Capital managed to run the ball for a couple first downs. After the next first down, the ball was on the ten-yard line. Two running plays later and with the ball on the seven-yard line, the two-minute warning was given. After the warning, another running play netted another yard. Capital lined up for the field goal attempt. It fooled no one when the place holder tried to run around the left end for the touchdown. Every kid on the Highland team had seen Capital run the same play on the videos they had studied. The runner was pushed out at the five-yard line. Highland got the ball back on downs with a minute and twenty seconds left on the game clock and no Time outs."Mitchell, I want you to use three receivers and keep everyone else in the block. We're just 95 yards from victory. Now go get it." yelled Coach Anderson to Mitchell and the other players.Mitchell quickly explained the play and calmly walked his team to the line of scrimmage and looked over the defense. Liam snapped the ba

"I've been kicking this around since the whole thing happened. What was wrong with me? With the other parents, and the other players? Why is it that none of us risked our lives to help those kids in that car, or even Christine and Mitchell afterward? Am I a coward? Are all of us cowards? I've done some soul searching about this. I've finally reached the conclusion that most of us all acted in a normal human fashion. We stood there horrified and uncertain as to what we should do. There are a few people that do not think through situations like that. They simply decide what needs to be done and act. Mitchell is one of those rare types."It doesn't make the rest of us less human, or less brave. It simply shows that Mitchell has certain rare qualities the bulk of humanity lacks, especially in stressful situations. Christine has those qualities. Liam Marsh exhibited them as well. Any of us could have attempted to do what they did, but we watched. Our reaction was the average, or normal rea

Mitchell had begun to stand up when Maddie had hurried up to him and dropped into his lap. He saw the concern mixed with sadness in Maddie's eyes as she leaned in to kiss him. He knew that if he hadn't fallen so fast and so hard for Christine, Maddie would occupy all of his thoughts. She was sexy, smart, fit and amazingly beautiful. With the exception of Christine, Mitchell had never seen Maddie's equal, although Hailey was rapidly getting there.As Laura and Christine worked on getting Mitchell bandaged, Hailey decided to quiz him. "Did you tell the governor's daughter that I was drop dead gorgeous? Did you mean it? Do you really think that, or did she make it up?"Mitchell blushed a little, then smiled. "I did mention that Christine had some attractive sisters. I don't know if I used the term 'drop dead gorgeous' or 'supermodel looks and figures'. I know it was one or the other, or maybe even both. Are you upset at me for talking about you, Hailey?""Yeah, I'm pissed." responded Hai

"By the Time our junket had returned, the dead Marines, Mitchell's father, along with Mitchell and the wounded Marine, had been evacuated from the premises. The blood on Nell and Janice was Mitchell's, since they had hugged him dearly before he was taken away. To avoid embarrassing the new government, the whole incident was downplayed. We were told that it would serve American interests better to not go public with the events of the day. Reluctantly, everyone agreed to go along with the story. What difference would the truth make? It wouldn't bring back those Marines, or Nate Kays. So, the public never heard of that battle in Kabul, or the bravery of those Marines and Nate Kays. And that's why I feel you need to know Mitchell's history and why he's so reluctant to talk about the incident."We never saw Mitchell again. At least not until Nell saw a sports report one night a month or two ago describing the record setting efforts of the quarterback, Mitchell Kays. Then she searched on Yo

"You're my boyfriend and I don't know anything about you. I just learned that you were in Afghanistan, and in a shootout with Taliban. I never dreamed you could've been in anything like that. I need you to tell me everything about your life. Will you be totally honest with me from now on?" asked Christine quietly."Yes, I will. I realize that I've kept things to myself. It's a habit I've gotten into the past year or so. I've been alone a lot. I didn't know how you'd feel about that war story and kept putting off telling you, replied to Mitchell. "I don't think this is a good time, or place to go into my life story. Your dad has some strong feelings about my behavior toward you. Having you alone in a bedroom with me, in the dark, at midnight sure doesn't fit with what he expects.""You're not really afraid of my dad. You're way bigger and stronger than he is. That night he shocked you, it looked like you hardly felt it. Why do you pretend to worry so about my father?""I don't pretend