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“They declined to change the budget and provide more funding for the robotics club,” Jack says to his friend as he angrily slams his locker shut, “But you know what they did? They gave the football team more money so they can have steaks at their beginning-of-the-season banquet.”

Jack hates the football team. As student body president, he has witnessed the scarce funds of the school being poured into the football team instead of the cash-strapped academic programs and clubs. He campaigned on the promise of shifting funds toward academics, but the school’s administration refuses to budge. As a result of his efforts to take away funding from the football team, he has earned the scorn of many of the team’s players, especially that of the current team captain, Liam.

As Jack walks away from his locker, Liam approaches from the other side of the hallway.

“Hey, Jack,” Liam says with a smirk, “Just wanted to say that I’m excited to see you at practice today!”

“Practice? I’m just meeting with Mr. Johnson to talk about the unnecessary steaks at your banquet.”

“You mean Coach Johnson? And oh, okay. Well,” Liam says while trailing off, “I’ll see ya later.” Liam gives a final smile before walking off.

Confused, Jack heads to his first class.

-

The smell of sweat and axe body spray hits Jack like a brick as he approaches the football locker room. The players are changing for practice and give Jack unwelcoming glares as he awkwardly walks in. Mr. Johnson emerges from his office and ushers Jack in.

“How are you, son,” Mr. Johnson asks as he sits down at his desk and gestures for Jack to sit down. Trophies line the shelves of the bookcase behind him, and the jerseys of his most successful players adorn the wall in shadow-boxes.

“I’m doing well, thank you,” Jack answers. “I’m just here to talk about the food you’ll be eating at the banquet coming up?”

“Oh, yes. The steaks?”

“Yes,” Jack says before clearing his throat, “I just think it’s unnecessary for money to be spent on steaks when there are much cheaper alternatives available.”

“Well,” Mr. Johnson says with a sigh, “nothing compares to the taste of a nice, thick steak. Also, I don’t know why you’re complaining when you’ll be there eating.”

“I-I’m sorry? What do you-” Jack is interrupted by Mr. Johnson.

“Guys,” he calls out, “Come get him.”

At that moment, the door to the office is thrown open and the football team pours in. Liam grabs Jack’s arms and forcefully picks him up from the chair.

“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Jack unsuccessfully tries to pull himself free as Liam drags him out of the office. He plops him down on one of the benches and two other football players grab his arms to keep him restrained.

Mr. Johnson steps out of his office carrying a gym bag. “This is a little bit awkward, but I’m gonna have these fine gentlemen take your clothes off. Not your underwear, though. Don’t worry about that,” Mr. Johnson says with a hearty chuckle as he plops the gym bag on the floor.

“W-Why? What are you all doing?”

“Oh, and someone quiet him down, please.”

“N-No! I don’t know what you’re thinking, but-”

Jack is cut off by one of the football players shoving a wadded-up sock into his mouth. Almost instantly a few players walk forward and start taking Jack’s clothes off: One guy quickly pulls his shirt off, while another yanks his shoes, socks, and pants off. Soon, Jack’s sitting on the cold bench in just his underwear. He can feel his face becoming bright red.

“Alright!” Mr. Johnson claps his hands together before continuing, “Let’s get him suited up!”

A few players step forward from the crowd gathered behind Mr. Johnson. The first to approach Jack holds a white, mesh tank top in his hand. He lazily slips the tank top on Jack—with the two football players navigating Jack’s arms—and returns to the crowd. The next player holds a pair of shoulder pads in his hands; walking up to Jack, he forces the shoulder pads over his head and quickly attaches and tightens the straps. Two more players then pull a pair of padded football pants over Jack’s legs. The two football players continue to hold Jack in place as another player comes forward to put Jack’s feet in a pair of socks and football cleats. As he’s tying the cleats’ laces, Mr. Johnson bends down to unzip the gym bag.

