Descriptive Essay: The Football Game

With a lawn chair slung over one shoulder and a large cooler in hand, I struggle to slam the trunk of my Ford Expedition. I embark on my trek up the steep, grassy incline to the field, making sure to feel my pocket for the bottle of Advil I promised to deliver. Besides the coaches meticulously raking the field and chalking the foul line, there is no one around. The rickety, rust coated bleachers remain barren in the sliver of shade. I unfold my chair, positioning it at the perfect angle to view the mound, excitedly awaiting the arrival of my daughter. Today is going to be a mental and physical battle for her; I think to myself as I crack open a can of Pepsi Max. When the team arrives, she paces in the dugout, spinning a softball in her hand, practicing grips she already mastered. While some girls hastily complete their high knees and grapevines, their ponytails swishing behind them, others lollygag in the dugout, trying to spit out sunflowers seeds through the holes in the chain link fence. I watch my
From my chair, I can see and experience the whole expanse of the field. I listen to the softball soundtrack of bats slapping against the ball, runners crashing into the bases, cheering from the fans, and familiar grunting coming from the pitcher’s mound. Until the end of the game, I clap and bellow, guzzling my Pepsi. The umpire calls our player out on a slide home and I throw my hands up in protest. Though I struggle to remember all of the names of the players, I make sure to cheer them on by their uniform numbers. Following a connection with the ball, I scream as the player races past me, exerting themselves to make it to first base safely. Though the occasional parent approaches to greet me or discuss the game, I prefer to spectate alone. These games offer me solace from a challenging day at work and represent a special time to support my daughter without any