We drove to the airport chatting the entire way and getting comfortable with each other. We pulled into Allegheny County Airport, the one I use on a regular basis. It was built and opened in 1931 and at the time it was the country's 3rd largest airport. Today it is the 5th busiest in Pennsylvania serving mostly business class flights and a backup for the international airport, which opened in 1952. It has a small terminal and a small cafe. We were early by about 30 minutes and I suggested we go inside and I could check on the ETA. I was a few steps inside when I heard MIIIIIIIIIKE and Charlie ran up and gave me a big hug. He looked around and asked, where is JJ? Charlie, I brought Winnie. He said, sorry Winnie but I'm Chuck as I'm bigger now. I laughed and introduced Winnie to Charlie. I asked how the flight was and Chuck said Mike, it was great as dad wasn't the pilot and I got to sit up front. I looked at Charlie and he shrugged and I changed the topic. We drove to the hotel, it was minutes from the airport and on the same road. I thought dad would be pleased as he could take the back roads and get to Monroeville and Gateway High School for the game. It was a neutral site and equidistant for the schools. There was a small restaurant/bar and while Charlie checked-in we grabbed a table. Soon enough Charlie joined us and he and Chuck ordered burgers and fries and Winnie and I ordered soft drinks.
Suddenly JJ and Mia appeared and I wasn't surprised to see JJ but Mia was a shocker. JJ grabbed Chuck and said, Charlie I'm glad you made the trip. I laughed when JJ was told that he wants call Chuck, now that he is older. JJ said well why don't we call you CC? JJ, that's not a cool name. I like Chuck much better. Their food came an they must have been starving as they finished quickly. Charlie looked at me and said Mike, let's go for a walk, I need a smoke. I looked at Winnie and she nodded. Outside, I asked what's up as you don't smoke? Charlie, I hope you won't be upset but I'm not going back to DC. David, is in a fight for his career and I don't know why but if he treats the employees like he treats Chuck and me I hope they dump him. Well what about the kid? Mike clueless and someone will pick him up at 2:00. I have no idea who the pilot will be. Charlie, will Chuck be safe going back alone? Mike, his Mon will be on the return trip and if not he is staying here. Mike, I'll simply drive home. Charlie, let's go inside and get the kid settled in and the 4 of us will be up shortly.
Back inside Charlie said Chuck, let's see what our room looks like and they will be up in a couple of minutes. Once it was the 4 of us. I explained the situation and said, I can't let Charlie drive 6 hours alone. Hell, we can be up and back in less time than that. That fucks up anything we might do? Mia asked, can we come along? Well Mia, that won't be fun as JJ and I will be flying and you two will be in the back and bored in no time at all. JJ said well we could just stay the nigh, have a nice breakfast and check out the Winery, if will be a business trip for MJ. JJ, that unfair and it would be more than a big ask as Winnie and I are on our first or whatever this is. Winnie laughed and said Michael, I told you I'm different believe it or not I am quite capable of spending a night and not have sex. I would love to go up to the Winery for an overnight and we don't have to ask mommy. I laughed and said that might be true but I'll need to ask the bean counter. Mia laughed and said well, the cowboy over there got his wings clipped earlier tonight. You see just because MJ and that oversexed girl he was dating broke up that doesn't mean JJ and I are done. Mike, Heather didn't give a fuck about that damn jacket. She didn't like that there wasn't enough sex and then she started to drink her dad's Cool Aid. Winnie, I hope I didn't upset you? Winnie said, look Mike and I will talk but neither of us should give a fuck about who or what we had sex with before tonight. As for the weekend, I'm in for an overnight and MJ feel free to chat with dad.
With all that and my head spinning a little I went to OPERATIONS and set the twin engine plane arrangements for 2:30 Saturday. Once that was done we went to see Charlie and Chuck. Charlie was thrilled over the plane ride. Chuck was funny and fulling around and we were having a great time, even the girls. At 9:00 I grabbed Chuck and put him on my lap. Chuck, Winnie and I have to go. I won't see you tomorrow till after the game. My dad and Megan will pick you up and take you and Pap to the game. You will have to sit in the stands. We can talk after the game and JJ and I will take you to breakfast before you head home. He was all smiles and even Winnie got a hug. JJ and Mia stayed and I thought it very funny when JJ reminded me about 10:30 saying MJ, Coach is checking on you first. I shrugged and replied, I get that.
