In the middle of the field, the two coaches were shaking hands.
"Congratulations on your victory and entering the state's top ten," Coach Cotton said with a smile, though he seemed a bit unconvinced by the loss. "Also, congratulations on having such an excellent player. That number twenty-one, with a little guidance, will definitely become a star in the professional arena in the future."
Coach Cotton was unwilling to admit that the loss in this game was due to his tactical arrangements. He tried to attribute Medford's victory to player number twenty-one.
It was a case of losing the game but not the spirit.
However, George didn't hear the sarcasm in the other's words at all.
He was already very grateful to have won this game.
So, George also said with a smile, "Your number seventy-four is not bad either; he has that kind of talent, and his future achievements in football will certainly not be low."
A winner should have the demeanor of a winner, and George appropriately engaged in some mutual flattery.
Everyone loves to hear pretty words, and Coach Cotton was no exception. Moreover, he truly regarded Oher as his proud disciple.
Immediately, Coach Cotton's smile became much more sincere, and he suggested, "How about we schedule another match for next spring's Invitational Tournament?"
"Of course, I'd be delighted," George immediately agreed.
Unlike the Summer League Cup system with its tight schedule, the Spring Invitational Tournament's schedule was more flexible, belonging to the nature of a performance.
The autonomy of the Invitational Tournament also determined that the strength gap between the two sides in each match would not be very large.
Coach Cotton's invitation to the Medford Football Team for the spring season at this time was also an indirect acknowledgment of the Medford Football Team's strength.
As the conversation between the two coaches ended, this match for the state's top ten also completely drew to a close.
On the sidelines, Mike, who had just finished his interview with Reporter Jack according to the procedure, turned around and saw Regina with a bright smile.
She acted as if nothing had happened before, greeting him enthusiastically, "Hi, Mike. Do you want to come over to my house for a bit later? Just you and me."
At the same time, a hint of teasing entered Regina's eyes.
However, Mike had learned his lesson this time. This Queen Bee had many schemes, and it wasn't easy to take advantage of her.
And compared to Regina, who was full of tricks, Mike preferred to spend time with the beautiful and sensible Karen and Lina.
"Sorry, I have other plans this afternoon," Mike refused decisively.
"That's a shame..." Regina showed no disappointment. She smiled and stepped forward to give Mike a kiss on the cheek, saying familiarly, "When you're free next time, we'll have a good chat."
Under Regina's intentional guidance, outsiders who were unaware would probably genuinely believe that she and Mike had something going on.
The actual situation was that, seeing Mike's popularity increase, Regina only wanted to quickly get a hold of him to solidify her position as the Queen Bee in school.
It could be said that Regina's current performance, regardless of past grievances, had a strong purpose.
Showing favor to Mike was more like a transaction.
Mike was clear-headed and, unwilling to be her tool, did not get entangled with Regina.
He turned around and called out to Georgie, who was standing idly by, and the two went to the locker room together.
Watching Mike's departing back without a trace of reluctance, Regina's expression darkened.
But in a moment, she regained her previous radiant appearance. Then, she specifically called her sisters from The Plastics and left the playground together.
Ever since she learned of Mike's philandering nature, Regina had kept a close eye on the other girls in The Plastics.
After all, besides being a philanderer, Mike had many other advantages. For example... his handsome face was very lethal to girls.
Regina also didn't want to be backstabbed by her own little sisters before she could get a hold of Mike.
...
In the afternoon, Mike, with nothing to do at home, called Karen to invite her out. The response he got was that The Plastics had an activity in the afternoon, and she couldn't get away.
Afterward, Mike, unwilling to be lonely, called Lina again.
During this time, Lina had behaved very well in front of her family and had not shown any flaws. So her mother was now gradually relaxing her supervision over her daughter.
Connie, seeing Lina come over again, subtly gave Mike a thumbs-up, then found a clumsy excuse and left the house.
Leaving enough private space for the two young people in the prime of their youth.
[Charm +8], [Flexibility +5]... [Constitution +1]...
After an afternoon of hard work, Mike's strength had improved again.
Dinner time, at the Cooper Family dining table.
Perhaps because the team won today, Mary prepared a large table of sumptuous food.
"George/Mary, I have good news..."
After everyone was seated at the dining table, George and his wife spoke in unison, with a tacit understanding.
"Uh, you first—" George gestured gallantly.
