Memories on Strings

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

I didn't give up on my promise to create new memories. There were many to be made during the next few savored months, the last months with my best friend.

I remember the first of these memories vividly. It occurred on a seemingly gloomy and uneventful day, although it did turn out to be.

It was the day of fog, the day my family first heard of the move, a day of broken bones, but nonetheless a day of joy.

It was the last soccer game of the season. Mallory and I played on the same travel team for our town along with fifteen other girls. Our game was an away game, in Long Valley, about forty five minutes away.

Arriving at the field was quite odd, for I could hardly see it. All I saw was a layer of thick fogging resting close to the ground. It was so thick hat the opposite side of the field or the opposite goal could not be seen. It was a game we had a good chance of winning, but I was nervous anyway.

A few minute before the half, we were winning by 2-0 and the other team brought the ball down to our goal. One of our best players, Bella, went for the ball by tackling the girl dribbling it. In a split second their shins collided and they were both on the ground. One got up quickly, Bella, while the other rolled around in anguish on the ground, crying and grabbing her shin. My stomach tightened as I realized this was not a mere bruise. Our team kneeled town in respect, Mallory and I close to each other, while the other team went to. I fort their injured teammate. The coaches ran onto the field.

About ten minutes later, the referees decided to end the half five minutes earthly and the girl was carried off the field, to a truck, and driven to the hospital where it was later declared she had a broken leg.

We all told Bella that it wasn't her fault. We weren't lying, they both collided shins, it was an accident, nobody was to be blamed.

The game continued on with everyone attempting to put the incident behind them and focus. We were winning 5-0 with about ten minutes remaining in the game, so our coach decided to let us have fun and switch our positions around. Defenders went to forward, forwards went to defense, and Mallory and I, who usually played midfield, went side by side as forwards.

It was during these last ten minutes that my memory was created. I remember it well. Marissa put a through ball to Mallory who dribbled a few steps before crossing it to me. I was within five yards of the goal, but still onsides because I was behind the ball when she crossed it. I felt a rush of energy surge through me as my foot connected with the ball hitting it into the back of the net. Goal for me and an assist for my best friend!

Mallory and I immediately ran up to one another and jumped up and down celebrating and hugging.

"Maddie!" she cheered.

"Mallory!" I cheered, "We did it!"

A high pitched whistle in our ears crushed our spirits and we looked at the referee expecting her to signal for the ball to be kicked off. Instead what we saw crushed me, the referee signaling to the lineman who as holding up her flag, signaling offsides.

Confusion instantly flew through my mind. What? I knew I wasn't offsides! What is going on? It turns out that Mallory was called offsides on the pass from Marissa even though it occurred thirty seconds before offsides was called. Frustration and disappointment took over as I trudged back to the line, but despite the call, I couldn't wipe the stupid smile off of my face. Mallory and I had scored, together, in our last game! no matter how mad I as about the call, I was still filled with joy from our short lived celebration.

The game was called ten minutes later with us winning 5-0. I walked off the field next to Mallory as we talked about our "goal".

"I was so happy, Mal. And then I saw the ref and I was like, what?"

"I know! I wasn't even offsides!"

"At least we got to celebrate," I replied. And I truly meant it. This moment meant so much to me, especially because I knew there would not be many more like it.

I savored those thirty seconds where we jumped up and down. Where we hugged and smiled like fools. Where we cheered and congradulated each other. Where we were together.