Read Online The Fast and the Furriest by Andy Behrens - Free Book Online

Kevin couldn’t catch him. Or anyone else.
    “Pugh, how did your sister end up with all the athletic—”
    “That’s
enough
, Ainsworth,” said Coach Z, who was suddenly walking behind Kevin. “We’ll see you on Monday.”
    “But, coach, I was jus—”
    “Good-bye, Ainsworth,” said Coach Z sternly. Brad Junior jogged back to his friends.
    “Thanks, Coach,” Kevin said quietly.
    “Sure, kid.” Coach Z walked at Kevin’s side, keeping his pace. “Hot out here, eh?”
    Kevin shrugged. “Guess so,” he said glumly.
    “Can I ask you something, Pugh?”
    Kevin shrugged again. “Okay.”
    “Why are you out here, exactly?”
    Involuntarily, Kevin laughed. He quickly decided that was not an appropriate response.
    “To, um … well, to learn certain fundamentals of, um … football.”
    “Really?”
asked Coach Z. “Because your dog seems more interested in what we’re doing than you do.”
    Kevin saw Cromwell sitting attentively in the shade. This time he said nothing in response. Coach Z continued.
    “In real football, Pugh, people who lose focus can get hurt. You can’t play with indifference.”
    “Yes, sir,” said Kevin.
    “So I’ve gotta ask it again, Pugh.” The coach’s voice was oddly serene. “Why are you out here?”
    “My dad wants me out here,” blurted Kevin.
    He wasn’t sure it was wise to admit that, but it certainly felt good.
    “Ah,” said Coach Z. “Well, yeah, you play like someone who’s out here because he
has
to be, not because he wants to be.”
    “Ouch,” said Kevin. “But yeah. Have to be. There’s not much wanting.”
    Okay, that felt awesome, too
, he thought.
    “What are we gonna do about this, Pugh?”
    “Well, my plan was to just suffer quietly. I can’t quit.” Kevin fanned himself with his shirt.
    “Pugh, you’re too young to spend all your time on things you don’t like.”
    “I couldn’t agree more,” said Kevin.
    Coach Z stopped walking.
    “What are we going to do about this, Pugh?” Coach Z said again.
    “Nothing,” said Kevin flatly. “I’m not allowed to quit.”
    Coach Z sighed. “That’s admirable,” he said. “Really.” He lifted his Scherzer cap, ran a hand through his thinning hair, and then repositioned the hat. “Can I just level with you, Pugh? Just straight-out level with you?”
    “Okay,” said Kevin.
    “And you’ll keep it between us?”
    “Sure,” replied Kevin.
    “Pugh, I can’t keep losing. Every day in these games it’s the same thing: loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss. That’s all we do. We lose. And when Coach Glussman is up there in the bleachers, he’s not just evaluating you kids. He’s evaluating
us
, his coaches.And this is getting to be a problem, Pugh.” He exhaled disgustedly. “I was a shoo-in to be Scherzer’s offensive coordinator this year, until this camp started. And now we’ve scored exactly six points in six games
—six
games! And the teams are set for the duration of camp. And every kid has to play. And I’m stuck with …” He caught himself. “What I mean to say is that …”
    “… you’re stuck with me.”
    Coach Z stared at Kevin. “More or less, yes. The losing has to stop.”
    “You could trade me to Coach Dombrowski’s team.”
    “Oh, I’ve offered a trade,” said Coach Z, shaking his head.
    “You
did
?” asked Kevin, slightly offended in spite of the circumstances.
    “Actually, it was more of a gift. I tried to package you with Alex.”
    “He’s our best player!”
    “Yeah, but you were kind of the sticking point in negotiations, Pugh.”
    Kevin shifted his feet. He looked down at his scuffed cleats, then back at his coach. “Sorry,” he said, simply and pathetically.
    “One of two things needs to happen, Pugh, because there are careers at stake.” Coach Z placed hisright hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “Either you need to decide that you want this—that you actually
want
to be here, that you want to play well—or you need to tell your folks that