Here to Prove.

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Here To Prove

If you asked about my father around town you'd get one of two answers depending on who was answering the question.

Some would likely regale you about his exploits on the football field and the baseball diamond with varying levels of truth. He was really good, probably even great. They'd tell you about all the scholarship offers. They'd tell you about how he won a state championship. The school records would surely be mentioned as well. Folks that went that route usually trailed off after that, wrapping things up with some sort of apology about what happend to him as though he was the victim.

Those who knew him on a more personal level would probably make a less than appealing face and tell you what an ******* he was and how he'd wronged them or someone they knew. You might hear about how poorly he'd treated my mother or myself. Maybe you would get a story about one of the many less than legitimate ways he had tried to make money.

I'd never known him so when he died I didn't feel much. As I grew older I started to feel like something was missing my life. I didn't particularly care for him but I longed for some sort of connection to him on some level. My mother and I had moved nearly to the other side of the country and he never made any effort when we lived in the same county so we definitely didn't hear from him once thousands of miles separated us.

I remember when my mother told me that he was dead. I could tell it hit her hard but she stayed strong and told me then continued to encourage me to talk to her about him if I needed to or wanted to. I never felt the need. We moved on and months went by without either of us mentioning him. He wasn't there for us when he was alive so when he died it didn't change much for us.

Things all changed one day when my mother got another phone call.

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Reserve One.

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Reserve Two.

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Reserve Three.

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That's all we need. Feel free to post. Thanks.

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Glory Days

SPORTS
Southlake Carroll 27, Smithson Valley 24
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
Dec 17, 2004


CHASE DANIEL (4) HANDS THE BALL OFF TO DARREN FULTON (20) BEFORE ONE OF FULTON'S TOUCHDOWNS

Southlake Carroll's Kevin Ortega had a lot to think about as he lined up to kick the game-winning field goal for the Class 5A Division II championship Saturday.

At the forefront of his thoughts was Carroll's beloved former defensive coordinator Charlie Stalcup, who died of skin cancer five weeks before the season.

"I couldn't stop thinking of him," said Ortega, who hit the 41-yarder as time expired to give Carroll a 27-24 win over Smithson Valley for the Dragons' second title in three years. "He's a big motivation and it's all for him."

The Dragons (16-0) dedicated their season to Stalcup, memorializing him on their programs and championship game T-shirts. After the game, fans joined players and coaches in chanting, "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie …"

"We did this for Charlie Stalcup," Dragons coach Todd Dodge said through tears.

Chase Daniel found Darren Fulton on a 16-yard pass with 6 seconds left that set up the winning kick for Southlake, the top-ranked team in the state and No. 1 in the nation according to USA Today's Super 25.

It was the second time the Dragons beat Smithson Valley (13-3) for the title. Southlake Carroll won 45-14 in 2002 and has won five championships, including three in Class 3A. Since moving up to the state's largest classification, Carroll is 47-1.

Southlake Carroll lost to Katy 16-15 in last year's Division II game.

Dodge said he was proud of how his players handled the pressure of the rankings and national attention.

"Our kids have been through so much this year," Dodge said. "The pressure they dealt with was so intense. I've never had a team that had to deal with so much. It's great that we were able to get this done."

Southlake Carroll trailed most of the second half, going down 24-17 early in the fourth when Eryk Anders blocked a punt and returned it 24 yards for a TD. But then Carroll tied the score 22 seconds later when Daniel hit Kenton Gedwed on a 65-yard touchdown pass.

Daniel, the two-time Associated Press 5A offensive player of the year, finished with 290 yards passing and 89 yards rushing.

He had a slow start though after fumbling twice and being sacked once in the first quarter. On Carroll's first drive, Daniel was dropped for a loss on a keeper, sacked and threw an incompletion before a bad punt gave Smithson Valley the ball on the 21-yard line.

Smithson Valley led 14-10 at halftime on Cody McKinney's 3-yard TD run with 1:01 left in the second quarter. It was the first time the Dragons had been behind at halftime break since October.

Southlake Carroll regained the lead in the third when Fulton barreled in from 17 yards out to make the score 17-14. Fulton ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 49 yards. His first score came on a 15-yard run that tied the game late in the first.

Smithson Valley tied it at 17-17 when David Sweet hit a 44-yard field goal that bounced off the left upright near the end of the third quarter.

Zach Bailey had 151 yards passing and ran for a 1-yard touchdown that was the first score for Smithson Valley, which has never won a title game. Keeping the game close was no consolation to Smithson Valley.

"We didn't come up here to see if we could stay in the game with somebody," Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill said. "We came up here with the full intention to win."

The Rangers lost a 42-35 overtime decision to Denton Ryan in the 2001 Class 4A Division I title game.

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Eastbound and Down
Summer 2012



"I know," she sighed heavily.

"It's just..." she trailed off, shifting her gaze to Cameron, who was entertaining himself with his collection of*mostly*passed-down Hot Wheels.

"We have a life here. Cam has a life here."

She listened as the person on the other end of the line spoke*for a few moments.

"No, you're right*Dad."

She listened intently and smiled at something that her father said.

"That sounds perfect. I'll start packing tomorrow. We'll be on our way by the end of the week.

"Ok."

"You don't have to..."

"We should be able to stay with Emily just outside of Memphis, then I'll just drive through from there."

