“You have no idea,” he said swallowing his grief. “I don’t mean to rush you but I’d like to talk about this and get back with my wife and son. I’m hoping that he’ll make it and still be there when I get back.”
“Call Kennedy and the others,” said Kate to Sophia Ann. She nodded.
“I’m sorry. Who is Kennedy?” asked Graham.
“Graham, we have some of the best surgeons and specialists in the world here. With your permission, we’d like to get your son’s medical records and see what we can do for him.”
“B-but you haven’t heard about what’s going on? Why would you do that?”
“Because your son deserves the chance to have a full life and we’re going to try and make that happen,” said Kate. “Come with me. They’re ready for you.”
“How did you know they were ready for me?” he asked with suspicion.
“I just know these things,” she smiled.
As they walked down the long hallway toward the auditorium, Graham Henderson took note of the beautiful photographs of the wildlife and scenery of Louisiana. He recognized the photos as those of someone he admired greatly. Ivy Brooks Nolan.
“Your taste in artwork is exceptional,” he said stopping to view one of the photos. “Ivy Nolan is world-famous.”
“Yes,” smiled Kate, “and a member of our family.”
She opened the doors to the auditorium and all eyes turned to see the father standing in the doorway. What gutted them all was the expression on his face. The expression they understood completely and felt to their very bones as fathers, brothers, husbands, and more.
“Mr. Henderson, please have a seat,” said Luke pointing to the chair in front of the room.
“It’s just Graham,” he said in an exhausted breath.
“Graham,” he nodded. “I’m Luke, this is Cam, Hex, and Eric. We’re the senior leaders of this team but everyone is more than capable of leading.”
The man looked out at the dozens of faces and saw their pity, their pain for him and his family.
“I-I don’t know what to do,” he sobbed, losing control of his bravado. He ducked his head and Eric kneeled beside him, gripping his shoulder.
“You’re doing the right thing by being here, Graham. We’re going to help you and your son if at all possible. It would help us if you could tell us the story of how you ended up here.” He sniffed, wiping his nose on a tissue and nodded.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to break down.”
“It’s understandable,” said Cam. “Almost every man here is a father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and definitely a friend. We get it.”
“Julius, that’s my son, he’s always been a great athlete. In his junior year of high school he made the decision to focus on football and track. We were fine with that. He’s a great kid and made good decisions. He was an honor roll student.
“Anyway, some of the other boys were using this private coach who said he could get the kids into the next level of competition. Julius had a scholarship to a junior college to play football and he was thrilled about it. So were we. But this coach kept approaching him, telling him not to be satisfied for some weak pathetic JuCo program. JuCo is what they call junior college programs.” The men all nodded at him.
“What is this coaches name?” asked Eric.
“Butch Williams. He has a website touting all the players he’s pushed into big colleges and even on to the pros. Julius, Julius is a good kid. He’s never done anything wrong before. His football players he forces to compete in powerlifting competitions, telling them that it will improve their game.”
“Except it won’t,” said Trevon. The man stared at the huge man standing in the back of the room. “I’m sorry, Graham. It won’t. I played Division I college football and in the pros. Powerlifting and football require very different motions and disciplines. It can sometimes prevent kids from being able to move effectively on the field.”
“I wish we’d known that sooner. Last weekend Julius was competing at a powerlifting competition with other kids in his college. His nose started bleeding and Coach Williams was screaming at him that he should have listened and ‘taken more’.”
“Take more what?” asked Luke.
“I don’t know. He wouldn’t answer me. He called my son a pussy, a weakling. He screamed at everyone. The judge jumped in and told him to leave that he was disqualified from being at the event. But it was too late for Julius. He collapsed, required CPR and it was hours later we learned what had happened. Massive organ failure due to steroid abuse.
“His mother and I had no idea. None. He was working out so much we thought the growth of his body was normal. I feel like such a failure as a father. Now my son may die.” There was shuffling at the door and several people stepped inside.
“He may but it won’t be because we didn’t try to save him.”