plan and him wanting to speak to the Press, while he was there. Pops asked "did you Coach the team Doc was on"

"Yes, I did, and he was a heck of a player. His Jersey is hanging in the trophy case, as well as his MVP award." He was high scorer every year he was here. We really needed one more player to compliment him. Kind of like what we have today with Josh and Jesse. As I remember he was baited into a fight with a Madville sub. Finally lost his kool and let the kid have it. Of course, he got kicked out of the game and without him we were no match. Today, I'm pretty sure it was at the instruction of the same coach that is there today. Sure, I'll give him time with the press and alert them that he has something to say."

"Good, I expect Jesse will gather the team to guard Josh. If you can make it official, I expect it would help."

"Don't worry about that, I expect you'd have a hard time getting to Josh with the team acting as body guards. But I'll mention to the rest of the teachers and the administration. Those boys are not going to let anything happen to their star point guard.

Josh went to therapy in the morning and Jesse came by in the afternoon. He stayed for supper one more night and until 5:00 the other nights. Nothing was said about kissing between them. Jesse was loving doing his homework with Josh. He got everything right away and explained it to Jesse. The teachers noticed his improvement and congratulated him on it. He said it was Josh that made the difference.

Friday rolled around at his therapy session, Kevin Edwards told Josh & Pops where he would meet them at the school for the assembly. Pops had set up the van with a little wheeled seat so it was not so painful for Josh to climb in and out. He would open the door sit on the seat on the van's floor and roll himself in. It was nifty and Josh appreciated Pops figuring it out for him.

Pops and Josh had lunch and shortly after went to the school. Pops was to call Jesse when he left and the team had permission to cut the last couple minutes of class to go escort Josh.

Jesse reminded them again ... "We are the team and we are his body guard; no one slaps him on his back; no one hugs the life out of him; no one punches him in the arm. No racing the wheel chair. I guess regular handshakes are OK but no pulling or tugging. If something happens and he punctures a lung I'm gonna die and take all you guys with me."

They all said, "Don't worry, we won't allow anyone to get to him, not even the principal."

Pops and Josh rolled up. Kevin Edwards had the wheel chair waiting. The team gathered around the van. The all clapped and said ‘Hi’ to Josh or something silly. They all had on their team jerseys. They had Josh's for him but he knew he was not going to be able to put it on. Kevin Edwards came to the rescue with his handy PT scissors. He  cut up the rib side armpit of the jersey and once on Josh, taped it so it would stay. The boys kept cracking jokes and Josh kept telling them, ‘Don't make me laugh, it still hurts.’ Doc Brown joined up with them. It was quite a procession - 4 guys in front, 4 guys in back, 3 on each side. Bobby Edwards had a crutch for his bad ankle and he was in the lead pointing the crutch at anyone who was in their way. They entered the school hall, a couple kids were there as look outs They raced down the main corridor to the auditorium to tell the assemble they were on their way. Down the corridor and through the side door to the auditorium, closest to the stage. As soon as they entered a deafening roar went out from the assembly. The band started up and played “We are the champions”; all the kids and the teachers, team parents and relatives and all the staff were all standing and clapping and singing “We are the champions” followed by “We are number one.” Goose bumps were running up and down the spines of everyone there. The ovation went on and on there was no stopping the kids or the adults. Some of the women teachers, Mrs. Martin among, them were tearing up but they were tears of joy. There was a small flight of stairs to navigate to get to the stage. Bobby pointed his crutch and climbed on stage. Jesse, Mutt and 2 of the other bigger team members grabbed Josh and his chair like it was nothing and brought him onto the stage with the rest of the team following. The boys remained in formation around Josh. The press was snapping pictures anywhere and everywhere.

The principal tried to call the assembly together. The ovation only increased; the "WE ARE NUMBER ONE” chant was heard again and again. Finally, the principal a creative man. took off his shoe and banged the podium. He signaled the band to play the national anthem and the assembly came to attention. After the last stanza the principal said, "Wow, I guess you like being state champs." Another roar from the assembly. The principal put up his hand for them to quiet. This time it worked. "Well, we are very proud of our boys and their hard work in bringing this honor to Hopewell High School."

Holding up the championship trophy, the principal said "This is our first state championship trophy and It will go front and center in our trophy case. Now I want to turn over the proceeding to Coach Mathews.”

