Full Impact (6 page)

N

orval sat in front of his computer later that night, browsing YouTube videos about concussions. The news was bad—even worse than he had thought. He listened to experts who had studied the brains of athletes who had died. A number of the athletes showed signs of the problems that Coach Green had mentioned. These athletes had died long after their concussions, though. Concussions could have much more immediate effects.

Norval stayed glued to the screen as he watched personal accounts from teen athletes who had been affected. Some of their symptoms were mild. Some were severe. Some of the kids had suffered so much brain damage that they couldn't finish school tests anymore, or even remember what they had learned. Some had tried to soothe the depression or rage they felt after their brain injuries by turning to drugs or alcohol. Some of them had to be placed in special classes at school because they could no longer keep up with the work.

Norval remembered the blank looks on Arnie's face during the English quiz and when Jerome had been accusing him of drug use. It was almost as if he hadn't understood what was being said to him.

With a worried sigh, Norval watched another video. This one was on something called secondary impact syndrome.

When the brain is healing itself from a concussion
, the narrator said,
a second hit could cause a massive swelling in the brain. The secondary impact could be as slight as a mild knock to the head. It sets off a reaction even more severe than the brain's reaction to the original hard hit.

Norval sat back in his chair, stunned.

A secondary impact concussion could cause death.

Arnie had been hit hard several times in the last few weeks alone. Who knew how many times he'd been hit before that?

Norval picked up his cell and called Arnie. “Arnie, do one thing for me,” he said when Arnie picked up. “Go to
BIAV.net
.” Norval had found the site after clicking around YouTube. It was the Brain Injury Association of Virginia's website. “Just read some of the stuff on there, okay? I think you really need to consider sitting out.”

Arnie started to curse. “You just don't get it, do you, Norval? If you say anything about this to the coach, you and me are going to have a big problem.”

“Don't be that way, Arnie,” Norval said. “Come on. Be smart. We've been friends for years—you've got to trust me on this.”

“Why should I, Norval? You've always been jealous of me.”

“J-j-jealous?” Norval sputtered. “Are you crazy?”

“You heard me,” Arnie said. “Jealous.” Without another word, he hung up the phone.

Norval sat there, stunned. Arnie really was losing it.

He felt angry, devastated. Arnie's words had hurt him. And staying angry would be easier than staying hurt. Norval was done with Arnie, he decided. From that moment on, he didn't care what happened to Arnie Johnson.

A

rnie was back in school the next day, but he kept away from Norval until they passed each other in the hall before practice.

Norval tried to ignore Arnie, but Arnie grabbed his arm. “Back off, man,” Norval growled.

“Hey, listen to me Norval,” Arnie said. “I've got to talk to you.”

Norval stopped to face him. “Make it fast.”

“I don't blame you for being mad, okay? I've been acting like a jerk to everybody lately. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm sorry about last night.”

“It doesn't matter,” Norval said.

“No. I feel bad. Really. You're making too big a deal out of this concussion thing, though. I don't want to be benched. There are only a few weeks left of the season. I'll get better after that.”

Norval looked at Arnie. The guy seemed really sincere and… scared. Norval couldn't hold on to his anger when his friend looked so wrung out.

“I haven't said anything to Coach Green. And I won't. Why don't you say you're sick? Stay out of school for a while so you can get better,” Norval suggested.

“What am I going to say is wrong with me?”

“Say you have the flu. You're throwing up, aren't you?”

Arnie looked at the floor, as if considering Norval's words. But when he turned back to Norval, his face was twisted with anger. “You'd like that, huh?” Arnie snarled.

“What are you talking about?” Norval asked.

“You'd look pretty good to the Miller College scouts without me in the way. You could get with Lara.”

“That's crazy. I don't even like Lara,” Norval said. “I'm with Sadie.”

“That's not what Lara told me. She said you were hitting on her.”

“She was trying to make you jealous because you stood her up. She's probably mad that I blew her off. And anyway, we're friends. I'm not going to go after someone you're seeing,” Norval said. “Plus, I wouldn't do that to Sadie.”

“We're not friends,” Arnie yelled. “If you were my friend you wouldn't be trying to get me kicked off the team.”

“That's nuts, Arnie. You're losing it,” Norval said.

“I'm about to,” Arnie growled, and shoved Norval.

Coach Green came up and got between them. “What's the trouble here?”

Norval drew a deep breath. This was the moment. It was time to admit that he thought Coach was right—Arnie was suffering a number of concussion symptoms.

“I asked what the problem was,” Coach Green said.

“It's about a girl,” Norval told him. “He thinks I'm interested in his girlfriend, but I'm not.”

“Do you believe him?” the coach asked Arnie.

“I guess so,” Arnie said.

“No more fighting,” Coach Green said. “I'm not kidding. I'll bench you both.”

“We're cool,” Arnie assured him.

Coach nodded and walked down the hall.

When the coach was gone, Norval asked, “
Are
we cool?”

“No. We're not,” Arnie snapped. “But I'll make you a deal. Stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours.”

