sweeper_2

SWEEPER II TIME: FALL 2008

“benefactress”

SETTING: RICKY WELCH, A 13-YEAR-OLD GIFTED SOCCER PLAYER FROM COLORADO SPRINGS THEY CALL “ SWEEPER “, LEADS THE BEST COLORADO YOUTH GOLD I TEAM INTO THE NATIONAL FINALS AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY. RICKY IS FROM A POOR SINGLE PARENT HOME - LIVING WITH HIS MOM IN A RENTED TRAILER. RICKY PLAYS SWEEPER - A POSITION IN FRONT OF THE GOALIE - AND VIRTUALLY NO GOALS HAVE BEEN SCORED AGAINST THIS COMPETITIVE, GIFTED, AND MOTIVATED YOUTH COLORADO TEAM THIS YEAR. COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL TEAMS ARE ALREADY FOCUSING ON RICKY, HOWEVER HIS MOTHER WANTS RICKY TO JUST CONCENTRATE ON SCHOOL - AND LET THE REST TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. FOLLOW ALONG AS COLORADO GOLD I PREPARES AND PLAYS THE FINAL GAME OF THE YEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IS AN EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCE IN OUR SOCIETY. THE AMAZING EVENTS THAT FOLLOW TRULY DIG DEEP INTO HUMAN EMOTION AND COMPASSION. “ SWEEPER “ ADDITIONALLY ENCOMPASSES SOCCER FUNDAMENTALS, COLORADO CULTURE, MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH, AND THE COMPETITIVE SPORTS ENVIRONMENT OF TODAYS’ YOUTH. SWEEPER OH MY GOD - MOM WHY DID YOU LEAVE - I REALIZE LIFE IS ROUGH HAVING LOST DAD AND ALL - BUT MY GOD - LEAVING WITHOUT TELLING ME...........I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN HANDLE THIS BY MYSELF - BUT I WILL. OK I’LL FIND SOMEWHERE TO GO - SOMETHING TO DO - I’LL MAKE IT SOMEHOW - SOCCER HAS TAUGHT ME THAT. I KNOW YOU ARE STILL COMING JUST KNOW IT.

CADET

HEY SON - WHAT IS GOING ON ? I SEE YOU OVER THERE WALKING AROUND THE FIELD HOUSE - YOU KNOW SECURITY IS REAL TIGHT AROUND HERE - I’M SURPRISED YOU HAVEN’T BEEN REMOVED FROM THE GROUNDS AT THIS HOUR - IT IS DARK NOW.

SWEEPER

I’M STILL WAITING FOR MY MOM - SHE’LL BE HERE.

CADET

ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE - IT’S BEEN NEARLY AN HOUR, AND AS I WAS RUNNING I WAS WATCHING YOU. 2

SWEEPER

SHE IS JUST RUNNING LATE.

CADET

YOU LOOK TROUBLED - WHAT IS YOUR NAME ?

SWEEPER

RICKY WELCH - THEY CALL ME SWEEPER.

CADET

SO YOU WERE JUST PLAYING IN THE BIG SOCCER YOUTH TOURNEY OBVIOUSLY.

SWEEPER

YES.........OUR TEAM WON THE WHOLE THING.

CADET

YOU BEAT THAT TEAM FROM LA ?

YUP - ONE TO ZERO.

SWEEPER CADET

WHAT’S THAT TROPHY HANGING OUT OF YOUR BAG ?

MVP.

SWEEPER CADET

WOW - THAT’S INCREDIBLE. THANKS.

SWEEPER CADET

SOMEONE IS COMING IN A CAR RIGHT AT US - MAY BE YOUR MOM - NO IT’S SECURITY. THAT ISN’T MOM.

SWEEPER

OK - I’LL GO TALK TO HIM.

CADET

SWEEPER

MOM - PLEASE JUST SHOW UP - YOU KNOW I’M HERE.

CADET

OK - HE SAYS WE HAVE TO LEAVE SOON - HE’LL GIVE US A FEW MINUTES - SECURITY UNDERSTANDS - BUT THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT IS OVER. 3

SWEEPER

OK - I’LL JUST WALK OR JOG HOME. WE LIVE IN ROCKRIMMON - NEAR ICE LAKE - PRETTY CLOSE TO THE ACADEMY.

CADET

I DON’T KNOW - IT’S NEARLY DARK - I’M THROUGH WITH MY WORK OUT. YOU LOOK HUNGRY - WHY DON’T YOU COME UP TO THE DINING HALL - I’LL GET YOU A SPECIAL PASS.

SWEEPER

I JUST DON’T KNOW - WHAT IF MOM COMES ?

CADET

YOUR CELL IS CHARGED ISN’T IT ?

YES - OK I’LL GO.

