Orca Soundings: “Juice”

Juice by Eric Walters

When Coach Reeves retires and Coach Barnes comes to coach football at Michael ‘Moose’s’ high school, optimism is high. Barnes has coached at Division One Central High and tells his new team that they can become Division One as well—with all the perks, including chances at college scholarships.

Coach Barnes has brought lots of sponsorship with him. There’s new equipment including a whirlpool, big screen TVs in the weight room, a massage therapist and new uniforms.

But a new attitude is expected too—one of winning at any cost. And Moose is the new team captain who is challenged to do whatever it takes in order to have a chance at an NFL future.

Another good one from Orca Soundings. Looking forward to seeing the READ 180 classes tomorrow at Chaffey!

About Victoria Waddle

Victoria Waddle is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer and has been included in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. Her books include a collection of feminist short fiction, Acts of Contrition, and a chapbook on grief, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans. Her YA novel about a polygamist cult, Keep Sweet, launches in June 2025. Formerly the managing editor of the journal Inlandia: A Literary Journey and a teacher librarian, she contributes to the Southern California News Group column Literary Journeys. She discusses both writing and library book censorship on her Substack, “Be a Cactus.” Join her there for thoughts on defiant readers and writers as well as for weekly library censorship news.

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