Kickin' It With Dad

by Christopher R. Ford

  “Don’t worry.” Adrian says but guess what? I’m worried. “We know what they’re gonna do.” Oh wait a second, I like that…

  “Kinda.” Billie adds before I can finish getting my hopes up.

  “We know the play they like to run on corner kicks so we can stop the ball before it gets to you.” Adrian says.

  “Probably.” Billie adds.

  Kinda? Probably?!? I guess I gotta give Billie some credit for keeping it real with me. But because of it I only feel partly confident that something bad is not about to happen.

  Billie and Adrian head over to the corner with everyone else. Now that I’m alone, the crowd noise really hits me. It’s so loud I can barely hear myself think! I look into the stands, gotta find my family in this sea of people. I see them! My dad mouths “calm down, you got this.” Ok Ronnie he’s right and you know what to do. Remember, this is what you wanted…but it’s kinda not what you

  wanted…

  Ok, ok, focus Ronnie! I need to be ready just incase Billie and Adrian can’t stop the ball before it gets to me. I start bouncing in place to get my mind and body right. I got this (and by me I mean Billie and Adrian. And by got this I mean hopefully).

  Everyone is in position, good or bad, it’s about to happen. Jai’Ana kicks it, the ball is in the air and headed towards Sahr who is headed towards me. I keep my eyes on the ball even though I desperately want to see if Billie and Adrian are on the case.

  I start moving towards the ball ready to hopefully make a play. I jump, Sahr jumps. The ball is nearly here…And out of nowhere Billie flies by me and deflects the ball to Adrian and they take off towards the other end of the pitch. Yes! Disaster avoided! Billie and Adrian were right, all that worrying for nothing.

  A few uneventful minutes pass. I’m hoping things can stay exactly like this and we can sneak outta here with the ship.

  A kid can dream right?

  Uh-oh, dream over. The Kings have the ball and are rushing towards me. Ok what do I do? Billie and Adrian didn’t give me any tips on what to do about a fastbreak. Ok Ronnie feel it. Feel it! Here comes Sahr and Jai’Ana! They’re doing a give-and-go just like in basketball, trying to keep me off balance. And it’s kinda working, I have no idea which one of them is gonna end up taking the shot. Jai’Ana has it now and she’s right in front of me. Ok, ok, I think…I feel like she’s gonna go right. Ok I’m going right!

  We move at the same time, and I’m right! She does go right and I go to her right (my left) too. She doesn’t get all of it as she kicks it and I’m right there ready to make the save. I just gotta keep moving towards the ball. This should be easy. I take two more steps, I’m almost there. I shuffle to get in front of the slowly rolling ball and two things happen. First the ball hits something on the grass and takes a funny hop towards me instead of away from me. And as I try and adjust by stopping and then crossing my feet to switch directions, they get tangled. I’m tripping! Literally!

  The next few seconds feel like five minutes as everything goes into slow motion. I watch the ball roll and roll. I desperately reach out for it as I tumble but it’s just out of my reach. I finally hit the turf with a thud. The ball finally crossed the goal line. The game is tied.

  In quite possibly the most embarrassing fashion ever, I’ve given up the biggest goal of the season. And

  Coach can’t bring Rich back in to save the game this time. So we’re stuck, I’M STUCK in this game till the end. Knowing that is the only reason I won’t just lay here and hope I can melt into the grass (I still wish I could though).

  When I do finally look up, I see Billie and Adrian. I wonder how mad they are at me right now. I better explain what happened.

  While still on the ground I start exclaiming. “It took a funny…”

  “We got you.” Adrian says cutting me off and extending his hand to me. Billie is standing on the other side of me and extends her hand too.

  They help me up and I dust myself off. Then I look at them still a bit embarrassed. They’re both smiling but I still feel like I need to explain myself. I open my mouth to start my breakdown of what happened again but Billie cuts me off before I can get one word out.

  “We. Got. You.” She says emphatically.

  So…they’re not mad and I don’t have to explain? Oh, ok…good. And if they’ve really got me then I just need them to hold the ball until there’s only like 3 seconds left then score a goal as time runs out and win the ship for us.

