We Play For 66 Short Story

When we arrived, we learned that the game had actually been postponed until tomorrow due to the baseball field being soaked with rain. As we arrived back at my grandparent’s house we received news that changed my family’s life forever. Both my father and I had learned that while we were away for not longer than 10 minutes, my grandmother had peacefully passed away. This news was extremely devastating for us because not only was it my father’s mother, but it was my grandma, who was the one who was always at my baseball games supporting me and was always willing to have me over after my school days during elementary school. As we came to accept the fact that she was finally gone, we were both struck with our emotions. It was a very emotional time for my family and I still have not been able to cope with her being gone. Everyday I feel as if a piece of me is missing and this feeling will probably be with me for the rest of my life because the effect that my grandma had on my life was that devastating. Now as I look back on this day almost exactly two years later, I can still feel the emptiness that I felt on that

unconscious, and having to be lifted off the field due to sudden back pain, he stayed in the game.

I was in school when I got a news flash about a shooting near a bus stop. At lunchtime, I opened up the story and it read, “Teen killed on way to lake park bus stop”. However, it wasn’t the headline that hit me but rather the first line of the article which mentioned that a Palm Beach Gardens high school teen, Claverle Joseph, was the one that was killed on his way to the bus stop. I didn’t know how to react. I just froze; I couldn’t process the emotions that were swirling through my mind. This was the first time in my life that I dealt with a death that was personal to me. My Grandparents had died when I was too young to recount any experiences with them. It was difficult to comprehend that I would never see a kid that I had gotten to know so well over the last three years ever again. My family and I did what we could for his family in there grieving state and donated to help raise money for his funeral. Although his death came as a surprise, I knew there was something wrong before the incident occurred because he did not come out for the travel team that last year. This was strange because he truly loved the team and playing basketball. Following my suspicion, a couple days after his death, I found out that there had been a series of incidents, including a shooting one week before his death in which he had been shot in the hand. His family stated for the news that they had been living in fear of their son’s life for a while. I wish I could have done more for him because whether he knew it or not he did so much for my growth as a person on and off the court. His life and this experience taught me to truly value one’s own life and to never take anything for granted because it could all be erased in an instant. His death helped me understand that I need to be as compassionate and empathetic for everyone I meet because you will never comprehend what adversities and difficulties they face in their

It was the late in the fourth quarter and the Broncs were about to win another state championship making it two years in a row. There was 20 seconds on the clock and the Broncs were up 49-28 on the Natrona County Mustangs. All we needed to do was take a knee, and sheridan would take home their 25th football state title. The ball was snapped and instead of taking a knee, they ran it with running back Kyle Kustis for another bronc touchdown to make the win 56-28. The block that opened up the hole was offensive tackle and my brother, Blayne Baker. After that night we all went home to celebrate the state championship. The next morning I could barely talk. My throat was throbbing from cheering so loud. “Do you want some pancakes?” my sister, Baylee,

Nebraska game. The Gophers have not beaten the Huskers in 65 years, they have only met about 15 times though. Coach Kill had just suffered from a seizure and had to coach from the coaches’ box so that if it happened again, it would not cause a distraction I didn’t think a lot of it then but he was risking a lot coaching the game he loved. When I got into the stadium, I found the score fourteen to nothing and the Huskers were up. I did not figure the Gophers would come back from an early lead by the Huskers, but I was wrong. The Gophers rallied. Something in that stadium changed. Their student section erupted, people rose their white towels that said, “Epilepsy Research”, on it and waved them around to form a white sea. The Gophers came back to win it even after watching their coach suffer from a seizure the week before. The Gopher fans rush the field after the exciting and well needed

It was December 10th 2014, I found out the night before that my coach was going to pass. I prayed he wouldn’t but there was nothing another could do. When I found out I asked what happened with entreat. He passed away from tissue cancer, stomach flu, and a nicked lung. First came the tissue cancer in early August, Then when getting kidney stones removed they nicked a

The biggest challenge I faced while dealing with the death of Taylor was learning how to cope or manage while continuing to carry out my daily activities. After a few days, my classes resumed and I had to return to work

The biggest challenge I faced while dealing with the death of Taylor was learning how to cope or manage while continuing to carry out my daily activities. After a few days, my classes resumed and I had to

