Injured Volley

By: Rosetta Sontiago

One month. I have to have this ankle brace on for one month! I have a volleyball game in two weeks and I won’t be able to play. But… it isn’t the exact truth. I’ll start from the beginning, the day it happened. September 19, 2002, my brother and I were playing and he pushed me to hit the ball. Got a sprained ankle and I couldn’t play for the next month. I had to sit down and watch my teammates and friends practice and play.

It was maybe a week, week and a half later and I was trying to practice at home but my mom obviously didn’t let me. I practiced anyway, hoping my ankle would get better before the game. At school, I had the norm, classes, tests, annoying people. Everyone teases me for the ankle brace and I’m so irritated! 

Charlie, my brother, has finally left me alone. He’s the one who sprained my ankle and he finally let me be. I got peace at home, just not at school. Charlie and I have no classes, and that’s good. But I have three classes with his friends, and they won’t stop teasing me. My mind is gonna blow because of those maniacs. 

Few days ago, my coach said I could play the next game but when it came, he rejected me and I couldn’t play. I sat with my family, mood spoiled and hopefulness gone. Throughout the rest of the game, my mom tried to comfort me, but it didn’t work. My attitude was sour and no sweetness was fixing it. I had an attitude for the rest of the week, I couldn’t play at practice, and I couldn’t focus on my school work. I couldn’t focus on anything besides my ankle and volleyball.

The next volleyball game was in three days and I still had my ankle brace on. My coach still wouldn’t budge on letting me play in the game. I had to come to all the practices just to do nothing but sit there and watch everyone else practice. Everyday when I went back home, I was never in a good mood. I would come home and do my homework or get in the shower. No small talk. No, “How was your day?” Nothing.

The day of the volleyball game came and I was at school, in morning practice, watching everyone play while trying to convince the coach to let me play at the game. The coach never listened to me and either cut me off or flat out ignored me. It wasn’t the best position to be in, but I got mad and stormed off. Leaving practice and to the girls locker room. I stayed in there until the practice was over and my teammates came in. My friend, Mia, once she changed out came over to me. 

“You okay?” Mia questioned.

“No, I’m not okay. Coach won’t let me play today at the game even though my ankle brace gets taken off in two days! What could possibly happen to make my ankle worse?” 

“Well… You could break it?”

I look over at Mia and scoff. “That’s not helping much.” 

She looked down and I could tell I upset her. I sigh and place my hands in my lap. 

“Look.. I didn’t mean to come off rude it’s just.. Coach is being so stubborn with letting me play.”

She was silent for a moment and I was going to speak up but Mia cut me off. 

“I get that, but the coach is just looking out for you. They’re just…. concerned. They don’t want you getting hurt even more.” 

I listened to what Mia said and throughout the rest of the day, I slowly understood why the coach wasn’t letting me practice or play. Until seventh period, when I had to leave to go to the game, I was more focused on finishing my school work instead of being mad I couldn’t play. When I got onto the bus to go to the game with the rest of my team, I sat by Mia and tried to forget I wasn’t even going to play at this game. 

Once we get to the school, I walk with Mia to the gym and chat with her while they get ready. After a bit, when I was sitting on the bench with my phone until the coach walked up to me and started talking to me. She said I could play at the game today and I was so excited, I couldn’t help but jump up and down. One problem was that even though I came to the game, I didn’t have my uniform! My mom had come to the game, but she obviously wouldn’t have brought my uniform so there I was without one. No one had a spare so someone had to drive back to the school. Luckily it was only a 20 minute drive but that means it’d take 40 minutes for them to come back! The game started soon and we didn’t have time for that. 

As we were all getting ready for the game, we were still panicking because I didn’t have a uniform and I’d play soon. In the end, a school teacher drove it here, and I had my uniform just in time before the game started. I got into position and served the ball, flying over the net. The other team’s player hit the ball and flew back to our side. Mia set the ball and my teammate spiked it. The ball hitting the ground and giving us the point. This continued for a bit until the other team caught on, and we had to start hitting the ball back farther. 

In the end, we won the game and we all celebrated. When we were driving back to the school so our parents could pick us up, Mia and I sat by each other again and were having a blast. 

“We won! And I got to play! I actually got to play!” I said, I was full of excitement. 

“You literally spiked the ball so well! The other team couldn’t even hit it!”

“Thanks, Mia. You really helped me forget about the fact the coach wouldn’t let me play at first. It made it all the more fun.” 

Mia and I chatted for a bit before we got back to the school and my mom picked me up. 

“Hey, Mom.”

“Yes, sweetie?” 

“Is it okay if I get my brace off tomorrow? I played tonight and my ankle didn’t even hurt!” 

My mom smiled and she nodded. We got into the car and drove home while I rambled on and on about how the game went and how fun it was. When we got home, we ate dinner and then had a movie night, celebrating my team’s win and having some family time. My brother finally apologized about my ankle and I forgave him, letting it go since it didn’t hurt anymore. 

The next day, I got my brace off and I went back to school, happy and stress free. The day went by quickly but it was fun. It was amazing and it was a good day to end the week off with. Looks like a sprained ankle can’t stop you from playing volleyball.