Monday, August 11, 2008

Football in the Rain

Yes. I'm trying to learn the game.
And its thrilling!
Especially when its with the opposite sex. It's always been more fun playing with boys. Perhaps because they're better at it in most cases, are stronger and don't cry about falling and bruising their knees or dirtying their clothes. All that matters.
Yesterday I played with five specimens at twilight, the sky sprinkling raindrops on our heads very generously. The field was either mucky and slippery in places or had patches of tall, unkempt grass obstructing the free flow of the ball. And to top it all, I didn't have shoes. I didn't even have shorts!
That sounded damn funny the minute I wrote it!
Well, what happened was that I dropped in at Sam's in a skirt and silver dance shoes. The boys were heading to play and it hadn't stopped raining. A pair of shorts landed in my lap and I put them on and lo behold! I was one of them! Only with no footwear. Sam gave me his slippers which made the ground beneath my feet feel like ice. Now I know why slippers are called "slippers." Got onto bikes and rode off to the field, wondering how we'll see in the paling light. But these boys have all the solutions. On came the floodlights, which served us well, and off came my slippers after a firm decision that I was not going to break a leg. The wet grass under my bare feet felt great! Usually, I'm careful about not stepping into dirty puddles near the stations. But this was different. I was on natural grass and this kind of "dirtying" was fun. We played, nearly slipped, banged each other with the ball, laughed, shouted, felt the water streaming down our faces while our clothes hung on us (thank heavens I wasn't wearing white!).
This was what I needed, utter carelessness! And more importantly, real laughter! I love this feeling! When the world simply falls away into nothingness and all that matters is the game and the players. The friendly kind of competiton is the best, makes it more fun. And yes, even the jokes poked at me for my funny antics on the field, not to forget my direct shot at the goalkeeper's groin (he had to sit down for a while, poor soul). I reassured him by presenting to him to the option of child adoption. Pity he didn't seem too pleased.

I love the boys I played with. Good sports they are!
Long live all the boys I've ever played with, such fantastic moments I have had with them all.

6 comments:

Maryann Taylor said...

Hey that seems like a lot of fun ;o) Don't you think that at times indulging in something that may otherwise seem so futile, with complete abandon makes you feel so liberated, and helps you connect with your inner child :-)

Ragini said...

Anna: Totally! Though I wouldn't call football "futile." I really like the sport, though I'm stil to learn it. I love meeting the child in me :)

Unknown said...

Ya right....
giving me options and all...
but still that was a save....
(singing) No goal for you....
Na Na NaNa Na....(/End Singing)..
this sunday...
bring it on...
i will have protection...
(Evil laugh) HeeHee HaHa HaHa...

Maryann Taylor said...

I didn't mean to call football futile, I meant that at times you don't realise that something as simple as football in the rain can feel so liberating :-)

Ragini said...

Envy: I MISS YOU! AND FOOTBALL IN THE RAIN!!

Anna: I understand....it's ok.

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