Accepted: A Short Story

Kersten Golan

Accepted

It was early one fall morning we were on the way to East China Park. We were on the way to my first travel soccer game. “ Are you nervous? “ my mom asked.

“No“ I responded lying through my teeth. I was incredibly nervous. I knew a lot of the girls, but what if everyone was way better than me? I knew they would all be somewhat more skilled, but what if they all blew me away? Last year I beat everyone. After a while it's just not fun anymore. I would always use my touch to the right to blow by girls. Coach Dave always played me center so I could send it to the girl on my right. Then he started playing me left so when I took the touch right I sent it to the person in the center.

I would do my best

I walked over to the other side of the field to the team. My bag was heavy on my shoulders. I saw Shaylen, and immediately walked over to her. Neither of us knew what to do so we decided to stick together and follow what Alexis does.

“Two line!” Coach Jim shouted across the field. I had no idea what to do. Me and Shay just followed Lexi. We had known Lexi for a while. She went to the left goalpost other people went to the right goalpost. We started by doing lunge walk out to the 18 yard line. We did lots of different stretches. After stretches we went and talked to Coach Jim. He gave us positions. I wasn’t starting, but he told me to watch Ella and find out what I need to

Shanna’s mom shouted “Let’s go girls”. I kept my eyes peeled watching Ella for what to do. Ella was constantly getting into open space and getting open for a pass, even if she knew she wouldn’t receive one. I would try my best, but I would need practice obviously.

Coach Jim put me in for Ella. My stomach was in unbearable knots. I had to shake them out… well not literally, just play and forget about them. I was running up and down the field, following the play, and trying to find space. Ella made it look easy. I was tired. I would need conditioning. Reagan passed me the ball. I had to do something with it! I carried the ball up the field and passed it to Jess. Jess dribbled the ball and took a hard shot. The ball was high in the air. I was thinking to myself, if this ball sinks in above the keeper’s head I will have made an assist. And there the ball went just above the keeper’s reach the ball sank in the back of the net. The end of the game whistle blew. We won,and i made the assist.

After the game we all got into a huddle. Coach Jim told us we did a great job. He said “Great job girls, I am very proud of you guys, especially Kersten and Shaylen!” I was so happy at that moment. I was accepted by older, smarter, and faster girls and players, and they accepted me as a slower, less skilled, younger girl.

“How was the game?” My mom