Chapter 5
Addie Mae
AFTER SUPPER, I GO TO my room, touch up my makeup, and straighten my hair. Taking my shorts from my suit case, I slide them on and the tank Mama made me. I can’t believe I’m about to wear a jackass to this football game. Grabbing my wedges, I slide them on and realize I don’t like the look. Glancing in the suitcase, I spot a pair of black stilettos that will look amazing. Grabbing my purse, I look in the mirror and shake my head. Will anyone even care if I look this put together? Maybe? Maybe not? But that little voice keeps telling me that eyes are everywhere, even in Mason.
Making one last-minute decision, I grab my worn out Mason High ball cap and slide it on. Taking my fingers, I move my long platinum hair in place and smile when I think about all the memories this hat holds. No matter where I am and what I’m doing, it takes me home.
Walking into the hallway, I run into Daddy coming to change quickly before the game.
“Addie Mae, I know you’re a grown ass adult, but you will not walk out of the house looking like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Those shoes. Change them. I can deal with the shorts and we know that shirt is your mama’s doings, but those shoes. Hell no.”
Shaking my head, I turn and walk back into my room and silently thank my daddy for talking some sense into me. He’s always been great at that.
Looking in my closet, I know that my brown boots will not work at all, but I know exactly what will. My Lucchese booties. Sliding them on, I look into the mirror once more and know that this is totally me. My makeup is perfect, and I’m home.
As I walk back down the hall, Daddy and Mama are getting ready to go to the game as well. Daddy turns to me.
“Much better. I can’t believe you thought those heels would be okay for a damn football game. Who are you and where’s my Addie Mae?”
“I’m right here, Daddy. I’ll meet y'all there.”
Driving to the stadium takes me back to the last home game I remember most.
As the final seconds tick on the clock, Sawyer takes control of the team. He calls for a play and as the ball is snapped, he takes off as the ball finds his hands. He looks around and his receiver isn’t open so he does what any great quarterback would do. He takes off toward the goal line, not allowing anyone to stop him. As he crosses the goal line, the clock shows zero, and Sawyer Jackson has scored the winning touchdown. Mason High is state championship bound. We all flood the field and as I walk up to him to congratulate him, he smiles and I do my best not to think about how cute he is because there’s no way in hell he’d ever see me as anything other than a royal pain in his ass.
Pulling the truck into the parking lot, I look to see if the stands are full. Man, it’s been years, but was always enjoyed the feel of Friday nights. Once I left Mason and got big gigs, it was harder to make it home. My parents would fly out to see me, I’d come home for a few days over the holidays, or Madelyn would fly out to visit. My schedule is always so crazy and ever changing, I can never plan too far in advance because life is so hectic. Walking toward the gate it hits me, I don’t have that damn ticket to get in the reserved section. As the music blares through the speaker, I know that Sawyer is already on the field and so is Tate. I don’t want to ruin Madelyn’s surprise, so I just put on my big girl panties, and pray that it’s at the home gate.
Walking up to the ticket booth, I’m met by Mrs. Scism, my old Biology teacher.
“Addie Mae, is that you?”
“Yes, ma’am. How are you?”
“Great! You look beautiful! When did you get home?”
“Today. It’s kind of a surprise. Do you know if Madelyn Ellis has gotten here yet?”
“I don’t know, reserved tickets go in through the pass gate.”
“Oh, thank you.” Fingers crossed, I walk around to the pass gate and smile as Coach Webb is standing there.
“You couldn’t give it up, huh?” I ask.
“Do I know you?” he says and it hurts my heart.
“It’s been a while, but I hold a nice record on the track field.”
“Addie Mae?”
“Yes, sir. How are you?”
“I’m good. You got your ticket?”
“Actually, Tate or Sawyer was supposed to leave it.” Total lie but let’s see what happens.
“They didn’t.” He looks to the field and sees they are both busy. “Go on in. Madelyn sits up there in section 100 row B. She just walked in a few minutes ago. You can’t miss her. That belly is as big as a barrel.”
I smile and refrain from laughing. She would die if she heard him say that. She’s pregnant, not fat for crying out loud.
Quickly, I walk from the bottom gate toward the stands. Glancing over at the field, I see Sawyer in a pair of khaki shorts and a purple polo, and Tate in the same talking to different groups of players. Who would have thought? As I make my way to the top of the reserved section, I see that Madelyn has taken a seat and she is so cute with her mommy-to-be football apparel. Walking down the concrete steps toward her, she is clueless. I quickly slide in and as she feels someone sit beside her, she turns quickly like she’s about to attack and then lets out a high-pitched squeal.