SWEEPER CADET

I KNOW WE NEED TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE - AND MY CODE IS TO HELP OUT FOLKS ON OUR SIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEREVER POSSIBLE. SO THAT INCLUDES ME ?

YOU BET !

OK - WHERE DO WE GO ?

SWEEPER CADET SWEEPER CADET

DINING HALL AND THEN WE’LL FIGURE IT OUT FROM THERE.

SWEEPER

OK - I GUESS I AM HUNGRY. MOM PLEASE JUST SHOW UP OR CALL.

CADET

OK WE NEED TO WALK ACROSS CAMPUS - SWEEPER, DO YOU HAVE AN ID IN CASE THEY QUESTION US ?

SWEEPER

I JUST HAVE MY TROPHY AND BAG WITH MY NAME ON IT. I HAVE A SCHOOL CARD THAT MAY DO.

CADET

OK - JUST HAVE IT AVAILABLE IN CASE WE NEED IT.

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SWEEPER

IT IS READY AND IN MY POCKET.

CADET

GOOD - I’LL CALL MY COMMANDER TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT IS UP. HE IS VERY STERN - BUT UNDERSTANDING.

SWEEPER

LOOK - I CAN JUST WALK HOME - WE HAVE A KEY HIDDEN IN THE BACK OF OUR TRAILER. IT WILL WORK - WE HAVE FOOD. THIS IS TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

CADET

NO PROBLEM - IT’S TAKEN CARE OF - I CAME FROM A BROKEN HOME WITH MANY FOSTER FAMILIES. NOW THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY IS MY HOME.

SWEEPER

SO YOU HAVE NO REAL MOM AND DAD ?

CADET

WELL I’M TOLD I WAS ADOPTED AT BIRTH - MY MOTHER WAS A DRUG ADDICT - METHAMPHETAMINE. SHE WAS APPARENTLY UNTREATABLE - SO THE STATE OF ALABAMA TOOK ME AWAY FROM HER. MY DAD WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED. I NEVER MET HIM. WE’LL JUST WALK OVER TO THE MESS YOU CAN EAT WITH MY WING - WE HAVE GUESTS ALL THE TIME. NO BIG DEAL.

SWEEPER

SO YOU NEVER HAD A REAL MOM OR DAD ?

CADET

NEVER - I’M OK THOUGH - THE ACADEMY, ATHLETICS, AND MILITARY LIFE SAVED ME. I WAS PROBABLY ON MY WAY TO A BAD LIFE WHEN BECAUSE OF MY TRACK SPEED AND A GREAT OPEN HEART OF THE COMMANDANT’S WIFE, SALLY MITCHELL, I WAS RESCUED TO THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY. IT CHANGED MY LIFE BIG TIME.

SWEEPER

GREAT - I HOPE THAT HAPPENS TO ME.

CADET

THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIKE US. YOU SAID YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOUR DAD.

SWEEPER

YES, HE LEFT BEFORE I WAS BORN. MOM HAS NEVER SEEN HIM EITHER.

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CADET

I UNDERSTAND - I WAS ABANDONED AT BIRTH ESSENTIALLY. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF REASONS FOR THIS - OBVIOUSLY MY PARENTS COULDN’T HANDLE AT THAT TIME BEING PARENTS.

SWEEPER

DID YOU EVER SEE YOUR REAL PARENTS.

CADET

NO - AND I DIDN’T PETITION THE STATE TO MEET UP WITH THEM EITHER. I JUST FELT ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH FOR THEM AND I DIDN’T WANT TO MAKE IT ANY HARDER THAN IT WAS. SOME PEOPLE JUST DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PARENT EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, OR FINANCIALLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SWEEPER

WOW - YOU MUST BE QUITE THE CADET TO BE SO UNDERSTANDING AND MATURE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.

CADET

WELL I FINALLY RESOLVED NOT TO FIGHT THIS. MY MISSION IN LIFE IS TO ASSIST OTHERS WHO ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION.....LIFE IS NOT LOST AND IS WELL WORTH LIVING.

SWEEPER

WELL I NEED TO FIND MY MOM ASAP.

CADET

WE’VE ALREADY BEGUN WORKING ON THAT. HERE WE ARE AT THE CADET MESS HALL. EAT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU WANT. SECONDS, THIRDS, AND FOURTHS ARE OK.

SWEEPER

THANKS. I’M really HUNGRY.

CADET

HEY SEVENTH squadron ! THIS IS SWEEPER - THE MVP OF THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT - BEAT THE LA TEAM THAT WAS #1 IN THE COUNTRY FOR YOUTH.

SWEEPER

HELLO - THANKS FOR HAVING ME - I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO THANK YOU ENOUGH.

CADET

AND HERE IS SALLY MITCHELL. SHE IS THE COMMANDANT’S WIFE WHO WE TALKED ABOUT - SHE TAKES CARE OF EVERYONE.