  Simple.

  They do control the ball for the most part, but despite Billie and Adrian both taking shots and almost scoring, The King’s goalie makes some amazing saves (I totally would not have made) and the score remains tied at 1 – 1.

  And now time is starting to run out. Somebody needs to make something happen, and quick. I look at the clock, just a few seconds to go. The ball is on the other side of the pitch but we’re in no position to score so I think that’s it and we’re done here. Overtime it is.

  As the clock hits 0:00 I start heading to the bench. I take a couple of steps and just casually glance towards the center of the pitch looking for Billie and Adrian. I see them and they’re still running…my way…and so is everyone else! I quickly check the clock again, it still says 0:00, what’s going on? Oh wait, it’s extra time, from when Rich got kicked out (the clock keeps running anytime something happens and they just add time to the end of the game), I totally forgot! I wonder how much time is really left now?

  Actually I don’t have time to wonder, I gotta move! I hurry back in front of the goal. So now what? Sahr is at midfield so maybe now I panic? No, that’s not a good idea even though that’s kinda my go-to.

  `Seriously Ronnie, focus! They’re coming and if I give up a goal we lose and it’s all over! I spot Billie and Adrian closing in on Sahr from both sides, I really hope one of them can stop him. Adrian goes for the slide tackle but Sahr just leaps over him! What?!?! That was kinda incredible but

  I’m still in danger! Now it’s up to Billie. She uses the time it took Sahr to make that amazing move to get in front of him and she’s able to kick the ball away. Yes! The ref finally blows the whistle. Billie and Adrian save me again!

  “The extra time added a little excitement.” Adrian says as we trot to the sideline.

  “Yeah it sure did.” I reply nonchalantly trying to act like I knew that was happening the whole time (I’m also glad no one noticed me walking off at first).

  And now it’s shootout time which is just great (and by great, I mean terrible). It would’ve been a lot better if Billie and Adrian had done what I told them to do (in my head) and just scored a last-second goal and won the game for us. Coach G goes directly into a pep talk. I really hope he has some tips for me this time, I’ll take whatever I can get. He starts with the high energy thing again which is usually pretty good but is not particularly helpful to me right now.

  “We’ll score.” He says to the team before turning to address me directly. “We just need you to make one save, two tops. Can you do that Williams?”

  The entire team is staring at me waiting for my answer… “Uh, I think so.”

  I wasn’t very convincing in my answer from the looks on everyone’s faces except Billie and Adrian. I do feel I can make one save but two? That could be a stretch. I mean, maybe I can…

  “…now go out there and finally win this championship!!!” Coach exclaims snapping me back to reality.

  Well Coach is still confident so that’s good. But of course I’m still nervous as I rise off the bench and start to return to the pitch. The crowd starts roaring which doesn’t help. I look over to Billie and Adrian, we can’t talk to each other over the crowd noise but they both nod confidently and I can make out Adrian mouthing “we got you” one more time. I like the sound of that.

  So here’s the deal. Each team gets five total kicks and three players to kick them. That means Billie and Adrian will both get two kicks and will both score twice. If our other kicker scores t
hen all I have to do is make one save and if he doesn’t, I gotta make two like Coach G said. So maybe they can miss the goal completely on one and I can luck my way into another save and we’re good right? Right??

  And here’s the official setup, Billie, Adrian, and Neville (a tall lanky kid who I’ve never heard speak all season) from our team are joined at midfield by Sahr, Jai’Ana, and the third kicker from the Kings. Me and the King’s goalie are standing here by the goalpost, just the two of us. He nods a “what up” at me confidently. I nod back (not so confidently).

  The ref flips a coin to decide the order of the shootout. We want to have the last kick. Coach picks heads and we lose and have to kick first. Doesn’t Coach G know that tales never fails?

  But anyway, Billie is first up. And as the first part of the plan, all she’s gotta do is go ahead and score this goal. The goalie starts hopping up and down and waving his hands, I think trying to distract her. But Billie looks determined as she breaks away from the line of players stopping short a few feet in front of the ball. The whistle blows and she makes her move. She runs straight at the ball. She kicks it high and to the right. The goalie guessed high and right and leaps towards the ball and makes a great save. Uh-oh!