In the car Winnie looked and me and asked Mike, that's a side of you that you keep deeply hidden, why is Chuck special to you? Well he is a great kid and is pretty much ignored by his parents. It's Charlie that is special. He sold me, well us, the Winery that him and his wife started and he had a lazy GM who just grew grapes for jelly. Once his wife died Charlie let the place go to ruin. We bought the place and I let Charlie keep 10% and he has the house, till he doesn't want it. Winnie, I bought a Winery and he sold his life's work. That's why he is special. There is more but that's for later.
So Winnie why do you want to go with me to New York? Mike, I've seen more about you tonight than I have in years and I want to see more. My parents will be good with it and you can ask them if you wish. Winnie, I'll defiantly do that. There are two cabins and dad's joint which I despise. Ashley gets that and Cole and I each have our own. Mine is multiple bedrooms with a giant common room, a great wrap around porch and a giant fireplace. There is also a sofa bed. We pulled in the drive way and went inside. Her parents were watching TV and her dad immediately stood up and said well Mike, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, I'm Larry and this is my wife Cheryl. He looked at Winnie and said, well you are home early. Dad Mike has a 10:30 curfew and he feels the coach would check on him first. Then there is something I would like to do with him this weekend and he has a need to check with you before he agrees. I explained about the trip, the flying and the overnight and Cheryl said Winnie, if that's what you want just be safe and have fun. Larry said well, I guess it's fine with us. Just then my phone rang and it was Cole, I told him I would call him back in a few. I said that my Step-brother and he is in Florida for a charity golf event, I guess they turned the lights off and he can't practice. I stayed for about 30 minutes and said well I better just get home, I don't want benched as this will be a tough one. Winnie walked me out and she took my hand and said, I had fun tonight and we kissed goodnight.
At home I pulled in the garage just to see what coach's reaction would be. I called Cole back and he had to call me later. I found that funny but said I'm in all night. I was just sitting there thinking about the date when Liam called. He asked about the situation at work and I told him about the Union Rally and that a reporter head told people to come and see for themselves. Mike, I haven't seen it but I heard ABC News picked up that part of the story on their Evening News. Cole, won't be calling as he and Fred and AP are getting something to eat. I laughed and said so Fred Couples and AP are drinking and Cole is eating, so why are you on the phone with me? Well Mike, I smuggled my girl on the trip and we will be having a quiet evening I'm our room. Cole, is great and put on a clinic and did trick shots and then started showing off. He would be talking to the group and bouncing a ball off his wedge over and over again. Then he would auction the signed ball off. Mike, with that and the trick shots he raised a bit over $4,000 and handed a bag full of cash to AP for the hospital. Mike, he was golden before now he is a rock star. The damn members can't get enough of him and he is in an especially good position because the Woods kid isn't cleared to play as he has back issues. Well Liam, we can talk tomorrow and enjoy the warm weather.
I grabbed my next reading for English and an iced tea and sat on the loveseat in the common room. At about 10:40 there was a hard knock on the door and I yelled JUST COME IN COACH, ITS OPEN AND YOUR LATE. Mike, I wouldn't have stopped but you car wasn't in its usual spot. Well coach, you shouldn't have been driving around checking at any rate. Coach looked at me and asked why? Well coach at a team meeting we agreed to this nonsense and you won't find anyone out. We gave our word and that fucking matters. So coach, would you like a beer? Mike, I have to make the rounds as it's what we do? Well Coach if you find anyone out late tonight, I'm not playing anymore as it would be something I couldn't get over. Coach looked at me and said damn, that's a lot of faith you put in your team. I'll have that beer. Coach I have Budweiser, Miller Lite and Rolling Rock. Coach asked for a Bud and sat down. I handed him the beer and asked so where and when did you and I get on different tracks? Coach took a drink of the beer and said Mike, when you took over the team. Hell, us coaches are left with just getting you guys to the event. During the game you, JJ, Josh, Jim and even Wyatt and Clark do what you want. All we can, as Coaches, do is make suggestions. I was quiet for a second and said Coach, that's true but it's what you wanted. Would you like to review and go back to the volunteer workouts we had in late July and early August?
