Reminiscing

"C'mon Jenn, I'm fine. I don't have a headache or anything. I can play!" The older man standing behind me is so close I can feel his labored breathing on my neck. He hasn't left my side since I pulled the young athlete out of play. "Jennifer I think he's fine, he seems to be acting normal. We need him in there. We can win this game!" From somewhere up in the stand I hear a man yelling, "Taylor get back on that field! You're fine!" I check the boy's eyes again, methodically moving the flashlight from one eye to the other. His pupils instantly react to the bright light, a normal enough response, but the years of schooling I have recently completed scream at me to keep Taylor out of the game a little longer.
He must see the uncertainty etched across my face because he begins his desperate pleading once again. "Jenn please don't do this to me. You know me! I would tell you if I thought I couldn't play." It's true, I do know him, but I also know what this game means to him. Again from the stands I hear the frantic yelling, but this time a little closer, "Taylor, shake it off and get in the game!" I'm surprised I can hear the lone voice over the roar of the crowd. I need more time, so I think of another task. "Okay Taylor, I want you to stand on one foot, tilt your head back and close your eyes." I know it's tough for anyone to do, but I need to buy some time.
He quickly jumps to do my bidding, eager to prove himself to me. Taylor wobbles unsteadily and finally has to put his foot down. I look back at the older man, and with a defeated look he nods and steps away from me to rejoin his team. I know it's a cheap shot, but I never work well under pressure.
Taylor grabs my shoulder and turns me back around, "Let me try it again, I know I can do it if you just let me try once more." I know how useless that would be, so I ignore his question and get to work. After a few more minutes I have finally made my decision, though still I wonder if I have made the right one. I hand Taylor his helmet and then grab his face so that he will look me in the eyes. "If you start to feel light headed or nauseous you better get your butt over here and tell me." His face lights up and suddenly he grabs me and lifts me off the ground in a bear hug. "I will Jenn, I promise!" I watch him as he runs off and then I look up into the sky. I take a deep breath of the crisp night air and then shove my way past the group of burly teenagers standing around, finally reaching the front of the sideline. I look across the field and sigh, I love this time of the year.