Kickin' It With Dad

by Christopher R. Ford

  I wait, and wait some more but still no dad. Maybe I wasn’t moping enough? Wait, what am I doing?!? I can’t be out here moping, and I can’t be out here waiting for someone else to save me. I gotta do something! I get up, get dressed, and get out!

  And by out, I mean the backyard.

  All I have is the porch light to see as I walk slowly towards the goal. Ok time to get good! But how do I do that? I start looking around, thinking. Hmmm…working on your goalkeeping by yourself is pretty hard. I don’t think there’s really anything I can do. This was a waste of time. I shake my head in frustration as I walk back to the door. I guess I’ll just wing it tomorrow.

  I reach for the door handle but the door swings open catching me off balance. It’s my dad, all decked out in his soccer gear.

  “You finally got it!”

  “Huh? Got what?” I say confused but then it quickly hits me… “It.” He says.

  I knew he was gonna say that. But I do need to know what “it” is finally.

  This is kinda important.

  “You came out her all by yourself which is a huge deal.” He says with his arms open wide for emphasis.

  “A whole lot that helped though.” I say. “It’s not like I can even practice by myself.”

  “And that’s why I’m here!” He replies with a wide smile. “I got you.”

  I instantly start to feel better. I needed that.

  “Oh and that whole you can’t practice by yourself thing isn’t exactly true. There is one thing that you can always do to improve your game, even when you’re alone.” He says nonchalantly.

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  He shakes his head overexaggerating his shock that I don’t know what the answer is.

  “Visualizing.”

  Oh yeah! I totally forgot about that. Again. Duh!

  “I guess I’ll let you slide.” He says and we both laugh (but I gotta remember that for later for real).

  “Let’s get to work.” He then says.

  And get to work we do! We decide to start out with him taking shots at me. I focus as he comes towards me. He makes a move, I make a move…I get the save!

  Nice! I think to myself.

  “Nice!” My dad says out loud.

  Ok that’s a good start. My dad sets up and comes at me again. Let’s see if I can make it two in a row! He shoots…and he scores as I guessed wrong and went left as he kicked right.

  “No worries, no worries.” He says. “You can’t save them all so forget about that one and focus on the next one.”

  Ok he’s right. Shake it off Ronnie! I clap my hands to let him know I’m ready for round three. He zigs and zags then kicks it right between my legs for another goal.

  “Now that was a lucky shot.” He says I think trying to make me feel better. It’s not really working though.

  “Let’s switch it up. Try some shootout style kicks. That could come in handy.”

  The way I’ve started this out I don’t think I can keep the score close enough to go to a shootout tomorrow, but I nod and agree to do it anyway. Instead of going all the way to the other end of the yard, he stops halfway. Maybe this will be easier (or maybe I’m just doing some wishful thinking). He can only take a couple of steps before he has to kick it and hey, I make the save!

  I breathe a small sigh of relief and my dad congratulates me before lining right back up to kick yet again. My relief is short-lived as he shoots and scores on me. And just like that, I’m getting frustrated yet again.

  “You have two saves so far.” He says trying to cheer me up again.

  “And I’ve given up three goals.” I quickly reply.

  “Focus on the positive right now and study the negatives later.” He says.

  Easier said than done but I’ll give it a try. He takes another kick which I dive to stop.

  “Check you out with the bounce back!” He says making something so corny sound cool like only he can.

  All-in-all, I end up saving five of the ten shots (if you include his misses). Not terrible but not great either. We wrap it up and go back inside to the kitchen for a post-practice snack. Over a big bowl of cereal (Lucky Charms, my favorite) we talk.

  “I know you’re nervous…” He starts, but nervous is an understatement.

  “What if I do bad?” I ask, expressing all my worries in one question.

  “What if you do great?” He responds simply.

  Honestly, I haven’t even considered that. The best I’ve been hoping for is to not be horrible (as horrible as that sounds). So obviously I don’t have an answer. He comes back with another question.

  “You’ve been through this before right?”

