Pick-up

Everyday we would venture out of our apartment in France and walk the half an hour along the river to Sonny Anderson. It was a small 3v3 turf pitch surrounded by a metal gate. There, we would play until the sun started setting and then we went home before it got too dark. When we first came to the courts, the boys looked at us and didn't expect much. In that first game, we soon showed them who we are. Court rules are simple. You can play outside of the sidelines, although if the ball goes over the end line it's either a corner or a kick in. The teams play to 3 goals, winner stays on. What this teaches you is you better win or you are going to be off for a very long time. For 99% of the time my sisters and I were on the same team and we would win every single game.

Sometimes when we moved to play on the big field right beside the court we would play 10v10 or 12v12. The captains would pick the teams and we were among the first to be picked. Sometimes the three of us would play together, and other times we would be on different teams. The big games were all fun, provided some laughter and a chance for everyone to be a bit playful, but once you moved to "The Cage," it got heated. Most of the time it came down to us and another team, and they were good. It was a challenge and no one wanted to go down without a fight. With our victories came the teasing for the boys on the opposing side from everyone watching the match. After that last game of each day, we would say our goodbyes, shake hands and retrace our steps back along the river to our apartment, ready to do it all again the next day. As we neared the end of our trip and the many days and nights at the court, we think back to our victories and defeats. We remember the anticipation of walking to those beautiful places to play in hopes that our opponents were waiting...and they always were. Where our walk to the court ended, the game began.