From the start there was a QB issue. Jim going to one camp after another and wrecking his arm all the while being told how good he was and the camp people writing a different evaluation to the Colleges. Them Sam pushing hard to unseat Jim as QB 1 while not working on the things that he needed to work on. You have me in and asked me to deal with it. No one listens and still it's me dealing with it and my solution was a united team, get on board or transfer and you guys made that easy not protesting Sam leaving. Coach, we are not a close group outside of football. There are no parties, we don't hang out in large groups. Then I hot upon the Musketeer thing and fuck it took off. We are indeed ONE. You and your coaches continued to just watch and collectively we took over and it went a couple of classes deep and there is Josh and Todd, as juniors. There is Wyatt and Clark and others so the model goes all the way back to the Freshmen. Coach you handed me the keys to the kingdom and I did what I tend to do, I grabbed them and ran with them. I'm sorry that drove a wedge between us as you mean a lot to me. You will never know what you mean to me and how much I appreciate all that you have done for me.
Mike, I can't figure you out as you have changed so much, you are barely involved with school, you work in practice but are spotty in games and you deflect the media to other players. Hell, I never had to worry about what you would say as it was always very little using a lot of words. Coach, last year we had few people who could move on to the next level. This year, there are 9 people who could play D1 football. They need exposure and I certainly don't. I know that I have had an average year, for me. There has been no need for me to punish myself and carry this team. There is plenty of help all around. Coach we are one game from a return to the district championships and on the other side of the bracket, we have beat both those teams. Coach, I'm not looking past anything and tomorrow will be a bitch. Understand I want to be healthy enough to play there and I know that won't happen if we don't win. I'll do whatever it takes and that includes me being taken out in a body bag. Mike, I'm glad we had this talk and I get it, get some rest and we shook hands and he went home, I was hoping. I was super glad that I had parked in the garage but had a feeling Coach want to talk as well. I took a hot shower and a complicated yet fun day ended.
Game day started cold with the temperature in the mid 20's but it was sunny. I dressed in upscale school clothes and grabbed my letterman's jacket and stopped for coffee. I was at school a bit early and it was great that I avoided Heather and simply sat in English and was chatting with some classmates. Naturally it was all football all day, well all morning as I left after lunch which was a blast. But Physics was the most fun as Winnie and I had a great, quiet time and solved the last issue with the math on the waves. I reminded her that I had Charlie and Chuck and that I was planning on leaving as close to 2:00 as possible. I told her it was colder and that it was out of season so there was very little to do. With that it was off to work.
At the office, I went straight to my office and Tim quickly appeared and said no news and the Mayor's office and I have been talking all morning. They are pretty well dug in saying the region needs more industrial jobs. Tim where has Heidikamp been hiding out? Mike, he is closing on the last Highmark Mini-clinic, besides he is actually looking for some property that might interest you. He is doing what you asked. Ok, Tim do you have a problem, that was a simple question and you almost jumped down my throat? Well Mike, it was the way you asked the question and yesterday you were pissed and it wasn't anyone's fault here. Then you bark a few orders and leave. Once upon a time, you would have done that a lot nicer and asked what we thought. Then that shit with the Mayor which was a bit more than illegal and that really pissed me off. I'll get over it but it will just takes a few days. The other thing is that you tend to simply go through a lot of people, people who simply can't live up to your more than standards. Tim, everyone of those people were given great recommendations and a severance package. Mike, that's true but everyone of them hate your guys and that list grows. So Mike, find a way to tone things down and we are good. I know you are kind and caring we just need to wok on the perception of who you are. Have a good game and he left. I was more than a bit surprised by that takedown and needed to think about it.
I was just sitting at my desk when the Major appeared and I was thinking here we go again. Jim asked, so Michael how are you? I gave him a rye smile and asked are you the good cop or you simply reinforcing what Tim just said to me? Look Mike, Tim is pissed as you threw him a real curveball by bribing the Mayor for the land. Look Jim, I made a mistake and I fixed it and it won't happen again. Mike, we all know that and it's the first time you didn't manage to get the deal you wanted. My personal feeling is that you have too much on your plate and should consider a vacation, you know time away from all this and be a kid for a week. Mike, you have the right approach by not pushing any harder than you have and by letting the Union and the environmentalists fight this battle. They are on your side and are really calling a lot of attention to this. So why don't you just get out of here, go win a football game and enjoy the time with the Charlies and have fun at the cabin. Also, Kyle asked me to let you know that the NASA jet will be here once Jack gets his ass on the ground and the 2 M is in the bank. Oh, once the jets gets here, we can do a check ride and firm up your certifications but that's after the thing undergoes an intense maintenance review. I said Jim, thanks for the chat and some good news.
