Mo's Manic Monday - Clue

Posted: Monday, September 10, 2007 by Travis Cody in
29

Real quick...even though she doesn't know about my blog, I want to wish my mom a happy birthday. She's 65 today. Love ya Mom!!



Welcome to Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Clue.

I missed my first Manic Monday last week. Luckily, I'm finished with the busiest six weeks I've been through with my current job. I still have stuff to catch up, but nothing that is on a critical deadline.

Too much work makes me tired and cranky. Being tired and cranky takes away the urge to write. Not writing is unacceptable.

So I thought I would take the MM word this week and write. The first thing that the word Clue brought to mind was tension and suspense. In honor of NFL opening weekend, I present my story snippet.

Clue

He didn’t have a clue what he was going to do.

There was no time to think.

He thought he saw danger to his right, the strong safety dancing close in behind the defensive end, but when he turned his head he wasn’t sure. His eyes snapped back left...something had caught his attention. Did a linebacker shift?

Straight ahead? An extra defensive back rotated in, but that strong safety was back deep again.

He didn’t know. He must think. He must find the key.

Should he send the slot receiver in motion? No...that would uncover the tackle and force his wide out into double coverage. He needed both those receivers in place on the right. Force the safeties to make a choice, and get single coverage on a quick out for the first down.

Shift the tight end to the H, and hold the running back in place to pick up the blitz. That's it.

No! It's not a blitz...is it? Seconds on the play clock...figure it out!

There! The clue he needed was suddenly right in front of him. It was so simple. Hours of study finally paid off as he barked the answer.

“Mike-25! Mike-25! Z-Red-19! Z-Red-19! Go!”

Twenty-one men crashed into action in front of him as the football floated into his hands five yards behind the line of scrimmage. As his fingers curled around it he turned and sprinted to his right, slipping behind the perfect line of protection his offensive line created. He heard pops and grunts as defenders strove to break through.

He cocked the football behind his right ear and set his feet. He couldn’t see the receiver, but he trusted that his audible was correct. He breathed in deeply and his arm shot forward.

The pain was fierce as the defender crushed into him and drove him into the ground. All the breath exploded from his lungs. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t see. He couldn’t hear. All he wanted was air.

He had no clue whether his solution had worked.

The End

29 comments:

  1. Sigh. Football. Don'tcha love it?

    Happy Birthday, Trav's mom! You raised a good one.

    (Oh, and you've done well to only miss one MM. I haven't missed one yet, but there have been times...)

  1. Anonymous says:

    Just want to let you know that Reba and I were here. Too tired to read what you wrote, haha, in fact Reba fell asleep and I`m not far behind. We will be back tomorrow to read when we are in the shape to do your writing justice.

    Happy Manic Monday

  1. Lizza says:

    Though I'm not familiar with American football, I liked reading this. Very well-written, Trav!

    Have a great week, and happy birthday to your Mom!

  1. Maryfly says:

    Happy Birthday Mom of Trav!

    dude, I SO missed your writing. This was great. I love football - nothing like sweaty men running around in tight pants.....

    hugs!

  1. Schmoop says:

    Happy Birthday to your mom Trav. Cheers!!

  1. Unknown says:

    Great Manic Monday post Travis!!

    ~smile~

  1. Football been very very good to me.

  1. ahhh I missed last week as well.

    But I love football...highschool...college...professional!

    Go Pirates!
    Go Bruins!
    Go Niners!

  1. Liz Hill says:

    Happy Birthday Trav's mom!!!

    And I love this piece--I gotta get it back together in this arena as well.

    Thanks for being my friend.

    Smooch

  1. Sandee says:

    Happy Birthday to your mom.

    Travis, is this post about clueless football? Talk about a either way ending. Have a great MM. :)

  1. so okay trav this is sports again, right? sigh...

    smiles, bee

  1. Unknown says:

    Best Wishes to your mum. Nice piece of writing, even though I'm not really up to speed re American Football.

  1. Lisa Ryan says:

    Happy B'day to Travis' mom!

    my Lord, Travis, reading your MM posts when you write makes me happy and crazy!

    First, a great big YAY that you took a break to write.
    and second, great story.
    I love your writing.

    BUT DID THEY MAKE THE PLAY????

    that's the part that makes me crazy. :-)

  1. Anndi says:

    Happy birthday Bro's Mom... (that sounded strange LOL)

    You can't jkust leave me wondering what happend? Was his receiver there? Did he catch it? Is he ok?

    ACK!!!

    Now I don't have a clue...

    SMOOCH

  1. Anndi says:

    *shakes head and shrugs*

    an extra 'k'.. a missing 'e'... *sigh*

    I'm a mess...

  1. Oh Travis, how could you?! You brought me right back to my little brother's high school days, when I never missed a game. What a great snippet! But how could you leave me hanging like that? I've gotta know - was it a completion or not???

  1. Songbird: Yup! I love it! But I'm a traditionalist and I don't like a Monday night double-header.

    Alice: Don't forget to come back! I have scooby snacks for Reba.

    Lizza: Glad you enjoyed it!

    Mary: **blink** Was that Mary??

    Matt: Thank you Sir!

    Ambre: Thanks Ma'am!

    Charles: As it has to me, with the exception of some cranky knees.

    Katherine: Woooooooooooooooooo!!!

  1. Turn: I'm glad you like it. I enjoy these short snippets, but I have to get something of substance written. Smooches back atcha.

    Sandee: Well, I understand how non-fans might be clueless when reading this piece.

    Bee: Sorry honey - I should have had some extra CAKE for you.

    Pauline: I hope the suspense worked even without a knowledge of the game.

    Lisa: Heehee! That's the point! It's all about the suspense!

    Ann: I can. We don't know. that's the point!!! **does a sneaky dance**

    TJ: Just like the QB, we just don't know!

  1. Thanks to all for the birthday wishes for my mom!!

  1. Shelby says:

    more birthday wishes for your mom!

  1. Anndi says:

    sheesh.. I don't even get a smooches back...

    *goes off to the corner, drops the pompoms and sulks*

    Unless you have birthday cake...

  1. Julie says:

    **considers Maryfly's summation as reason to maybe give FB a chance**

    NAH...don't think so.

  1. With the severe football injury last night, your story is almost prophetic.

  1. Neila says:

    I'm more of a basketball gal myself. A couple of my shows have already been bumped for pre-season football. *sigh* I can't believe it's that time of year already!

  1. Anonymous says:

    Brilliant! :)

    Happy Birthday to mom and happy MM to you.

  1. Shelby: Thank you dear.

    Ann: Smooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooch!

    Julie: Well, maybe you can just arrange for the sweaty man in...uhm...nevermind.

    Jamie: I thought about that. But I suspect that my character will stand and walk from the field.

    Neila: I'm a college hoops guy too, but I gotta have my football.

  1. Trav, I, too, love your writing but I'll stick to the cowboy. I don't understand football. It would be like you watching a show about scrapbooking - boring!
    I was born w/o the sports gene.
    And Happy Birthday to your mom!
    We've got three grandkids next week...what's with September? Busy month...

  1. CWM: Thanks!

    Gracie: I understand. It's my vice for the next five months.

  1. TopChamp says:

    happy belated birthday Trav's mum!