||MY LEFT FOOT||

|CAMI

"Hey Grace!" Eddie greeted the brunette as I exited the back kitchen with a steak and a some mashed potatoes. There's some benefits of being close with the lunch ladies and knowing how to cook. "Meatloaf and peas. Nice. You know what I do? Sometimes I take my corn nibblets and- will you go out with me?"

"No," Grace declined.

"Well, now you don't get to find out what I do with my corn nibblets," Eddie told her.

"Dude! You gotta let it go with Grace, man. You're just not her type," Jerry said as he and Eddie walked to the table with the others.

"What's her type?" Eddie asked.

"Oh you know, guys that do things big. The- the type of guy that stands out in a crowd," Jerry shrugged.

"Hello? Have you seen my new scarf?" Eddie asked. "It looks like a snake." I looked at my plate, realizing I forgot my dessert, which I also made. It was a coffee, vanilla pudding with brownie bits in it. I walked into the back to see Marge and Greta.

"Hey Marge! Hey Greta! I forgot dessert," I told them.

"That's what I thought, so I made you a bowl," Greta told me, handing my a bowl.

"Aww thanks. See ya tomorrow," I waved, exiting the kitchen.

"Or Cami!" I heard Milton say, pointing at me.

"What's 'or Cami'?" I asked, taking my normal seat in between Kim and Jack.

"You have actual food," Jack gaped, literally drooling on my steak. The boys and Kim all reached for my food, making me slap their hands away.

"I spent all free period on this meal and I intend on eating it!" I exclaimed. "Kim can have half the steak. I'm probably not gonna eat all of it anyway," I shrugged, cutting the steak in half, sliding it to Kim.

"Meanie," Jack mumbled.

"Here, you can have this," I handed the boys my fruit cup. "Or you can join the football team and get all the food over there. The quarterback moved away so they're holding tryouts tomorrow."

"I think we all know there's someone sitting right at this table that could replace him," Milton pointed out.

"If I have to," Eddie laughed.

"I guess I do have the muscles," Jerry nodded.

"I was talking about Jack you toads," Milton clarified.

"I would love to, but between school and karate and I just got a turtle. It's a whole thing," Jack excused. "The walking it alone takes forever."

"Mhm," I sarcastically hummed.

"Jack you're the most athletic person we know. This school needs a quarterback," Milton tried to reason.

"And we need meat man. Cami is only sharing with Kim," Jerry also tried to reason.

"Dude, what part of 'got a turtle' do you not understand?" Jack asked.

"The part that you actually got a pet turtle," I deadpanned.

"I'll tell you what. I'll even go with you to the tryout for moral support," Milton offered.

"I'll go too. Might as well support my best boyfriend," I slipped. "Guy friend. I meant guy friend," I quickly corrected.

"Ok then," Jack dragged out. "Besides, it doesn't just work like that. They don't just let anyone try out for the football team."

"Coach Marmer!" Milton called to the passing coach. "Jack would like to tryout for-"

"-oh great Jack. We'll see you tomorrow at 3:30 then," Coach Marmer agreed.

"Wait, what just happened?" Jack asked.

"We'd support you by joining the pep squad this season, but, as you know, Grace kicked us off for no reason," Kim sighed, pointing between me and her as she finished her steak.

"You drop kicked our mascot," Milton pointed at Kim, "and you stole Grace's boyfriend."

"Ok, first, he came at me! And second, it's not my fault I'm hot and she's not," I defended. "I belong on that pep squad, front and center. And I'll say it, I liked to bein' looked at."

"Cami, Kim, you had your shot," Jerry breathily laughed. "K? Leave the pep to the professionals."

"You have pep?" Kim asked in a disbelieving tone.

"Oh I have pep sister," Jerry nodded. "Yo drum line, gimme a beat." The drums began this nice beat, perfect for chanting to. "S-E-A-F-O-R-D!"

"S-E-A-F-O-R-D!" the cafeteria repeated.

"Greatest school in history!" Jerry continued, settling on a shoulder ride.

"Greatest school in history!" we repeated.

"Show your spirit, let's march the hall!"

"Show you spirit let's march the hall!"

"Whoa whoa whoa I'm gonna hit the wall. I'm gonna hit the wall!" Jerry screamed before falling. He's got pep and a big bruise on his head.

•••

"Let's get goin' Jack! Hustle it up!" Milton ordered as he stood in the middle of the dojo in a hat and sunglasses. Jack came out in football gear, almost making me laugh. He doesn't look as great as I thought he would.

"Milton I'm just going down for a tryout. Do I really have to wear this?" Jack asked, annoyed.

"Wow," was all I could say. "Uh puh wow." I was interrupted by Milton's whistle.

He threw down a flag saying, "5 yards for a bad attitude, fella!"

"Sweet Moses, is it Halloween already? I gotta put out the raisins," Rudy sighed as he entered the room.

"No no no no no, Rudy, it's not Halloween. Jack's trying out for the football team," Milton corrected.

"Oh I played a little pigskin," Rudy nodded. "You're lookin' at the man responsible for the tackle around the world."

"Ok great."

"Yeah we gotta go."

