A Football Friendship
By Christopher Conklin
Mrs. Kissell & Mrs. Dearmen’s Class 2012- 2013
“Be careful of the wasp nest over there!” Coach Malone said. Austin gazed off memorizing his map he made with his friend, Travis. It was their shortcut they made, but it went into the woods. At school everybody tells myths about that forest. They talk about the wasp that is as enormous as you. All those fantasy characters. But Austin and Travis just listen and make fun of what everybody says. Travis tapped Austin’s shoulder and said, “Come on and pick up your gear.” Austin packed up his football gear and walked off at a slow pace.
Austin and Travis ran faster and faster. Then it happened. They glanced up and saw wasps storming into a tree. Austin’s ear was getting hotter and hotter. Now, Austin was “As nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!” Austin sprinted down the forest and heard Travis yell, “Don’t freak out, the wasps don’t like to be scared” Austin heard Travis’s voice fade and noticed four black figures following him and gaining on him. All of a sudden one wasp came up and stung Austin with determination! “Owwwwww!!!” Austin dropped to his knees and Austin wished he wasn’t outside, he wished he was curled up in a ball under his sheets at home on a dewy Sunday morning. As soon as Austin got stung he could feel Travis running up to him. “Call your mom to come get us!” Austin shouted. Travis didn’t answer but he did as he was told and dialed his mom’s cell phone number…..
Travis escorted Austin into the hospital and asked a nurse for a pad of gauze and cream. “Sure!” the nurse she examined Austin’s wasp sting and said “You’re not allergic to what stung you, you would be in a lot more pain. But I’ll get your gauze and cream anyway.” Austin shrugged he wasn’t in as much pain as to when he got stung. They waited a little and the nurse handed them a little box and Travis and Austin ran out to the car.
Travis walked Austin to his house from Travis’s minivan. Austin never really liked it he preferred his dads truck, but he was at work with it. Travis reminded Austin that they have a football tournament. “Ok, I’ll be there,” Austin said. The two friends said good bye and Austin shuved the front door open and he dragged himself into his room. He didn’t want to tell his mom that he got stung by a wasp because, 1. Austin knew his mom would fuss over him, and 2. It sounded just weird! Austin was feeling the urge to unlock the window, but he stopped himself and felt the fear sink back down his throat, and that fear was being afraid of getting stung by a wasp “I hope my friends won’t notice I’m in my room all day they’ll think I’m wired!” Austin thought to himself. Travis told Austin all about the tournament as they stared up at the fan and he was shocked to hear that their team was going to the…“Championship!” Austin’s head shot up like a rocket. “Yeah what’s wrong with that?” Travis said calmly.
Austin paced back in-forth on the wooden floor and said “Can you help me conquer my fears?” Travis shrugged and said, “Sure!” They walked out of Austin’s room and faced the front door. Travis left a big crack in the door just so Austin could fit in there. “Ok,” Travis said, “go on.” Austin took the smallest steps he ever took in his whole life. Austin walked out and said with a slight bit of relief, “Well what are you waiting for? Let’s go to the game! Travis smiled and walked out to the field. The two friends made sure not to take the shortcut!