Go Blue (a creative writing class exercise)

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It was game day so that meant pancakes. With the blueberry syrup. “Go Blue”. That's what he would write. With the syrup. On the pancakes. Three of them. Three pancakes. Never more than three. After breakfast, he'd work in the yard for a couple hours. Always in a t-shirt the opposing team's color. Minnesota meant maroon. Ohio State red. Michigan State green. Rake the leaves. Burn the leaves. Burn the t-shirt. Hang the flag. Represent. Shower. Dress in the current year's jersey. Or the old Brady one. That one was his favorite. They'd won a lot of games while he wore that jersey. And maize socks. Maize. It's not just another word for yellow. It's maize. As in Maize and Blue. Left sock and shoe first. He had to, if he wanted the Wolverines to win. He did so he did.



With the pregame on the radio, he'd make the half mile trek to the party store. Coors Light for him, a six pack. Cans. Always cans. And never more than six. White wine for her. She couldn't drink it these days, but he bought it anyway. Bo was what mattered. His first child. A son. Due in January. After the bowl season. Destined to attend the greatest university on the face of the planet. Kelly could skip the wine this season, but he wouldn't. Maybe they'd throw a party if (WHEN, he meant when) the Wolverines made it to a bowl game. Invite all their Buckeye and Spartan friends. Drink the wine that got them there.


Home. TV on. Kelly wrapped up in her dark blue throw with the words “Go Blue” emblazoned across the middle in maize. Remember, it's maize, not yellow. Maize. There would be grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. And tomato soup. At half time. Never before, even if the game went long. He'd sit at the dining room table, within hearing distance of the TV, and listen to the band play “Hail to the Victors”. Sandwich flat on the plate, he'd drizzle “Go Blue”, the first words he hoped his unborn son would ever utter, in tomato soup over the top. Eat the G first, the E last. Always. If he wanted the Wolverines to win. He did so he did.



Beer and wine. Pancakes and blueberry syrup. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. This was game day. Next year he'd start teaching Bo. Bo Brady Harbaugh Gray. His son. Future quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue.

Comments

  1. Unknown22 November, 2013 05:01

    I love this. I love how any stranger (especially and U of M fan) :) would relate to it and enjoy it. I also love that from someone who knows you, it's full if "you" which knocks it up a level from the reader perspective. In short (no pun intended), it's a fun read for anyone.

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