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going to be the receiver, he put more space between him and the tackle. And I noticed this time he put down his outside hand when he took his stance, the way he did when he caught that ball in front of me. I think it helps him make a quicker move off the line.”
    Coach Dayley started to say something but before he did, Charlie said, “Plus, I’m thinking that if you ran the same pitch play twice, you’ll do the same with that short pass, since it worked the first time.”
    Coach Dayley just stared at him.
    Finally he said, “That all?”
    â€œPretty much.”
    â€œCall your time-out. If you’re right, and I’m not saying you are, I promise not to change the play. Then we’ll just snap the ball and see how it all turns out.”
    Charlie turned to his defensive teammates, as if this were a real game, raised his arms, brought his hands together, fingers into palm, signaling time-out. They huddled up again. He told them what he’d seen, what he thought they were going to run. Told Kyle Nichols that he couldn’t cover Billy Gallo on a bet, and to pinch in so he was there as soon as the ball was snapped and Jarrod took the same quick drop he had before.
    â€œI explained I didn’t want to run laps,” Kyle said to Charlie. “You heard that, right?”
    Charlie nodded.
    â€œYou really got this?” Kyle said.
    Charlie Gaines—Brain—said, “I do.”
    Billy Gallo lined up where he had before. Same way he had before. A good yard of separation this time between him and the tackle. Outside hand down.
    Charlie moved up a little, knowing that they needed just two yards for a score. Knowing that if Jarrod made a good throw once Billy made his quick move to the outside, it was all over, easy score.
    Jarrod went to a quick count, took his quick drop. Billy was turning his body as he came off the line, putting his inside shoulder past Charlie with no problem, like Charlie was nothing more than a speed bump.
    For one split second, Billy looked to be wide open again.
    Until he wasn’t.
    Until Kyle Nichols, having snuck in behind the middle linebacker, flying again as soon as the ball was snapped, launched himself between the ball and Billy, left arm outstretched, knocked the ball to the ground.
    The guys on the defense whooped and high-fived each other as if they’d just won the first game of the season, not just the first day of practice.
    Charlie hadn’t made the play himself, but felt as if he at least ought to get an assist.
    Kyle Nichols came over, helmet already in his hand, slapped Charlie hard on his left shoulder pad. Then did it again.
    â€œYou really saw all that in three plays?”
    â€œKind of.”
    Kyle shook his head.
    â€œBrain,” he said, grinning. “I could definitely use one of those.”
    Now Coach Dayley and Coach Fallon were both walking toward Charlie.
    Coach Dayley said, “That was pretty cool, I have to say.”
    â€œMy friends on offense won’t be too happy with me,” Charlie said.
    They were running the first of two long laps around the entire field.
    â€œThey’ll get over it,” Coach said. “Important thing is,
I’m
happy with you.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause I just found myself the first player-coach in the history of Culver City Pop Warner,” he said.
    â€œI take it that would be me?” Charlie said.
    â€œWow,” Coach Dayley said. “They really don’t call you Brain for nothing.”
    He put his arm around Charlie. “But listen to me,” he said. “Just because I’m calling you my assistant, I still think of you as a player, okay?”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAnd just because there are guys ahead of you at outside linebacker doesn’t mean you should stop trying to prove me wrong and earn yourself more playing time.”
    â€œI don’t think you’re wrong about me, Coach,” Charlie said. “But