  Billie is shocked. I’m extremely shocked. This is NOT good. And now it’s my turn. Things are about to go from bad to worse. I switch positions with the King’s goalie who again nods at me. But this time I don’t even bother nodding back, I’m too busy having a mini-freak out in my head.

  I’m standing in the middle of the goal facing off with Jai’Ana and I’m not 100% sure what to do. Actually, I definitely have to make two saves now, I do know that at least. As I’m waiting for the ref to blow the whistle I start thinking. What do I do? How do I get a save? Oh wait! Jumping up and down just worked for the other kid, why can’t it work for me? I immediately start jumping up and down and waiving my arms around too. Let’s see how this goes.

  The ref blows his whistle again and Jai’Ana approaches the ball. I gotta anticipate and make a move as quickly as I can. She’s a step from the ball, it’s time to move. My mind tells me bottom right. I move, Jai’Ana kicks. My eyes widen as I watch the ball…not headed in the direction I guessed. Instead, it’s going in the totally opposite direction, top left. All I can do is watch the ball sail, and sail, and sail…over the crossbar! Wow did I just dodge a major disaster because I was totally deaked.

  So after one kick each, it’s still 0 – 0. Not great but not bad either.

  Adrian is up now and I know he’s got us. This time the goalie is moving side to side along the goal line to distract Adrian. He’s focused focused so I feel good about this. Adrian attempts his kick, he fakes left then approaches the ball from the right. He kicks it…and the goalie guesses right again and stuffs Adrian’s shot. Everyone is shocked but I don’t know who is the most surprised, me or Adrian. This is crazy!

  I gotta get my mind right in a hurry though because I’m up in goal again. I really need to make a save here or we might be in some real trouble. Sahr is the kicker so this will be difficult. But before I can start worrying too much, Sahr is approaching the ball getting ready to kick! I bend my knees, flare my arms out and get ready to react. He’s a step away from the ball ready to kick it so it’s time for me to make a move.

  From the angle he’s coming from I think he’s gonna kick it hard to my left. And as soon my mind processes that I lean my body getting ready to dive to the left. But just before Sahr is about to kick the ball, he pulls up. It was a fake out! And it’s way too late for me to stop my momentum and I start my dive. And before I even hit the ground Sahr has simply tapped the ball in the opposite direction and it slowly rolls in for an easy goal.

  1 – 0.

  And I go from shock to full panic mode because we’re officially in trouble! I’ve been fooled twice and I don’t want to look at my teammates on the pitch or over to the bench. I don’t even wanna look into the stands at my family. I just put my head down and walk to the side of the goal and start praying that we can score on this next kick to tie it back up.

  I watch desperately as our third kicker, Neville, takes his kick…

  Doink!

  He hits the crossbar! Seriously, what’s happening?!? Now we have to score twice which is…doable (I guess) AND I have to make three straight saves which is…well it’s just impossible!

  I slowly walk to the goal. I need some serious help here. I look straight ahead at the ball trying to focus (and find my nerves).

  I then glance just behind the ball and see Billie and Adrian. It looks like they’re fidgeting. I guess they’re just as freaked out now as I am. Now they’re both ticking in unison to their left and staring right at me. They’re looking and acting very strange…Wait, are they trying to tell me something? They’re staring and moving their heads more fervently while also still trying to play it cool. I want to just yell out and ask them what they’re doing but I have to play it cool too.

  Think Ronnie. Think! Are they saying he’s gonna kick it to the left? Yeah that’s gotta be it. I think…I hope. Oh but which left, theirs or mine? It’s gotta be their left, right? Too late, the kid’s about to kick! Well here goes nothing.

  I immediately dive to my right and the ball is headed my way! I see the ball and stretch my arms out as far as I possibly can…I feel my fingertips scrape against the ball just enough to push the ball away from the goalpost. I actually made the save! Lucky? Sure, but you know I’ll take it!