I packed up everything I would need from my office until Monday and started out. I got as far as Tim's office and stuck my head in and asked for a minute. He said sure and I threw my backpack on a chair and sat down. I said Tim, I made a huge mistake and I simply wasn't thinking. I'm hoping that it hasn't harmed our relationship beyond repair. Mike, it hasn't it simply means I have to keep a closer eye on you and while I believe what I said, like you, I could have been more delicate. Now go win that game tonight and enjoy your weekend. I said thanks and drove home.
I packed some warm clothes and drove to school. It was a wild Pep Rally and I hated every minute of it and it did nothing to fire me up. The "dinner" was again a shit load of pizza and with every passing minute I got more intense. I thanked every booster person there grabbed 2 slices of pizza and a said and went to the stadium. It was a cold and cloudy and my mood was intense. I laughed when I remembered this was how I got every game day last year. Hell, I had in the last 20 hours gotten a kick in the ass from Coach, Tim and the Major and damn that must have worked. JJ appeared and sat down and asked MJ, are you ok, I've never seen you like this? I laughed and said well you should have and we sat quietly. We were both jolted back to reality when Coach yelled, OK YOU TWO SADDLE UP. We stood up and walked to the field house packed our shit, threw in in the bus and took our seats in the back.
Well I now knew why we left early as the Parkway East through the Squirrel Hill Tunnels was a mess and the usual 20 minute ride took an hour. Rush hour traffic in Pittsburgh. We finally got to the stadium and we, as the top seed, we're in the home team locker room. It was really nice and I found a locker in a corner away from things and started the usual routine. I put a layer of thermals on and pads and pants and went and sat on the bench like always. I was quickly joined by JJ and Jim but not a word was spoken. The other team was out earlier than us and I just looked and they were every bit as big in person as they looked on film. Once our guys started to come out for warmups I simply walked slowly to the locker room. I heard Jim say to JJ, dude it looks like the real Mike is here, this might be an awesome performance. I simply dressed in full uniform and warmed up. It was an all business warmup as no one was in a chatty mood. There was a lot of looking at the other team and except for the line they weren't all that big and I was wondering how many of them went both ways. I did notice that they were slower than the appeared to be on film.
Coach started by saying, well you are either ready or nervous. Someone yelled, NO NERVS JUST WAITING TO KICK SOME ASS. Coach laughed and said well I hope that true. If we in the toss tonight we want the ball and hopefully an early score. With that we just sat there and I noticed the anthem was over and we still sat. Finally an official came in and said, Coach I don't care how long you stay in here but we need the Captains, NOW. Coach said ok guys, kick some ass and we stormed onto the field and it was a wild welcome from our fans and there were a lot of them. At mid field we listened to the "sportsmanship message" the visitors called heads and it was tails and Referee looked at me and asked you choice son, what will it be? I hesitated for a minute and said, dad we want the ball. One of the other captains just looked and then everyone laughed. They picked an end and we were set to play.
JJ took the kickoff on the 15 yard line and added 20 more and we were first and 10 on the 36 yard line. Wyatt was in at QB and Jim had a clipboard indicating he was calling the plays or had a lot of input. Wyatt said sweep to the weak side and purple is right and white is left on three. I knew two things, first I needed to like up directly behind Wyatt so I could goin either direction and second we never snapped the ball on 3. We lined up with Wyatt under center and he calmly looked around and yelled, Purple 24 HUT. It was a hard count and all of a sudden our line men were on their asses. I just laughed as Wyatt without snapping the ball gained 5 yards as they were offside. Back in the huddle Wyatt said sorry about that but we need them slowed down some, same play to the right, on one. This time Wyatt, as soon as he got under center yelled HUT and the ball was snapped and sure enough the defense was a second behind. The ball was pitched to me and our line pulled and we were off to the races for 24 yards and we now had the ball across mid field and on the 35 and the fans went nuts. The next play was an "I" formation and it was a simple off tackle dive. Todd took the handoff from Wyatt and there was a slight hole and he lowered his head and as our lineman had stood the defensive player upright as we were taught Todd plowed right into the defensive lineman and drove his shoulder hard into the guy's gut. You could hear the air escape from him and he fell backward trying to catch his breath.