  “Yeah.” I say timidly (with baseball and basketball of course).

  “And things worked out right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So why are you worried?” He asks like it’s no big deal.

  “Worrying is kinda my thing.” I say. He doesn’t look pleased with my answer so I continue. “And you know soccer isn’t my thing.” Still nothing from my dad. “And I don’t think I’m

  ready!”

  That gets a reaction out of him finally.

  “Do you remember the first shot you faced?” He asks.

  It was kind of a disaster so I try not to, but “Yes.” I answer him. I have no idea why he’s bringing that up…

  “And what happened on the last shot you faced tonight?”

  Ohhhh! “I saved it!” I quickly reply.

  “That’s right.” He says. “Are you perfect? No. But no doubt about it, you’re getting better. And as far as being ready? In life we rarely know if we’re ready for something until we do it.”

  Well…I guess he has some valid points. I would sure like to just know I’m ready, but this will have to be good enough.

  “Keep a positive mind, make sure you visualize and I think tomorrow will go alright for you.” Is his final piece of advice as I slurp up the last of the milk in my bowl and head upstairs to bed.

  “Everything is gonna be alright.

  Everything is gonna be alright.”

  I keep repeating that in my head until I finally drift off to sleep.

  It’s gameday! And for the first time this season there’s actually some excitement in my house! Mom’s famous French Toast greets me as I sit down at the kitchen table. And like I do anytime she makes it, I scarf it down immediately! It’s so good I forgot to be nervous for a couple of minutes.

  “You should get dressed so we can get to the field a little early.” My dad suggests from across the table.

  And now it’s time to get nervous. I head back up to my room. My kit is already laid out waiting for me to put on. I have no idea how I’m gonna play but at least I’ll look fresh. I take one last look in the mirror (I do indeed look fresh) and I head back downstairs.

  “You look nice!” My mom says.

  “You ready?” My dad asks.

  I smile at my mom’s comment and nod at my dad’s. It’s time to roll.

  We pull up to the complex. We’re on field #2 today, still not the big field yet. The crowd is bigger than usual but it’s not too crazy (which is good because I don’t need anything else to make me more nervous). I reach for the door to get ready to exit but my dad stops me.

  “One thing before you go.” He says. He was pretty quiet all trip, I wonder what’s up? Maybe some last second advice (I’d totally be cool with that).

  “I’ve got you something.” He continues as he leans over reaching behind my seat and pulling out a small white bag.

  Is it snacks I wonder? Nah it’s not the time for snacks. So…

  “What’s in the bag?” I ask curiously even though he’s reaching into it as we speak and I’m a second from finding out.

  “Boom!” He exclaims as he pulls out a packet off…

  “Goalie gloves!”

  “And not just any goalie gloves.” My dad replies. “These are exclus
ive gloves…” He starts reading the back of the packaging. “With finger saving technology, not exactly sure what that is but saving your fingers has gotta be a good thing, super enhanced grip so you can stick those saves, and of course, this cool design.”

  I take a look at the gloves. They’re neon yellow so they definitely stand out and they’re completely covered in a spider web design.

  “Because you like Spider-man.” He says beaming.

  We’re panthers and not spiders so that kinda clashes, and Black Panther is my favorite superhero, then Superman…but Spidey is definitely in my top ten.

  “Dad you know this will be the only time I ever use these right?”

  I couldn’t help myself I had to say it. We both laugh (even though a small part of me isn’t joking). But overall, these gloves are pretty fresh (cooler than the “crazy” socks he got me during basketball season). This was a REALLY cool surprise.

  “Thanks.” I tell him.

  We have a moment.

  “Ok get outta here!” He says jokingly.

  I take my bag and my new gloves, hop out the car and start making my way towards the pitch.

  “You got this!” My dad yells from the car.

  I nod and wave to him before turning back around and continuing to the field…and I crack a smile.

