Tryouts Narrative

Alex was outside on a beautiful spring day. The birds made a beautiful humming sound, and the grass felt good on her bare feet. She was practicing soccer and had been almost all day. Alex was 18, and she had dreamed of playing college soccer her whole life. Her bedroom walls were plastered in soccer posters and medals. Tomorrow were the tryouts where everyone in her state came and tried out for scholarships to play college soccer. Alex was super nervous.

The next day Alex came downstairs to the kitchen with a nervous feeling in her stomach. It was almost like there were hundreds of butterflies flying in her stomach.

“Good morning Alex,” said Alex’s mom.

“Hey mom,” replied Alex.

“So are you ready for your tryouts today?”

“Yes very, I hope

I do well.”
“I hope you do too. You are a great soccer player but probably not good enough to beat everyone else.”
Alex wasn’t surprised to hear the comment. Her mom always seemed like she didn’t care about Alex, same with her dad. Her parents had gotten divorced when she was 15 and ever since they didn’t do anything to encourage her. They just made her feel worse about herself.
When Alex’s mom dropped her off she headed to the soccer field. The ache in her stomach got worse, and she felt like she was going to throw up. It felt like her heart was beating so fast it was going to beat right out of her chest. There were at least 20 judges and a sea of people in the stands ready to watch their kids. Alex new her mom would never of considered watching her. But that was ok, she knew her 2 best friends, Sammy and James would be there to support her. They were always there for her and she knew she could always come to them for help. She put her soccer gear down and joined the line of the other athletes. After they got their numbers they started with the easy stuff. Alex felt like she was doing great. One of the judges came over during their water break and gave Alex a thumbs up. When they were scrimmaging for the last part of tryouts Alex dribbled down the field, determined to score. She was about to shoot when she tripped over someone’s foot. She fell to the ground twisting her knee in a weird spot and banged her head on the ground. Alex made a small screeching sound as she fell and everyone gathered around her. Her life flashed before her and everything went black. The last thing she could remember was her friends screaming her name in a scared voice.
When she woke up she was in the hospital. It smelled like something had rotted and it made her scrunch her nose. She could hear voices and a faint beeping sound. She made a moaning sound and her friends rushed over to her.
“Oh my gosh Alex i'm so happy you are ok!” exclaimed James and Sammy.
“Hello Alex, everything is going to be ok. I am Dr. Clark and if you need anything just ask me.”
“Do I have a severe injury? Will I still be able to play soccer? Did I make the team?” asked Alex and in a worried voice.
“You didn’t break your knee but it tore some muscle so it will take some time to heal. So you will have to wait to play soccer and I’m not sure how long it will be until you can play again,” replied the Doctor.
“And I’m so sorry Alex. but the judges at the tryouts said that you did great but since you got injured they couldn’t wait for you and they had to pick someone else,” said James hesentinly.
“Oh ok, it’s alright there is always next year.”
But really Alex wasn’t ok. She was heartbroken and felt like crying. She had tried so hard and did great but at the same time she failed. She felt like giving up. What was she going to do? Will she ever be able to play soccer like she used to? Or even play at all?
The next day Alex went home. She felt like she couldn’t do anything. Her mom wasn’t any help either.
“Honey can I get you anything?” asked Alex’s mom.
“No it’s ok mom i’m fine,” replied Alex sadly.
“Even though you didn’t make the team you will still be able to spend time with me right?” asked Alex’s mom.
“Yeah but you don’t do anything but watch tv.” Alex said rolling her eyes.
“But you can still be around, and if you can’t play soccer anymore then you can find a new hobby,” Alex’s mom said as she walked into the living room.
Then Alex realized that she didn’t want to give up. She hated the thought of not being able to play soccer and having to spend her free time watching tv, that is boring. She decided she was going to start doing exercises to help her knee. Everyday she ate super healthy and exercised her knee. Then little by little it got stronger and stronger. A few months later she was able to do some soccer drills and run a few miles around the neighborhood.
“Alex i’m so happy to see you are doing better,” Sammy said with a smile.
“Same i’m so happy I decided to try again and not sit and watch tv with my mom all day,” replied Alex cheerfully
“Me too, is that really all your mom does all day?”
“Sadly yes and some other random things,” replied Alex.
“When are your next tryouts?” questioned Sammy.
“April, so I have still a few months to get stronger and better.”
“I believe you can do it.”
“Thank you, so do I,” Alex said with a smile.
Alex worked really hard, but there were some days her knee hurt super bad and she just felt like crying.

She didn’t want to stop playing soccer, but it would be so much easier if she did. She was exhausted everyday, and her muscles were always sore. Her mom was always telling her she wouldn’t be able to do it in this short amount of time. That made her want to give up even more. But then, James and Sammy were always there to lift her up and convince her to keep going. Those days were better because she felt like she could do it. But could she really?