"Nine or ten hours from there*I*think."

"Yes, it's been running great, just a gas hog."

"I have some money put away. And I can sell a few things."

"Thanks, Dad, I love you. Cam, come and say hi to Grandpa!"

Cam walked over and took the phone from his mother.

"Hi*Grandpa, I miss you."

Cam smiled as he listened.

"Really? When?!"

"See you soon. I love you."

Cam handed the phone back to his mother.

"Alright, I'll call you tomorrow. We will see you soon."

"Thank you so much, we love you."

---

She shoved the last box into the back of the Suburban and slammed the door. She paused to look at the familiar dealer logo and the collection of stickers that adorned the back window. Each sticker held a story, a memory of the adventures she had once shared with her parents. It was a reminder of the love and support that had guided her throughout her life and was waiting for them back home.

A smile crept onto her face as she looked at Cam and thought of the life they could have ahead of them. She imagined taking him to all the spots the loved as a kid. She remembered the tight knit community she grew up it. She remembered the comfort of feeling safe and stable. She knew she had made the right decision, the best decision for Cam. And for her.

---

"How much longer Mom?" Cam asked from the back seat.

"Not too much further now sweetie, maybe a couple hours."

"How long is a couple hours?"

"Not long, we're close."

"OK," Cam replied as he turned his attention back to the passing scenery.

---

She turned the wheel into the familiar driveway as a wave of emotions passed over her.

"We're..." she started to say while looking in the mirror before realizing Cam was asleep.

"We're here," she whispered.

Before she even had the Suburban in park her father was making his way down the front steps, his gait a bit slower than she'd remembered.
She shut the engine off, turned to check on the still-sleeping Cam, and hopped out to greet her father with a strong, extended embrace.

"I've been waiting a long time for that hug!" He said with a hint of emotion in his voice.

"Me too Daddy."

"Grampa!" Cam yelled from his seat.

Grampa sauntered over and opened the door to get Cam, who jumped into his arms.

---

She looked at the house, noting that little had changed in the six-plus years she had been away. It wasn't huge by any means but there was plenty of space for her and Cam to join her father.

"This is going to be great for all of us." She said as her father and Cam walked past her with boxes.

"I know dear." He replied with a smile.

She turned back toward the Suburban to grab more of their belongings.

---

"That's the last box," she said, dropping it gently on the living room floor and dusting her hands off on each other.

"How about some grub?" Her father asked.

"You hungry buddy?" he asked Cam as he tousled his shaggy blonde hair.

"I'm starving grampa!"

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Hope Again

Summer 2022

She took one last look around before closing the door on not only their home but a chapter in their lives.

The past couple years had been hard on them all and, despite the happy memories from her childhood and the past ten years or so, she didn't find herself upset about leaving.

Ten years ago when her and Cam loaded all their belongings and headed east it was in pursuit of a better life for them. And it had been, at least most of it. Now they were headed back west, again in pursuit of a better life.

Covid had taken its toll, both on the family's nearly 150 year old inn and the family itself. When her father got sick all attention turned to his health at the expense of the inn she had been helping run since the move and had all but taken over. After he passed her attempts to prop things up had failed.

Just when she was out of ideas a shining ray of hope came from the most unexpected of places. Cam's grandmother on his father's side reached out. At first it seemed too good to be true, a bustling inn located in one of the biggest destinations in the country, Austin.

Despite having only met her once and having never met Cam she reached out. She was getting too old. Cam was her only family. It only felt right for her, and eventually Cam, to take things over.

Once she got over the feeling that it couldn't be that simple it was an easy decision. Stay here in poverty, struggling to make ends meet or go to Austin and, hopefully, flourish. Both of them.

As she got in the trusty Suburban she looked back at the run down house in the rear view mirror. She couldn't help but notice that this time there wasn't a little boy in a booster seat behind her. This time there was a young man, who had been taller than her for a few years now, sitting in the passenger's seat scrolling through social media on a smartphone while listening to music. She paused for a moment to take it all in before turning the key, hoping the Suburban that too had seen better days would make the trek without trouble.

---

Culture shock couldn't begin to describe how Cam felt when they pulled into the driveway of their new home. Everything looked new, the grounds were meticulously landscaped, everything had a place.

Cam was disappointed when he found out they were leaving what had been his home for most of his life. He knew things weren't great for them there but he had friends. He had his place there. He had a life there. He did his best to hide the disappointment when he saw how his mom's face lit up when she talked about Austin. She had been talking to his grandmother extensively for what seemed like months leading up to the move. She had been given virtual tours, met a lot of the staff and even some of the regular clients before they even packed a box. She was full of excitement he hadn't seen from her in a couple years. She was full of hope again.

---

"Well Cam, Ms. Fitzpatrick," he said as he closed up the folder and tapped it on the desk. "It looks like everything here is in order so I think we can move forward with enrollment."

Cam and his mother, mostly her, had been working on getting transcripts and such from back home in order to get him enrolled in time to start his Junior year at his new school. This was their final meeting with the superintendent and the principal and with everything in order it was now official.

"Do you have any questions for us?" He asked them, looking over the glasses that had slipped down his nose for what seemed like the millionth time.

"I don't think so.." his mother replied. "Cam?"

"When can I start football practice?" Cam asked, trying not to sound too over eager but failing.