When Dreams Come True
by Melanie Hemry
A few lazy clouds drifted across sunny skies as Ted Winsley took his place on the football field. The band played the school’s fight song, but Ted didn’t notice. Focused on the members of the opposing team, he looked at the towels hanging from their pants. Each bore his number.
He knew what it meant. Having been identified as the best player on his team, Ted’s opponents had made him their target. Their message was clear.
You’re going down.
It was meant to intimidate him, but Ted grinned.
You’ve got to catch me first.
Ted Winsley was fast. Faster than anyone on his team. Faster than any other football player in his hometown. He was so fast, in fact, that coaches and scouts were already taking notice—and he was only a high school sophomore. A sophomore with a dream of playing in the NFL.
Who knew? Perhaps he’d go to the Super Bowl one day.
The youngest of five children, Ted was used to fighting against impossible odds. While his older siblings had excelled in scholastics, he had failed in lower-level classes. But his mother, a schoolteacher, had argued his case with school officials.
“I did not give you permission to put him in lower-level classes,” she said.
“Well, ma’am, that’s where he needs to be.”
“Test him.”
“He’s failing in the lower-level classes!”
“Test him!”
Ted’s IQ score was one point below a certified genius. He was removed from the lower level and put in classes for gifted children. He still didn’t excel. Not because he wasn’t smart enough. The problem was, he identified himself as dumb.
He also couldn’t sit still. Hoping to run off some of his energy, he signed up for football. That changed everything. He was king of the field. So what if his siblings earned degrees in engineering? None of them had his athletic gift. He’d found his identity.
Ted’s school was playing against a team in Smyrna, Del. They were in the second half, and up by a couple of points. The team made a sweep to the left. Playing the halfback position, Ted grabbed the ball and ran.
He got around the end and saw daylight. The only thing between him and a touchdown was a cornerback not much bigger than Ted. Dropping his head, Ted decided to run through him. What he didn’t expect was for the cornerback to lower his head and charge.
BVOV : 13