  I point over to Billie and Adrian who are hooting and hollering at midfield to thank them for the heads up! I look into the stands and my mom is hooting and hollering too. My dad, he’s cool and calm, you already know. “It’s not over yet” I can sense him telling me. I nod to him tell him “I know, I know”. But right now, I’m just relieved I at least gave my team a chance to still win this.

  We’ve got two kicks left and it’s up to Billie and Adrian. They both gotta score. Billie’s up first and looks ready to go. I hope she’s got this. Billie is first. She takes a deep breath, I take an even deeper one. She looks ready to go. I hope she’s got this.

  Billie approaches the ball, she plants hard leaning to the left and rears back to get ready to put her entire body into the kick. The goalie immediately reacts and dives in the direction Billie is leaning. Uh-oh I think he’s got her figured out. But not so fast! It’s a fake out! Somehow she keeps her balance and kicks the ball to the top right corner for an easy goal of her own. Billie getting slick with it, I like it!

  The stadium goes wild! What a play! It’s tied 1 – 1. We’re back in it! I wish I could run over and celebrate with Billie and Adrian but I’m stuck here at the goal. It’s ok though because hey, we’re back in it!

  But Jai’Ana is up again. And just like that I’m back to reality. She faked me out pretty badly herself the first time and I got lucky her shot was just off. And the way she’s been playing all game (if it weren’t for Rich she’d probably have three goals), I know she’s got skills. I can’t expect to get lucky again. I gotta use my brain this time. I’ve noticed she likes to kick to her right, my left. Ok so that means she’s probably gonna do it again here. Unless she decides to switch it up this time (which with my luck is exactly what she’d do).

  I’m racking my brain trying to decide which way to go. Left or right? Right or left? Out of nowhere I hear a whistle blow and see Jai’Ana approaching the ball. Forget it! I’m going to my left! Just as her foot is connecting with the ball I make my move. I really hope I guessed right…

  And to my utter shock and surprise…I do! Well kinda. I do get my hands on the ball but I can’t control it and it’s rolling back towards Jai’Ana. Uh-oh, not another rebound goal! I try and scramble up to my feet as quickly as possible, I gotta beat her to the ball. I don’t even take a second to glance at her, I just focus on the ball in an all-out sprint to get to it first. I’m almost there…I dive on it. I got it! No goal! Disaster (and embarrassment) averted!

  I
look up expecting…well I’m not sure what I’m expecting, but what I see is nothing. Jai’Ana is nowhere near me. As a matter of fact, she’s still in the same spot she was when she kicked the ball. I start to look around and I see a few people kind of snickering. I just made an epic save, what’s going on?

  “Ball please.” The ref comes up to me requesting with his hand out.

  “Ummm…” I start.

  “The kicker can only touch the ball once. No rebounds allowed on shootout kicks.“ He says reading my mind and explaining what just happened for me.

  “Ohhh…” I say feeling slightly embarrassed. But hey I made the save so I’m not gonna feel that bad. We’re still in it!

  1 – 1. One kick each. The intensity is real.

  Last but not least for us is Adrian. He’s why I’m here (I almost forgot he talked me into this) so it’s up to him to bail me out of this. He’s the only way we have a chance to win without going to another overtime. What even happens if we’re still tied?. I should probably already know (just like I should’ve known about kickers only being able to touch the ball once). Wait, I can’t worry about that right now, Adrian’s got a kick and I have to defend another kick so I gotta focus on the current situation.

  Adrian stands in front of the ball. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him more focused. It’s go time and Adrian goes alright. He’s sprinting directly towards the ball. Just before he reaches the ball, he does a stutter-step and switches it up by kicking it with his left foot instead of his right! But the goalie guesses right and is diving towards the ball. I think he’s gonna make the save. I wanna look away but I can’t, I’m glued to the action!

  Ok wait, something is happening. The ball is starting to curve. It’s curving not away from the goalie’s outstretched arms but towards him. His right hand is gonna bat the ball away. Oh no! Wait again! The ball is still bending…it’s a mid-air deak! The ball keeps curving. First by his right hand, then his head, and finally past him his left hand flying completely past the goalie and…