Mud Muck

      By: Barry Dingle

One day Stevan and his best friend Moxxie had seen a flyer saying that a soccer team needed more players. They decided to call the number to join the team. The coach answered and warned the boys that if they were to “join the team now they would play a game the very next day”. The two boys thought about it for a minute and decided they would be okay with a game tomorrow and told the coach that they were in. The coach told the boys to come to the high school gym. When they arrived they saw the coach, she asked them what their sizes were to get them uniforms before the game. Once the boys had their uniforms the coach told them to spend the day in the field practicing. Stevan grabbed his soccer ball and Moxxie and him went to the field and set up the goals. Once they were all ready they started practicing. After they were finished practicing the sun was setting and the boys knew they needed rest for the game but they also knew they needed to buy cleats. So Moxxie and Stevan headed to their local store. Once they had made it they rushed straight to the shoe section, They found their sizes of cleats and went to checkout. After Stevan and Moxxie bought the shoes they parted ways to head home. Stevan had made it home safely and his parents had made dinner while he was gone. He sat at the dinner table with them and ate his food. Once he had finished eating he brushed his teeth and went straight to bed. He layed in his bed feeling weightless as his eyes grew heavy. Before he fell asleep he had set a timer so he could get ready for the game early.

Stevan woke up feeling well rested but then he realized he had slept through his alarm. He started to panic and get dressed for the game. He was gonna be late if he didnt leave soon. Once he had finished getting ready he got in his car and drove to the field for the game. As soon as he arrived he noticed everyone was already there including Moxxie. He sat down on the bench next to Moxxie as they waited for the game to start. Eventually everyone from both teams were there. The other team looked really competitive and strong, it intimidated Moxxie but Stevan thought that they wouldn’t actually do anything to hurt them if they had too to win the game. Moxie thought otherwise he was thinking that if they had to hurt them in any way they would even do it without reason. They all got ready on the field, Moxie looked so scared like a mouse surrounded by a hundred cats. Stevan was confident in their chance of winning almost like a proud courageous lion. They blew the whistle commencing the game. Stevan and Moxxie had no idea what was going on except that they were losing. Their team started making more goals as the game went on. Everything was going their way until the rain started. The field became a slip and slide and it was almost impossible to score for both teams. Moxxie passed the ball to Stevan, Stevan finally got an open shot but right before he was about to kick, He heard someone screaming bloody murder. Stevan quickly turned around to see Moxxie on the ground covered in mud. His knee was on the side of his leg. 

He noticed one of the players from the other team standing over him. He was immediately filled with anger and fury. A whistle was blown to let everyone know to stop the game as if the scream didn’t already. Stevan ran over to Moxxie as he heard an ambulance in the distance. Moxxie was taken to the ER while the player who pushed him was kicked from the team. A few minutes later the game resumed. Stevan was too destressed to think. When his teammate passed to him again just like Moxxie did he had another open shot. People in the bleachers started counting down. Stevan went for the shot. He actually scored this put his team ahead of the other. With barely any time left there’s no way they can win now.After the game ended Stevan didn’t care that they had won he just wanted to go straight to the ER to check on Moxxie.

Stevan got out of his car and walked into the ER. A kind nurse greeted him and led him to Moxxie’s room. Moxie greeted him with a warm smile. “How are you feeling?” Stevan asked. Moxie replied “Not really but they said I should be out of here soon”. An idea popped into Stevans head “How about we head to my place to celebrate the win”? “Sure why not,” Moxxie said. “It’s nice to know you’re okay,” Stevan said. “You too,” Moxxie said with emotion in how voice. Stevan paused for a second but then said “I’m glad we’re friends”. “Me too Stevan me too” Moxie said with a sparkle in his eyes. Stevan asks “best friends forever right”? Moxxie replies quickly “of course forever”.