An Unextraordinary Girl

Chapter 3~ Little Adventures in the Playground

Chapter 3- Little Adventures In the Playground

As you could have guessed, Aiden and I became very close friends. We were, in fact, the best you could imagine. He would come over to my house almost every day. No matter how hard teachers would try, we were inseparable. My tomboyish personality meant that no one really thought we ever liked each other and back then I don’t think we ever did. Those were the days when things were less complicated and when boys could innocently be friends with the opposite sex without any strings attached.

We were also the naughtiest friends you could imagine, however, and we would get in trouble a lot. At that age that just meant missing break time or facing the wall (and we already know that that didn’t really bother us).

Aiden and I were extremely sporty…well, we were extremely hyperactive, which is good when it comes to sports really. Though teachers said only the upper school kids were allowed to join the football team, our irritating presence and constant pleading forced Ms Morrison to put us on the team. But, just to get a little bit of her power back, she put me in the worst position for a hyperactive, easily bored, misbehaving child to play. Goalie.

The year was 1999, in which I was 7 years old in year 2. It was break time, the sun was out and all the boys were on the pitch playing football. I took my much desired position (yes, that’s sarcasm) inside the goal post. I let out an exaggerated sigh, loud enough for Ms Morrison to hear it. She looked at me sternly and hissed “Can’t you just stand still for a couple of minutes?”

I shook my head. I really couldn’t. When she turned back around to focus on the game I did what my manic mind wanted to do without hesitation. I swung my legs one at a time over the top of the goal post and then my arms and hung on it like the true monkey I was. Then I started to sing a song that had just came out that Aiden and I would always sing together.

“I see you, baby!” Both Aiden and Ms Morrison stared at my direction. However Aiden had a look of comprehension whereas Ms Morrison with a look of sheer annoyance. That look was soon going to change to fury as me and Aiden sang the next lyrics in unison.

“Shakin’ that ass!” we sung together. “Shakin’ that ass! Shakin’ that-“

“Stop it! Both of you!” she shouted as the opposite team scored a goal due to my lack of defence from swinging on the goal. And there it was, the look of fury. “Cleopatra Flannan! Come down from that goal post immediately!”

“No” I replied coolly. The teacher stormed towards my, grabbed my arms and put me down herself. “You are acting like a big baby young lady!” she said.

“Am a big baby or young lady?” I mocked. “That’s it,” she let out “you’re off the team. Get off the pitch. You are never allowed to play football again!”

“Fine! I wasn’t even playing football. All you got me to do was sit in goal ‘cause you don’t think I can play! Well-“I stopped, picked up the ball and started to tackle my way through the crowd of older boys on the pitch. No matter how much they tried no one could get the ball from me. Once I was right outside the penalty box, I shot and scored. Everyone, including Ms Morrison stood jaw dropped. Everyone except Aiden. He stood with a smug smirk. He knew what I could do and was proud of the way I showed my true talent. “Humph” I said dropping my neon bib on the ground and walking off. Aiden did the same “See ya…baby” he teased as he went off with me.

We went to sit on the log next to our school’s pod. This was our little space and everyone knew it. Well, maybe they just didn’t want to go there because of the muck and bugs but obviously we didn’t care. “She’s so annoying!” I moaned “I hate her! I hate all adults! Especially Cruella De Vil!” Cruella De Vil – Aka our year two teacher, Ms Kuella- always loved getting us into trouble. She preferred teaching when we weren’t in the room so any little thing that we would do, she would send us out for. Of course, when I told my mum this, she never believed me.