Down Poison

Down Poison

Down Poison Chapter One

Rain. The pattering of the showers hit the windowpane in what seemed like a rhythmic pattern. Some drops were huge, some very light, almost like early morning dew. The condensation from the moisture made looking through the glass very challenging.

Eric pushed his fingers through the half-opened blinds, running his index and middle fingers through the fog, making two parallel lines. Rain. Why was it raining again? His team needed some good workouts and this weather was only going to do one thing, hinder any step forward for this program. Indoor workouts were never a success. The focus seemed to be elsewhere and the intensity of his athletes was completely sucked out of the room.

He leaned back in his office chair, propping his left foot up on a shelf near him. The metal of his seat squeaked a little, causing him to cringe from the unpleasant sound that bounced off of his eardrums. He sifted through some paperwork, taking notice to Matt Saracen standing in the threshold of the door that separated his area from the locker room where loud laughter and talking could be heard.

"Can I help you with something Saracen?" He lifted his Dillon Panther baseball cap and ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to read the facial expression of his first string quarterback.

Matt nodded, entering the room completely. Coach took notice to his hesitation but that was nothing new from Saracen, he always seemed a little nervous and on edge about everything.

"Sir, are we going to practice outside today?"

Coach Taylor smirked, leaning forward. Saracen was a good kid but sometimes he wasn't sure about him. His insecurities made him question just what type of leader he could be out on the field but last season proved enough for him. He had grown into a good guy on the field and off.

"Does it look like we are practicing outside? The field is about 10 feet under water. You feel like swimming?"

Matt shifted his weight, unsure of how to answer him. "No..No sir. The guys were just wondering, that's all."

"I'll let you know son."

"Okay, thanks." Matt made his exit, leaving Coach alone again.

"Practice outside.." Coach mumbled to himself as he stood up and grabbed his blue Panther play book and hoisted it under his left arm. He walked in front of where his team sat, staring at each of them before he began to speak. His coaching staff was present as well, waiting on word from him.

"Unless you boys feel like joining the swim team today we are going to practice indoors." He paused, his eyes moving around the room. "That doesn't mean that the intensity level drops down either, I want to see you work your asses off today, 110% or you go home. Is that clear?"

In unison, each player spoke up. "Yes sir."

"One more time."

"YES SIR!"

~*~

Eric was glad to be home. Practice had pretty much gone how he had expected. It seemed like any time there was a weather change that the kids were rambunctious and not focused in the least bit. They probably would've been better off playing on the wet field.

He sat in his Explorer a few moments, staring at the porch light that flickered out brightly onto their sidewalk. He was really growing frustrated with how a few things were going.

For one, he had built up this Dillon Panther program and got these boys playing together. They brought back a state championship his first year. All of that work looked like it had washed down a street gutter and into a drainage lake when he came home from TMU.

There was no chemistry between his players anymore. The spark of the game was gone and the fire inside of them had been dissipated down to embers. How could something so amazing collapse in just a few months? Funny how building up a program can take years but killing one could be a success in a matter of a few days.

He put the SUV into park and got out, grabbing his duffel bag before he made his entrance into his home. He smelled something good even before he opened the door and his stomach growled in response to the appetizing aroma.

Gracie was sleeping in a playpen and Julie was on the couch, watching something while she was doing homework. He greeted Tami by wrapping his arm around her waist and hugging her back as she continued to prepare their dinner.

"Hey hon, that smell is tormenting me." He opened the fridge, rummaging through some leftovers until he found his 12 pack of Coors Light stashed towards the back, grabbing one.

"Making meatloaf. I actually had the energy to cook today, Gracie was in a good mood all day."

He took a long sip of the amber liquid, savoring the flavor on his taste buds. He walked into the living room, leaning over the edge to see Gracie sound asleep. It seemed like every time he glanced at his youngest daughter she had grown some, amazing how babies changed so quickly.