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SWEEPER

BUT I JUST NEED TO FIND MY MOM. SHE MUST BE AROUND SOMEWHERE.

SALLY MITCHELL

SHE IS - WE JUST NEED TO FIND HER - AND AS WE SPEAK WE ARE LOOKING FOR HER.

SWEEPER

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ? WHERE WILL I STAY ?

SALLY MITCHELL

I’VE ALREADY CONTACTED THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS TO FIND YOUR MOM - AND I LET SOCIAL SERVICES KNOW THAT I WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOU UNTIL WE FIND YOUR MOM. APPARENTLY YOUR MOTHER DIDN’T HAVE CLOSE FAMILY ?

SWEEPER

NO ONE THAT I KNEW. I THINK SHE HAD A FAR AWAY SISTER IN FLORIDA - BUT SHE NEVER TALKED MUCH ABOUT HER. SHE NEVER VISITED.

SALLY MITCHELL

WELL SWEEPER - DESPITE THE MILITARY’S GRIMACES - I TAKE CARE OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME - IT’S MY personal MISSION IN LIFE. YOUR CADET WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE WAS BROUGHT HERE BY ME BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN HIM. HE HAD NOWHERE TO GO - AND AFTER PASSING PREP SCHOOL HE IS DOING WONDERFULLY AT THE ACADEMY. HE STAYED WITH ME LIKE MANY OTHERS BEFORE THEY STARTED.

SWEEPER

BUT HE’S A CADET - I’M ONLY 13 and IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AT EAGLE VIEW. I’M NOT A CADET.

SALLY MITCHELL

I TAKE IN ALL COMERS - AND THE air force DOESN’T JUST FIGHT WARS - WE HAVE HUMANITARIAN GOALS ALSO. I TAKE IN HOMELESS, SINGLE PREGNANT GALS, ADDICTS . . . FOLKS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB OR FAMILY. WE HAVE A FAMILY STAYING WITH US NOW WHO HAS LOST EVERYTHING - JOB, HOME, YOU NAME IT.

SWEEPER

AND THE MILITARY ALLOWS YOU TO DO THIS ?

SALLY MITCHELL

WELL THEY BEND THE RULES A BIT BECAUSE OF MY HUSBAND WHO IS A VERY SOUGHT AFTER officer AND FITS IN WELL HERE. IT WORKS. 7

SWEEPER

DOES YOUR HUSBAND LIKE YOU TAKING IN ALL THESE PEOPLE ?

SALLY MITCHELL

WELL - HE HAS TO BECAUSE I CALL THE SHOTS AT HOME - HE CALLS THE SHOTS AT THE ACADEMY THOUGH - EVERYTHING BUT THE AUDIBLES.

SWEEPER

SO I’M SLEEPING AT YOUR HOUSE TONIGHT ?

SALLY MITCHELL

PROBABLY FOR A FEW DAYS. UNTIL WE FIND MOM. AND WE WILL. WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL ?

SWEEPER

SALLY MITCHELL

THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF - I’LL GO TO ADMINISTRATION TOMORROW - WE’LL GET ALL YOUR BOOKS AND SCHOOL MATERIALS - YOU WILL GO ON LIKE NORMAL. I WILL HAVE A HEARING WITH SOCIAL SERVICES IN A COUPLE DAYS IF WE DON’T FIND MOM.

SWEEPER

I’M SCARED - THIS IS ALL GREAT - YOU ARE VERY NICE - BUT I JUST WANT MY MOM.

SALLY MITCHELL

I FULLY UNDERSTAND. IT’S OK TO CRY. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR MOM MIGHT BE ?

SWEEPER

NO - SHE HAD FEW FRIENDS - ONLY AN OCCASIONAL BOYFRIEND. IN FACT MY DAD WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN AFTER HE LEFT HOME - HE WORKED FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN SECURITY - AND SOME FEel HE WAS KIDNAPPED - MAYBE KILLED - AND WE JUST NEVER DISCOVERED ANYTHING DESPITE BIG TIME INVESTIGATIONS.

SALLY MITCHELL

DID YOUR MOM HAVE ANY RECENT BOYFRIENDS ?

SWEEPER

NOT THAT I KNEW OF - AND SHE TOLD ME EVERYTHING WE WERE VERY CLOSE - SHE ALWAYS HOPED DAD WOULD REAPPEAR.

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sally mitchell

ALL MOMS HOPE FOR THIS. DAD’S ARE REALLY NEEDED IN FAMILIES AND SO MANY HAVE NONE.

SWEEPER

ABSOLUTELY - NONE OF MOM’S SUPPOSED BOYFRIENDS WERE AS GOOD AS DAD.

SALLY MITCHELL

DID THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO YOUR FAMILY SWEEPER ?