"Don't wanna be late," we overlapped trying to get away.

"September 17th, city championship, Seaford up by 6, 10 seconds on the clock," Rudy stopped us. "Suddenly, Craten High's legendary full back Bronco Wanoonski, burst through the hole! As he raced for our end zone, I felt the weight of the city's dreams on my shoulders. I hit him so hard, he spit out his mouth piece, his teeth, and his pride!"

"So wait, you won the championship?" Jack asked.

"No, we forfeited. Apparently there's some rule you have to be on the team to make a tackle," Rudy answered.

"That's dumb," Jack agreed, but when he looked away his face said 'wow'. "Jack, I'm so happy you're going out for football. I want you to have something special." Rudy handed him something covered in a thin padding. Jack unwrapped it, revealing a mouth piece.

"Please tell me that's not-"

"-Bronco's mouth piece. I'd give it a quick boil," Rudy suggested making Jack drop the mouth piece and wipe his hand on his pants as Rudy ran away.

"Cami, Milton. I've gotta let you in on somethin'," Jack told us. "I can't throw a football."

"Can't or won't?" Milton asked.

"Can't," Jack answered.

"Can't or don't?"

"Can't."

"Can't or shan't?"

"I can't throw a football, Milton!" Jack exclaimed.

"Come on, Jack! I'm sure it's not that bad," Milton assured.

"You two better tell me how it goes, I'm goin' to the cheer tryouts. Again, I'm sorry I'm not able to support you at the tryouts, Jack," I apologized. "Good luck, though!"

•••

"Alright people, it's open tryouts for the pep squad which means we have to see everyone," Grace spoke, looking at me, Kim, and Jerry in disgust. "Oh it's our old friends Kim Crawford and Cami Martinez. Hide the mascot and your boyfriends."

"Ok, it's not my fault you're not as hot as me," I scoffed. "You just kicked me off the team for personal reasons! Isn't there a rule against that?"

"Alright Jerry," Grace ignored me. "You're up next. What're you going to do?"

"I'm gonna do two handsprings, hit the mini tramp, and come down with a perfect landing," Jerry spoke confidently. "In other words it's gonna be sweet and awesome. Or as I like to call it: Swawesome." Jerry performed the tricks perfectly, earning a am impressed look from the others until he lifted his arms. "Woo!" he whooped.

"Not gonna happen Jerry! And about your pits? Get help!" Grace gagged.

•••

4 Days Later...

"Dude, you missed the best part of the game. Milton drilled a 45 yarder right into the wind," Jack told Eddie as we all walked to the football area.

"Why do the good things always happen when I'm in the portapooper?" Eddie asked.

"Maybe it's cause you never go during halftime," I spoke suggestively.

"We're the uh we're the Krupnick party. He's meetin' us here," Jerry told the guy in front of the velvet ropes.

"We're with the Foot, hon," Kim clarified quickly, making the dude with the clip board open the ropes for us. We all filed in, gaping at the food. I'm used to the food, but the luxury of not having to make it was new to me.

"Hey, can you smell that?" Jack asked. "That's the smell of fancy."

"I made it grandma," Eddie told the sky. "I made it!"

"Thanks to Milton, we're in for a whole new life at school," Kim spoke shakily.

"You are not kidding," Jack agreed. "Mr. Bower gave me detention for riding my skateboard, but when I dropped Milton's name, poof. It went away."

"Oh that's nothin'," I scoffed. "Guess who made the pep squad?"

"I thought Grace wasn't gonna let you in," Eddie recalled.

"She wasn't, but Milton made a phone call and three spots magically opened up," I shrugged.

"All this one has to do is shave his pit poodles," Kim gestured to Jerry.

"I'm not doin' it," Jerry denied.

"Yes you are," me and Kim automatically countered.

"I told you I'm not doin' it," Jerry continued his stubbornness. We all started overlapping arguing words until me and Kim punch Jerry's biceps. "Ow. Fine," he squeaked.

"Alright everybody, I have used game socks!" I heard Milton say, along with string of 'Foot' chants. Milton took off his helmet, revealing his sweaty hair.

"Hey Milton. Coming from practice?" Jack guessed.

"No, history," Milton corrected making us look at him weird. "Russian Revolution really takes a lot out of me."

"Are you wearing one of my Uggs?" I asked.

"I sure am. When you have a loaded gun, you have to keep it in a holster, honey," Milton answered.  "Ooh. Shrimp cocktail. My favorite."

"Oh hey Milton, I came up with a really cool way to impress Grace," Eddie said. "All I need is to be the score board operator."

"I got ya," Milton assured. "Hey coach! Can my friend, Eddie, be our score board operator?"

"Well you mean this nerd?" Coach Marmer asked. "You got it, Foot."

"Hey Milton. Are you gonna make it to karate practice today?" Jack asked. Milton pulled out his phone, checking his calendar.

"I have a study group at 3, had to push that back due to an interview with the school paper. Sorry, not gonna happen," Milton shook his head. He's missing his study group? He loves his study group.

"Hey Milton. Team pictures. We gotta go," Coach Marmer told him.

