*Flashback:
"Hey Dad, do you think we will win today?" I ask my father. I didn't want to lose the game today, or else Henry and I would be humiliated as the news reached our second grade class.
"Of course, Pumpkin. You two are an unstoppable soccer duo, no one can beat you both!" He let out a chuckle.
I watched the rain that had started outside. Would it interrupt the game?! I hoped not, after all, we had drove all this way to reach it. The rain started to get heavier and heavier, creating a curtain of water on the windows. I started to hum the little song my mother had taught me "Rain, rain go away" in hopes it will disappear before we arrive.
My best friend and soccer team mate, Henry was staring out the window. He turned his head towards me, and our eyes met. All was silent but his eyes spoke a thousand words. I looked away, feeling extremely confused and uneasy.
I glance back at the window, eyes going wide in shock at the sight that seemed like an impossible nightmare. On the highway beside us, car crashes were occurring. I looked down trying to distract myself while my dad seemed to mutter with concern. I notice Henry staring out the window with obvious fear in his eyes, so I tried to follow his eyes but it was hard to make anything out with the heavy, pouring rain . The storm soon resembled the tears streaming down Henry's face. Of course following my duty as a friend I did my best to comfort him, patting his head and trying to make him think of the soccer game we were about to win. I had no clue that we'd never even reach the game.*
A tear ran down my cheek as I stared at the picture that my dad and I took, before heading to the car and driving to the game that night. He looked so happy, his eyes were full of life, and his smile went from ear to ear. He didn't even know how his life would end that night. After that incident, his eyes were deprived of life, and his smile seemed to disappear. He was robbed of his happiness. I decided now was not the time to dwell on the past, and so I decided to get out of the house.
I got up, and changed from my tank top and shorts to a sweatshirt and Nike joggers. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, and put on a thin Nike hairband. I walked out of my room, and headed to my Mother. She was sitting in her room, and I didn't want to disturb her, but I'd rather let her know I was heading out. I knocked softly. She turned to look towards me, and I said "I'm heading out to the park, is that alright?" She didn't say anything, but instead gave a slight nod. Then, she went back to staring out the window, as she did most afternoons when she wasn't at work. It pained me to know she hasn't been able to over come the damage my father's death has caused. A small voice in my head commented "It's not like you really got over dad's death, either." I shook my head, ignoring that small voice.
I grabbed my soccer ball, my sweet Premier League Merlin Nike soccer ball. It was my baby, and I couldn't bare to part with it. I grabbed some normal sneakers, not wanting to wear cleats right now. I head out, taking in a deep breath of the fresh air. I start jogging to the park, which was just a mile away from me. I make it to the park after 6 minutes, my slower time than usual. I didn't break a sweat, also as usual, since I only ran a mile, but it bothered me that I was a little slow today. I would need to go for a run tomorrow for sure. I walk over to the field, and start doing so simple warm ups. I see a little girl playing by herself. The girl looks young, with platinum blonde hair and green eyes. She has some freckles splashed across her nose, and her hair was put into an elegant braid. I watch her for a couple of minutes out of the corner of my eye. I see her asking her father to help her play, but the man was just focused on his phone. The man was probably only caring about work, ignoring his daughter, who looked no older than 6. I could feel the anger boiling within me. How could he just ignore his daughter?! Doesn't he know that everyone's time is limited and they could never spend a moment together again?! So, I walk over to her.
The girl looks up, and I see the curious gleam in her eyes. I open my mouth to introduce myself, "Hey, I'm Jaqueline, and I saw you playing." She looked down at the ground, blushing. "I wanted to play with you, you seem pretty good, and maybe I can help you out a little bit. Is that alright?" She looks back up, and I see her arguing with herself in her eyes. I have an uncanny ability to read a person's eyes, as it was something my father taught me.
She finally speaks after a few moments, "Of course you can play with me, I've wanted to play with someone, but can I ask you something." I nod. "How will you train me?" Oh, so this is what she was probably arguing about in her head. She wanted to know how I would train her, but didn't know if it was alright to ask. I start juggling the ball with my feet and her eyes widen.
"Well, did you hear about the girl's soccer team over at Trinity Creek Academy?" She nods, and replies
"Of course I have, they have been in the news multiple times." I smile and tell her
"I'm on the team. I'm actually the captain of the girl's team." Her eyes widen even more. Suddenly, she starts to look nervous. She looks down again at the ground as slowly says
"Wait, you're the Jaqueline Rhea Harris?" I nod, and she lets out a squeal. I chuckle and she starts to ask me all these questions like "How are you so good? Is it true that scouts from places around the world have come to watch you? Is it true you've been playing since you were three?" I laugh and answer her questions saying
"I became good by practicing, and yes it is true, I have had scouts visit me. Also, yes, I have also been playing since I was three." She lets out another squeal and is about to ask more questions before I cut her off. "Why don't we just practice for now, and we can talk later, yeah? Before we start though, what is your name?" I ask.
She replies "Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Dana." I smile, and then decide to start juggling the ball again. She looks impressed then asks "How do you do that? Can you teach me?"
I nod, and reply "Of course, why don't we focus on learning this skill today, is that alright?" She nods hurriedly, excited to learn the trick. We practice for a while, getting lost in just having fun and playing together.
I lose track of how long we have been practicing until a woman calls outs "Danny? It's time to go home, honey." I look up to see a woman who looks like Dana, with her extremely blonde hair and freckles. I glance at the man who I had presumed to be her father, and see green eyes just like Dana's. These two were obviously her parents and were probably pretty young from the looks of it. Dana looks up and smiles.
"Mommy?! Look, I made a new friend." She grabs my hand and pulls me to her mother. I smile politely and genuinely and say "Hello. I'm Jaqueline."
Her mother smiles back and says "Hi. I'm Clarissa Ledon. You can call me Claire." She turns to face Dana and squats to be face to face with her. "Did you have fun, Dana?"
Dana nods eagerly and says "Yes, Mommy. Jaqueline taught me how to play soccer and taught me a new trick. She was so kind. She's the captain of the girl's soccer team at Trinity Creek Academy. You know, the one that has been featured in the news lately? Can I play with Jaqueline more often?" Her mother's eyes widen.
Claire takes a couple of moments before smiling at me and replying "Of course, you can play with her more often. I'll give her my number. Now, why don't you get in the car to drive home." Dana runs to the car and her father helps her in. Claire turns to me. "Thank you so much! We have just moved here, and Dana was upset about it so we brought her to the park today, and it looks like you've cheered her up. If its ok with you, do you mind coming over to play with her sometimes?"
I smile and reply "Of course, Claire. I would be happy to, she is such a adorable little girl." We exchange numbers and I turn to walk away.
Then, I hear Claire ask "Wait, you go to Trinity Creeks Academy?" I nod. She then says "Oh! How wonderful, my son will be attending there starting Monday. Maybe you could come over tomorrow night for dinner and to meet him? Then you could show him around on his first day of school?"
I think about it for a minute, and ultimately decide that I will, to help the family adjust. I nod and say "Of course, I'd be happy to. Maybe before dinner tomorrow, Dana and I could come out here and play again?" Claire nods, and I see how happy she is about this, which makes me happy that I made the right choice.
Claire says "Ok, it was nice meeting you! I'll see you later Jaqueline!
