English
Whenwegottotheuniversity,CoachBryantcametotalktous.
‘Lastmantogettothepracticefieldwillgetaridethereonmyshoe!’heshoutedatus.Andhemeantitwhenhesaidthatkindofthing.Wesoonlearnedthat.
ThebuildingthatIwenttoliveinwasniceontheoutsidebutnotontheinside.Mostofthedoorsandwindowswerebroken,andthefloorwasdirty.IlivedinaroomwithamancalledCurtis.Hecrashedintotheroomwithawildlookinhiseyes.Hewasn’tverytall,buthewasverystrong.‘Whereareyoufrom?’heasked.
‘Mobile,’Itoldhim.
‘That’sastupidtown!’hesaid.
Andthatwasallofourconversationforseveraldays.
Onthepracticefield,thingsdidn’tstartverywell.Igottheball,butIranthewrongwaywithit,andeverybodygotangryandstartedshoutingatme.
ButCoachBryantcalledmeacross.‘Justgetinthelineandstartcatchingtheball,’hetoldme.
AndthenItoldhimsomethingthathedidn’twanttohear.
‘Theynevertaughtmetocatchaballathighschool,’Isaid.‘Itwasdifficultenoughformejusttorememberwhereourgoallinewas.’
Idon’tthinkhewasverypleased.Buthestartedtoteachmetocatch.
IwantedmyMom,andIwantedtogohome.Ididn’tlikethatplace.
AndCurtiswasalwaysangry,andIcouldn’tunderstandhim.Hehadacar,andsometimeshegavemearidetothepracticefield.Butonedaywhenhehadtochangeawheelonthecar,Ihelpedhim.
‘Ifyou’reanidiot,’hesaid,angrily,‘howdoyouknowhowtodothat?’
‘MaybeIamanidiot,’Isaid,‘butI’mnotstupid.’
ThenCurtisranafterme,andcalledmeallkindsofterriblenames.
Afterthat,Imovedmybedtoanotherroom.
ThefirstfootballgamewasonSaturday.Iranwell,andwewon35to3.Everybodywaspleasedwithme.IphonedMomtotellher.
‘Iheardthegameontheradio!’shesaid.‘Iwassohappy,Iwantedtocry!’
Thatnight,everybodywenttoparties,butnobodyaskedmetogo.Iwentbacktomyroom,butIheardmusicfromsomewhereupstairs.Ifoundayoungmanwhowassittinginhisroomplayingtheharmonica.
HisnamewasBubba.Hebrokehisfootinfootballpracticeandcouldn’tplayinthegame.Isatandlistenedtohim.Wedidn’ttalk,butafteraboutanhour,Iasked,‘CanItryit?’andhesaid‘OK’,andgavemetheharmonica.Ibegantoplay.
Afterseveralminutes,Bubbawasgettingreallyexcitedandsaying,‘Good,good,good!’Thenheasked,‘Wheredidyoulearntoplaylikethat?’
‘Ididn’tlearnanywhere,’Isaid.
Whenitgotlate,hetoldmetotaketheharmonicawithme,andIplayeditforalongtimeinmyroom.
NextdayItookitbacktoBubba.
‘Keepit,’hesaid.‘I’vegotanotherone.’
Iwasreallyhappy,andIwentandsatunderatreeandplayedallday.
ItwaslateafternoonwhenIbegantowalkbacktomyroom.Suddenly,Iheardavoiceshout,‘Forrest!’Iturnedround–andsawJenny!
Shehadabigsmileonherface,andsheheldmyhand.
‘Isawyouplayfootballyesterday,’shesaid.‘Youwerewonderful!’
Shewasn’tangryaboutthecinema,andsheaskedmetohaveadrinkwithher!
‘I’mtakinglessonsinmusic,andIwanttobeasinger,’shetoldme.‘Iplayinalittlegroup.We’replayingattheStudents’Centretomorrownight.Whydon’tyoucomeandlisten?’
‘OK,’Isaid.
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