It had been a rainy, muddy, dreary year; but the
Wellington High School football team had had a stellar season. They had won
every game so far, and they didn’t intend to let the New London team upset that
record.
2 Don Westlake was the fullback that year and had
carried the ball down field for Wellington for the entire season. The game was
to be played at the fairgrounds’ stadium, because Wellington’s field was too
muddy.
3 Otto rode with Leland to see the game. They were
both proud of their little brother, and Otto wanted to cheer on his alma mater.
4 When they arrived at the fairgrounds, Coach Collier
was already drilling the boys on the wet field before them. “It looks like
they’ve been pasturing cows and horses on this field!” one of the New Londoners
shouted in disgust. “Afraid of a little mud?” Jay Thompson, the Wellington
quarterback, shouted back from the field.
5 Bob Herrick, one of the guards, nudged Don and
pointed at the stands. “Look, your brothers are here,” he smiled. Don waved in
their direction, and Otto and Leland returned the gesture. “Let’s get this show
on the road!’ Leland demanded.
6 Otto, however, was already beginning to get nervous.
He didn’t like big crowds. The jostling and noise was simply too much for him.
He couldn’t think straight, and he certainly wouldn’t be able to focus on the
game. In fact, with the cheers that accompanied each Wellington touchdown, his
mind wandered further and further away from the field.
7 After the game, Leland jumped up and ran out onto
the field to congratulate his “little” brother (Don outweighed him by about
fifty pounds). Otto remained seated in the stands, staring blankly into the
trees on the other side of the field.
8 Leland returned to the bleachers. “Come on Ott, it’s
time to go home,” he urged. Otto didn’t move. “Are you OK?” he asked.
9 Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Otto
rose from his seat and climbed down out of the stands. The two brothers walked
to the car without saying a word. Leland was worried. Otto had always been a
shy, timid and nervous creature, but he had never seen him like this before.
10 Leland climbed into the driver’s seat, and Otto
slid into the passenger’s side of the car. “That was quite a game, wasn’t it?”
Leland prompted as they drove out of the fairgrounds.
11 Otto, however, stared straight ahead and didn’t act
like he had even heard his brother’s question. A gentle rain began falling as
they drove on into the night toward home.
12 “Can I lay my head against your shoulder – like I
did when I was little?” Otto suddenly asked. The question was unnerving. Leland
looked over at his brother, who was still staring blankly at the road before
them.
13 “Sure, Ott, that would be just fine,” he managed to
push out over the lump in his throat. As Otto leaned over against his shoulder,
a tear rolled down Leland’s face.
14 “Mother will know what to do for him,” he thought.
He hoped. “You’re just tired, Ott,” he almost whispered. “You’ll feel better in
the morning,” Leland told his little brother and himself.
15 Caleb Otto Westlake, however, was not fine. It would take him several months to recover from that episode, and that would not be the last time that he slipped away from his family and reality in that fashion.
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