Mockery on the field

The next day, Marco kept looking at the ball tucked in his backpack. To him, it wasn't just a ball-it was his chance to start his dream. The previous night, he had been practising his football skills in the backyard, spending hours kicking the ball over and over until his legs were weary from exhaustion. Despite his efforts, his control of the ball was far from perfect and the ball often ended up in unexpected directions, but that didn't worry him. Today, he wanted to show what he could do.

As the lunch bell rang, Marco's heart raced with excitement. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. With the shiny black-and-white ball in hand, he walked onto the school field where his classmates were already playing. The yard was filled with cheers, laughter, and the sound of the ball being kicked. The boys were dashing about, moving swiftly and demonstrating incredible skills as they ran back and forth across the grass. The boys were running and moving quickly, moving back-and-forth on the grass with their amazing skills.

He stopped at the edge of the field, holding his ball nervously. His stomach felt like it was tied in knots, but he told himself that everyone has to start somewhere. Taking a deep breath, he walked towards the group.

Hey, can I join? he asked, his voice barely audible.

The game stopped and everyone on the field turned to look at him. For a moment, the field went silent. Then Sam, the tallest kid in the group, let out a laugh. "You? Play with us?" he asked, glancing at Marco's round figure. 'What are you gonna do, use the ball as a chair?"

Everyone started laughing. Marco's face turned red, but he held his ball tightly and stayed where he was. "I… i just want to try," he said quietly, lifting the ball as if it might shield him from the sharp looks.

Sam rolled his eyes, clearly surprised. Alright, he said, taking the ball from Marcos's hands. Let's see what you've got.

For a moment, Marco's heart lifted as he stepped onto the field. But the hope vanished, the second Sam kicked the ball toward him. It spinned to fast and hard, far too difficult to stop. Marco froze, tried to stop it, but ended up tripping over the ball, sending it bouncing in the wrong direction.

The laughter was too loud and harsh. "What was that"? Someone shouted. "Are you playing football or trying to run from it?"

"Even my lil sister kicks better!" another teased, grinning.

Marco's face burned, but he kept going. He chased after the ball, determined to prove himself, but his kicks were awkward, and his skills were all over the place. The others moved effortlessly, weaving around him like he wasn't there at all.

"Watch out, everyone! We've got a superstar here, the next Belnado" Sam mocked, easily stealing the ball and dribbling circles around him. " Don't let him take our spots on the team!"

Marco forced a fake smile, pretending the words did not get to him, but each one was getting to him. They weren't just mocking his skills- they were mocking him. He kept on running, gasping for air, but the harder he tried, the louder their laughter grew.

Eventually, they stopped. By the end of the game, they weren't even pretending to include him. The boys passed the ball back and forth, ignoring him completely. He stood on the edge of the field, hands to his knees, breathless and defeated. The only thing that didn't mock him was the ball he brought. 

When the bell rang, signalling the end of lunch, Marco walked off the field with his head down. Their laughter still rang in his ears as he put the ball back in his bag. All the excitement and hope he'd felt that morning had vanished, replaced with disappointment and sadness. His dream, so bright just a day ago, now seemed like a foolish fantasy.

When he got home, the weight of it all finally broke him. He dropped his bag by the door, collapsed onto his bed, and let the tears flow. For the first time, he wondered if his dream was achievable.