The principal, Mr. Gordon, then took the trophy over to the team, congratulated each one and put the trophy in Josh's lap "Is that ok there, Josh? "

"Yeah, sure."

"I know you played a hell of a game for us to have this"

"Thank you, sir."

Coach Mathews delayed his talk to let the principal congratulate the team. It wasn't missed by the assembly. They clapped and roared when the trophy was put in Josh's lap.

Coach Mathews started his talk. He stressed that this group more than any other was really a team. They worked like a well-oiled machine on their trapping defense. The work that it took to build up the stamina in their bodies as well as the focus it took to make the defense work. He talked about the energy it took to run the fast break and when that strategy was not working the fortitude it took to stay the course. He talked about the new kids who joined the team and the acceptance of them by the others. How they rallied around them and how they made the team better by bringing more effort from the original boys. He talked about each player finding something that they did to help the team win either in the regular season or in the playoffs. He called them up one by one and congratulated them for being part of team MVP. Each one got a special ovation. He held out his star players till the last.

As the players were given their balls Josh told Jesse he'll throw the ball right back at the coach if he is stopped from getting and walking over to get it like everyone else. Jesse whispered to Bobby, Mutt and the rest of the players. That Josh will get up and get his ball, but the team will follow him.

Coach went on and now "Bobby Edwards the leader of the trap and score, more stamina and grit there is not on a basketball court. He led us into the playoffs and though out the season." Bobby got his ball. The assembly went crazy yelling “Bobby, Bobby, Bobby”.

"Jesse Harvey, New Kid One, Mr. Inside, our low post guy saved the middle of our season. and was high scorer in the final game with 27 points." The assembly went wild. “Jesse, Jesse, Jesse“ was chanted from the rafters.

"Before giving out the last ball I want to say this player displayed more heart, courage, guile and team play and sportsmanship than I have ever seen on a basketball court. He joined us late in the year, was never in shape, and was my secret weapon in games when we were losing. He came off the bench in the 4th quarter and won us the game, time after time. He was called to play just about the entire game without the conditioning of the other boys, in the final game. He scored 15 points and had 18 assists . He was beaten and had 3 cracked rib from the dirty play of the Madville team. He never said he was hurt or complained, he just kept bouncing back up. New Kid 2, Josh Fitzgerald." The crown roared and stood and clapped like crazy.

The coach started walking toward Josh. But Josh gave him such a look in his eyes that he stopped. Jesse and Mutt helped Josh out of the chair Bobby took hold of the trophy the whole team followed him up to get his ball. Holding his side, Josh accepted his ball. The whole assembly was shouting “Josh, Josh, Josh.” Someone shouted speech, speech, and the rest of the assembly picked it up. Coach looked at Josh and then at the podium and pointed to where he was to go. Josh gave the Ball to Jesse to hold.

Josh leaned on the podium "Wow. This is not fair, no one else had to speak." The crowd chuckled. "You know, after we won the game, I told coach that we only won by one point. If Jesse hadn't scored 27 points, if someone didn't rebound like maniac Mutt", they were laughing now, he had them and for the first time in his life he was enjoying speaking to the crowd, "If Bobby hadn't hurt his ankle the game would have been a lot easier for me because I won't have had to go in." Again, they chuckled. "The point is though that we stayed together as a team. We played the game the right way. If anyone of us hadn't done their job the game would have gone to Madville. On the last play, think about the player who inbounded the ball so I got a perfect pass and the 3 screeners who got rocked so I could get an open shot. Think about Coach, who kept us together and drew up the play. So don't just think about the last shot; think about the whole game, and the great team work it took for us to win. Think about all of you who supported this team though out the year; your support, whether we were winning or losing, you always had our backs, and the teachers who helped us keep our grades up, and you parents, who got us to practices and games driving all over the state, also making sure we got feed."

The kids were all cheering now everyone on their feet.

"This is for you, it is for all of Hopewell township and High School . Thank you for all you did. I'm gonna sit down now."  Holding his side Josh gingerly but gamely made it back to his chair.

The kids were stomping their feet chants of “Josh, Josh, Josh” were followed by the band playing “We are the champions” ,again it took 5 minutes for Coach to restore order.

Jesse whispered, "Wow, what a speech, did you practice it, Josh."

"Heck no, I didn't want to talk but they kept yelling for me to say something. Coach was pointing to the podium, what was I to do?"

