Caddy saw Boom on the sidelines, walking without a cane or any assistance, shaking his head and yelling at the referees. She wasn’t sure what he was mad about, but Boom was mighty pissed off. He said something to the head coach and then yelled at the referee out on the field. One of the other assistants walked over and placed a hand on Boom’s good arm, telling him to calm down a bit, walk back to the bench. Boom shook him off, stumbling a little on his way over to the bench and kicking at a water bottle.

“Everything OK down there?” Bentley asked.

“Don’t know,” Caddy said, standing up to watch Boom, her hand over her mouth. Something was definitely off-center, not only with Boom’s walk but his focus. Boom wasn’t the kind of man to take Little League sports so seriously, always kidding around, providing positive encouragement for the kids. He limped on back to the sidelines, yelling something at the ref, who seemed to pay him no mind.

Caddy looked across Bentley at her mother. Jean caught her eye and nodded. Yep. Boom was drunk.

“Should I do something?” she asked her mother.

Jean shook her head. “I wouldn’t go down on that field right now for nothing in this world.”

Boom stayed put for a moment, but then, unable to take it anymore, walked back to the sideline, stepped onto the field, and yelled back at the referee as Tibbehah was about to punt. The referee answered and pointed to the head coach, the coach turning to Boom. Three assistants now reaching for Boom’s massive body, wrapping him around the waist, holding his good arm, trying to coax him back off the field to the sidelines.

“What’s he so mad about?” Jean asked.

“Jason should’ve had first down,” Bentley said. “Can’t say I blame Boom. That referee spotted the ball two yards back.”

“I’ll get Boom,” Caddy said. “It’s just a game.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Jean said.

Caddy headed down the bleacher steps and to the exit onto the field. Four coaches and Kenny from the sheriff’s office had already started to walk Boom toward the field gate. Caddy met them at the exit. “Let me give you a ride home.”

“Nah,” Boom said. “I’m good.”

Caddy nodded to Kenny and Kenny backed off, Boom heading out the gate ahead of her toward his truck. “Come on,” she said. “This game is done anyway. Give me your keys. I’ll get you home.”

“Winona must be paying that ref,” Boom said. “Did you see that shit?”

“Let me have your keys.”

“I said I’m good.”

“Boom,” Caddy said. “Don’t do this. You and I both know it’s a hell of a trip back.”