I remember it like it was yesterday. My Family was at a cookout and we were bored so we decided to play football. It would be two teams of four people. It was my friend Justus, my other friend Nick, and I against my stepdad and two stepbrothers. It was an unfair matchup, they had more experienced players

The day was beautiful. Wonderful weather, partly cloudy, but the sun shone brightly. The wind was cool, but not too cool. There was a good smell mixture of sun block, and barbecue chicken. We were at the beach on a Saturday afternoon. The grass was freshly cut; the sand was nice and hot. The water was cooling to those who stayed barefoot on the beach itself. It was a perfect afternoon to go swimming. So I did. But I played football first.

Justus, Nick, and I were swimming and talking to some people we met at the beach, and my stepbrother decided to ask us if we wanted to play a quick game of football before we ate. Nick didn’t want to, but Justus and I pressured him into it eventually, but he said he wasn’t going to take it seriously. So we made some plays and the other team got mad, and the whole situation was funny. Justus was running backwards with the ball, and making everyone who chased him, fall. We finally decided to stop and take the last play serious.

Justus, Nick, and I went over a really good play. Nick was to stay back and protect Justus, while I ran for a catch and hopefully, a touchdown. So, Justus gave the command, I ran, straight, then cut right, spin around the defenders, and was almost open. My stepfather was the last defender I had to lose before I was open. As I approached him, it felt like time had slowed.
I looked at my Stepfather, and I got the sense he was confidant, an error on his part. I looked and saw my brother get past Nick, and I knew I needed to make a split second choice. I made a fake cut right, then spun left, and saw the Ball coming toward me high in the sky. I heard Justus yell, “Heads up!” I looked for an opportunity, and just jumped and hoped for the best. I jumped, and so did my stepfather, and by some miracle, I was the one who caught the ball. It took some time for me to realize this, and my stepfather thought he did, so he started running, then realized he didn’t have it, and we all laughed. Then, at that moment, I realized I had the ball and I was about three-quarters of the way down the field, I sprinted for my life as I looked back and saw my stepbrothers gaining fast. Another time for a split second decision. One tried to jump and tackle me, but I hopped at the last minute, then leaped for the last remaining yards. Touchdown. Well-executed play for a win. I felt amazed at my newfound ability. After our “celebratory feast” we went back swimming.