the ball game

Back home after cheering the team to a win in the quarter-finals.

i am not a football fan. It is a game i don't follow - i can never figure out the fouls and corner worner. i can watch cricket and tennis because i know the rules - well, the basic at least. But football - no.

There is a football league going on - for which they cancelled the word power event i was so looking forward to win. Our project fielded three teams. SC has been after me to go and watch the matches. i refused. But his nagging skills being of legendary proportion, i was forced to give in. i warned him that it was not going to be pretty - i am given to shouting my lungs out and jumping like an idiot when i go to games, even ones i don't follow! He said fine, we will shout together.

So there i was, the lone female on the football ground, screaming my lungs out -GO, GO whenever one of our team members even ventured near the ball; OHHHHH SHITTTTTT whenever a goal was missed; clutching my head in agony when the opponent scored; jumping up and down clapping like crazy when our team scored. Looking at me, you would have thought football is my life!

Today was the quater-finals. Out of our three teams, two have made it this far - no thanks to my cheering skills! There were at least some other "birds" of my feather, oops..gender today. But they were so prim and propah - they were all watching from behind the wall while yours truly climbed up a ladder to get to the ground and stood at the sidelines ready to roll up non-existent sleeves and join in should a fight break out.

i jumped, shouted, jumped and shouted, clutched head, chewed my dupatta and made such a ruckus that i think everyone was looking at me - or so i would like to believe! Inspite of my over zealous cheering, the team did not score and there was a tie-break. i cheered so loudly when the other team missed that i am scared one of them might trip me tomorrow in the office! The score stood 1-1 after three shots. And then - sudden death. When the opponent missed, you should have heard us!! And when we scored, we invaded the field. Mairi, it was fun.

The second team is going to play at around 8 - must have started now - so SC and i left. Enough cheering for one day. i threatened one of the kids that i would assign some mean task tomorrow if they lose!! i am so nice it makes me want to cry.