HibernationLetters 23

Last night I saw a football game for the first time in my life. France vs Croatia. I watched the complete game including the final ceremonies. I felt so dumbstruck and totally amazed by the hotness that was there on the TV screen. Living in a city where football is every guy’s passion, I kept wondering why didn't I ever see this before? Such tall, handsome athletes running for nearly 100 km within 90 minutes of a game was surely a treat to my eyes. Cricket is only enthralling till T20 matches! The fifty overs or test series now seem outdated.

I learned some of the game terminologies but I need to watch more of it to understand better.

While we were watching, my memories went into flashbacks and reminded me of that one day from school times when due to some unavoidable circumstances I was a part of this game.

You see, this is about 8th standard, our class teacher was on leave and for a month all her lecture periods were converted to games by the class monitor, i.e. Me.

And because of this reason, from 8th to 12th standard my classmates would request the teachers to give that power to me only. I took care of everything! Even their mischievous deeds.

It was raining on that day and the only game that could be played during the rains was football so we landed in the field dividing all the girls & boys into two mixed teams.

I was given the position of a 'goalkeeper’ considering my huge figure and inability to run, I guess. I stumbled a lot. So I didn't mind staying at one end of the field if it was saving me from getting myself embarrassed.

I was specifically asked to just stop the ball in anyway possible and prevent a goal from happening.

Phew! I thought that'd be easy.

The game started. Everything under control. I watched everyone play being completely elated with my position.

But

Suddenly I saw a player running, very fast into my direction, bringing the ball towards our end of the goal post and then finally kicked it hard.

And I simply ducked!

Well it was a basic inner instinct for self defense but sadly I couldn't explain that to my friends.

After that I was always a part of the games just not within the field but outside, under the shade of trees counting the scores for both sides.

I find my happiness in the smallest available way so eventually contended with that role as well for I could stay clean and dirt free.

You can laugh now, I know you're dying to do so!

Yours only

Happy and sane!

Auldrin