Lennie goes to Texas

Friday Night Lights, Booby Miles. Of Mice and Men, Lennie Smalls
Setting, Odessa TX



In the town of Odessa TX football is their number one sport and they take it very seriously. Football tryouts for the panthers had finally come; with months of training all the players are confident they will make it. The best player on the team, Booby Miles has automatically made the team because he won the winning touch down last season. When picking their players on the team they are very specific. A man named Lennie smalls stood out to the coaches, this was unusual because he is mentally retarded but they put that to the side because the size of him amazed the coaches. Lennie Smalls moved to Odessa TX from the Salinas valley of California, Lennie was influenced by his friend George to try out for the panthers. George thought this would be a good sport for Lennie because he put his strength to use for once.

Booby Miles was not happy about Lennie making the team; he thought this would jeopardize their season. Although he was not happy about Lennie making the team he was mature and held back making fun of Lennie. He didn’t say any hurtful things but in the locker room he was flaunting to Lennie about how good he was. “Lennie, when I get famous ill come visit you. You better get my autograph now so you can be the first one to have it” Booby Miles said. Lennie being more interested with George and their hopes to having a farm, replies, “Well when I get out of here I will invite you to my farm and you can meet my friend George” The team looking confused to his response put it to the side knowing his disability.

A few practices had gone by and things were going good. Lennie was confused about the plays they had to do but the coaches didn’t mind because he was like a boulder running through the people. Lennie would get handed the ball and when the coaches said run he ran, that was his way of playing football, although it didn’t make much sense to him he was good at it. Lennie began to make friends with his team mates, especially Booby Miles. Booby Miles would really enjoy spending time with Lennie. Booby Miles wanted to get to know Lennie. “Lennie tell me about yourself” Booby Miles said, Lennie replied well I live with my friend George and we work together, we hope to buy a farm together, what about you ?” Football is my life, I live for football it’s my future, and without football I would have no future. Having this sport gives me hope that
I will be O.K in life it gives me the opportunity to get into college.” Booby Miles said.

Games had been going by and they were having a good season, until one unfortunate night. The night of this game the crowd was going wild and coaches were screaming at the team mates. Lennie felt overwhelmed and more confused than usual. It was time to shine, they gave Lennie the ball and told him to run, and he ran fiercely, and went right into Booby Miles. The two players collided; Lennie appeared to be okay he got up and walked off the field. Booby Miles was hurt badly; screaming in pain, and could not walk off the field like Lennie could. He was pulled out of the game for the night. Booby Miles went to the doctor and found out that we tore his ACL; this was a very painful injury and takes a lot of time to heal. Even though his injury was painful we took a great lesson from it. The lesson is that there is more to life then football and he will succeed if he tries. Lennie also learned an important lesson, just because you are different from other people doesn’t make you a bad person is makes you unique. Those are too valuable lesson that people need to take out of life on a day to day basis.