It's Still Life

Grassroots

Oliver dreamed of lacing up his boots and running onto the turf at his local football stadium, but the Fates had other plans. By age 5, it was clear that one leg was slightly longer than the other, and his uneven gait made it difficult to keep pace with other children.

As he grew older, his dream of playing football faded, but not his love of the game. He spent hours watching matches at the stadium, memorising player names and analysing tactics, and when he finished school, he applied for a job at stadium. To his surprise, he was offered the position of groundkeeper.

Oliver was out on the pitch, rain or shine, mowing the grass, raking the lines, making sure it was in pristine condition for match days, and as he worked, he imagined himself playing, scoring goals and celebrating with the crowd – he stood at the goal posts, arms up and making save after save.

One day, the team’s star striker injured his ankle. The manager needed a replacement. With a hesitant smile, Oliver stepped forward, and to everyone’s surprise, he performed very well. His unique gait gave him an advantage, making him difficult to tackle.

From that day on, Oliver was a regular member of the team. His journey from groundkeeper to player was proof that perseverance and love for the game pays off. And though he never became a big star, he found his place on the pitch, a place where his abilities were celebrated.

Written for Jenne Gray – and C. E. Ayr. at Unicorn Challenge . Some artwork is created using Midjourney AI, and is identified as such in the ALT text or captioned. Images are copyright and not to used without permission, which I willingly give when asked, and when not for commercial use. Imagery and poems/prose ©Misky 2006-2024. The image below is the prompt for this piece.