Robin sat neatly in her lawn chair at the edge of the running track, on the local high school's football field. Her husband, Riley leaned against the back doors of the ambulance, talking with two other members of the volunteer ambulance service. They were on call to watch the first game of the season. To what purpose, Robin wasn't sure.
It was a last minute decision on her part to come to the game with Riley, for she usually stayed at home working among the nursery plants in the greenhouse they owned, or she would on occasion go into town and visit her Aunt Doreen. Tonight she was tired of feeling neglected for the good of the community and chose to join her man.
Robin felt uncomfortable and out of place. She was well into her thirties and had never before witnessed a football game live. Having been raised under Uncle Dale and Aunt Doreen's protection, she had been home schooled and sheltered from a lot of life most kids would have called normal. She remembered playing a loose version of football on home school co-op days, but sitting here, at the edge of the game, this was little resemblance to what she recalled.
The Peaks Ville Panthers were pathetic. Any dumb bunny could see that, Robin decided. They were a team of only fifteen or fewer boys, while the opposing team consisted of about thirty players. Both teams milled around looking confused. Robin supposed they were warming up for the game and their confusion was probably normal procedure, but she had know way of knowing because Riley was deep in conversation about airways and tubes and other terms Robin was starting to recognize as "EMT" talk. She wasn't about to ask questions about the game. They would likely go ignored anyhow, plus, why expose your ignorance with a bunch of obvious questions. She chose to watch quietly and see what she could figure out on her own.
On both sides of the field were two different sets of bleachers. One, for the home team and the other for the visiting team's family and friends. Robin assumed the one with the roof overhead, must be the home team's crowd because of the beautiful girls in front of it, wearing bouncy pony-tails, short skirts, and shaking pom- poms. They were kicking long, tanned legs into the air and chanting, "Go-Panthers-Go..." So these were the famous cheerleaders she had heard so much about. The term, "Be your husband's best cheerleader," suddenly took on a new meaning for Robin.
Of course, the game officially started once the band started playing ,"The Star Spangled Banner". The crowd stood and the men held their hats over their hearts. Robin has seen less respect during worship services on Sunday morning at the church they attended.
The reason for being there became much clearer as the boys began to run nilly-willy around the field. Thirty tall, husky boys grabbing the ball from fifteen shorter, wimpy looking boys; it would be no surprise if someone needed carried off the field tonight. The whistle was blown almost constantly by two or more guys wearing black and white striped shirts. Were they called the referee? And what were they refereeing? And which goal was the home team working toward? Robin wondered all this and even asked a few questions trying to make sense of the commotion. At the beginning of the game, the panthers made a score by kicking the ball, and that is all the further they went in scoring for most the game.
Robin dished out kettle corn she had popped for the occasion, and tried not to appear as bored as she felt. It was a cold night. She was thankful for the sweatshirt she had grabbed on the way out the door. She wished Riley would put his arms around her for warmth like Mike was for his wife, Tammy. No, actually they were doing the shoulder to shoulder husband and wife stance, she noticed as she stood in front of Riley. Maybe if she'd back up into his chest he would get the hint. It worked. Riley's arms automatically went around her and pulled her close. "Oh bliss," Robin sighed inwardly.
The noises of the evening surrounded them as they continued to watch. The announcer, who was understood with the help of the score board, the crowd, the players, the cheerleaders, and the band all together made their own special football noises. Robin thought it would be interesting to record it and use it later for a sound effect. That is, if you were into sound effects. The high school band was almost as pathetic as the football team. They got their drums and cymbals synchronized with the cheerleader's chants but the tuba players were late and dragging, sowing discord which made for a very unpleasant listening experience. Thankfully, they only played little bits by intervals between the canned "game on" music. When, "We will, we will, rock you" came over the loud speaker, Riley grabbed Robin and they sang along. Robin wondered why they knew the song, never having been to a game before. It must be a universal game song, she decided.
At half time, Robin discovered how important the cheerleader's role was to the game. They pranced out to the football field and did a half-time show of encouragement by chanting, "We be-lieve-we-will-win" and doing different formations all the while. They never took a break the whole game, Robin noticed, and it looked like they never tired of cheering. The Panthers were getting smoked and the cheerleaders just kept going with their positivity. The final score was something like 12-28, which meant the Peaks Ville Panthers scored two points all evening. This, they did by kicking the ball, not actually catching it and running to their goal.
As the EMT crew folded their lawn chairs, Robin cleaned up the snacks and they all returned to the ambulance. On the drive back to headquarters, Robin realized she had learned a lot from watching tonight. -You might not feel like you are good at football or marriage or whatever the challenge might be, but you still play the game.
-There may be thirty people to your fifteen whatever, but you still play the game.
-The attitude of "we-be-lieve-we-will-win" is better than giving up, no matter how bad you are losing. And when the game is over, you go away knowing you gave it your best shot even if in others eyes, you lost.
As Riley and Robin exited the ambulance, Riley pulled Robin close and whispered in her ear,"Thanks for coming along." A few simple words, yet Robin knew the cheer leading concept was acknowledged in the act of her showing an interest and wanting to be involved by watching the game with him.
