Hello Dear Friends! I hope you are well and safe. One thing that the pandemic has done for me is doing this: for two hours every day I write. So far, I have completed two stories that I have shared with you: The Flock and Candlelight. I hope you have read and enjoyed them. Please let me know what you thought of them.
I am beginning a third story for you called “It’s Only a Game”. Here is a little background for you. In 1972, the fall of my senior year of high school, I was privileged to be a member of the first team in the history of Hazelwood High School to become the state of Missouri’s High School Football Co-champions. In the title game, we tied, 6 – 6, with Kansas City Southwest. Because of that outcome, the state changed the format to determine only one champion by implementing an overtime process.
It was a wild and fun experience for me. I am telling you this because the setting of this story; St. Louis County, Hazelwood High School, and Spanish Lake, are real places but the story is totally made up. I am also sharing my experience being on the team, but the story, itself, is made up. My big moment playing on the team is portrayed because my friends constantly remind me of what they remember about it but the story is made up. The people involved are not real people but may be based on real people. The incident is totally made up, too. It never happened. Remember, the goal of my writing is to provide feel good stories to you, Dear Friends, so at the end of it, I hope you feel good about it.
One last thing before I introduce the Main character of “It’s Only a Game”. I really, really do appreciate you reading my stories and I would like to receive any feedback you may offer to me about my stories and “My First Stories” blog site. To provide me that feedback use the Contact Me or Comments page of the Blog Site or give me a comment on Facebook. The best way is to become one of my Followers. I know reading each chapter and previous chapters of a story can be frustrating. I am looking for ways to provide you with a better way to read them. Be patient with me, Dear Friends, and I hope you keep reading the stories anyway. Thank you…Thank you…Thank you!
“It’s Only a Game” will have many characters because it does include being on a football team. With that in mind, the story is the reminiscing of the two main characters, Gary Jackson and Janet Saunders, at a 20 year reunion of the Class of 1973. Here are the remaining characters:
Gary Jackson
- Ronald – Father
- Julie – Mother
- Chris – Brother
- Katelyn – Sister
- Mark – Brother
Janet Saunders
- Richard – Father
- Martha – Mother
- Barbara – Sister
Football Teammates
Defensive Backs
- Nick Smith (Smitty)
- Tim Blake
- Andy Simpson
- Rick Meyers
- Matt Jones (Jonesy)
- Ron Templeton
Other Notable Teammates
- Dan Masters – Quarterback (Also Khoury League Baseball Teammate (Father
- Clyde was the baseball manager))
- Ron Lumberjack – Linebacker (Also Neighborhood Group)
- Stan Bennett – Wide Receiver
- Paul Baker – The Star – Running Back
- Denny Hackett – Running Back
- Jim Thompson – Fullback (Also Neighborhood Group/Khoury League Baseball Teammate)
- Sam Strange – Tight End/Bench Partner
Neighborhood Group
- Harold Garner – Old Neighborhood
- Allison Masters – New Neighborhood
- Jim O’Brien
- Robert Carrico
- Calvin White – Next Door Neighbor in new neighborhood
- Also Janet Saunders, Ron Lumberjack, Jim Thompson
My First Stories 