Coach said "One more time your Hopewell High School State Championships Freshman Basketball Team." He waved for the boys to come to the front and center of the stage. They spread out across the stage and waved as friends and family all called their names and took pictures. Coach got back on the mic "the alumni have prepared some refreshment in the Cafeteria. All are welcome. Would the members of the press please meet with me and Doc Brown in Room 101, right opposite the main entrance to the auditorium.”?

The team got in formation around Josh. Bobby pointed his crutch and down the stairs they went to the cafeteria.

Doc Brown and Coach and the members of the press who were there went to Room 101.

Doc Brown started his talk. "I guess it was about 10 years ago now that my Hopewell High School team made it to the state finals. I was a pretty good scorer back then. We were winning late into the 1st half. All game, this kid had been fouling me grabbing my shorts punched me in the privates, kept saying nasty things about my family, called my mother a slut. The refs did nothing. Coach was screaming at them. Finally, I lost it and swung at the kid and I got kicked out of the game. It was the same, Madville Coach, Dan Short who instructed the kid to do all the dirty stuff. Coach Mathews saw him talking to the refs before the game but we don't know what was said. Well, for Hopewell to say anything would have been sour grapes because we lost and I was in the wrong for trying to clobber the kid.

Fast forward to this year's game, Madville has the same Coach, Dan Short. This time though, we have found out that one of the ref's is his cousin. Josh Fitzgerald is beaten to an inch of his life and I literally mean that. No NFL player would have played with the rib injury that Josh had. If a piece of the rib had broken off and punctured his lungs he might not be here today. Luckily it didn't. How he hid it and kept playing is a medical marvel. Josh has a very high IQ. The mind is a very powerful organ. It can block pain, if the person is strong enough and motivated enough. Josh was extremely motivated to win the game and championship. That is the only way I can explain it. The pounding of Josh started after a time out by Madville, 2 minutes into the start of the 4^th quarter and didn't end until his last shot went in. He was run into and knocked down 12 times during the game . The ref's called 1 offensive foul and 3 blocking fouls on Josh and the other 8 times no harm no foul. As he ran around screens on his last shoot one boy elbowed him in the head another in the ribs and a third missed because Josh ducked an elbow at his head. No calls from the refs. This is all pretty visible on the film that coach has here.

The reason I asked you here is I think there was collusion between the refs and coach Dan Short, and I think Dan Short ordered his boys to hurt Josh to get him out of the game. At one point, Coach Mathews swears he hears Dan Short scream at his boys, to hit Josh harder. This is not what High School Boy Athletics should be about. Teaching your players to win at all costs, to play dirty and to somehow control the referees and the fairness of the game is not what School Boy Athletics is about. I'm asking you to join me in asking the state school boy athletic association to open a hearing to investigate these charges against Dan Short and the referees. Having your cousin, referee the state championship game reeks of collusion. Now, if some of you want; coach Mathews will show you the film of the game so you can see for yourself the pounding Josh got at the instruction of Dan Short. My medical report is also there on file and I can produce x-rays to verify Josh's injuries as needed."

The basketball team with Bobby leading the way stayed in formation down the corridor into the cafeteria. Bobby pointing his crutch and saying “make way, make way” to anyone that was in the way. Everyone was smiling from ear to ear. As they passed other kids, the team (all except Josh) were pounded on their backs and congratulated by the other boys; most of the girls just giggled and swooned. A few of the more courageous ones grabbed one of the team around the neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Jesse kept them in formation saying "No one slaps him on his back; no one hugs the life out of him; no one punches him in the arm. No racing the wheelchair." Josh had charge of the trophy again. He was carrying it on his lap again with the team MVP Ball. They went into the cafeteria and everyone clapped again but after a bit it subsided. Jesse got Josh to a what he thought was a safe corner. He put the trophy and ball on a nearby table. Most of the team had split off to be with parents and friends.

Jesse said he would be back in a minute; he wanted to find his parents, too.

Josh said "Go on, I'll just sit here and not get in any trouble. I promise. By the way, thanks for making a stink, I wouldn't have missed this for the world even if I have to be in this chair."

"I don't care what anyone says, including you. You are the MVP and we just couldn't have this celebration without you."

"Go find your `rents."

To be continued...

Posted: 08/25/2021