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Billy, the Football Jock!

Billy loved football. It was all he did. He played football, dreamed football, and sometimes ate food that looked like footballs. He practiced everyday after school, and sometimes during school. He always wanted to be just like Tony Hofleman, a football player, when he was grown up.

But, before he played football he had to make sure he had all of his protective gear on. His mother always checked for his helmet, mouth-guard, shoulder pads, and cleats. He always had to be safe just incase he got hurt, his gear would protect him. Every week Billy would watch the Ware Wolves game. One game Tony Hofleman, the quarter back, did not wear a mouth-guard and had an AMAZING game! Billy was so amazed and wished he could be like Tony. Then he thought; What if I didn’t wear my mouth-guard, would I be as good as Tony? Then he went to tell his mom his idea.

“No are you silly? You need you mouth-guard for protection. What if you got hit in your mouth? You will get hurt!” said his mom when she heard his idea. “But Tony Hofleman didn’t wear it and he had an AMAZING game, injury free too! I promise I won’t get hurt!” said Billy. His mom added, “No, and that’s the end of this conversation!” Billy ran to his room, picked up his signed Tony Hofleman football, and cried his elf to sleep.

The next day at school all he could think about is the game last night and what his mom said to him. In school he wrote a paper about it, shared it at show and tell, and drew a picture of Tony Hofleman without a mouth-guard on! All he could think of is Tony and his game this weekend.

After that week of school Billy practiced and practiced for his first game of the season. He didn’t talk to his mom at all unless he wanted something to eat, or to say goodnight to her before he went to bed. He was still thinking if he should or shouldn’t wear his mouth-guard in his first game. He was very confused. Finally, it has come, the day Billy has been waiting for. That morning Billy woke up extra early to have his football breakfast, pancakes and bacon, and get dressed. He got all of his pads ready and put his mouth-guard in his bag.

He made a water bottle and got in the car with his dad to go to his game. Once he got there, he warmed up and still didn’t know what he was going to do. He went over the two options over and over in his head. He had finally picked an option… he thought.

As soon as he got onto the field and was just ready to throw the football for a long touchdown pass, he realized he didn’t have his mouth-guard in and froze! The other team ran to Billy and sacked him, hitting him right in the helmet. Billy laid there on the field for about 5 minutes and then the trainer came out. His mouth was bleeding like crazy so they took Billy off the field and brought him into the locker room. Once the bleeding slowed down, the trainer saw that Billy was missing all four front teeth!

As soon as Billy’s parents got into the locker room, Billy was already at the hospital getting an x-ray for his jaw. The next day Billy was still in the hospital and he had a broken jaw and four missing teeth! Billy never played football again for the rest of his life!

The Moral of the story is: It’s better to be safe then sorry.