Hadassah

my first NFL game

If you had told me a year ago that I’d be standing on the field with the Kansas City Chiefs, I would have laughed in your face. But here I was, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat, the weight of my very own Chiefs jersey pressing against me, making it feel even more real. The roar of the crowd blurred into a background hum as I tried to ground myself in this weird moment.

Carson was off to the side, eyes wide and practically vibrating with excitement. He bounced on the balls of his feet, chanting, “Alligator! Alligator!” with a grin so wide it looked like it might split his face. It was his way of saying everything was perfect, and it made me laugh despite the nerves skittering inside me.

But then, as I jogged back to the sideline, I caught sight of Patrick Mahomes. It was like the world shifted into slow motion, and suddenly, the air felt electric. He was talking with one of the coaches, his voice low and confident, the sunlight catching the unruly curls in his hair and making them look almost golden. That smile of his—like it could light up the whole city—flashed, and something inside me flipped like a switch.

Heat rushed through me, tingling from the top of my head to the tips of my fingers and all the way down to my toes. My stomach twisted, doing a weird flip that sent shivers across my skin, like a million tiny sparks. It felt almost like being on a rollercoaster, that breathless, heart-racing thrill right before the drop. My legs wobbled just a bit, and I hoped no one noticed.

I couldn’t just stand there gawking, right? I needed to think of something—anything—to distract myself. So, naturally, my mind jumped to the birds and the bees. Why? I have no idea. Maybe I was trying to be scientific or something.

Okay, so birds. They fly around, and they have nests and stuff. And bees? Well, they buzz around, pollinating flowers and making honey. Bees can sting, and let’s be real, that’s a whole different kind of pain. And then there’s all that talk about how they help flowers grow and... wait, what was I even thinking about?

Suddenly, I imagined a cartoonish bee doing a happy dance on a flower, and I couldn’t help but giggle a little. “What do birds and bees even have to do with football?” I whispered to myself, shaking my head. It was a classic case of trying to overthink my feelings instead of just rolling with them.

But then, I glanced back at Mahomes, and all that distraction fell away like a bad Snapchat filter. He was just standing there, looking effortlessly cool, and I could feel that warm, fuzzy feeling creeping back. Why did he have to be so... perfect? It was maddening!

“Haddie!” someone shouted, pulling me out of my spiral. I blinked, tearing my gaze away and feeling heat flood my cheeks. One of my teammates waved me over, a smirk on his face like he knew I’d been spacing out. Great. Just what I needed.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” I muttered, forcing a smile and jogging over. Carson was still cheering, completely oblivious to my internal chaos. As I lined up and focused on the game, I couldn’t help but think that maybe the birds and the bees could wait until after the game.

With Carson still chanting “Alligator!” and Mahomes just a glance away, I took a deep breath and readied myself. I had a game to play, and if I was lucky, maybe I could keep my mind off that wild, fluttery feeling for just a little longer.