Unstoppable by Tim Green Page B

for this?”
    â€œDoc’s rolling in it. Another good reason for you to marry his daughter.” Justin grinned.
    Harrison put him in a loose headlock and pretended to punch him in the stomach. “Don’t say that.”
    They both laughed.
    â€œMan, she sure is friendly to you,” Justin said.
    â€œShe’s friendly to you, too,” Harrison said.
    â€œNot the same.”
    They got to the end of the driveway, said good-bye, and headed their separate ways.
    Back home, Coach was waiting to take him fishing, and the two of them spent the rest of the afternoon on the lake. The heat from the sun, the lawn work, and the fresh fish Jennifer cooked on the deck grill that evening left Harrison exhausted and happier than he ever imagined he could be. Then, just as he dropped off to sleep, something nasty crept into his mind.
    He tried to make it go away, but it wouldn’t. It was a feeling that things were just too good. He’d never felt like this before, and what scared him about it was that it seemed someway, somehow, something almost had to happen to restore his life to its natural order.
    And that’s where his mind dragged him, to a place where all the bad things that ever happened to him were stored up like an attic full of junk, just waiting for him.
    A place that was dark and scary.

Chapter Thirty-Seven
    WHEN HARRISON AWOKE THE next morning, things seemed much better, and as he forked the final piece of French toast into his mouth he began to think that maybe it was just a matter of time, and that he could get used to things being so nice.
    Before he left for school, the phone rang and Jennifer held it out for him. “It’s my mom.”
    Harrison blushed and took the phone.
    â€œHow are you, Harrison?” Mrs. Godfrey’s voice warmed him from the inside out.
    Harrison watched Jennifer leave the kitchen. He could hear Coach’s footsteps upstairs. He cupped the phone in his hand and spoke softly. “Can things be too good?”
    She chuckled. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
    â€œEverything is . . . great. It feels like this can’t last.”
    â€œYou’ll have to get used to the fact that good things happen to good people. I believe that.”
    â€œAnd I’m good?”
    â€œI wouldn’t have sent you to live with my daughter if you weren’t.”
    Harrison smiled. He told her about football and she promised she’d come visit and see a game.
    At school, his bright thoughts from breakfast and his call with Mrs. Godfrey were confirmed. There was a lot less whispering and secret pointing than a week ago. Leo Howard still gave him sour looks, but they didn’t last as long because Harrison decided to glare right back until Leo looked away. Otherwise he almost fit in. Justin and Becky seemed more at ease around him too, and Harrison began to think that maybe, just maybe, Mrs. Godfrey was right and that he might have found a normal life.
    At practice that afternoon, Harrison was finally allowed to hit again, and that’s what he did. He felt like a wild animal sprung from a cage. He didn’t bother searching out Leo or Leo’s buddies. Harrison just clobbered anyone who got in his way. Even Justin tried to tackle him during a scrimmage at the end of practice and Harrison blasted right through him without a second thought.
    On their way into the locker room, their uniforms drenched in sweat and their hair matted to their heads, Justin asked Harrison why he hadn’t taken it easy on him.
    â€œAre you kidding?” Harrison asked.
    â€œNot really.” Justin scuffed his cleats on the pavement outside the locker room and looked at the ground.
    Harrison slapped Justin’s shoulder pad. “Come on, Justin, I don’t know who’s who out there. I got to do my best on every play. I want to be the starting halfback when we play on Saturday. Besides, when I get going, all I see is people coming at