The Quarterback Next Door novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Essay

On Saturday morning, I found the essay by accident.

I was looking for a pen.

My mother had left a note on the kitchen table that said "Pancakes in the oven, don't let him lift anything heavy," and I'd taken the note and a mug of coffee up to the attic.

Cade was in the shower downstairs, which he was allowed to use if the door was locked and his bandages were wrapped in plastic.

The attic was bright with sun through the east window.

The beagle was snoring on my pillow.

Cade's backpack sat open next to the daybed with his school folder half out.

I wasn't snooping.

I only wanted a pen.

But the folder fell open when I nudged it, and a printout slid onto the floor.

It had Cade's name at the top, and the date, and the title of the assignment.

"Summer Journal: What Would You Carry Out of a Burning House?"

The senior English summer journal had one prompt about a burning house, due on the first day of school.

I recognized the heading.

Every senior had gotten the same one.

I had turned mine in with a list that said "my camera, my mom, my grandmother's quilt."

It was a decent list.

I picked up Cade's page, because I was curious how a boy who could throw a football sixty yards would answer a question about feelings.

I meant to read one line.

"If my house were on fire, I would carry out the following things," it began.

"1. My dog, who is older than the Hollander family minivan and has never once let me win an argument."

I smiled.

"2. My mom's ring, the small one with the green stone she left in the junk drawer."

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