  Rich is the first person to “greet” me (and by greet me, I mean he mean mugs me for at least two straight minutes). My smile is officially gone. Luckily Billie and Adrian show up and greet me properly (we hit our secret handshake).

  “You already know, just ignore him.” Billie says in a reassuring kind of way trying to calm my very obvious nerves.

  “I know, I know.” I reply trying to regain my confidence.

  “You ready?” Adrian asks in a positive tone I can tell…but it still ends up taking me back to being nervous.

  “Uh…”

  “Ahh always the humble kid! Me and Billie are good to go and we know you are too!”

  “Yeah so let’s go!” Billie adds.

  Before I can say or do anything else, we hit our secret handshake again and head to join the rest of the team. We stretch (I avoid Rich), we run (I avoid Rich some more). And to be honest, avoiding him has helped me keep my mind off the fact that I’m about to start. Oh wait, I’m about to start! Nervous level has gone from zero to a hundred real quick! I look over at the scoreboard as its counting down to kickoff and we only have 10 minutes before the game begins…that I’m starting! Ok it’s getting real.

  “Williams!” Coach G calls out making me jump slightly. “Get in goal and take some warmup shots!”

  Ok warm up shots, that’s good. Maybe the team will give me some easy shots, let me build up my confidence…yeah probably not. But anyway, I gotta do it so I start getting ready.

  “Yo dope gloves bro!” Adrian shouts out so loudly the rest of the team stops and starts to stare.

  I slowly put on my new gloves. Part of me is kinda embarrassed but another part of me is kinda happy with the attention. The gloves are cool and therefore make me look cool.

  “Look good, feel good. Feel good, play good.” Adrian then says to me with a smile as we take the field. I guess we’ll see how true that is.

  “Nice gloves.” Rich The Rich Kid says coming out of nowhere (man, I had been doing such a good job of avoiding him). I know he’s being sarcastic so I’m waiting for the but…

  “But too bad they make you an easy target.”

  Easy target? What does he mean? He’s gotta be messing with my head right? Right?!? Focus Ronnie! I gotta take the field…

  “Williams!” Coach G calls out making me jump slightly again.

  He waves me over to him where Rich is waiting too. Wait, am I getting benched before the game even starts?!?

  “Change of plans.” He starts. I don’t think I like the sound of this…

  “I just thought about it and I don’t want to give up our game plan that you’re starting today so we’ll let Rich go out for warmups.”

  Ohhh that’s a good idea! Gotta keep the other team off balance. Coach is smart! And it doesn’t hurt that I don’t have to go out and potentially embarrass myself either…at least not for a few more minutes.

  “Stand back and watch how a REAL goalie does it.” Rich says brushing by me to head to our goal.

  Here we go again. Real goalie?!? Now I’m even more offended than the first time! I’m kind of a real goalie now! I do watch though because he is good and you never know, I might actually learn something. He does a good job I’ll give him that and the other team looks impressed if not straight up intimidated. Boy are they in for a surprise…

  I look up at the scoreboard again and it’s almost game time. Coach calls us all together for some final words (and if he has some magic words for me that would awesome).

  “I’m gonna keep this short and sweet.” Uh-oh I think to myself. “This is the last game of the regular season so just go out there, do your thing, and have some fun.”

  Do my thing? I don’t have a thing! Have some fun? If I give up a bunch of goals that definitely won’t be fun. Coach picked a bad time to turn all chill. I guess I’m on my own with this one as I slowly take the pitch. I look down at my gloves again. I still don’t know how or why these would make me a target…

  Billie and Adrian jog up to me.

  “Check it.” Adrian starts in a lackadaisical yet confident style.

  “Here’s the plan…”

  Oh great, finally someone has a plan! I hope this is good…

  “We’ll get out to a quick lead…”

  “Try to get out to a quick lead.” Billie interjects trying to be the voice of reason.

  “Get out to a quick lead.” Adrian repeats with even more confidence and shooting Billie a I said what I said type look. “Then we’ll keep the ball away and we’ll win. Just like that!”

