Juice - Eric Walters [14]
“Did Coach tell you what we’re going to talk about?” Tony asked.
“A way to get stronger.”
“Did he tell you what that would involve?”
I shook my head. “But I think I have an idea.”
“Go on,” he said.
Now I felt like I shouldn’t talk. What if I was wrong? “Maybe I shouldn’t say it.”
“Maybe you should.”
I swallowed hard. “Steroids,” I said. My voice was barely loud enough to be heard over the CD.
“And what do you think about them?” he asked.
“I don’t know exactly what to think.”
“You know that I take them,” Tony said.
“I thought that maybe you might have,” I admitted.
“Nobody gets this big and strong without them. Have you heard about the health issues?”
“Some.”
“What have you heard?” Tony asked.
“They can cause baldness, kidney problems, cancer and skin problems.”
“Just for the record, my skin was bad before I took steroids, and I shave my head because the babes love their men to be bald and built.” He paused. “You must find the babes go after you, right?” he said. He laughed and reached over and gave me a little tap on the arm.
“And all that other stuff, cancer, kidney problems. Do you know where all those results came from?”
I shook my head.
“Studies on rats. They gave them gigantic doses and kept giving it to them until they croaked. Most of those studies are just garbage. I know lots and lots of people who are on the juice, and none of them have any problems.”
That was encouraging to hear.
“Besides, nobody’s talking about you doing anything long-term. A twelve-week cycle. Maybe a second twelve-week cycle in the spring in the playoffs when the college scouts are all there. That’s all. Do you think Coach Barnes would ever recommend anything that would hurt you?” Tony asked. “You should hear the way he talks about you—like a son—like he still talks about Jessie.”
“Jessie McCarthy?”
“Coach says he’s the best captain he’s ever had, but he said that might change.”
“Wow,” I said softly. “Could I ask you a question?”
“Shoot?”
“Jessie…did he? Does he do…”
“Won’t answer that question. Could if I wanted to, but I won’t. Just like I’d never answer that question about you. What happens between you and me stays here. It’s nobody’s business but ours.”
“But isn’t using steroids sort of like cheating?” I asked.
“It would be if you were the only one doing it. Half the kids on the line who are standing
across from you, trying to block you, are on the juice. We’re just trying to give you what you need to even up the score.”
I nodded in agreement. I couldn’t afford to let anybody else have that advantage.
“Is it just me or other people on the team?” I asked.
“Right now it’s just you. Maybe later we’ll let a few more in. But you can’t talk to anybody, even your teammates, about it, and they won’t talk to you about it either. I’m the only one anybody will talk to. It won’t be many, just those that have a shot.”
“A shot at what?” I asked.
“Scholarships, college ball, maybe even the whole thing—professional ball,” Tony said.
“You think I could play pro ball?” I gasped.
“You have the best shot of anybody on this team. But first things first. I figure you’re a lock for college. We’ll be spending time trying to figure out your best offer and which school you want to go to. That can be confusing, but Coach can help make that right, so don’t worry. You do want to go to college, right?”
“Yeah, sure, of course.”
“It’s just you and your mother, right?” Tony asked.
“Yeah.”
“And she works in a bank as a teller?”
“She’s the head teller,” I said.
“That’s great—you must be proud of her. But even head tellers can’t make that much money, and college is expensive. I think you might just get a full ride.”
“A full ride?”
“All expenses paid. Your mother won’t have to put up a cent for you to go to college.”
“That would be unbelievable!”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Tony said. “It’s all believable, all doable, all possible.” He paused. “Well?”
I didn’t answer right away.
“It’s not just for you,” Tony said. “It’s for your teammates, for Coach, for your future, for