chapter 2: an encouraging talk

After a short speech about the importance of physical and mental health, coach let us all go. However, before I got very far, he called my name.

"Can we speak in my office for a second?"

Somewhat curious, I nodded and followed him up the steel stairs that led to his office, overlooking the gym. He opened the door for me and beckoned me through, before closing it behind us.

This was the first time I'd been in here and, as I do during conversations anyway, searched the room for something mildly interesting to look at. There were a bunch of trophies I could read the inscriptions of, a plushie of our school sports mascot - some sort of half pig/half bulldog hybrid, I was never really sure - and other sports related objects of various colors and shapes. Definetly enough for my eyes to wander.

What did capture my attention a bit more was what seemed to be an older picture of Mr. Kerman. However, the Mr. Kerman in that picture looked quite a bit more.. athletic than the current version. Must've been before he started teaching.

Instead of going around his desk and sitting on the big comfy chair, he sat in one of the visitor chairs and offered me the other. At this point I still hadn't realized what this was all about so I asked him that first.

"Oh, don't worry. You didn't do anything wrong. In fact, I just wanted to have a quick talk about you joining the football team. If you want to, of course" Coach sounded amused at my obliviousness to our conversation from earlier.

So I sat down in the seat next to him, turning it slightly to be able to have a slightly more normal conversation.

"Now I know you're probably rolling your eyes innerly, but I really think this could be a fun oppurtunity for you. They are always searching for guys like you. And you're really not as bad as you think." Coach gave me a moment to ponder.

"Well I guess I could try it at least"

Coach looked triumphant. "That's my boy" He said as he laid his hand on my shoulder. "If you want to I can give you some training first"

"Like what?"

He took his hand off my shoulder and started counting on his fingers "Well, you know, after school lessons, some strength training, a proper diet"

"Hm?" This man just kept bewildering me.

"Just the basic football player diet. Gotta make you big and strong. Like, I bet if I asked you right now what you had for breakfast today you'd say nothing"

He got me there. "Yeah"

"I knew it. Young folk these days. Always skipping the most important meal of the day. What about lunch?"

He wanted to know if I at least made some of it up. "Uh.. also nothing"

His face lit up in what must have been at least partially exagerated shock. "You've had nothing to eat all day?"
Before I could answer, he jolted up and stepped behind his deck. Opening up a drawer and extracting a semi-eaten box of donuts, he lifted it towards me, with an obvious "take one" expression on his face.

I naturally retorted and declined the offer. But he wasn't going to take no for an answer. "I'm serious, take one. I won't be judging you. Hell, I already ate the other half of the box. You're perfectly fine here."

A bit intense to immediately make it about body image issues, although he was completely right. I thanked him and took one out of the box, which he also did, clearly to make me feel safe.

The next minute, as we both sat in silence and ate our donuts, I was really thankful for coach caring so much about me and knowing what made me feel comfortable. After we finished the first one he licked his lips. "Feel free to take as many as you want, I shouldn't really be having any more anyway." A lot more at ease, I went for seconds.

"So do you think you'd like it if I took you under my wing for a bit? There'd also be more donuts" He said with a wink.

I smiled. "Yeah, that sounds good, Mr. Kerman"

"You can call me Bull by the way. That's what my friends call me" Oh so we're friends now? I guess I'm fine with that. "Oh and since this might very well be your only meal of the day, for all I know, I'm not letting you go before you finish the box"

Excuse me? He was joking right? I looked in his eyes and was able to make out a bit of playfulness on his side. He looked like he had just told me that I needed to eat my veggies before I was allowed to play, except that the veggies in this case were the five donuts left over.

Damn this coach. I just couldn't say no to him. Well I could, but I decided to play along. "Fine" I slid the box closer to me and took out a single fried ring of love. Or dough.

One last thought hit me:
"How about this. I have four and you have the last one" I glanced over to him. "It will only be fair, we will have both had exactly six" Now it was his turn to consider. Coach did look like he was thinking about it hard before caving in.

"You drive a hard bargain. But don't mind if I do" Coach leaned over to me and grabbed the donut closest to him, before leaning back in the chair, making it comfortable for himself.

While I was working on my small assortment of treats, I glanced over at a man who was clearly experienced in the art of snacking. With a swift motion, he took a first, and then a second bite, nary a crumb getting into his goatee. He noticed me looking at him, and, with a smirk, stuffed the remaining half into his mouth, in yet another attempt at making me feel less awkward next to him.

As I finished up my donuts, he went on about what our training and diet regiment will look like. Coach put a lot of emphasis on only doing as much as I was ready for.

After I was done, he accompanied me to the door and I was free to go, returning home with a warm feeling in my heart (and belly)