During the injury time out Coach Weston called us to the sideline and Jim said, ok guys that's enough being cute. Let's roll the pocket right Mark you and Joey real wide, JJ you in the slot on the right and run a slant and let's see what happens. What happened was that one of the linemen moved early and we were penalized 5 yards for illegal procedure. A different tight end came in and in the huddle he said guys, Jim said to cut the cute shit with the snap count and run the fucking play. Wyatt shrugged and said well you heard the man on 2. Wyatt played it like he was changing the play and there was a play action fake to me and he rolled right and while running zipped a perfect pass to JJ ho was tackled on the 5 yard line. At that point we simply tried to run the ball in and I carried for 2 and Todd for 2 and we were now 3rd down and goal from the 1. Coach called a time out and when we went over he said run that sweep play and if it doesn't work, no huddle and on 1 run it again to the other side. Now get the damn thing in the end zone. Thankfully we got it in as I was hit at the goal line and fell forward. The extra point was good and we had used up a tad more that half of the first quarter and we're up 7-0.
I grabbed a quick drink and watched the kickoff. I sensed something different and was hoping it wasn't an onside kick. Rod's kick was very high but shorter and it was fielded on the 10 and he was immediately blasted as he caught the ball. Damn, that was something as he had to catch it as it was a free ball it it didn't go into the end zone. Well they had the ball 90 yards from a score and that was a very long way to grind a dive out. We lined up in a straight 4 - 3 and I was on my usual right side. They snapped the ball and the QB dropped back to pass and Chad jumped high in the air with both hand raised and the ball hit his hand and went straight in the air and I threw myself to the left and had the ball in my hand and when I hit the ground it popped free and was incomplete. The next play was to my side and the run gained 4 yards and while I made the tackle I was at the bottom of the pile with almost a half a ton of jocks on top of me. The next play was a sweep to my side and there were two blockers and the running back and I dove and whipped out the two blockers and the running back tripped over the three of us and it was a 1 yard game. It was now 4 down and 5 and there was no choice but to punt.
It was a good punt of about 40 yards which JJ fair caught on the 47 and I was out this series on offense. That lasted two plays which netted 6 yards. This time it was a hand off to me set up for off tackle and there was no hole and I bounced outside and gained 17 yards and the last 5 were because I used a massive stiff arm. We were able to move the ball some but the drive stalled on the 26 and Rod, simply kicked a field goal and we were up 10 - 0 as the quarter expired. We kicked off and the ball was placed at the 20 as it went into the end zone. They were determined to run the ball and were happy to move the ball slowly to our 20 using 20 plays and eating up the vast majority of the quarter. There was one incomplete pass and our defensive backs were helping with run support. The pounding was awful as in the 20 plays, I had 9 tackles and was getting pounded. This was a different approach, which was to run right at me.
JJ as free safety was simply enjoying the shit out of the evening as his job was to simply run down anyone who caught a pass. We finally caught a break as there was a holding call on the offense and it could have been a face mask as the offensive tackle held my face mask and pulled me to the ground. I though it was an easy call and a 15 yard penalty but they called holding and it was a 10 yard penalty. By the time they ran a few more plays and things sorted themselves out it was 4th down an 12 on the 22 yard line and that would be a 39 yard field goal but it was wide right and short. We held the ball for the remaining 2 minutes of the half and a very physical half ended with us up 10 - 0 but we would kick off to start the half.
There wasn't much to say a half time and we had a lead but this wasn't over yet and I was sure that they were a beat up and tired as we were. Coach simply said nice half of old time football, keep it up. Back outside we kicked the ball into the end zone again and we started more boring and very physical football. The game was flying as there were very few stoppages of the clock we both had long drives that ended with no points and the quarter ended as it started with them having the ball after a punt and 70 yards from a score. We had managed to control the field position and I was wondering if there was enough time for them to score twice. Things opened up some on their part and after 4 first downs JJ intercepted a pass and while he made a nice return all we could manage was a 40 yard field goal and now we were up 13-0 and there was 8 minutes left to play. I though we were in good shape and then we weren't.
