The North PacificBoard

7 May 2020
23:00 - Bank of Oclusia Stadium

"I am the kid..." he said to himself as his teammate passed him the ball. He bumped it off his chest. He dribbled it along the sideline and edged himself closer. Tyreece passed it on a line to Christian, who headed it right back to him. Tyreece took control, and he had a sudden realization. "I don't have an option for college..." he said to himself, "Everyone else is playing ball, but not me..." He shook off his own thoughts and tried to go for the goal. He powered forward and launched the ball right into the back of the net. He threw his hands in the air as his emotions came. The referee blew the whistle signifying the end of the game and Tyreece ran around the stadium gaining high-fives from the small stadium. He was on top of the moon and ran to midfield. Then, it hit. "This was my last..."

He sank to his knees as the celebration roared. Fans were crazy, the team was crazy, and his family was over the moon. But not him. This was his last game. He placed his hands over his head as he took a look at the grass. The team didn't notice him. They just ran back to the locker room. The visitors did the same. The fans filed out. The families waited outside of the players' entrance. He hugged his knees and looked around the stadium. Never before has a field been so big to him. Never before had he been hit with so much grief. He held a ball that was at midfield. He stared at the white and black sphere that he held. He traced the outline and put his fingers on the logo that said, "Official Oclusi Amateur Union".

He rose to his feet and looked around once more. He looked at the goals. He looked at the lights. He looked at the seats. Signs had his own name on it. He climbed up the railing as if he was about to embrace someone in the crowd. When he got down, he gathered himself together and he turned to the locker room. He had to celebrate his teammates, who were all going to college to play football. Just not him. He then felt a light tap on his shoulder. "Son..." He turned around and looked at a man.

"Hello, sir," he said,

"I saw you play. You played great!" the man said,

"Oh, thank you. It was a one-time th-"

"No, it wasn't. Sit..." the man urged.

They walked over to the dugout. Tyreece looked at the official-looking man. "So, what do you mean by, 'It wasn't'?" he asked him. The man smiled lightly and looked Tyreece right in the eyes. "Your coach recommended you to us," he said, "We have been watching you for the past two years," the man said looking Tyreece right in the eyes, "And we like what we see in our academy." Tyreece nodded. "What school are you?" he asked the man drawing a laugh from the scout. "Son, you're not understanding me. My name is Heiko Haeberle, and I'm from the Academy of Club Alexandria." Tyreece's eyes widened.

"You mean... the Club Alexandria?" he asked in shock,

Haeberle smiled, "Tyreece, I want you to come to play for our Academy... Your future is bright if you get the right coaching... Colleges won't suit you. We think we are ready. So, are you up for it?"

Tyreece's eyes widened like a child who got a new gaming system for Christmas. He was speechless. He held his hands in his lap before he extended them towards Heiko Haeberle. "Sir, I won't let you down..." he said as they shook hands. They both smiled until the coach spoke. "I hope to see you in the summer! I'll tell the head coach that you accepted our offer!" he said as he patted him on the back and they went their separate ways. Tyreece opened the double doors to the locker room and came in with nobody in. He went to his locker and saw a note from his teammates that said, "Turn around". He did as the note said and behind him were his coaches, teammates, and friends from school. "Congratulations, Ty!" they shouted. His eyes widened. "We found out about you getting the professional offer right after the game!" Tyreece jumped right into a long embrace with his teammates, friends, and then he walked over to his coach. He shook his hand. "Why me, sir?" he asked. The coach glanced at him like he had asked the dumbest question. "Son, we are asked from professional teams about who the best guys are on this team. Nobody stood out to me as you did. As soon as the right team came around, we recommended you in a heartbeat. You're going to do some great things with Club Alexandria, Tyreece."