Of all the schools in the entire city, of course Parker’s kids would attend this one, and of course, Parker was a room volunteer. I didn’t know if the universe was punishing me, but it sure felt like it. Hopefully I masked my reaction at seeing her in the gymnasium when I met with the principal and the cameramen who were filming the event.

“Does anybody have any questions?” I had a stack of coloring books for the kids about Champ, the Cheetahs mascot, but I couldn’t pass them out until after I was done because I would lose their attention. A little girl in the front raised her hand. I pointed to her. “What’s your question?” I asked.

“You don’t look very big for a football player. Do you play football?”

Nothing like a five-year-old to knock my confidence down a few notches. “That’s a great question.” I avoided Parker’s eyes because I didn’t want a simple glance to make me fall back in a hole that took years to crawl out of. “In high school, I was a quarterback. I was tall enough to be a football player and I could throw a football a long way.”

“Can you still throw a football a long way?” She was very inquisitive.

“I can.”

“Then why aren’t you still a quarterback?” She shrugged.

“I’m too short and probably too old to play now.”

“Rose’s dad is a quarterback. Maybe you can play with him.” A small girl with short brown hair and big blue eyes spoke. She immediately covered her mouth, realizing she should’ve raised her hand first. We’d already established Grayson was a quarterback because almost every child pointed it out when I first got there.

“Yes, Mr. Moats. I work with him. He’s taller and bigger than I am.”

“Is he a good quarterback?”

This line of questioning was starting to make my eye twitch. “Yes, he is. We won our first game because of him.”

“How come the quarterback isn’t the coach?”

“Because the coach has more to do than just be a quarterback. They have to make sure the entire team does well.” I made sure no little digits were raised before I changed the subject. “I brought a friend with me today. Would you all like to meet him?”

“Yeah!”

About one hundred and fifty students in little navy polos shared their enthusiasm loudly without even knowing who was here with me.

“Champ the Cheetah, come on out and say ‘hello’ to these students.” Champ threw aside the stage curtain and did a goofy wave. “Champ, meet the great kids that attend Wellington Academy.”