"See you guys," Milton sighed, getting up. We all spoke terms of farewell as he left with his team.

"Oh ho. Just a little off the end there," Jerry suggested. "Yeah. Ooh. Perfect," Jerry nodded before taking the whole damn thing. I sighed, rolling my eyes. Of course he's gonna do that.

•••

"No! No! I can't do it! Please!" Jerry begged as we had him pinned down to wax his pits.

"Come on, stop being such a baby," Kim groaned.

"It's the only way she'll let you in," I shrugged.

"I think you made the right decision Jerry," Grace nodded. "Cami, grip it and rip it."

"I changed my mind, no grip, no rip, don't do it!" Jerry let out a deafening scream as I pulled out the hair, grimacing.

"I can't believe it. I didn't even put a dent in it," I said, looking at the hairful wax strips.

•••

We were cheering for the Whales at the game against Craten. "Milton Krupnick lines up for a 39 yarder, his third field goal of the game," the announcer announced. "Oh snap. And the kick is good!" We all cheered again at Milton's success. "That's a time out on the field."

"Ok, it's show time. I'm goin' up," Kim told Jerry as I lined up with Chris, the other male cheerleader, who was gonna lift me.

"Wait, what? What're you-" Jerry was cut off by Kim who started cheering with me.

"Give me an S!" we shouted.

"S!" the crowd shouted.

"Give me an E!" we screamed again.

"E!" the crowd repeated.

"Give me an A!" I screamed as Kim screamed,

"Give me a- help!" Kim fell into the marching band, getting her head stuck in a sousaphone. "When I get this thing off my head, you're dead Jerry!"

"What's he doing up there?" Grace asked me once I got off of Chris. I shrugged, but pointed at Eddie. I think he's gonna ask her out again.

"Grace!" the scorekeeper screamed. "Will you! Go out! With me?! No, not me! Him, Eddie!" The scorekeeper patted Eddie on the back causing him to fall and land with an impressive wedgie.

"Attention both sides, would you please direct your eyes to the scoreboard. Some kid named Eddie has given himself a massive wedgie," the announcer spoke making everyone laugh.

"Aww, Eddie almost killed himself for me," Grace cooed. "That is so sweet. Yes Eddie! I'll go out with you!"

"The Whales take a time out, a 52 yard field goal will win it for 'em. Longest in Seaford history and it looks like they're going to bring in the Foot," the announcer said as I made my way towards Milton to wish him luck.

"Hey!" I heard Jack say as I approached Milton. "Milton! Check it out! I got free popcorn, just for knowing you." He opened the bag making my hand automatically reach in. "Cami!"

"I'm so sorry," I apologized as I stuffed my face. "I'm so hungry though." I took the bag, continuing to stuff my face. Jack sighed, letting me have it.

"Hey, you ok?" Jack asked, noticing Milton's upset state.

"Not really," Milton denied.

"What's the matter?" I asked through a mouthful of popcorn.

"Every time I look at the football, I think of all the things I'd rather be doing," Milton answered.

"Well then why are you on the team?" Jack asked.

"Look around you Jack," Milton started. "I'm doing it for you guys."

"What?" Jack asked, still lost.

"Ohhh. I get it," I nodded. "Because of him, me, Kim, and Jerry made the pep squad, Eddie got a date with Grace, and when's the last time you saw Rudy look so happy?"

"Out me blowhole!" Rudy exclaimed as confetti erupted from his hat.

"Man, I didn't realize that we were all getting something out of it except for you," Jack realized. "And I don't want you to be unhappy."

"We all don't," I added.

"So you guys would be ok if 'the Foot' walked away?" Milton asked.

"As long as you're happy, we're happy," I shrugged, assuringly.

"Thanks Cami, Jack," Milton thanked.

"Go get 'em Krupnick!" Coach Marmer yelled, patting Milton's back roughly as everyone started chanting 'Foot'.

"Here it is, the final kick. If he makes this, Milton Krupnick will be a Seaford High legend," the announcer declared as Milton lined up the kick. Kim and Jerry joined me and Jack as we watched Milton with anticipation. "Here's the snap." And it's good! I started cheering with everyone, high fiving Kim and Jerry, hugging Jack. We all high fived Milton once he returned to the sideline.

"Milton, you did it! We won the game! Party at my house!" one of the players cheered.

"Yeah!" Milton nodded. "You know, you guys go ahead and get started without me. I'll catch ya later."

"Alright," number 15 agreed, walking back to the others.

"Milton that was awesome!" Jack praised.

"Best football game ever!" I beamed.

"And even though you're retiring from the team, you should go celebrate the victory with your guys," Jack offered.

"I'm going to," Milton assured. "With you guys."

"Woo!" Jerry whooped, high fiving Jack. Two male cheerleaders picked up Milton, giving him a shoulder ride.

"S-E-A-F-O-R-D! Greatest school in history!" we all chanted as we walked off the field before Milton fell backwards because of Jerry's absence.

"Ooh, sorry Milton, that was my bad. Bro did you know that Dana was here? Woo, she was lookin' good," Jerry pointed out. "Yo Dana, you don't mind my pits, right?" Who wouldn't?