Children

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By Makaela Suitt

I hollered and shouted for my team as we battle against time and rain. The soccer ball whizzed by me skipping into puddles of water and hopping from one foot to another. I heard some fans fly past in a school bus roaring out the words “Feliz Cinco de Mayo!” My soccer team had soared by plane from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Midland, Texas to play in a tournament for this celebration. Fans from states surrounding Texas, including Mexico, encircled the field to watch the championship game in which we were playing.
That weekend the weather forecast had called for a ruthless storm to hit.
I could hear each drop of rain splatter against the soaked leaves of grass sprouting from the ground beneath my feet. Every inch of my body had been covered by the showers coming from the heavens above. Rain drops pounded down to earth in unison making a beautiful melody for me to dance to.
We competed through a grueling 90 minutes of soccer, a full game, with the score remaining 0-0. Players huffed and puffed, hung their heads low and rested their hands on their knees to catch a short break. We were headed for overtime. Fans yelled for both teams as they too were being thrashed by the weather. “Vamos pa ensima!” (Let’s go team) the Mexicans yelled for my team. The large drops of rain gradually twisted into golf ball size hailstones that pounded down like rocks plummeting from a mountain. The referee blew his whistle summoning both teams to depart the playing field and wait out the storm.
We made human caves outside as we huddled under layers of blankets and umbrellas on the sideline. I watched the fans rush off the field. Both teams were not permitted to leave the field so we camped out until we could finish the game as soon as the hail backed down.
Time elapsed slowly. I shivered until my body was numb. The storm finally passed. I heard a thunderous whistle echo through the air as the referees darted to the center of the soccer field. Both teams rushed to their positions to once again fight for the crown. I heard the rustle of feet plowing towards the field as fans scampered back to see the battle.
We started the game and my adrenaline ran strong through my veins. It pounded as though a drum was beating through my skin. The ball made its way to my feet and with each step that I took, I controlled the game. I felt each stitch of the ball through the leather strips on my cleats. Without glimpsing I knew where my teammates would be and
where I should gently place the ball. I seized one step inside then outside and once straight ahead when I gracefully laid the ball through a pocket of the other team’s defense.
I witnessed our forward pursue the ball while my heart pounded for our team to score. Tap, Tap, swoosh rang through the blades of grass as she planted her left foot and swung her right leg back to launch the ball home. I could see the net of the goal flutter into waves as the ball had slashed past the keeper and we had won the game. The fans cheered in delight as I heard the thrill of victory buzzing in my ears. We were champions!

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