Our Stories

Michael's POV: Practice makes Perfect

Today started like any other day, I got up and went to school like normal. Everything was fine up until the end of first period. I was walking back from the bathroom when the scariest adult in this entire school called me into his office. Mr Gordon. He was a gym teacher and the coach of the rugby team and an overall absolute unit. I had Mr Gordon in my freshmen gym class. That was the only time I have ever interacted with him and being called into his office was terrifying because obviously he didn't like the pudgy kid who couldn't run for more than fifteen seconds.

    I made my way up to him, he looked very angry for some reason. He led me into his office, offering me a seat in front of his desk. All around his office were trophies and pictures of rugby related things.

    "Mike, why aren't you coming to practice?" Mr Gordon asked, voice stern. Practice? I don't think I've practiced anything in five years.

    "What practice?" I ask, slightly confused.

    "Don't act stupid, you signed up knowing when practice was." Mr Gordon was fuming now and I was still very confused and scared.

    "I'll come today," I say trying to get out of this situation. Mr Gordon nodded and handed me a piece of paper before showing me out of his office.

    I looked at the paper that was handed to me. At the top was Rugby Schedule 2014-2015. RUGBY! I have never in my entire life have I ever played or watched Rugby. I don't even know how to play rugby! How did I even get on the team?

    I was so confused.

    I went to my next period, criminal justice. My partner was on the rugby team, maybe he signed me up as a joke?

    When I walked into the class I went straight up to Bradley ready to confront him. But as soon as I saw those large arms that could kill me in an instant, I immediately turned around and went to my seat. During work time though, as Bradley and I worked on our project, Bradley brought it up.

    "Clifford, why don't you go to practice?" He asked.

See the thing is I don't play Rugby.

    In that moment I panicked. Bradley had a very angry look in his eyes and I couldn't fight someone today. "I had family business to attend to, apparently I forgot to mention it to coach I am so sorry, I'll be there today."

    Bradley looks at me before slapping me across the back. "Haha, I hope you will be."

***

    Rugby sucks some sweaty balls my guys. Like, more than My Chemical Romance breaking up or Ryan Ross leaving Panic! At The Disco. I have never in my entire life been tackled by so many sweaty men. I have found out though, that I am good at running away from them. Partly I think, it's because I am terrified of being tackled. It is like a flight or fight response and I just fucking run.

    The first game I am playing in is today and the entire squad is showing up. Luke even told me he heard G talking about coming. I don't know why he told me, because now I was just ten times more nervous.

    Coach gave us our game day pep talk before we ran out onto the field. The other team kicks the ball and the game starts. Now obviously I am not the one to go right into the pile, so I stay on the edges and wait for someone to throw the ball to me.

    And I wait...

    Until the last minute of the game the ball comes flying out of the pile. And catch it and start sprinting towards the try-zone. I hear the thundering footsteps of 200 pound men behind me and yelling in my ears and all I can think is don't squash me.  I finally get reach the try-zone, collapsing onto the grass.
   
Bradley comes up and looks at me, there was rage in his eyes."What the hell was that!" He yells. I look at him really confused. "How could you run the wrong direction?"