The Coach's Chance Encounter

Eddy McCants rolled the rack of basketballs back into the athletic storage room at Liddell County High School. After coaching the varsity boys to the final four in the state tournament last season, he had a good feeling that his team would make it at least as far this time around because he had three returning starters. The six-foot-one-inch light-skinned man walked into his office and waited for his assistant coach. He propped his size twelve feet up on his desk. He and Coach Jones discussed this afternoon’s practice and their strategy to push the guys even harder tomorrow.

Eddy checked his phone and replied quickly to a text from Suzanne, his wife of 16 years, agreeing to pick up dog food for their son’s Toy Fox Terrier. Then, he scanned the list of recent calls and noted a missed one from a number he did not recognize. He pressed the button to listen to voicemail and was greeted by the grandmother of his lone sophomore player. She was concerned about her ‘gran-baby’s’ slipping academic performance.

“Hello Mrs. Gandy! This is Coach McCants,” he said when she answered the phone.
“Oh yes. Thanks for calling me back. Jabaar isn’t doing his homework. I need to know can you help.”
“Yes ma’am. I’ll speak with him tomorrow. And, I’ll follow-up with all his teachers,” he offered.
“I was really hoping you could stop by tonight.”
“Well, I uh…Yes I can. What’s the address?”
“2424 West Piedmont Avenue,” she quickly peeled off.
Coach McCants scribbled on a pad, “I’ll see you in a few.”
“Well, I’m at work at the nursing home, but Jabaar should be there. I appreciate it coach. I gotta get back to work now.”

Eddy hung up the phone then fired off a text to Suzanne letting her know he would be slightly delayed due an unforeseen player crisis. After many years of marriage to the passionate coach, she was unfazed by his sudden change of plans to offer guidance and mentoring to one his players – many of whom had few, if any, positive male role models in their lives. The assistant district attorney walked into the kitchen to fix a plate for her husband which she wrapped in foil and left in the oven.