The lights of the high school stadium were blinding, casting long, dramatic shadows across the turf. The air smelled of cut grass and concession stand popcorn. For most people, this was just a Friday night. For me, it was the debut of the "Pritchett Pillar."
I was in the locker room, adjusting my shoulder pads. The Peak Athlete Physique made the gear feel like a second skin. Around me, the other players were a chaotic mess of nerves and adrenaline.
"Hey, Delgado," Coach pointed at me. "I don't care how many 'miracles' you survived. If you miss a read on that blitz, you're sitting. Got it?"
"Crystal, Coach," I said. My voice was calm, a sharp contrast to the frantic energy of the room. I knew the playbook better than he did—not because I'd studied it, but because my Total Recall had already mapped out the opposing team's defensive patterns from the local news archives I'd skimmed.
As we ran out onto the field, the roar of the crowd was a physical wall of sound. I scanned the stands. Jay was there, sitting upright, looking like he was scouting for the NFL. Gloria was wearing a custom jersey with my name on it, screaming loud enough to be heard in the next county. Manny was next to her, wearing a scarf and holding a binoculars-opera-glass hybrid.
And then, I saw the helicopter.
It didn't land on the field—even the pilot wasn't that crazy—but it hovered just outside the stadium fence, low enough to kick up a dust storm. A man stepped out of a black SUV that had been waiting there, dressed in a white linen suit that screamed "International Man of Mystery."
Javier Delgado had arrived.
[INTERVIEW - GLORIA]Gloria is fanning herself, looking torn between a smile and a scowl.Gloria: "Javier. He is like a beautiful firework. You love the colors, you love the bang, but then he disappears and leaves you with a burnt stick and a hole in your lawn. He thinks he can just show up because Mason is a star? He wasn't there when Mason was a baby with the colic! He wasn't there when I had to work three jobs to buy the diapers!"
The game started, and I played with a clinical efficiency. I wasn't just fast; I was where the ball was going before it even left the quarterback's hand. On offense, I was a bulldozer with the grace of a ballet dancer. By halftime, we were up by three touchdowns.
As I walked toward the sidelines, Javier was there, leaning against the fence, a cigar tucked behind his ear.
"Mason! Mi leon!" he roared, spreading his arms wide. He ignored the "No Spectators on Field" signs and strolled right up to me. "Look at you! You are not a boy, you are a titan! Why didn't you tell me you were the king of this little village?"
"I was busy living my life, Javier," I said, my voice flat. I didn't call him 'Dad.' I hadn't for a long time.
"Ah, the cold shoulder! Just like your mother when I forget the anniversaries," Javier laughed, clapping a hand on my shoulder pad. "But I see the fire in your eyes. You didn't get that from the closet-man, Jay. You got that from me. The Delgado spirit!"
I looked past him to where Manny was waving frantically. Manny's face was pure, unadulterated joy. For Manny, Javier was a hero who told stories of mountains and oceans. For me, Javier was the man who had left Gloria to cry in the kitchen while he chased a "sure thing" in a casino in Bogota.
"Manny's happy to see you," I said, stepping out of his grip. "Go talk to him. He's the one who still believes in the fireworks."
Javier's smile faltered for a micro-second, a flicker of recognition that I wasn't the easy mark I used to be. "You have grown cynical, Mason. It is a weight. A man should be light! Like the wind!"
[INTERVIEW - MASON]Mason is standing by the Gatorade cooler, dripping with sweat but looking perfectly composed.Mason: "Javier is a master of the 'Grand Entrance.' He wants the glory of the victory without the grind of the season. He thinks he can buy my affection with a helicopter ride or a story about a bullfight. But I've seen the ledger. I know exactly how much he owes this family in time and truth. I'll play the part for Manny, but Javier isn't a teammate. He's an opponent I have to manage."
"Mason! Did you see?" Manny came running up, his scarf flapping. "Papa arrived in a helicopter! He said we might go to Vegas after the game!"
"Focus on the game first, Manny," I said, ruffling his hair. I looked at Javier. "And Javier? Don't make promises to him you don't intend to keep. Not this time."
Javier laughed, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Always so serious! Jay has turned you into a little accountant."
I didn't tell him about the shell accounts. I didn't tell him about the domain names. I just put my helmet back on.
"The second half is starting," I said. "Watch closely, Javier. You might learn something about finishing what you start."
I turned and ran back onto the field. The crowd cheered, but my focus was locked. I had a game to win, a brother to protect, and a biological father to outmaneuver. The dynasty was being built, and I wasn't letting a "firework" blow it up.
DROP A POWERSTONE TO SHOW SUPPORT!!!