Chapter 144: Michael's Transformation
The redneck behind them compared the size difference between the two and realized they couldn't beat the other guy even if they brought their son, who played varsity football, into it. Finally, they kept quiet.
"Ron, what are you doing here?" Leigh Anne exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Ron, but then grew wary when she saw the group of nerdy-looking guys following him. "Are these your friends?"
"Yes, they're all my buddies, scientists from Caltech. Maybe they can tutor SJ sometime." Ron smirked at the innocent and adorable boy.
SJ protested, "Ron, you can't do that to me!"
His objection was futile, as Leigh Anne turned his head away. "SJ, face forward and watch the game. Keep recording with the camera. Come on."
"Good evening, boys. Go ahead, sit with us," Leigh Anne said, inadvertently pushing Penny, who was clinging to Ron's arm, aside to sit next to SJ.
The seating arrangement from left to right was now SJ, Penny, Leonard, Rajesh, and Howard.
Ron, sandwiched between Leigh Anne and Mr. Tuohy, sat to Howard's right.
"Um... good evening, Mr. Tuohy," Ron said awkwardly. If he still couldn't read Leigh Anne's subtle warning, he'd be an idiot.
"You mean that girl's also a Caltech scientist?" Mr. Tuohy smiled knowingly.
"You mean Penny? No, not exactly. She's a server at the Cheesecake Factory, my neighbor," Ron explained hastily. "A very respectable girl."
"She's attractive," Leigh Anne said bluntly.
"She really is. That's why my friend who does experimental physics is so smitten with her. Look, that guy with the glasses."
Following Ron's gaze, the couple saw Leonard unpacking nachos and sharing them with Penny, and their concerns were instantly eased.
Ron breathed a sigh of relief. While he had no romantic intentions toward the Tuohy family, the relationship between their families made it difficult to speak directly, so he could only deflect.
During their conversation, two more possessions were played, and Michael's team still couldn't advance more than a few yards, forcing them to punt to the visiting team.
On fourth down, the opponent had nearly pushed the line of scrimmage to the home team's goal line. Fortunately, it was time for another possession change, and Michael, in his green jersey, was back on the field.
However, a dirty play occurred during this possession.
As expected, the home team's drive was once again stopped less than two yards from the line of scrimmage, practically gaining no ground at all.
But the player who made the tackle—yes, the son of the loud-mouthed fan behind Ron—actually kicked Michael in the helmet after the whistle.
When the coach went to argue with the referee, he was even flagged for a 15-yard penalty! Their previous advances combined didn't even equal that distance!
"Oh my God, where did this ref come from? Doesn't he know this is Briarcrest's home field? Does he expect to walk off this field in one piece?" Ron shouted incredulously.
But Mr. Tuohy pulled him back to his seat. "This isn't the era when we played ball. I don't know why, but kids these days are losing their fire. Back in our day, that ref would be in trouble. Even then, he'd have at least gotten a broken nose.
But now..."
Mr. Tuohy glanced around and shook his head in disappointment. "They won't even throw a drink at the ref."
As soon as he finished speaking, a cup of Coke flew from the stands, nailing the referee square in the head.
"Bullshit! Go to hell! You're calling a rigged game!" Penny had suddenly stood up and was hurling profanities at the referee, using vocabulary that would make a sailor blush.
Leigh Anne quickly pulled SJ into her arms and covered his ears.
It turned out she was the one who had thrown the Coke. Penny had grabbed the one Leonard had just bought her and, without even taking a sip, dumped it all over the referee's head.
"I take back what I said. I'm starting to like this girl," Mr. Tuohy said with genuine admiration. "You said she works at the Cheesecake Factory? If she's looking for a career change, I'd like to offer her an assistant manager position."
"I'll pass that along," Ron nodded. If he remembered correctly, Penny would eventually leave that restaurant. Although her dream was to become an actress, she ended up working as a pharmaceutical sales rep.
Maybe this could be another option? Working for Mr. Tuohy seemed promising. Just in Tennessee alone, Mr. Tuohy's restaurant chain was on track to rival Applebee's, not to mention their expansion plans.
Penny's outburst shocked not only Mr. Tuohy but also the nerdy Leonard. He stammered apologies, but he didn't flee in terror, which was progress.
Inspired by Penny's boldness, the previously subdued and well-behaved crowd finally discovered this new form of protest. Everyone looked at their drinks, itching to join in.
Soon, there was a second cup, then a third, then a fourth...
"Damn it, look what you started!" The head referee, fed up with the situation, dragged the official who made the bad call under the tent and quickly blew his whistle to reverse the decision.
"Yeah!" The stands erupted in celebration.
On the field, Michael's eyes welled up as he watched his classmates cheering loudly and standing up for him. He wanted to do something for his beloved classmates and the coach who had protected him.
Like win this game.
"That kid is my player! I'll protect him like my own son, no matter what garbage you came from!" The coach continued pressuring the referee, but Michael embraced him.
"Don't worry, Coach, I've got this."
"Alright," the coach said, raising his hands to show he was backing down, and Michael returned to the field.
Despite the distance, Ron keenly noticed a change in Michael's demeanor. If he'd initially played simply because everyone expected him to, now it was because he wanted to.
He didn't want to let down the people who had helped and protected him.
"Even though we'll probably lose this game, it might be a valuable learning experience for Michael," Mr. Tuohy sighed.
But Ron offered a different perspective: "Just wait and see, Mr. Tuohy, I think the real game is about to begin~"
Tuohy remained skeptical, clearly having given up hope for the game.
The whistle blew.
The home team snapped the ball, and just as the ball went from the quarterback to the running back, he suddenly realized the path ahead had opened up! Michael had pancaked the opposing defender and actually used his massive frame to bulldoze a lane.
With a clear running lane ahead, what else could he do? Of course, he took off sprinting!
(End of Chapter)
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