Bend It Like Beckham

Soccer is basically my life. 

Can't live without it. I guess it's the only thing that's keeping me going for the last 7 years. I don't remember much when I heard the news, it was just a blur. A big blur. I just heard screaming. Crying. Hearts shattering. 

Some people's heart mended quickly. Except for mine. Mine could never be repaired. Never. Only a ball by my feet would keep me alive just. But I'll survive.

Except after that happened, mum closed everyone out. I meant everyone. She even blocked out Ezra, my younger brother who she loves more than anything. But I was the first one she blocked out. No surprise honestly, I mean she never really noticed me much. It was always Ezra this, Ezra that. Not that I blame Ezra though, he's just a kid.

When I was younger, and when Ezra didn't exist yet...... I didn't remember much, except when mum and dad loved me like no tomorrow. Until when I turned 4 thing started to change. Didn't know what happened but mum didn't play with me as much. Dad only appeared around the house 4-5 times a month. Then 3 years later, 4 days before my 7th birthday came Ezra. I was excited of course, but confused at the same time why mum and dad never came on my birthday. I was at my neighbor's house over those 4 days, they never knew my birthday. It was just me I guess.

Dad never returned then. Mum came home with the baby. I asked her where daddy was. She never responded, instead fawned over the baby. I hated the baby. I almost chopped Ezra's arm off after 2 weeks. I got punished badly. Mum thought of me differently ever since I tried to injure him. I regret it of course, I learnt to care for Ezra when mum wasn't here. Ezra laughed when I told for the first time when he was 5, and I was 12. He said 'Cool!'

Mum never told me where dad was after she gave birth to Ezra. To this day I still am curious. She tries to make lies but I find out in the end. I hate her for that. I'm 16 now and she still treats me like a 5 year old. Not because she cares for me, but because she's stubborn.

3 weeks after me and Ezra's birthday ( I was 8 he was 1), I heard the house's doorbell ring. I couldn't recognize who the man was, except he was filthy with scars. Mum cried and hugged him.  The man didn't look at me, as if I didn't exist. He then held the precious Ezra, and kissed him. "My sweet baby." That's what the man said over and over again. I walked up to the man and tugged his brown smelly jacket. I stared into his dull brown eyes when I realized it was someone I haven't seen for a year. I hugged him. He stared at me with no emoticon. Mum grabbed me by the arm and tugged me into my room shutting it.  It was dad. I was puzzled.

2 months after 'dad' visited, I suddenly saw something that would change my life. One day, when I started to walk home from primary school which was only a 5 minute walk by myself I looked around the area. I was born a curious child after all. On the road of a small street was a group of boys around the age of 15, at first I decided to keep walking. But then I saw them with a soccer ball. It was pretty cool, they were doing all these kinds of tricks. I couldn't stop looking, they started juggling it. It was pretty amazing. I was never the soccer person back then, never really noticed it. But after that, I wanted to try myself. I knew asking mum to buy a soccer ball was useless, so I decided to 'borrow' money from her.

I almost broke a window.

Mum obviously didn't like the idea of me starting to take a interest in soccer. She said I should participate in sports that are less rough.

1 year later dad died. I didn't know what happened. It was a boiling hot day, me and Ezra were pretending we were at war. But Ezra obviously didn't know what was going on. Mum hated that game. The phone rang. Me and Ezra's head bobbed up like a meerkat curious who would've called. I heard mum talking. Then a gasp. Then screaming. It was a blur. I walked out wondering what happened. Ezra crawled out following me slowly. I couldn't remember much.

The following weeks was like a mist. I couldn't really catch up with it. Then there was a funeral. I didn't cry. I was too confused back then when I was just a petty 9 year old girl. Years passed on, and the harder it got. Mum blocked me out. She only talked to me when she needed to. Otherwise she wouldn't even look at me. Ezra grew into a shy boy. He was very awkward in conversations, it was hard for him since he never had a fatherly figure for him to look up to. Mum slowly stopped talking to him. I guess I was the only person he looked up to. We both liked soccer a lot. Which was a way we both can communicate with each other silently.

I never joined a soccer club. Mum wouldn't let me so I didn't say anything. You might be thinking "Oh she must have expensive soccer gear, latest soccer shoes, newest clothes." No they are all second hand, one of the teachers at primary school gave his old soccer gear to me. I was delighted to have them, they weren't in bad shape but good enough to last a few years. My family isn't poor or rich. Mum is part time but I don't know how much she gets though, but enough for us to survive and use it for other things.

I'm 16 now. I do work experience, so I referee soccer games from junior players to senior players. I usually ref about 21-24 games a week which equals me earning about $240 a week. It's pretty good, I mean you only yell out if it's a foul or card them and it's quite fun watching them play. I've never played in a real soccer team before, except at school sports. There's not many girls interested in soccer, but if they were they only want to impress the boys. I'm not popular or un-popular in school, I'm just normal because there is no such thing as categories at school. Except for the attention seekers. They tend to tease me about my taste in music, clothes, interest and how I act. But they're not worth it.

Your probably wondering who I am. Why am I blabbing about this nonsense. My story is similar to many people, but different. I go through many tough times, but it only makes me stronger.

My name is Rosemary 'Romy' Drundell and this is......me.

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This is my first chapter of my first book so don't judge. Purpletulips148 convinced me to write a book so yeah, enjoy and please comment or vote thanks. This is for soccer lovers like me!

Mandy

PS- I'm only using the movie Bend It Like Beckham title, not the story. This is mine!