Personal Writing: A Schoolyard Lesson”Get up, get up you have school today,” my mother blurted out, as I fellout of bed.
I stood up and waddled to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror Ismiled to myself; I knew today was going to be just fine. My family and I hadjust moved from Guatemala, and today was to be my first day at Bel AirElementary School. I usually don’t get worried about these situations, sinceI’ve been through the routine before, besides I tend to make friends prettyeasily.
Why would today be any different, I told myself. I finished brushing my teeth and splashing my face, then continued toget dressed. I threw on some Bugle Boy caches, a Polo shirt, and some Nikes. After giving up on my hair; I ran into the kitchen and snatched my lunch box offthe counter. Soon I was out the door and on to face my first day at my newschool.
After defeating the labyrinth of streets that we call our neighborhood,and meeting my first crossing guard; I made my way into the school. It wasquite crowded , but I knew where I was headed. I proceeded up the stairs anddown the hall to room 212, where I sat down in the front row. I turned aroundand took a quick peak at the class; scanning the room for someone to talk to. When I saw no opportunities I began to get a bit timid, but as soon as the bellrang I felt all right.
We went through the motions for awhile: filling out paper work,introducing ourselves, all the first day stuff. I heard a few kids say theywere new to the area, of which Brian Vedder was the only boy. He wasn’t much tolook at, not a soap opera star, or a great athlete, just a regular kid. Nonetheless I thought I’d like to meet him and talk to him later on in the day.
By this time we all were becoming restless, and I definitely knew why. Everyonewas waiting for recess, the time when kids get to have fun and let it all hangout. After all we didn’t have class all summer, and keeping our butts in thosechairs for so long was beginning to hurt. Lunch rolled around and we knew what that meant; recess was next. Thebell rang and everyone ran outside, bursting onto the playground like a swarm oflocusts attacking crops.
I saw many games going on: dodgeball, soccer, jumproping, and many others. It seemed all right, but it wasn’t what I expected. Icouldn’t believe that no one was playing football. Even in Guatemala we playedfootball; I wondered what I could do.
That day when I came home from school, I searched through our “bucket ofballs” for my football. Yes, I found it, my black and yellow, mini Steelersball. I began to think how I could integrate football into the lives of thekids. The first thing that popped into my mind was Brian Vedder who I had metearlier that day; he knew a few of the soccer players and he might be able toget them to play football.
The next person I could count on was Melvin Jackson. I met Melvin while in math class, he was new to the school too, and he was dyingto play football too. With these two I could at least throw the ball around,and hope for others to join in. The next morning I awoke to the same routine as usual. I put on someclothes and belted out the door a little earlier than usual. When I got toschool I hid my ball in my backpack until I could stuff it into my cubby hole.
Then I looked for Melvin, he was across the hall in Mrs. Symms class where I hadmath class. I went up to him and asked him if he’d play football with me atrecess. He told me he would love to and even told his friend Sean Gravely aboutit. Well at least now I didn’t have to ask for Brian’s help.
Recess came again that day as it had before, but Melvin, Sean, and I hada little agenda to take care of. We strolled out onto the playground, andacross the asphalt to the field where the soccer guys played. Melvin began torun, and I unleashed the ball from my hand. It floated through the air in aperfect spiral until it landed down on his fingertips.
At once we hadspectators. Boom! Sean punted the ball, and it skied forward. More and morekids watched, as if wondering what was going on. Kofi, the biggest guy inschool, and popular soccer player called for the ball.
I launched one over tohim and he smiled. “Lets get a game together guys,” he said in eageranticipation. We agreed, but I wasn’t done, I wanted everyone to have a chanceto take part in Bel Air’s first football game. I scurried back to theplayground, where I proceeded to ask the “nerds” if they wanted to play to.
Afew surprised individuals came with me and we set up teams. I was the quarterback for my team, so that I could control the game anddecide who was going to get the ball, besides I had the best arm out of everyone. Plus I didn’t want the less athletic guys to be pushed to the side and be usedas blockers. Our first play went to Melvin; a long bomb that helped us advanceup the field.
My second pass was incomplete as I overthrew my receiver. Timdropped my third pass and we were stuck in a jam. Melvin said he would be open,and so did John, but I had a plan. “Hike!” My players were off, everyone randeep or at least father than they had to; all we needed was one completion. That is when I did it; I threw the ball to Kyle Kaneshiro.
“Yes!” We had afirst down and Kyle, a typical “nerd” with glasses came back to the huddle witha huge smile. I don’t think he ever thought he’d really be getting the balltoday, but I gave it to him and he came through. The game went on, although itwas very one sided. My diverse squad, that ranged from speedy black guys likeMelvin to slower guys like Kyle had “wrecked shop” on the opposition. As the bell rang and the teachers called us back into the building, Kylecame up to me and thanked me for letting him play. He told me that he hadalways wanted to participate, but had always been afraid of the “cooler” guys.
I told him that was a bunch of crap and from that day on Kyle was on my team. He was my secret weapon, my “third down back” who never dropped the ball. After leaving Bel Air Elementary that year and moving up to GodwinMiddle; we had to get used to not having recess anymore. No more school yardfootball to keep us happy, but Godwin did have a school team.
I tried out andso did Melvin; we didn’t play much because the older guys where better than us. But when we got the chance as we grew up we always looked back on what we hadlearned on the field at Bel Air. We used the whole team to make ourselves better,and when push came to shove, we didn’t go with the big studs like Kofi andSherman we went to guys like Kyle. They were the guys that really made thedifference, the ones who helped keep a team together, and the ones that made ourteams win. Thanks Kyle for making a difference.English
