Friday Night Frights

I was really looking forward to taking the two boys to their first football game. I didn't want to risk the time and expense of going to a pro or college game, so I figured a small-town football game would be the best place to start.
So weeks ago I picked out this past Friday on the calendar, when the Hardin-Jefferson High School Hawks were slated to play their homecoming game.
We'd talked it up all week, so the boys were really looking forward to going.
What we didn't expect is that the boys also were really looking forward to playing.
That's right. Playing.
We got to the stadium well before kickoff and found a seat, but Curt, 4, was bouncing around so much that I decided to take him down on the track and find ways for him to burn off energy.
On the field, there was a blow-up tunnel filled with lights and fake smoke, so the players could make a grand, spectacular entrace. Near the exit, a bunch of kids had formed lines for the players to run by.
And that's where I took Curt. He ran around with the other kids but sat in my lap when the players came out, because he was concerned about being trampled.
With the players on the field, we tried to head back to the seats, but Curt wanted to go the other way. He wanted to play.
I managed to prevail and get him back to the stands to join his mom and younger brother, but he became so unruly that we had to go back down to the track, where the two now-very-fussy kids fought to get on the field and play.
Finally, with halftime approaching, we threw in the towel, got the kids out of there and treated them to some Dairy Queen ice cream.
I might try again later this season, but for now, a trip to an Aggie or Texans game is nowhere near being in the cards.