“Suit yourself,” Norval said. He didn't need to put up with any of Arnie's crazy mood swings. They had had been friends since grade school, and he hated to see their friendship end. But if that was how Arnie wanted it, there was nothing he could do.

– – – – –

Later, in the locker room, Coach Green approached Norval again. “What do you think? Is he all right to play?”

Norval came back at him, almost shouting. “Don't lay that on me—I can't make that call! I don't care what he does.”

“I didn't ask you to make the call. I'll do that. I just asked for your opinion,” the coach said. “I'm asking you what you think.”

“I think he's all right,” Norval said. Angry as he was, he wasn't going to be responsible for wrecking Arnie's dreams. “He's just nervous about getting a scholarship offer these days.”

“And about his girlfriend?”

“Yeah, and that. But he's got it all wrong about me and her.”

Coach Green stared at him for a long moment. “You're sure that's all it is? You're his friend. You know him better than I do.”

“I think so. Pretty sure. Yeah.”

Norval would never rat anyone out. That's not how he operated.

“Okay, then,” Coach Green said. “Thanks for your input. The rest is up to me.”

A

s play-offs began, the Titans found themselves once again playing the Hempstead Huskers. Kadeem addressed the team in the locker room before everyone headed out to the field.

“Arnie, Norval. I've heard rumors that they're going to come after you two hard. Arnie, you keep running interference for Norval. But I want the rest of you guys watching Arnie. Look alert. I don't want him getting creamed out there. He's one of our fastest guys, and we need him.”

Arnie smiled as Kadeem recognized his speed.

Norval was sure that he and Kadeem shared the same concerns about Arnie. “Have you spoken to Coach?” he asked as they prepared to leave the locker room.

“Not yet,” Kadeem admitted. “Somehow I just can't bring myself to do it.”

“Me neither,” Norval said.

“We'll try to cover him as best we can, keep him from getting hit,” Kadeem said. “Want to make an agreement? If he goes down again this game, we talk to the coach afterward. Okay?”

Norval was glad at the suggestion. Lying to the coach was starting to bother him. There were only a few more games left in the season. If they could cover Arnie, keep him from getting hit, then he'd have the time to recover. If that was impossible, they'd have him sidelined. Even if talking to Coach didn't feel right, they'd have to do it.

“Definitely,” Norval agreed. “That's what we have to do.”

The Huskers tackled Arnie again and again during the first two quarters. More than once, Norval and Kadeem exchanged worried glances. If the Huskers were serious about targeting Arnie, there was no way to completely protect him.

Arnie wasn't making it easy for them, either. He fumbled the ball twice, and he wasn't running at his usual speed. He was off his game, even though his teammates were doing their best to pick up the slack.

Coach Green called a time-out. “Johnson, I want you to sit out,” he said.

Arnie threw his arms wide, and Norval waited for the explosion.

“I can play, Coach,” Arnie said calmly. “There's nothing wrong with me. Seriously.”

Coach Green squinted, scrutinizing Arnie. His expression seemed to soften. “Sit out for a while. I'll decide if I'm going to put you in later.”

Kadeem and Norval looked to each other with relief. Coach Green had made the call, and it was the right one.

The game was tight as halftime approached, with the Titans trailing the Huskers by a few points. Coach Green pulled Arnie's replacement out of the game. “Get in there, Johnson,” he said.

“Yes, sir, Coach,” Arnie said, putting his helmet on. “You won't regret it.”

When play resumed, Kadeem passed the ball to Norval, who zigzagged his way down the field. Arnie flanked him as the Southside fans cheered wildly.

A Husker defender appeared at Norval's side. Then three defensive players ran into view nearby. Jerome dashed between them and Norval. The Hempstead players flanked Jerome on both sides, then passed him, heading for Norval. Norval saw an open player in a Southside jersey—Arnie. He grimaced and lateralled him the football.

Arnie snagged the ball over the head of a defender.

Instantly the Husker defense crossed the field toward Arnie. Two more defenders appeared to Arnie's right. The five of them brought Arnie down at the thirty-yard line and piled on as the ref blew his whistle.

Norval remembered Coach's words from earlier:
If one player runs into another player at full speed, that's the same as getting hit by a car going forty miles an hour
. Was this equal to five cars?

The Hempstead players got up and headed back toward their teammates. Norval waited for Arnie to rise—and he did. Slowly. But rather than joining the other Titans, he just stood there.

Norval ran up to Arnie. “Are you okay?”

Arnie didn't seem to even hear him.

“Arnie!”

Still Arnie didn't respond.

“Can you see me?” Norval asked him.

Another whistle blasted. The coaches had called time-out. Coach Green and Coach Gannon were crossing the field toward them.

“You're… jumping,” Arnie murmured. “Everything is jumping.” He bent forward and vomited through his facemask.

“Come on,” Coach Green said with calm firmness, and he put his arm around Arnie's shoulders. “Let's get you to the bench. ”

This time Arnie didn't argue. He let Coach Green steer him off the field.