Broken Ties

1

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"Kick the damn ball!"

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Only a few more steps, I think anxiously to myself. Only a few more steps until I find out which hockey team I made. I hope to make A team, but I have a feeling I'd make B team.

I took a deep breath as I scanned for my name. Not on the A team, and not on the B team. I sighed as I saw my name on C team. I didn't want to cry about, I was disappointed.

To be honest, I didn't really know how to react. I just sighed and made my way to English.

From 1st team captain to C team. How did you get that right. Did you not put in the work? Did you not try your best? Were you just not good enough? Is it because you're not bad but they're just really good? After all, the A team does consist of only WP players. I think questioning myself.

Yeah sure, just keep on making excuses for your failures. Accept it, move on and work harder next time! Another part of me urges, you're only grade 8, you still have time to prove yourself.

Fine, then that's what I'll do, I reply to myself, which is kinda lonely but who cares cause no one can hear me.

As English class starts and ends, the only thing on my mind is soccer this afternoon. My heart is racing, mind is going blank and there's a buzz flowing through my body. I took a deep breath in and told myself to calm down.

By the time classes end, I run back to hostel and get changed. I quickly sign myself out and run to the soccer field. Some people are already there and I spot my friend, Lyné, waving at me. I walk over to her with a smile on my face.

"You warm up yet?" I asked her.

"Nope. Come, let's start together until Jaidyn comes."

Lyné comes from a very cultured coloured community and she knows her way around people. I met during our orientation camp, earlier in the year, and since then, we've become friends. As we were jogging around the field, her short dark brown hair waved losely in the wind as the afternoon sun radiated off her caramel skin. The way she speaks and laughs, she does it in a calm way and never seems anxious. Other than today.

To be honest, we were all nervous. Jose, our Brazilian soccer coach, was nice, but strict when he wants to be. During my first encounter with Jose, I thought he was a crazy man. I was right, but we still love him. He has gray hair, or he dyed it silver, I don't know. His Brazilian skin is somewhat wrinkled around his eyes and he's quiet short for a man in his 40's. He's accent is strong and always has a positive attitude. I remember at our second practice when he said, "It's not hot, it's snowing. The weather is all in your mind."

Yeah, right.

When Lyné and I were done warming up, we saw Jaidyn. She too, was a coloured with curly brown hair. She's kept her hair natural for up to 2 years now, but she's thinking on cutting and straightening it.

"Guys, are you ready?" She asked.

"Somewhat, yeah." Replied Lyné.

"Why?" I asked.

"Cause we starting now."

As if on cue, a whistle blew and everyone started making their way to the centre of the field.