The student body president, a capable guy who knew how to get things done, instructed his fellow council members to help the football team clean up the field before heading over to Mike.
"Mike, Principal Tom wants to see you in his office. He says he has something to discuss with you," the president relayed.
"Got it," Mike nodded.
He already had a pretty good guess why he was being summoned. Principal Tom probably wanted to talk about the disaster that was today's invitational.
"Paige, hang tight for a bit. I'll come find you as soon as I'm done..."
After giving the little girl a heads-up and greeting Georgie, Mike headed toward the main building.
Since it was the weekend, the halls were empty. It didn't take long for Mike to reach the principal's office upstairs.
"Principal, you wanted to see me?" Mike asked, even though he had a hunch.
"You saw today's game. Aaron and the boys... their performance wasn't exactly inspiring..." Principal Tom cut straight to the chase. "So, I want you to rejoin the team."
Just like the students who had come out to cheer today, Principal Tom was deeply disappointed with the game's outcome.
As a principal nearing retirement, he cared more about the school's reputation than anyone. It was likely a sense of duty driving him to finish his tenure on a high note.
"If you're willing to rejoin the team, the school will arrange an additional athletic scholarship for you," Principal Tom said from behind his desk, laying his cards on the table without giving Mike much time to react.
Mike, already an honor student, had secured an academic scholarship for the year. According to the principal, all he had to do was suit up again, and he'd easily bag another scholarship for athletics.
Combined, that was two rewards.
Clearly, the school wasn't planning on freeloading off Mike's talent. If they struck a deal, it would be a win-win.
Mike didn't exactly need the pocket money right now, thanks to his stock market gains, but who would complain about having more cash?
Besides, he had been planning to get back on the field for fun anyway. So, he went with the flow. "No problem. I'm willing to help the school out. But I have a small condition."
Hearing Mike's agreement, Principal Tom smiled. "As long as you're willing to come back, that's what matters. I'll talk to Coach Wayne and get you back on the roster ASAP. Now, let's hear your condition."
"I want George to be the head coach of the football team again," Mike stated his true intention.
Having spent so many dinners at the Cooper house, he knew exactly how much George loved football.
Since the opportunity was there, he didn't mind giving the guy a hand. Consider it payback for how much the Cooper family had looked out for him recently.
"George?" Principal Tom fell into thought.
The school had fired George last year over that sponsor issue, even after he led the team to great results. The administration already felt a bit guilty about it.
Plus, Principal Tom had promised last year that he would hire George back once the heat died down. Maybe it was his age, or maybe it was because the football team had been doing well for a while, but the principal had seemingly forgotten that promise.
Medford was a small town, and in small towns, personal relationships mattered.
Since Mike brought it up, Principal Tom didn't hesitate for long. "Your request is reasonable. The school can rehire George as a coach. However, I need to think about the head coach position."
George had been gone for half a year. That was a long time, and no one knew if his coaching skills had gotten rusty.
To play it safe, Principal Tom wanted to vet him first.
Best case scenario: George's skills were still sharp. He could start as an assistant coach to get back in the groove, and then be promoted to head coach.
Having a buffer period was generally good for both George and the school.
But Mike knew that George hadn't stopped following football for a single day in the last six months. The guy spent his time analyzing tactics in front of the TV; his skills couldn't have dropped that much.
And frankly, even if George was a little rusty, he was still a better fit than the current Coach Wayne. Their professional ethics weren't even in the same league.
"I can guarantee that George is definitely the better fit for head coach of the Medford Wolves right now," Mike vouched for him after weighing the situation.
Seeing Mike's confidence, Principal Tom sank into thought again.
The teachers knew a bit about Coach Wayne's family issues. Again, small towns run on personal connections. That was exactly why Coach Wayne had been cut so much slack. But his recent performance was just too erratic, and the school's patience was running thin.
"How can you prove what you're saying is true?" Principal Tom asked.
Given Coach Wayne's situation, Principal Tom was already leaning toward George. He just needed a concrete reason to convince himself—and the rest of the school board.
"How about the next invitational?" Mike said calmly. "I'll invite Coach George to watch the game next weekend. I'm sure he'll prove with his actions that he has what it takes to take over."
Principal Tom's attitude showed he already accepted George as a coach. George just needed a chance to prove he deserved the head coach title back immediately.
"Very well. I'll leave this to you. I'm waiting to be surprised..." Principal Tom said with a smile.
"No problem." Mike accepted the task without any pressure.
Honestly, it wasn't a hard task.
George had poured too much of his soul into the Medford football team. Once he saw the mess they were in, he wouldn't be able to resist stepping in to help.
So, all Mike had to do was drag him to the school next weekend, and the mission would practically complete itself.
---
After finalizing the details, Mike left the principal's office.
By the time he returned to the field, it had been cleaned up. The football players and student council members were gone, leaving only Captain Aaron, Georgie, and Paige.
"Mike, what did the principal want?" Aaron asked. He knew why Mike had left, and stayed behind out of friendly concern.
"The principal invited me back to the team, and I said yes. So, we don't need to go find Coach Wayne on Monday," Mike replied with a smile.
"That's awesome!" Aaron pumped his fist, a huge grin spreading across his face.
Aaron was graduating in half a semester. He desperately wanted the team to improve so he could end his high school football career on a high note.
Mike's return made that possible.
"Is that all? No other good news?" Relieved of his burden, Aaron noticed the mysterious look on Mike's face.
That was the look of someone hiding something up their sleeve.
"There is actually another piece of good news. You'll find out at the next invitational..." Mike teased, keeping him in suspense.
It turns out, everyone hates a cryptic person, but everyone loves being the cryptic person. Watching someone else scratch their head in curiosity was genuinely entertaining.
"Fine, I'll just treat it as a surprise you've got prepared for me."
Seeing Mike enjoying his little secret, Aaron didn't press him. instead, he asked the question he cared about most: "So, will you be playing in next week's invitational?"
"No," Mike shook his head. "I'll officially join the roster as a player after the next invitational wraps up."
This was something he had specifically discussed with the principal.
Mike had his own agenda here.
With his current ability, if he stepped on the field, he would definitely lead Medford to victory. But if he did that, it wouldn't highlight Coach George's capabilities.
Principal Tom had likely realized this too, which is why he agreed to Mike's proposal during their talk.
"Looks like we'll have to work hard next week to welcome your return properly," the easygoing Aaron said, not overthinking it.
As noon approached, the group on the field split up and headed home.