  Adrian stands there very proud of himself waiting on my response. I look at Billie, she kinda shrugs and smiles and beckons me to do the same. So I nod and smile too.

  “Let’s get it!” Adrian says and the three of us get ready to play.

  I’m at the goal all alone. Now I’m getting nervous nervous. I really hope Adrian’s plan works. Billie and Adrian both give me thumbs up. I then look into the stands and spot my family. They definitely look happier than me at the moment. My dad gives me a thumbs up too. I feel slightly better…slightly.

  The ref blows the whistle and the game begins. We win the faceoff. That’s good, no shots coming my way (yet). I watch Adrian work his way through the defense with ease. He jukes past one defender to the right box going directly at the goalie. Is he about to do it again?!? He makes one more move, he’s about to take the shot. No he fakes the shot and passes to Billie who is streaking down the left side. Adrian’s pass is perfect…Billie’s kick is even more perfect…and boom! We’re up 1 – 0!

  Billie and Adrian celebrate on the other side of the field. The rest of the team on the field rushes to join them. I start heading over too. Oh wait! Goalies have to stay in their goal. Oh well. Billie and Adrian do point my way and I can see Adrian mouthing “I told you so!” while Billie simply, smiles and shrugs. Adrian did what he said and we’re winning so I’ll take it!

  Now to step two; Billie and Adrian playing keep-away. And to my shock and surprise…it works too! We’re almost to half-time and I’ve faced zero shots! I’m standing at my goal watching the clock countdown to the half. Not super exciting but I’m not complaining.

  But I’m sure my family (my little brother especially) are crazy bored. I look into the stands and yeah, I think they’re bored. I waive to them. My mom waives back, my brother is staring up into the clouds, but my dad…my dad is focused. Why’s he so intense? I’ll have to think about that later, it’s finally halftime and I’ll enjoy my shutout while I got it!

  On the sideline Coach seems pretty happy with how things are going too. He tells us all to keep up the good work. I have been do
ing a pretty good job of doing nothing, I think I can keep that up. Rich of course scoffs just loud enough for me to hear him but I’m trying hard to ignore him.

  Halftime ends and we take the pitch once again.

  “Same plan right guys?” I ask Billie and Adrian…just to make sure. “Yup.” Billie answers.

  “Keep-away all day!” Adrian adds enthusiastically.

  That makes me feel good. Billie, Adrian, and I hit our secret handshake and head to our positions. I think we’ve really got this!

  The second half starts exactly according to plan. Billie, Adrian, and the rest of the team are controlling the ball and keeping it on the other side of the pitch. And me, I’m just chilling at my goal. Actually, I’m starting to get a tad bit bored myself. I wonder what’s gonna be for dinner tonight? Oh! Maybe I can get a special victory meal…or better yet, a special special shutout victory meal! Gumbo? Maybe a decked out double bacon cheeseburger?!? Or even…

  My awesome food daydream is interrupted by…by…a nightmare! The ball is on my side of the pitch and there’s a kid from the other team headed my way! I spot Billie coming up on his side, I really hope she can stop him. She goes for a slide tackle but she misses. Uh-oh!

  Now it’s just me and him, one-on-one. Ok Ronnie you can do this…I think. “Anticipate. Anticipate.” I tell myself as I get ready to react. He kicks it and I immediately dive to my right. That’s where the ball is heading! I got this! I feel the ball hit my gloves, yes!

  But I can’t quite keep my grasp on it! And as I hit the ground, the ball starts bouncing back towards the kid who shot it. Wait, nooo!

  I watch helplessly as the kid simply taps the ball right over me and into the goal. We’re tied. The perfect season is now in serious jeopardy! I look at my gloves, what happened to the super enhanced grip?!? I just want to lay here and never get up, or better yet, dig that hole I was wishing for last time since I’m already on the ground and I can just disappear.

  Fortunately (or unfortunately) Billie and Adrian come over both sticking a hand out to help me up.

  “Rebounds happen. It’s not your fault.” Billie says.