Go for the Juggler

Late, always late and it was my fault. We hurried into the packed stadium taking our seats without the customary greetings. All eyes were focused on the field below. We heard a roar from the crowd, over one hundred thousand people gathering in one place to watch some football. The excitement from hearing it made our haste to get seated leave me breathless but not him.

“Go for the jugular!”

We had sat down and he heard from the man in front that Petrosky had made a good catch for fifteen yards. Bobbled it a bit like he seems to do but he caught it. That sophomore tight end seemed to attract balls but not defenders. I froze for a moment after hearing him say it and thought, “He doesn’t mean it.” I looked at his face and could see that he was sincere. This remark was so unlike him. I had to find out.

I said, “What did you say?”

No answer as the ball had just been snapped. He was engrossed in the play and had not heard me. I still could not fathom why he, a peaceful, caring man, would say such a thing even in jest. We were OSU football fans and that was our topic du jour when we were together. I was quite happy. Our engagement made me feel like I really knew him. But now I had my doubts. I knew he couldn’t take it back. I wanted him to make jest of it, tell me he was just kidding. The roar of my mind overcame the crowd noises as I thought, “How can I tell him that shunning violence is my defense against it? Not to acknowledge a thing doesn’t make it go away. Being free from it was an American myth. Like kind came together, however, and you could find safe havens like this city. ”

“Honey, What did you say just before the quarterback threw that pass to Petrosky?” I asked him.

“What was it you said just before the ball was snapped?”

He leaned close to me and looked at me with a smile.

“Go for the Juggler! Looks like my nickname for him is wrong! That was the first time I’d seen him reach out and catch with his fingertips,” he said now in a stage whisper.

The rest of the sunny bright, cool, fall afternoon I just wanted to hug him. My dark thoughts gone and a new respect for his naiveté came over me. He never saw the similarity to a killing epithet. The game was exciting and the Buckeyes won 24 to 17.