Modern Family: New Life

Andrew gathered the team in a huddle to communicate the play. This is where the quarterback gives specific instructions about the play to be executed.

"We've got fifteen minutes, and we need three touchdowns…" Andrew said.

"Looks like you guys need more training," he added with a faint smile that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

They knew just how intense their captain was about training. None of them wanted to increase their hours of suffering.

"Hey, it's not our fault. We don't have a backup quarterback," Steve said, crumbs still on his mouth from the cupcake he'd just eaten.

"Excuses are for losers! We'll discuss extra training later. For now, when those damned from Moose School kick the ball, we're going to catch it and score a touchdown!" Andrew exclaimed, leaving everyone stunned.

"A touchdown on the kickoff?" everyone repeated.

The kickoff marks the start of the game. The kicking team places the ball on a tee at their own 35-yard line, and one player kicks the ball as hard as they can towards the opposing field.

The receiving team—in this case, Andrew's team—must catch the ball and try to return it as far as possible.

Scoring a touchdown on a kickoff, known as a "kickoff return touchdown," is uncommon and considered an impressive feat.

The main challenge is that the receiving team has to cover a long distance (usually 75 yards or more) while dodging all the opposing players trying to stop them.

"Are we seriously going to do this?" Steve asked with a puzzled look as he lined up on the field with the rest of the team. The plan was simple: Andrew would be the returner and run the ball. The others had to protect him.

Although Andrew was the quarterback and, under normal circumstances, this task would fall to the running backs (Archie and Reggie), Andrew was faster than both of them.

"Yes. Now let's crush them!" Andrew said, breaking up the huddle and giving orders for everyone to take their positions.

Tom, the kicker from Moose Ridge School, prepared for the kickoff. With a powerful strike, he sent the ball soaring into the Eagles' field. The ball landed at the 10-yard line. Andrew quickly caught it and began to run, followed closely by his teammates acting as bodyguards.

With a combination of speed and agility, Andrew left behind the Moose Ridge players who tried to catch him. Little by little, he began to outpace his own teammates, who couldn't keep up. Running solo was better anyway.

Archie and Reggie managed to keep up just enough to tackle two players, saving Andrew from trouble.

Thanks to this, Andrew saw an opening in the defense and accelerated, his legs moving at full speed. The last defenders desperately tried to stop him, but he left them behind with an elegant spin move. One of them, Nick, lunged at Andrew but ended up eating dirt, clueless about how his nemesis had dodged him.

"Touchdown!" shouted the referee in a tone that betrayed his surprise, raising both arms. The Eastwood Eagles had scored on the kickoff return, adding 6 points to the scoreboard.

'Just two more touchdowns... We have time,' Andrew thought as he stood in the end zone. He turned around and saw the stands in silence—his own included. Until a high-pitched scream echoed across the field. It was Cam, shouting his name. Phil and the others quickly joined in the celebration.

The stands erupted in applause. It was rare to see a touchdown from the opening kickoff. On top of that, few knew that Andrew was also a fast and agile runner since he usually focused on passing and leading the team.

'A real talent. The game is already won,' Josh thought with a faint smile. It had been a long time since he'd seen a kickoff return touchdown.

Andrew showed no mercy. Losses were rare for him. In this life, none. And it didn't weigh on his conscience—he had always been fiercely competitive.

He played the entire fifteen minutes both on offense and defense. He finally got the chance to tackle properly. At Reggie's request—and that of the rest of the team—Andrew took it upon himself to tackle Nick. He didn't like that arrogant, cocky kid either.

"Game over! Eagles 44 – Moose 32," the referee announced.

Reggie, Archie, Steve, and the rest of the team roared with joy, celebrating their championship victory once again. The Eagles' stands exploded with cheers and applause.

Andrew smiled faintly, seeing his teammates' happiness. Victory felt good. He glanced at the losing team, their faces long with disappointment, and shook his head.

'That's football,' Andrew thought. 'Some win, others lose. There's nothing you can do about it.'

The awards ceremony continued. First, they handed out medals to both teams, followed by the individual awards: MVP (Most Valuable Player), Best Offensive Player, and Best Defensive Player.

Andrew won all three awards since he played both offense and defense. In competitive teams, there is usually a separate team for offense (which includes the quarterback) and another for defense. However, as a 10-year-old, Andrew could play on both sides. In the future, though, he wouldn't be playing defense anymore.

He earned the MVP and Best Offensive Player awards because he was instrumental in his team's victory in every game, scoring multiple touchdowns and demonstrating impressive accuracy in his passes.

After the awards were handed out, it was time to present the trophy and celebrate with the entire team.

'Finally, water,' Andrew thought as the celebrations calmed down and he could grab a drink and enjoy the sandwiches and cupcakes Claire had prepared.

After celebrating with his teammates, it was time for family photos. They did it every year. What Andrew liked the least was taking pictures with Cam dressed as a clown, but he noticed Fizbo hadn't shown up this time.

"Dad won't make it for the photos…" Mitchell commented. Andrew had already explained that they had a flat tire and Jay had stayed behind waiting for a taxi. No one was surprised that Andrew had run all the way here; they were slowly getting used to it.

"Father, Fizbo didn't come today?" Andrew asked casually.

To avoid confusion, Andrew had decided to call Mitch "Father" and Cam "Dad." Mitch wanted to be called "Dad," but he lost at rock-paper-scissors to Cam, so he couldn't complain.

"No. I told him you don't like Fizbo… Neither do I," Mitchell said in a low voice.

"Thank God…" Andrew whispered in relief. He wouldn't have to deal with that creepy clown anymore—who was, in reality, his dad. In his past life, he had watched It and developed a fear of clowns.

"Did he take it well?" Andrew asked. He knew Cam could be dramatic and overly sensitive, capable of turning something that Andrew and Mitchell would consider trivial into a major ordeal.

"At first, no. But then I showed him the photos of you with Fizbo, and he realized on his own that you didn't like the clown at all. We're officially free of Fizbo for all future parties," Mitchell said, whispering with a slight smile.

"Finally. We should've done this ages ago. Well done, Father," Andrew replied, also with a small smile and giving him a thumbs-up. Fizbo could stay in hell as far as he was concerned. He had endured birthdays, Christmases, and more with that darn clown. It wasn't personal against Cam; he just hated clowns.

"What are you two whispering about? We need to take a group photo," Cam said, walking over.

"Nothing! Let's get the photo!" Mitch and Andrew said in unison.

Right at that moment, Jay arrived, sipping a cold smoothie. As he had expected, Andrew's team won, and his grandson took home all the individual awards.

After the final, summer vacation began, and soon after that, Andrew started sixth grade at the middle school.

Time flew by. Three years passed, and in just a few days, Andrew would begin a new chapter in his current life: high school.

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