Chapter Eleven: The Ambitious Quarterback

 A slightly stout, though handsome young man, wearing the jerseys of his high school team, was casting his ''duke'' high into the air in one of the alleyways of Philly. The ball rumbled a window by accident before falling over a high fence, halfway between the next apartments.  

''Wait!'' he shouted, as if his ball were alive. 

The young man raced after it. An old woman looked from her window to see what he was doing, as his ball continued to ascend further down the street. He rushed into the alley before tripping over a street cat. His ball continued ascending until falling into the hands of another man down the street. Lifting to his feet, he watched the man pace toward him. 

''Be careful, you don't want to lose this,'' the person said. ''Here.'' 

The quarterback received the ball before looking into the eyes of the man who had caught his sport weapon. ''Who are you?'' he asked. 

''The name is Luke Lancaster.'' 

''My, you caught the Duke well.'' 

''I am rather fond of the Philadelphia Eagles. Do you play for a local high school team?'' 

''I do. I'm in my senior year and am a quarterback for Stanford High. I've loved football as long as I can remember.'' 

''Well, I hope that your training will continue to reward you. You have a good athletic build, and such is necessary for your profession.''

''Thanks. Do you live around here?'' 

''Yes, just the apartment over there.'' 

''Wow, we are practically neighbors. Now that I think of it, I think I have seen you before, Luke. Weren't you just driving a lovely girl by your apartment over there the other night?'' 

''Yes, that was me. You look like you skinned up your knee there. Would you like to go out for a morning breakfast with me? I think you deserve it after all your hard work.''

Owen smiled before laughing pleasantly. ''You don't have to do that,'' he said. 

''No, it's fine. What's your name?'' 

''Owen Gapes.'' 

''Gapes, I knew a man with that last name a long time ago. He was a greeter at Mass and was always very kind.''

''Oh, you are Catholic. Yes, how about you?''

''Not much of anything.''

''Well, we will have to fix that, won't we?''

''I suppose so.'' 

''Come on, let's get some breakfast together.''

                                                                          *      *      *

The two men sat at a diner together while raising their glasses to their lips. Luke listened to Owen as the latter told about his sports stories over the past six months before diverting to his domestic life.  

''My dad is a big fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, as you are,'' Owen added. ''Oh, he follows up with every game. He has the jerseys, the shorts, the caps, you name it. On his time off, he's playing video games with the team.'' 

Luke laughed. 

''I mean it sounds silly,'' Owen smiled, ''but I supposse that we all need an escape.'' 

''That we do.'' 

''How about you? What's been going on in your life?'' 

Owen realized that Luke's eyes were diverted to something else. He turned back to see what. Mr. Lancaster was gazing at a black and white photo of a beautiful blonde at Huntington State Beach for a motion picture that was in the works. 

''What, who are you looking at?'' Owen asked. ''Is this somebody I should know?'' 

''Her name is Samantha Stone, that is the lovely lady in the picture. The pic is of her starring in a film titled How Love Changes Everything. It was released in 1969.''

''Well, she is attractive. By your smile, I sense you either crush on her or know her.'' 

''Both. How can I not? Samantha is the definition of beauty and the standard of perfection. As far as knowing her, I have had the fortune of meeting her once. She is in her nineties now, and her husband, Michael Glasgow, is a distant friend of my own. Forgive my distraction. When I witnessed the photo above your booth, I couldn't help but notice the angelic presence of Samantha Stone.'' 

''Yah, it's superb.''

For a long moment, Luke continued gazing at the photo while being reminded of the elderly couple who had been impressively gracious to him. Sometimes, he wished the time-clock had stopped, that his watch could rewind the days backward, and the world could be sixty years younger again. A dozen celebeties from Samantha's time remained on the wall beside her, though he cherished her person beyond all of them. 

Owen grinned, sensing the reverence that Luke shared toward the greatest generation. Photos of the Second World War, the 1950s culture, and the early civil rights movements of the 1960s remained before Luke's watchful gaze. He appreciated the past as if a scholar, though without the credentials of such. 

''Samantha starred in a number of rom-coms at that time,'' Luke added, before taking another sip. ''I've read dozens of newspaper articles from that time. You'd be amazed at how many girls idolized her. She was an inspiration to thousands of teenage girls throughout the country, though especially on the West Coast.'' 

''I have heard that California girls are the prettiest,'' Owen added. 

Luke's face lit happy. ''That's normally the case, though there is one Philly Eagle who has caught my eye.'' 

''Really? Who is she?'' 

''Her name is Anne Miller. She lives locally and is as attractive as any brunette alive.'' 

''Was that the girl in the vehicle with you the other night!?'' 

''It was indeed.'' 

''Man, I wish that I could pick up the babes as you do.''

''Owen, my friend, I will help you.''

The quarterback lay on his seat, feeling satisfied by the guidance of an elder friend. ''That sounds splendid,'' he replied. 

They have breakfast. Either in this scene or in a later one, Owen will see Penelope for the first time.