"Thanks sir, it really is a dream come true," Eric said and feel himself blush with pride. "I really intend to be the best team captain this school has ever seen."
Coach laughed and put his beefy arm around Eric's shoulder.
"I know how you feel. It is an honor and a challenge and I know you will do a great job... and don't pay any attention to the stories about a team captain curse."
Now Eric remembered. There were these stories about how being the team captain of the football team had big consequences. There were all these stories about bad things happening, not always right away. It might be two years from now or ten years from now. Jim Swenson, the team captain ten years ago had been killed in a plane crash. Josh Quinn from last year broke his collarbone in the last game. Somehow these random events got turned into some kind of voo doo. It was all silly,
"I'm not worrying." Eric told the coach. "Bad things happen to everybody from time to time. Being the team captain won't matter at all. Besides, weren't you team captain right here at Center twenty years ago? Looks like you survived the curse all right."
Coach laughed. "Yeah," he said. "I did all right if you ignore not getting admitted to Notre Dame, busting my knee joints in college and growing a fat beer belly. I've been blessed."
"You had some bad breaks, but not way you can blame life on a curse." Eric wasn't going to think about a curse. "Besides, it all brought you back here to Center High and the great victories while you've been coach. You can't knock that."
"It's been good," Coach admitted. "Still, I can't help thinking about how things might have been different. If I hadn't been picked as team captain."
"You couldn't have done anything different. It's just fate."
"Well, that's just it." Coach told him solemnly. There was something. I got so focused on the team during my senior year that I kind of slacked off taking care of myself. I wasn't working out on top of the team workouts and I wasn't eating enough to keep my weight up. I got kind of light and got knocked around on the field. I think if I'd been 205 or so instead of 178, I'd have gotten that scholarship to Notre Dame. I can't help thinking that it would have changed my life. "
Coach got serious and looked Eric up and down.
"You keeping yourself in good shape? Eating enough? You look a little light. Don't want you to suffer my curse."
Eric laughed. "Don't worry about me, Coach.
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