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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