SWEEPER

VERY LITTLE - MOM STRUGGLED WITH JOBS BECAUSE OF DEPRESSION. SHE WAS ALWAYS TAKING PILLS AND CRYING WHEN SHE THOUGHT I WASN’T WATCHING.

SALLY MITCHELL

SO SHE WAS DEPRESSED ?

SWEEPER

YES - VERY MUCH SO - SHE EVEN RECEIVED SHOCK TREATMENTS FOR REFRACTORY DEPRESSION.

SALLY MITCHELL

WAS HER DEPRESSION BAD LATELY ?

SWEEPER

COULD HAVE BEEN SINCE WE HAVE VERY LITTLE MONEY. MAYBE SHE DIDN’T TAKE HER PILLS SINCE SHE COULDN’T AFFORD THEM.

SALLY MITCHELL

WELL THAT MAY VERY WELL EXPLAIN HER DISAPPEARANCE.

SWEEPER

BUT MY MOM WOULDN’T JUST UP AND LEAVE - SOMETHING REALLY BIG HAPPENED. I DON’T KNOW WHAT. I CAN’T IMAGINE. MUST BE CATASTROPHIC. SHE WAS THE VERY BEST MOM.

SALLY MITCHELL

I’M SURE SHE WAS. IT’S OK TO CRY.

CADET

WELL the wing is FINISHING UP WITH dinner - WE HAVE A flight MEETING TONIGHT. I MUST GO - WILL SEE YOU LATER SWEEPER. OK MR. CADET..........

SWEEPER

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CADET

HENRY SMITH. AND I’LL BE AROUND CHECKING ON YOU AFTER I LEAVE FOR THE NCAA TRACK FINALS THIS WEEK IN ATLANTA.

SWEEPER

WELL I’LL BE ROOTING FOR YOU. YOU LOOKED GOOD RUNNING.

CADET

IT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT TO MAKE THE FINALS - FOR ME TO WIN WOULD REQUIRE AN AMAZING NEAR WORLD RECORD TIME OR BETTER - BUT I’M GIVING IT MY ALL. GOODBYE.

SALLY MITCHELL

GOODBYE AND THANKS FOR THE CALL mr. smith.

SWEEPER

WHERE DO WE GO NOW SALLY - IS THAT OK THAT I CALL YOU SALLY ?

SALLY MITCHELL

YES - SALLY IS fine. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FABULOUS SOCCER TEAM AS WE DRIVE OVER TO OUR HOUSE NEAR AIR ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL.

SWEEPER

WELL OUR TEAM IS BUILT AROUND SPEED, QUICK PASSES, DEFENSE, AND FUNDAMENTALS. WE PRACTICE DRIBBLING, PASSING, SCORING SHOTS, CORNER AND DIRECT KICKS CONSTANTLY. WE CROSS TO OUR TEAMMATES, REALLY STUFF IT IN ON DEFENSE, AND DO NOT OVER COACH. WE ARE JUST A BUNCH OF FUN LOVING KIDS WHO ENJOY SOCCER, ATHLETICS, AND BEING TOGETHER.

SALLY MITCHELL

SOUNDS PRETTY NEAT. WHEN IS THE NEXT PRACTICE OR GAME ?

SWEEPER

I’LL GET AN EMAIL TONIGHT OR TOMORROW. OUR COACH WANTS US TO PLAY IN EUROPE AND ON THE EAST COAST LATER THIS YEAR. OUR INDOOR SEASON IS COMING SOON. STARTING TO GET COLD OUTSIDE.

SALLY MITCHELL

DO YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND ?

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SWEEPER

MAYBE - HER NAME IS DEMI SANDERS. SHE IS A REAL GOOD STUDENT AND FRIEND. SHE HAS ALREADY TEXTED ME 3X SINCE SHE HEARD ABOUT THE GAME. SHE HAD DANCE RECITAL TODAY AND COULDN’T MAKE THE GAME.

SALLY MITCHELL

SOUNDS PRETTY NEAT ALSO. WELL HERE WE ARE. JUST BRING YOUR THINGS IN - I HAVE CLOTHES THAT WILL FIT, AND ANYTHING ELSE IN OUR STOREROOM ABOVE THE GARAGE. I’LL GO TO EAGLEVIEW SCHOOL TOMORROW WITH YOU. WE SHOULDN’T HAVE PROBLEMS.

SWEEPER

SALLY - THIS IS ALL VERY NICE - BUT I JUST WANT TO HAVE MY MOM BACK NOW. I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING. i fear I’VE BEEN ABANDONED !

SALLY MITCHELL

APPARENTLY YOU HAVE - BUT WE WILL MAKE LIFE WORK FOR YOU. GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.

SWEEPER END - CHAPTER II, SWEEPER

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