The state tournament was next week it was the biggest tournament of the year. They had practice every day for two hours up till the tournament. Their first game was on Thursday at 12 pm so they had to get out of school early for it. They played a really good team from the south called the kings. It was going to be a fight if they wanted to win this one. Thursday had came and the team was ready for the game. The Hawks scored just 30 seconds into the game. Frank cheered from the bench. The Kings answered right back making it 1-1 after the first period. There coach came into their locker room furious and said the team could do better. The second under way and the Kings lead 2-1. The Hawks take a time out and answer back making it 2-2. Frank still has not played but he encourages his teammates on the bench. There were five minutes left in the third period and it is all tied up 3-3. The clock was winding down and one of Frank's teammate Cody scores with just a minute left making it 4-3. The hawks win and advance to the semifinals tomorrow against the

I was not surprised when I found out my best friend died. He was reckless and made poor decisions, but somehow, he was also the smartest person I knew. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I found out. I was in my bedroom playing Fallout 4 when I received a group text which informed most of the swim team of the death. A text message is an awful way to find out. A impersonal two sentence text that read “This morning Jacob Schaedler was killed in a snowmobile accident. If anyone needs to talk just call me.” Everything was slightly spinning and I was badly shaking. I remember walking to the Living room where my parents were sitting and saying, “Schaedler is dead.” Neither of my parents believed me and thought it was one of

1.     Taylor is trying to fill a bucket with water. It has a hole in the bottom. He begins to fill it and water dribbles out he gets frustrated and begins to cry loudly.

I had just finished my basketball practice. I was feeling ecstatic because I was making baskets left and right like Kobe Bryant. My coach even told me that he has never seen me play like that before. Then I strutted outside and found my father parked outside the school in his large, brown pick-up truck. I hopped inside and turned my seat heater to high because it was frigid, winter weather outside. My dad made some casual small talk, then he gave me the news. He stated in a low, dull voice, “Hey Jack, grandma past away today.”

I sit here writing this essay and can clearly imagine his facial expressions and remember his exact words. “This morning at around 7:30 AM Braden passed away. He was disconnected from the life support that was breathing for him.” At that moment my jaw dropped. Literally. I sat there for around two whole minutes in complete and utter disbelief and shock. He was eight years old. Eight. For the rest of the silent car ride as we stepped out of the car and walked toward the bleachers, my uncle in front of me. I stopped. I just stopped walking. I looked up into the clouds where the sunlight was trying to peek through. I said “Why Lord? Why? Why Braden? Why now?” Then continued to walk and pulled my sunglasses down from resting on the top of my head to cover my eyes. My cousin Cade then arrived to the field and was hugged by his teammates. From this day forward I will forever admire and respect him (Cade). He chose to honor Braden by playing his favorite sport that afternoon, instead of sheltering himself from the already permanent situation. His team went on to get 3rd place in their tournament.

No matter how old or young we are, we have all had adversities to face. Whether good or bad, some are more difficult than others. Mine just so happens to be a tragic loss of a classmate. In 2013, Dillon Jamal Neal was just starting his junior year of high school. Proudly wearing number fifty-five on Friday nights, Dillon played defensive end for the Ouachita Parish Lions in what we call, The Lion’s Den. He had such a lighthearted spirit that you cherish knowing someone like him forever. He was an angel who walked amongst the Earth, that God called home to honor Dillon with a pair of wings he earned. It has been four years since he left the Earth and there is not a day that goes by that I do not think back on the crazy conversations we had or all the laughs we shared over the years. After Dillon passed away, I realized that death does not wait on anyone so you should get your life right with God while you still can.

It was our last football game of the season, and for James and I, our last high school football game ever, as we are both seniors. To give some context, James was the team. He was looked on to do everything from being our star quarterback, our star receiver, our star running back, our star defender, and even a coach to our younger players. A lot of people would’ve shied away from that Herculean task, but James not only embraced the role - he thrived in it. Our merry band of 13 players saw James as our captain and inspiration. James’s calm confidence on the field kept the team in the game mentally, no matter the score. Now, he’ll never say so, but if you ask anyone on the team, we’ll all say he’s one of the best players to have ever played for the school.