The days of the tryouts came and Alex was super nervous once again. Her friends took her this time and it felt much better. The whole way there they gave her encouragement and that made her feel lots better. When they got there she put her soccer bag down and took a deep breath. She ran on the field and she started warming up.

“Hey are you Alex?” Asked a big scary looking girl.

“Um...yes why?

“I heard you got a big knee injury last year,” she replied with a smirk

“Yes I did but i’m doing lots better now”

“Oh that's great for you.”

“Tha..”

“But your going down. I’m going to make sure you don’t make it. You can’t just come back from an injury that easily. I’m not going to let some lucky girl beat me, I deserve to be on that team,” interrupted the

girl.
“I am not lucky. I have been working so hard for this and i'm not going to let you ruin it for me,” Alex snapped.
“Ya right let’s see about that,” the girl laughed as she walked away.
Alex was very irritated but decide she wasn’t going to let that girl bother her. Alex continued to warm up until the coaches came onto the field. Alex saw the judge that had given her a thumbs up the last time she came to tryouts. She hoped he would like her again.
They started doing drills and lot’s of sprinting. The first time the big girl barely beat Alex.
“Haha, you can’t even sprint fast enough,” the girl teased.
But Alex just decided to ignore her. They did it 5 for times and Alex beat the girl every time. The girl looked very mad. Alex couldn’t help but smile a little. The girl saw and gave her a hard shove and tackled her to the ground.
“Ladies that's not ok! I’m going to have to have both of you sit out the next time that happens,” the coach yelled.
“But I didn’t do anything! She pushed me,” Alex protested.
“No she pushed me!” the girl yelled back.
“Liar, you aren’t being fair. This isn’t a war it’s a soccer tryout!” Alex yelled back.
“Ok that’s it both of you sit out!” yelled the coach.
“But it was her fault!” yelled the girl
“I don’t care sit out now!” screamed the coach
Alex sat down on the bench and started sobbing. Her friends came over to comfort her.
“We were watching the whole time we know it wasn’t your fault” James said.
“I know but they won’t listen” cried Alex.
“I have an idea” said Sammy
Sammy walked over to the judges table and started talking to them. One of them opened a computer and studied it carefully. Then she called one of the coaches over and he also studied it and nodded his head. Then he walked over to Alex and the girl.
“Alex I’m terribly sorry for the misunderstanding you were right. The judge showed me the security footage and it showed that you did nothing wrong.”
“What, that’s not fair!” yelled the girl, “she contributed!”
“Yes she did but you started it and we don’t accept people who have bad sportsmanship,” explained the coach”
“But…” whined the girl.
“I don’t want to hear it. I’m afraid you are done for today. I’m sorry but you will just have to go home,” the coach replied, “Alex you may continue with your tryouts.”
Alex was so happy, she walked onto to the field smiling back at her friends.
“Go Alex!” her friends cheered.”
Alex did amazing the rest of her tryouts and this time at the very end while they scrimmaged she didn’t get hurt! She even scored the last goal with 5 seconds to go, it was amazing.
“Everyone you did great!” exclaimed the coach.
“You will all know the scores in 20 minutes so all of you may head into the main building and relax,” explained one of the judges.
Alex walked over to her friends with a giant smile on her face and they headed into the building and sat down at one of the tables.
“Alex we are so proud of you, I just know you will make the team!” Alex’s friends said cheerfully.
“I sure hope so! I am so nervous I feel like I’m going to throw up,” Alex said nervously.
Twenty minutes later the coaches called each table over one by one and Alex’s table was one of the last ones to be called over. Alex hated waiting, it just made her more nervous. When her table finally got called she stood up with her legs shaking and walked over to the score board. There on the top of the list said Alex Mathews. Alex felt a feeling of excitement in her stomach and smiled great big. She ran back to her friends table and started crying in happiness.
“I got the scholarship!” she exclaimed!
“Oh my gosh Alex I’m so proud of you!” cheered Sammy and James
They walked to the car and talked excitedly about all the things Alex could do. Alex was so proud of herself. She hadn’t given up and kept trying.
That night they went out for a celebration dinner. It was the happiest day of her life. Her mom called to tell her congratulations and that made her super happy. That night she couldn’t help but smile as she drifted of to sleep.

Five years later

Alex had become a pro soccer player. She had looked back and thought, what would've happened if I gave up? Where would I be in life now? She was so proud. Not only had she inspired herself she inspired other people. Her mom was a little better but was still sad about her divorce. That was ok, though, because even if her mom wasn’t always there for her, her friends always were. Even if life gets hard Alex knew that it always turns out good in the end. So never give up on your dreams.