“Almost ready,” he says as he pulls out a jersey from the bag. He holds the red jersey up before Jack, asking, “You know what we got to do with the extra funds from last semester?” He flips the jersey around, letting Jack see his last name emblazoned across the back. Mr. Johnson laughs as he tosses the jersey to Liam, who deftly catches it. The two football players let go of Jack to allow Liam to put the jersey on, and as soon as they do, Jack makes a mad dash for the exit. He only gets a few steps, though, before his cleats slip on the locker room’s tiled floor. Before he can hit the ground, though, the two football players catch him and sit him back down on the bench.

“Nice try. Now put your arms up, Jack,” Liam commands.

With tears beginning to stream down his face, Jack obeys. He lifts his arms as much as he can with the shoulder pads on, and Liam tugs the jersey over his heads and pads.

“Put them down.” Liam goes to stand next to Mr. Johnson as the two football players resume keeping Jack in place.

“Alright! We’re almost done,” Mr. Johnson says as he again bends down to get something from the gym bag. He wraps his hand around the face mask of a football helmet and pulls it out of the bag. The helmet is the same red as Jack’s jersey and has many scratches and dents all over it. Mr. Johnson holds it with a sort of reverence as he walks toward Jack.

The team goes silent as they watch Mr. Johnson go to put the helmet on Jack’s head. Tears continue streaming down Jack’s face as Mr. Johnson fits the helmet on his head. He positions the chin strap in place and steps back.

With the placement of the chin strap, Jack’s body begins to grow warm. Though his vision is obscured by his tears and the helmet’s face mask, he can still see his calves growing bigger: The skin on his calves ripples as his muscles grow in size. This rippling travels down his legs until it reaches his feet. He feels his feet growing and filling into his cleats perfectly. Once his feet are done growing, Jack feels two dull cracks in his legs and watches in horror as they elongate—giving him a few extra inches in height.

The two football players let go of Jack as the changes continue. The rippling continues up his body—increasing the size of his upper legs tremendously—until it reaches his chest. Although his jersey hides this from his view, Jack can feel a slight pressure all over his chest as his abs grow, pushing against his skin as a six-pack. His pecs grow and broaden next, giving the shoulder pads a tighter fit across the chest. The rippling creeps across both Jack’s shoulders, squaring and broadening them considerably. It then proceeds up his neck, where it grows his traps and thickens his neck. Upon reaching his arms, the rippling shoots down the entire length, growing his scrawny delts, biceps, triceps, and forearms in one fell swoop. Simultaneously, Jack feels his hands begin to grow. His fingers grow thicker and longer, and his palms increase in size.

The rippling stops. Jack takes a few shaky breaths before trying to stand. Before he has a chance to, though, he feels a dull throbbing at the back of his head. He reaches his hand back and pushes against his helmet where the throbbing is. As soon as he pushes, the throb explodes throughout his whole head. A few football players quickly grab hold of him and keep him on the bench as the throbbing makes Jack’s body go limp.

Jack stares straight ahead through the face mask as his mind is altered. Football sweeps in and buries itself everywhere: His knowledge changes from centering on academics to centering on football, with Jack learning proper tackling technique, different plays, strategies, and how to put on the equipment. This alteration goes further, though, as it then goes to alter Jack’s memories: Instead of joining student council his freshman year, Jack got on the football team. Instead of becoming friends with the people in student council, Jack got close with his teammates. These changes slightly change Jack’s personality, giving him some douchebag-like, student-athlete qualities. Wrapping up, Jack’s memory is wiped of the events that just transpired, leaving him with the memory of coming in for everyday practice.

Mr. Johnson removes the helmet from Jack’s head. As the helmet is removed, the memories of everyone except Coach Johnson are altered to fit the memories of the new Jack. Mr. Johnson zips the helmet back in the gym bag and goes to return it to his office.

Jack is quickly able to stand on his own again. He daps up and cuts up with his teammates before Coach Johnson emerges from his office.

“Jack! How are you feeling, son?”

“Doin’ well, Coach.”

“Good, good. Well, let’s get practice started! Everyone catch up to Jack and get ready.”

-

Sitting across from Liam, Jack stuffs a huge piece of steak into his mouth.

“This steak is amazing,” he says to Liam, who agrees wholeheartedly.