Prelude: 1990
There were only two things that John Tolbert cared about -- football and fucking. In both he was ferocious.
John was eagerly anticipating the day he'd been waiting for all year -- scout day. That was the day when college recruiters came to take a look at him and the other seniors on the varsity football team.
"This is my ticket outta this chicken-shit town!" he'd been telling himself.
John had the arm and the instincts that the college coaches were looking for. Nothing was going to hold him back; except maybe, his grades which were probably the lowest amongst all of the athletes on any of the schools' teams. As far as he was concerned, football and ONLY football was his means of avoiding what he feared the most: being a former high school jock stuck in his small, dead-end hometown with nothing going for him except remembering his "glory days". Three members of his family had already met the same fate. This father and uncle had both been highly touted football players in their respective years. Neither lasted more than a season in college: his dad got injured and his uncle was expelled because of a cheating. Years later, John's older sister earned all-state honors in basketball and was recruited to the state's championship women's college team. Things looked promising for Nancy -- but just before her senior year she and three teammates were caught using steroids and were kicked out of school. After a year of trying to land on women's teams in Europe, Nancy finally returned home.
All three -- John's father, uncle and sister - ended up at the town's one steady industry -- the local plant that made parts for train engines.
John was determined that he would not end up like them. He even had a little extra "help" in his corner: his coach.
Coach Lewis had been "looking out" for his players for the past seven seasons. No one in the town had noticed (or cared) that so many of his guys were making it into schools that they otherwise would never have considered. Coach had made arrangements with select college scouts to receive a few dollars under the table -- which he in turned shared with a few teachers to "adjust" a grade or two.
Coach Lewis' "football factory" had been operating without a hitch -- but that was until Barbara Stevens came along and took a position in the Social Studies department. The coach approached her and made his proposal. He didn't anticipate that she would ask for more than he was offering. He "convinced" her to take less than she wanted -- since she was new to the game -- with the possibility of making more in the future.
"That's the way it goes, honey." He told her sternly. "Take it or leave it."
Although insulted, she took it. The next day she met with her principal and a lawyer.
No one noticed anything was amiss for weeks. It all started when Coach Lewis was asked to a meeting with the school board which was also attended by his teacher's union rep, the athletic directors at the state and county levels, two of his "football factory" teachers, his biggest paying football scout and Ms. Stevens. By the end of that day, Coach Lewis and the two teachers were fired, the college scout was banned from the recruiting in the state and the story was all over the news the next day.
Only two of the senior players received offers to play college football that year, John was among the ones who were passed over.
For "helping" to bring the whole scandal to light, Barbara Stevens was allowed to secretly take a teaching job in another state.
John Tolbert never got the opportunity to play football beyond high school. He bounced from job to job for a while, battled depression and alcoholism, and spent several years unemployed. A few years after his father passed, he continued sharing the house with his sister.
Much to his dismay, he eventually ended up at the engine plant with his sister and some of his former teammates.
Two years later, John had taken all he could stand of the way his life had turned out -- he needed a fresh start. His sister helped him land a new job with a carpenter two counties away. John packed everything he owned into his truck (which wasn't very much) and never looked back.
2006
John had grown to like his new job. After a few years as a carpenter's apprentice he branched out on his own. The work was steady and he was able to make a nice living for himself. He was almost able to get over the disappointing turns his life had taken.
Until the day he took a call to renovate a den.
He arrived at the small two-bedroom bungalow late that afternoon to give the estimate. This would be his last appointment of the day.
He had to suppress a look of shock when the middle-aged black woman answered the door. Her face showed a few more wrinkles than he remembered, and there were more than just a few extra pounds and streaks of grey -- the name on the order read Barbara Davies, but without a doubt, this was the woman who was responsible for crushing his dreams: Barbara Stevens!
It took him a few seconds to contain his anger, but he excused himself and played the part.
"Sorry, Mrs. Davies," he grinned, "it's been a really rough day."
"No problem." She replied eyeing him cautiously.
They sat in the living room and went over the initial paperwork and her ideas. A few minutes later she was leading him to the den.
Much to John's delight, she neither recognized nor remembered him.
"Will I need to speak with Mr. Davies about any of this?" he inquired.
"No!" she suddenly snapped, and was instantly ashamed for her reaction.
"Sorry..." he replied as he continued taking measurements.
Later as he was leaving, she stopped him to apologize for her sudden outburst. "My ex-husband," she started. "It was a really ugly divorce." She was unable to look him directly in the eye. "You know how it is, bad things from the past that sometimes come back to bite you?"
"I understand perfectly." John nodded. "Better than you know."
They agreed that he would start the work that weekend.
John went home that night and drank heavily. A part of him wanted to go back to Barbara Davies house and strangle her.
The next day he came up with a better idea and spent the rest of the week planning it out.