It was a last minute decision on her part to come to the game with Riley, for she usually stayed at home working among the nursery plants in the greenhouse they owned, or she would on occasion go into town and visit her Aunt Doreen. Tonight she was tired of feeling neglected for the good of the community and chose to join her man.
Robin felt uncomfortable and out of place. She was well into her thirties and had never before witnessed a football game live. Having been raised under Uncle Dale and Aunt Doreen's protection, she had been home schooled and sheltered from a lot of life most kids would have called normal. She remembered playing a loose version of football on home school co-op days, but sitting here, at the edge of the game, this was little resemblance to what she recalled.
The Peaks Ville Panthers were pathetic. Any dumb bunny could see that, Robin decided. They were a team of only fifteen or fewer boys, while the opposing team consisted of about thirty players. Both teams milled around looking confused. Robin supposed they were warming up for the game and their confusion was probably normal procedure, but she had know way of knowing because Riley was deep in conversation about airways and tubes and other terms Robin was starting to recognize as "EMT" talk. She wasn't about to ask questions about the game. They would likely go ignored anyhow, plus, why expose your ignorance with a bunch of obvious questions. She chose to watch quietly and see what she could figure out on her own.
On both sides of the field were two different sets of bleachers. One, for the home team and the other for the visiting team's family and friends. Robin assumed the one with the roof overhead, must be the home team's crowd because of the beautiful girls in front of it, wearing bouncy pony-tails, short skirts, and shaking pom- poms. They were kicking long, tanned legs into the air and chanting, "Go-Panthers-Go..." So these were the famous cheerleaders she had heard so much about. The term, "Be your husband's best cheerleader," suddenly took on a new meaning for Robin.
Of course, the game officially started once the band started playing ,"The Star Spangled Banner". The crowd stood and the men held their hats over their hearts. Robin has seen less respect during worship services on Sunday morning at the church they attended.
The reason for being there became much clearer as the boys began to run nilly-willy around the field. Thirty tall, husky boys grabbing the ball from fifteen shorter, wimpy looking boys; it would be no surprise if someone needed carried off the field tonight. The whistle was blown almost constantly by two or more guys wearing black and white striped shirts. Were they called the referee? And what were they refereeing? And which goal was the home team working toward? Robin wondered all this and even asked a few questions trying to make sense of the commotion. At the beginning of the game, the panthers made a score by kicking the ball, and that is all the further they went in scoring for most the game.
Robin dished out kettle corn she had popped for the occasion, and tried not to appear as bored as she felt. It was a cold night. She was thankful for the sweatshirt she had grabbed on the way out the door. She wished Riley would put his arms around her for warmth like Mike was for his wife, Tammy. No, actually they were doing the shoulder to shoulder husband and wife stance, she noticed as she stood in front of Riley. Maybe if she'd back up into his chest he would get the hint. It worked. Riley's arms automatically went around her and pulled her close. "Oh bliss," Robin sighed inwardly.
The noises of the evening surrounded them as they continued to watch. The announcer, who was understood with the help of the score board, the crowd, the players, the cheerleaders, and the band all together made their own special football noises. Robin thought it would be interesting to record it and use it later for a sound effect. That is, if you were into sound effects. The high school band was almost as pathetic as the football team. They got their drums and cymbals synchronized with the cheerleader's chants but the tuba players were late and dragging, sowing discord which made for a very unpleasant listening experience. Thankfully, they only played little bits by intervals between the canned "game on" music. When, "We will, we will, rock you" came over the loud speaker, Riley grabbed Robin and they sang along. Robin wondered why they knew the song, never having been to a game before. It must be a universal game song, she decided.
At half time, Robin discovered how important the cheerleader's role was to the game. They pranced out to the football field and did a half-time show of encouragement by chanting, "We be-lieve-we-will-win" and doing different formations all the while. They never took a break the whole game, Robin noticed, and it looked like they never tired of cheering. The Panthers were getting smoked and the cheerleaders just kept going with their positivity. The final score was something like 12-28, which meant the Peaks Ville Panthers scored two points all evening. This, they did by kicking the ball, not actually catching it and running to their goal.
As the EMT crew folded their lawn chairs, Robin cleaned up the snacks and they all returned to the ambulance. On the drive back to headquarters, Robin realized she had learned a lot from watching tonight. -You might not feel like you are good at football or marriage or whatever the challenge might be, but you still play the game.
-There may be thirty people to your fifteen whatever, but you still play the game.
-The attitude of "we-be-lieve-we-will-win" is better than giving up, no matter how bad you are losing. And when the game is over, you go away knowing you gave it your best shot even if in others eyes, you lost.
As Riley and Robin exited the ambulance, Riley pulled Robin close and whispered in her ear,"Thanks for coming along." A few simple words, yet Robin knew the cheer leading concept was acknowledged in the act of her showing an interest and wanting to be involved by watching the game with him.
For the reader: This story is based on a true story. They say fact is stranger than fiction so that would explain it if it sounds a little far fetched.
ReplyDeleteDid this happen to you? Your best line.... "Be your husband's best cheerleader" took on a whole new meaning for Robin! I giggled.
ReplyDeleteAll except for the details of background and of course, we had the children with us. I was also nervous as a cat with Laife's point of view concerning the cheerleaders.
Delete