Mary didn't decline. After organizing her words, she said, "At the church, Susan resigned from her assistant position due to health reasons, so... now I'm Jeff's assistant."
"So, why is Pastor Jeff at our house?" George asked, following up.
Yes, this time there was an extra person at the Cooper Family dinner table. George had originally planned to ask about him during dinner.
Now, since his wife had already brought it up, George didn't mind asking the question on his mind early.
"This..." Mary looked at Pastor Jeff, who was full of low spirits in a corner of the dining table, and for a moment didn't know how to speak.
Pastor Jeff was wearing a wrinkled suit, and his already thin frame now looked even more dejected.
At this moment, he was holding a handkerchief and constantly blowing his nose, his expression looking incredibly pitiful.
Seeing everyone's gaze turn to him, Pastor Jeff waved weakly, forcing a smile that was uglier than crying, and said, "First, the reason Mary got the job at the church is because she performed very well at the last church potluck. And, Mary is also a devout Christian..."
George wasn't very concerned about how his wife became an assistant. Seeing Pastor Jeff go off-topic, he immediately reminded him, "So, why are you at my house?"
Unexpectedly, when George asked this question again, Pastor Jeff lowered his head and started crying.
Mary patted her husband, as if blaming him for not understanding the situation.
Fortunately, Pastor Jeff didn't stay withdrawn for long; the snot that was about to reach his mouth prompted his next action.
Humph--
The white handkerchief used to blow his nose fluttered.
Under Sheldon's disgusted gaze, Pastor Jeff said, "Sorry..."
Then, he continued, "This isn't George's fault, it's all my own reasons..."
As Pastor Jeff recounted, things became clear.
The gist of it was that because of Selena's departure, Pastor Jeff didn't want to stay at home alone, as it would make him feel nostalgic.
So, he thought of coming to the Cooper Family for a few days to alleviate his sadness.
Looking at Pastor Jeff's reaction, Mike somewhat suspected whether the MIB had been to his house and brainwashed him.
Clearly, when they last met, Pastor Jeff's feelings for Selena didn't seem that deep.
And it was obvious that in this newlywed couple, the husband was accommodating the wife. Logically speaking, this unequal way of getting along would make one of them live a very tiring life.
Now that Selena was gone, Pastor Jeff should have been relieved.
...
"Well, your experience is indeed regrettable," George didn't know much about Pastor Jeff's emotional life, so he could only express sympathy first. Then, in the tone of someone who had been there, he said, "I told you a long time ago that the most important thing between a couple is honesty. You should have confessed to Selena earlier that you weren't a second-generation rich."
Hearing George's persuasion, Pastor Jeff cried again.
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong again?" George asked in surprise.
"No, no, you didn't say anything wrong," Pastor Jeff said intermittently. "It's, it's Selena. She drove away the red sports car when she left. The huge bill for that car still has a year left to be paid off."
After saying that, Pastor Jeff cried even more sadly.
From the looks of it, the reason he was so sad might very well be because of the huge debt in the bank.
Afterward, Pastor Jeff, who kept crying and couldn't be consoled, was left alone to compose himself.
At the dining table, Mary turned her head to her husband, adjusted her tone, and asked, "George, what good news did you have to tell us earlier?"
"Because of the team's performance, the school increased my salary by two hundred dollars a week," George replied.
Because of the Medford Football Team's continuous victories, George's status among the school teachers had greatly improved.
The principal also specifically allocated a separate sports office for the Medford Football Team coach.
This was a great honor for George.
However, after Pastor Jeff's interruption, George's mood for sharing the good news with his family didn't seem as excited as before.
"Really? That's wonderful!" Mary was very supportive, happy about her husband's raise.
At this moment, she hadn't yet shed the demeanor of a housewife, and her emotions were still habitually centered around her husband.
Seeing his wife's reaction, George smiled. Although he didn't say it aloud, he actually quite enjoyed the feeling of being the head of the Cooper Family.
Some were happy, some were sad.
Soon, dinner time ended.
Mary, who didn't bother to clear the dishes, first went back to her room to get a sheet, wanting to make a temporary sleeping spot for Pastor Jeff on the sofa.
And Connie, who was about to leave, looked at Pastor Jeff sitting alone and dejected, and suggested, "Jeff, want to go for a drive? You drive."
Connie was a warm-hearted person.
As someone who had been through it, she knew that distracting Pastor Jeff was a good way to help him quickly emerge from the shadow of his previous relationship.