“Addie, what the what?!” she exclaims and everyone around her looks to us. She engulfs me in a hug and then starts to cry. Oh geez. I didn’t expect that.
“No need for the water works. I told you I would be home before that little tyke made his arrival.”
Pulling back, she looks me over, “But why didn’t you tell me on the phone yesterday?”
“Hello, I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, you got me there.” Then she looks at my shirt. “Your mama! Sawyer is gonna have a fit when he sees that.” We both begin to laugh as the team exits the field from warmup.
After a few moments, the teams are being called back in, the cheerleaders have the banner in place, and the team demolishes it in seconds as they run toward the home sideline. As Sawyer jogs to the sidelines as well, I notice he looks up to us and smiles then Tate does the same.
“Guess they noticed whether you’re here or not, huh?”
“Yeah, they’d have my head if I wasn’t cheering them on. Especially this being the first home varsity game, but it’s not just me, our parents and this entire town are pulling for Sawyer. He’s been a nervous wreck the past week. I’ve never seen him like that.”
Suddenly, I feel a little bad about the fact I’ve added stress to Sawyer. I mean, it’s only football, but I know he’s worked hard to get this job. I also know that Mason folks can be ruthless if the season doesn’t follow along with a state championship.
“Sawyer, upset?”
“Yeah, and he’s been weird, too,” she starts to say but the national anthem begins to play followed by the moment of silence, then it’s time for football Friday night.
* * *
Sawyer
The moment she walks to the pass gate, she stands out like a sore thumb. My only thought is that she has an air about her that would make anyone look her direction. It’s obvious this girl isn’t in Texas anymore, and I’m also wondering what kind of magic she’s pulling over Coach Webb because I sure didn’t leave her a ticket.
Turning back to my players, I blow the whistle and they each go to their appropriate coach. Talking to my quarterback, I make sure that he knows what I expect tonight and then it’s time to hurry off the field for the team pep talk, but I can’t help but glance over my shoulder to see the look on my sister’s face. Addie Mae might be some big fancy makeup artist to most, but to my sister, she’s the one person that understands her as much as I do. Madelyn looks like she’s about to knock someone’s block off but quickly it fades when she sees Addie Mae. Shaking my head, I run off the field and into the field house to give these boys the talk of a lifetime.
The game is an easy one and I’m thanking the big man upstairs that by halftime we’re winning 27-0. If the second half continues then I’m going to have to put my third string in for sure.
As the clock ticks down in the fourth quarter, we’ve kept them from scoring the entire game and in the last few seconds, they kick one field goal. The final is 45-3 and as the band plays the victory song, I let out a sigh of relief, look up to the stands and smile at my hometown team cheering us on. Football is life and my life is football.
As my boys line up to shake hands, I follow suit, and then we head toward the locker room to call it a night. Film will come early in the morning and not to mention, I’ve got to deal with Addie Mae all freaking day.
Once all the boys have put up their pads and the uniforms are ready to be washed, I cut off the lights and walk outside. There are a few folks hanging around, but when I see the cutest pregnant girl coming my way, I smile.
“What's up, sis?”
“You did awesome out there.”
“Hey, what about me?” Tate whines.
“Oh honey, you are my favorite, hands down.”
“Thanks, sis. So was that Addie Mae up there?”
“Yup, sure was me,” she says, coming into view and when I see her shirt, I stare.
“Damn, you still are a pain in my ass,” I say, seeing that jackass on her shirt. Of course, her mama would make it fit her to a tee.
“I try,” she says with a smart ass smile.
“Anyways, I’m heading home. Got a long day tomorrow. I’ve got films in the morning and the Jackson cookout.”
“Oh my gosh! Addie Mae, you're coming, right?”
“Of course. I mean I just got the invite, but I’m not missing a cookout at the pond. Do I need to bring anything?” she says, looking between the two of us.
“Nah, we’ve got it covered.”
“Great! Madelyn, I’m picking you up tomorrow at nine. We’ve got a girls’ day planned. It’s time for the mommy-to-be have a little pampering.” Rolling my eyes, I hate to see what she has in store. “Oh and no worries Tate, I’ll have her home by lunch. What time’s the cookout?”
“Starts around four.”
“Great. I’ll see y’all then,” she says as she turns and walks off like she’s up to absolutely nothing.