202403160529-202403160555

The Catch
by Redforkian

"FFFFFFFFFFFFF..."

I slowly grunt out the beginnings of a word as my eyes intensely focus on the football headed my direction. It's quite amusing, really. This strangely shaped, air-filled piece of leather hurling through the air thrown by another boy my same age of about 12 or so.

We are legends in our own minds. Dreams of being the hero at a school game or being the kid who scored the winning touchdown, but here, here my friend, is where the boys meet the dirt.  This is where the boys are laid to rest and the men are born. Where the stories are made that we will talk about for years to come. Where the memories are created that we will fondly remember decades from now. Here is the innocence of simplicity, not a care in the world. Only this ball and a group of friends. Clapping, yelling, girls squealing in delight as we wishful macho boys purposely draw blood to impress them. But really, more likely, it's just an age of fun. No cares. No worries. No bills. Nothing. Freedom to play. We are so lucky.

The ball moves in to me swishing like the wind hoping to be caught. As it slows spirals, I raise my hands slowly to one side, then another trying to throw off the defender determined to steal my glory. He takes the bait, and the ball jumbles into my hands. I barely have time to secure it, when to my surprise another boy is right there in front of me ready to punish me for daring to encroach upon his territory.

He lowers his head and with arms outstretched pummels me. For a moment we are both airborne, quite literally flying through the air. We take a moment to briefly eye each other smiling deviously. I'm tripped up and accept my fate and begin the tumble to the ground which I know is going to be hard on my young body.

Still with the ball firmly in my grasp, my feet touch down. One foot, the other foot. One knee begins scraping the ground. This one is going to hurt. I prepare for pain. My forward momentum scrapes me across the grass, my face plastered into the dirt. I feel the skin ripping and bang a few ribs at the same time. Finally, after eternity, I roll a few times, come to a rest on my back and stare at the blue sky.

"...uuuuuuuuuuccccccccckkkkkkkk."