In the football classroom, a game film of the Swifts playing another Los
Angeles suburb was in progress. The Swifts had looked weak against the Wolves in the film the Wolves coach had provided a few weeks ago. Now, they were running no huddle plays like clockwork. On every drive, they moved down the field as if they owned it. River was dismayed. "The Swifts look better than they did a few game films ago", he said.
"Nobody looks good against the Wolves," Griff commented. Sort of reassuringly. "Also, in the film the Swifts coach sent us, they are playing at home. They won't be on home territory on Saturday; they are playing here, where they won't have a huge number of supporters cheering in the stands."
"My Mother and Father aren't speaking. Again," River said. "I don't think they will come to the game. If they do, they won't sit together."
"Looks like it's time for my wife and I to have dinner in Concord. Is Ithaka open tonight?" Griff had eaten at Ithaka when he lived in the TriValley; he still remembered the moussaka, the grilled lamb and stuffed eggplant, fried zucchini slices and garlic mashed potatoes. But the last time he had eaten there was with his former girlfriend. Although, for that reason he had never suggested Ithaca to Caydance, this week his quarterback's performance was at stake.
"Yes, Ithaka is open tonight. If I tell Mom and Dad that you will be there, both of them will appear," River said. Hopefully. It had been at least four years since Griff had eaten moussaka at Ithaka. First the Basque Hotel and now Ithaka. Griff smiled to himself.
In the continuously rolling film, it was the third quarter. The Swifts had already sacked the opposing team's quarterback three times. As once again the opposing team's quarterback stepped into the pocket, a terrifying blitz was set in motion. Griff stopped the film, looked at where two O-line tackles -- Jamaar Kahlil Purcell, from Montclair, New Jersey and Kyrone Arnet Berryman, from Jersey Shore -- were sitting. Different High School loyalties had initially been problematical, but now Griff observed that they were sitting together. "Not on 0ur field", Jamaar and Kyrone said, almost in one voice.