Page 73 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

SPORTS

Another sport was like soccer, but without the rules. Across
the ravine, Shirley Valley, was South Fairlington. It had been
built before us, and was about the same sprawling size. In war
time, and after, Washington grew like topsy-turvy. These
apartments were filled as fast on both sides. On the far side
near Quaker Lane was Fairlington’s Elementary School, about
a mile or more from home.

I ran that distance, down into the ravine across it, up the other
side, and a mile to school, twice a day for 5 years. Getting to
school early was important because I’d get a chance to kick a
ball around with a herd of other kids. I liked kicking balls
around, although never played soccer.
The playground behind the school was a large field, about the
size of a football field, without stripes or goal posts. All the
boys would meet each morning with a single ball. We would
kick and run from one end of the field to the other. Just like a
herd of stampeding buffalo.

The fun was getting to the ball. I might be able to kick it, and
stay ahead of the herd all the way down the field. I never
practiced; it was just kick, run, kick.
So as sports went, there were very few organized ones that I
participated in or interested me. However, I didn’t make a
good couch potato. I was really active and spent most of my
time outside. As a teen I’d play most every sport, football,
track and field and basketball as well as tennis.

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