Team Mom by Franklin White Page A

daily basis.”
    Shonda looked deep into his eyes for what seemed like minutes. Coach was not sure if he had made her upset, especially when her eyes began to tear.
    â€œYou okay?”
    Shonda cleared her throat before she spoke. “Coach, listen, I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. I mean, a lot. Look at me. Had a child at fourteen, didn’t make his father accept responsibility, and was crazy enough to think I could do it all by myself. Do you know I have practically cried myself to sleep every night for the last fourteen years? So . . . when you ask me something like that, I feel good, but I get very protective.”
    The look on Coach’s face told Shonda he didn’t understand.
    â€œLook, when Jarques finally realized that he wasn’t going to have a dad in his life, I went out and tried to find a man who could fill the void—another one of my mistakes in life. I mean, I have never had a problem with men approaching me and wanting to get to know me, and there were times when I would go with a man and after the first few dates try to push my son on him, and it made men resent me. It made men resent him too and exhibit all types of hatred because he was in the way. They knew the only way to me was to put up with him, in the right way, not just any way. So, when you tell me you want to teach him things, I get protective because I don’t want it to be because you want to get next to me. You already have me.”
    Coach said, “I understand. I understand everything you’re saying. Just know that I was going to be a father. And I couldn’t wait to be a father. I get what you’re saying. I want to do it because it needs to be done. And that’s the only reason why.”

16
    Shonda’s plan the next day was to pick up her son, Jarques, from his friend’s house and then go home. However, she was in such a good mood that after Jarques got in the car, she got on I-20 west and headed to Six Flags for a day of fun with him. They hadn’t been there since he was eight or nine years old, and once she thought about it, she realized this could be the last time they would ever go together. Time was just beginning to move by so quickly, and like she told Coach, soon he would be on his way to college.
    Shonda enjoyed the park much more when Jarques was a little boy and the only rides he could go on were ones she could stomach. While they were at the park, her son had her on so many different stomach-churning, floor-dropping, fast-moving machines that she thought she would lose her mind. When they finally were home, she retreated to her bedroom and lay down, trying to rest and get her faculties back in order because she had to go to work in the morning. She knew the doorbell would be ringing soon, but she was so out of it that when it did, Jarques had to answer the door.
    â€œHey, Coach,” Jarques said.
    â€œWhat’s up, J? You doing all right?”
    The young buck nodded his head. “You here to see my mom about something for the team? ’Cause she’s asleep right now.”
    â€œActually, I came to see you.”
    Jarques looked at Coach. “Me?”
    â€œYeah. C’mon out on the porch so we can chat.”
    Jarques had his Madden game on full blast and looked back at the television screen, then back at Coach. Reluctantly, he went out on the porch to see what Coach wanted.
    The porch was actually only big enough for one person to stand on, so Coach stood right before the first step and Jarques stood on the top step. The boy gazed down his street to check out what was going on before he looked directly at Coach.
    â€œSo . . . how is everything today?” Coach wanted to know.
    Jarques wondered what Coach wanted. He was waiting for Coach to continue, but whatever Coach had to say didn’t come out fast enough, so Jarques asked him right out the reason behind his visit. “Coach, did you come over here to tell me that you were going