The green grass and worn dirt running paths loom large in the shadow of the scary elementary school.
Tall kids with tank tops and silky shorts run from side to side, angling for attention.
The short balding coach with the whistle is barking commands, gesturing to the latecomers to form a line.
"I'll take Bob."
"Frank."
"Dave."
"Kevin."
"Jimmy."
"Gary."
As the names roll off the captains' tongues, there are just two kids left.
Victor is good at math but struggles with eye-feet coordination. Scott is just a small kid, shy and withdrawn. But he's likable.
"I'll take Scott."
So Victor, head down, joins his kickball team by default.
And builds on the baggage he'll carry with him into adolescence.
Pity the poor kid who gets picked last. One of those unfortunate facts of life.
Posted by: KevinForrester | November 12, 2007 at 05:02 AM