We held them without a first down and they punted and we were deep in our own territory. The play was Wyatt in the shotgun and a deep handoff to me. What happened was that the snap sailed over Wyatt's head and they recovered in the end zone and now with the extra point it was 13-7. There was still 5:13 left in regulation. I thought all we needed was 3 first downs and we would survive. They kicked off and we had the ball on the 30 yard like 70 yards from a score and we didn't need a score. Three running plays 2 to me and 1 to Todd and we had a first down. But then it was now 3 down and 7 and there was a run play called and at the line Wyatt change it to a post pass to JJ. The play went off and it was high arching pass and JJ dove and caught it but fell on the 10 yard line. The net result was we had first and 10 on the 11.
The hand off went to Todd and he scored but we were called for holding and it was not first down and 20 on the 21. There was still 3:20 minutes left and we ran 3 plays for 10 yards and had to kick a field goal. I thought that would be fine and with 2:19 left were were up 16-7. A two score lead. We kicked off and by design the ball didn't go into the end zone as we wanted the clock to start. As it turned out those 11 seconds we gained cost us 10 yards. They ran a sweep which was very well done and 4 very big guys leading the way and a hole opened up and the back scooted through and 45 yards from scrimmage JJ made a saving tackle. Whistles blew and JJ laid there. He sat up and I was relieved to see that he just had the wind knocked out of him. They now had the ball on the 25 yard line. All of a sudden they seemed to have more energy and 5 plays and 3 times out they scored and our lead was now 16-14 and there was still :58 left in the game.
There was no doubt that this would be an onside kick and we had everyone in with good hands but I was kept a bit back incase it was something different. Different it was as the ball was pooched kicked over our line and a mad scramble was on. I flew towards the ball but it took a crazy bounce then just laid there there was a pile and I bet the ball changed hands a couple of hands before Jim jumped free stood there holding the ball above his head and was instantly blasted. Whistle blew and flags fled and we had the ball and a 15 yard penalty. It was the victory formation and we simply fell on the ball one time and the clock ran out and we have a very tough and hard fought 16-14 victory. I took my helmet off and just knelt on one knee looking at the scoreboard, thinking unfucking believable.
With the game over and the handshakes complete we went over to our band sang the school song and saluted our fans. Immediately I grabbed Rod and him and I walked towards the media. I said guys here is the real champ tonight and Rod answered some questions saying all the right things and ending with, heck I'm just a futball player with a side gig. Meaning he plays soccer. We all laughed and I said guys that was a brutal game and those guys deserve a lot of credit. It was simply hard nose old school football and I hope I don't have to play in mother one of those ever. Thanks and I went to the locker room. We were limited to very quick showers and it was a 25 minute trip to school. There we found a huge throng and we came out of the locker room at the same time shouting REPEAT, REPEAT.
Winnie immediately ran up and hugged me and I said easy I hurt all over. She got serious and asked is there some area that doesn't hurt and I touched my lips and she kissed and while doing that grabbed my package and whispered, does it hurt there? I smiled and said nope and she replied, good to know. Chuck was next and said Mike, that was awesome can I come to the finals. Chuck, that's up to your dad and it's a holiday weekend so you need to talk with him. He wasn't thrilled with that answer and I said well we can talk about it at breakfast. Then it was another half hour and I looked at Winnie and asked if she needed a ride home and she said yea but I'm hungry, I looked at JJ and Mia and said Greentree and they said absolutely. With that we jumped into JJ truck and headed to dad's old stomping grounds.
I was glad that JJ was driving as it gave Winnie and me the back seat. She snuggled up against me and asked if I was too sore to do that? I laughed and said well there is always those parts that are not sore. She laughed and said well I'm not ready to risk hurting them anytime soon. I pulled her closer and we kissed. The bar restaurant was great and so was the beer. We discussed the plans for tomorrow and we were all in agreement about 2:30. It was a fun time and we drove to my car and it was a quick drive to drop Winnie off and I kissed her good night and I said that I would pick her up at 1:15. Mike, why so early? Well Winnie, you might just get on the plane but JJ and I have things to do before we get in. Well, I can't wait to see all this. With that it was a long hot shower and bed.
Thanks for all the comments and notes, they are appreciated.
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