Chapter 132: Awards
*Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi*
The state awards were always held in the civic center. There was a dinner and then a guest speaker before the awards ceremony. JD didn’t remember the state doing anything for baseball when Jaxon was in high school. But then again, he probably wasn’t paying attention.
Or it was the fact that the school had never even made it past the second round of playoffs.
But for swimming, individuals could qualify and did not have to be on a team. In fact, Dean’s former team had two individuals competing. When they first saw her, they were happy to see her. But then they saw that she was with JD and his team, and the two former teammates ignored her.
“Dean?” Coach Williams said as he approached her.
She turned and faced her former coach and JD tightened his grip around her waist.
“I wanted to let you know that I understand why you changed schools.” The coach said with a sad smile. “There’s no hard feelings and if you still need a coach over summer, I’m more than happy to help.”
Dean blinked back her tears. “Thank you.” She whispered.
“You’re welcome.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I know I already told you, but I’m really sorry about your mom. She was a great woman. Everything that you do, makes her proud.”
He smiled at her and then looked over at the two swimmers from his team. “Don’t worry about them.” he turned back to Dean who was now tucked against JD’s chest. “They have the maturity of a snowball. And half of its attention span. Do what you need to do for Dean.”
Dean nodded and JD offered a hand to the coach. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Coach said shaking his hand. “Edison is losing a hell of a relay team when you three graduate.”
JD laughed. “Coach offered to create a five-year plan but none of us are willing.”
“College?”
“Navy for me. Deon is going to West Point and Craig is headed to either Harvard or Ole Miss.”
Reese walked over with Helen next to him. “Coach.”
“Reese.” The men shook hands and shared a smile. “Just telling our girl that I understand why she left me.”
“A change is good from time to time.” Reese grinned. “This is Helen, JD’s mom.”
“I don’t remember seeing you here before.” Coach admitted. “But I’ve seen him here before.”
Shame filled Helen as she thought about how Bob would not allow her to go. *Don’t embarrass the boy.* Bob’s words still echoed around her head.
“No,” JD reached over and squeezed his mom’s hand. “But she’s here for my most important one.”
Looking up, she smiled at her son.
“That’s true.” Jaxon agreed as he stepped up to the group with his arm around Bunny.
“This is my brother, Jaxon,” JD introduced them, “and his partner, Bunny.”
He shook Jaxon’s hand and then Bunny’s. “Pleasure to meet you all.”
The emcee for the night asked that everyone take their seats, and everyone moved to their tables. JD and Dean sat with the team while the rest of the family sat at a neighboring table with Deon’s mom. They chatted amicably through the chicken dinner.
Jolene and Neo arrived after the salad was served, just as they were bringing out the smothered chicken. She walked over and hugged JD and Dean before sitting between Reese and Neo. Two IGYS guards stood at the entrances, not drawing any attention to themselves.
As dessert was served, the guest speaker stood up to present his speech. As the Olympic swimmer spoke about starting off on a high school team, the room remained quiet. After finishing her mousse, Dean rested her head on JD’s shoulder. Coach Jenkins rolled her eyes at them before she turned away.
They were good at school and practice and kept the public displays to a minimum. And she was not here as part of the team. Besides, if she got onto them, she’d have to say something to Craig. And with his girlfriend doing the same thing, he was behaving and not in trouble.
Shelly was nowhere to be found, for which the coach would be eternally grateful. And Elizabeth kept Craig on a very short leash.
After the speech, the awards were presented. And then the state sponsored and statewide scholarships. Trophies were scattered around the room when the emcee took to the podium again after the last presenter. He looked out at the crowd and met Reese’s eyes.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you will give me just one more moment of your time. We have one more item of business. Mr. Reese, Miss Coppell.”
Reese stood up and offered his hand to Dean. She accepted it and let him pull her to her feet. As they made their way to the front, JD turned to look at his mom. Helen simply smiled at him.
“Hi, my name is Owen Reese, and this is my niece, Denise Coppell. She is a sophomore at Edison in Morgan City. Her mother, Mary Ellis was my sister and gave her life earlier this year in Syria with Doctors Without Borders. Dean said that she wanted something to honor her mother with. Mary had also been an avid swimmer in school and received a swimming scholarship for school.”
“We considered a college scholarship and when I spoke with the president of the states swim association, he made another suggestion and I spoke with Dean about it.”
“In memory of my sister, we are establishing a Team Grant. This grant can be used to pay for any equipment and fees, transportation and lodging for the students to be able to compete. With this ability to compete at a local, regional, state and national level, we hope to open doors not just for one student, but for many.”
He looked down at Dean who nodded, and he stepped back so she could stand behind the podium.
“Receiving the first annual Mary Ellis Team Grant, is Foster Independent School District.”
The coach from Foster sat in absolute shock. None of his kids had been able to qualify for state because they could not afford the entry fees, travel and lodging. The president had called him and stated that he needed to be there. When he objected, he was told that lodging had been taken care of and then a neighboring district called and offered for them to ride with them.
As the room erupted in applause and everyone stood, the coach slowly made his way to the stage. In a state of shock, he stepped up and accepted the envelope and shook Reese’s hand. Then he hugged Dean and gave her his condolences.
“Just…” Dean took a calming breath. “Just make sure her name lives on. Do good. That’s what she would tell me. If you have a choice, always do good.”
“That’s good advice.” The coach said as Reese nudged him towards the microphone.
“I honestly don’t know what to say.” He admitted. “This was not what I was expecting. When Coach Jones called and offered to let me ride with him, I thought nothing of it. We went to college together. But now I wonder if he knew a little something.”
He looked at the envelope. “This certainly will open a lot of doors for my kids. I’ve got some great kids, great athletes, that just don’t have the means that some of the other schools do. And as we all know, swimming doesn't get the support that baseball and football do. Thank you.”
There was another round of applause as the three of them stepped off the stage. The emcee took over and closed out the evening.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” the coach from Foster asked, “how much is it?”
“For the next school year, any swim or dive competition that your kids qualify for,” Reese grinned as Helen walked over to them and wrapped Dean up in a strong hug, “call the number on the paperwork and speak with Willow. She will make all the arrangements and take care of them.”
“Willow?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.” Reese confirmed. “She’ll take care of everything for you. You can call me on Monday, but if you’ll excuse me. This has been hard on her.”
“I understand.”
Reese walked over and wondered if he should intrude where Helen, Jolene and Bunny had Dean wrapped up in a giant hug. JD just shrugged at him as Jaxon and Neo just grinned.
“Where’s Ty?” Reese asked.
“He’s on shift.” Jaxon answered. “I recorded everything for him.”
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