Running Back

When Carthage fell, when Rome fell, bacchanalian chaos reigned in the streets. When Hailey’s Comet streaked through the sky, people fell into the arms of strangers.

Since this was on a slightly smaller scale, I ran and watched cat videos.

A week after Mike O’Co

I waved at my computer. “This cat’s trying to eat a watermelon. It’s adorable.”

She reached over and closed my laptop case. “Okay. No. You’re not watching cat videos for the rest of your life.”

“But I looked up things that make people feel better when depressed, and this came up.”

She shook her head. “You have to focus on the positives. Like, maybe we don’t sublet your room, but instead you stay here and we have the best. Summer. Ever.”

“Oh, I’m not staying here,” I said. “I’ve decided that I’m still going to Ireland.”

Cam’s eyes narrowed. “What? How does that make any sense?”

I shrugged. “Jeremy’s in Ireland. All the other specialists in our field are there. And even if I can’t dig at Kilkarten, I can still go look at the land, especially the public property surrounding the farm, and look at old records that are only available locally. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing.”

“That’s stupid. You’re going to go there and stare at the land you can’t excavate? It’s going to drive you crazy.”

“Probably,” I agreed. “But it’s better than doing nothing at all.”

Two weeks after my failed meeting with Michael O’Co

I’d been looking forward to it for months. We’d talked about going for the past several years, but since tickets were distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis the night before the Draft began, it took some organization. This year, though, Peter pla

I was thrilled to see my brothers. I had bets placed on which teams would draft which players. But right before I was supposed to go meet my brothers to line up to enter Radio City Music Hall, nerves hit me hard.

“I’m just not feeling well,” I told Cam. “Maybe I should stay home.”

Cam looked up from her computer. “You’re kidding right?”

I shrugged. “I think I have a cold.”

“Hey.” Cam closed her laptop case. “Is this about O’Co

I shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah. Just—what if he’s there?”

“You mean, what if he’s up on stage and you’re in the audience, so there’s actually no way of ru

I nodded several times.

“And didn’t you say most of the players are showing up on the second night? So maybe he won’t even be there tonight.”

“Okay. You’re right. I’m going, and I’m going to have a good time. And I’m going to meet Leopards and get— Oh my God.” I whirled back around. “What if I’m getting autographs and end up asking O’Co

Cam’s mouth quirked. “Or, alternatively, you could ask him for a signature and present the excavation contract.”

I stared at her. “Who were you in your last life? Machiavelli?”

She snorted. “Please. He just wrote The Prince to be satirical. He was really a good guy.”

“You keep telling yourself that.” I tipped my hat at her, gathered my things, and left.

I hadn’t been to Radio City Music Hall since some long ago Christmas, and my overwhelming memory was of long legs and camels. (While the camels also had long legs, I mainly remembered the human variety). No camels were present today, but it remained another sort of circus: of the media, the fans, the celebrities and players and coaches and managers and scouts. Excitement bubbled up in my chest as soon as we entered the concert hall, and the chatter of thousands filled the space. People in jerseys and nametags were everywhere we turned, and every so often we caught glimpses of people who usually lived in our televisions. I saw two famous coaches within the first twenty minutes and could have died happy.

The glitz didn’t just come from the people, but from the goods on display. We saw Lombardi trophies and Super Bowl rings. Ba

People packed the auditorium. We had seats, but around us others stood. The screens before us flashed with images, and the countdown began. It ended in a burst of cheers and applause and music, and then the NFL Commissioner walked out onstage. After a short speech, he officially opened the draft.

Round One began at 8:00 PM, but the Leopards, as one of the NFL’s best teams, didn’t pick until close to last. Selection order depended on rankings, and the lowest rated got the first position, so last year’s Super Bowl Champion was dead last, while the teams that didn’t reach the playoffs received the first twenty picks.

Eight million people watched from around the country with us as futures and teams were made. I liked theater, but I liked the draft more. Here, we got to see the faces of the draft picks as they finally made it professionally. The top college picks waited in the green room, looking strange in their tailored black or gray suits instead of uniforms and helmets, and listened with (theoretically) more anxiety than the rest of us for their names to be called. When they were, they strode onstage to accept their jersey for their new team.

My brothers and I speculated with each other and the people around us. We groaned as our mock drafts were destroyed and cheered when we accurately predicted the future. Qui

When we left, I was exhausted, happy and satisfied. I’d spent time with my brothers, seen some amazing people in real life, and caught nary a glance of Michael O’Co

We couldn’t see the second day of the Draft—the tickets had been given out to fans at ten the night before, while we were inside watching the first rounds—but that didn’t prevent us from gathering outside Radio City Music Hall on the second night as well. Today more current players were in attendance, but I was more relaxed given yesterday’s lack of conflict.

Of course, that’s how it always is, isn’t it?

Peter and I were angling for a better view of the red carpet, which had been set up outside of Brooks Brothers—Evan and Qui

Most of that dissipated when he didn’t appear, especially because the excitement roused by the players who did appear was high. Ryan Carter was one of the best quarterbacks in the League, and wide-receiver Malcolm Lindsey had set several records.

They were also both incredibly attractive, but I didn’t mention that with my three brothers beside me. Besides, I thought they both had girlfriends.