"There is an ancient Raiders legend that once upon a time, a tackled quarterback released the football forward and claimed it was an unintentional fumble. That is why when the sun finally sets, the Chargers will lose, although probably Kenny deliberately pitched it forward. "What else could I do?" he whispered in the locker room.
"After a plane trip that passes over several time zones, a sunset over the dark Pacific Ocean -- accompanied by California IPA -- is both enchanting and disorienting", Caydance observed.
"Precisely what the NFL thought when they amended the rule book with a definitive section forever known as The Holy Roller Rule."
If Caydance thought that the story had reached its climax, she was wrong. "So there we were in San Diego", Griff continued. "The score was Raiders 14 - Chargers 20. We only needed a touchdown and the extra point to win. We were at the Chargers 14th -- that close to the end zone. But only ten seconds remained." Griff paused. Dramatically.
"Suddenly Chargers Lineman Woodrow Lowe tackled Kenny and he fumbled the ball forward as he went down. Rooster -- that would be Pete Banaszak -- knew that if he picked up the ball he would be tackled, so he fumbled it forward towards "The Ghost", that would be Tight End Dave Casper, who fumbled it into the end zone, where he fell on it. Touchdown Raiders! Mann kicked the extra point. Final score: Raiders 21 - Chargers 20. We left town as quickly as possible."
"By the way", Griff said to Caydance, "you will be happy to know that your Dad has invited us to return to Princeton during Spring scouting season. Left Tackle Jamaar Kahlil Purcell from Montclair, Right Tackle Kyrone Arnet Berryman from the Jersey Shore, and Cornerback Terrell Orsino Washington, from Camden will continue to be core players in our 1990 season, and now your Dad wants me to take a look at more New Jersey players in his local high schools."
Outside, the beach was still visible in close of day twilight. Inside, her Mother's airplane-carryon-transported blueberry pie was on the kitchen table, and there was vanilla ice cream in the freezer. Caydance smiled. The trip to her childhood home was better than expected, and now they were home.