How Kind

First Baptist won their semi-final game forty-five minutes before we finished ours.  According to tournament rules, we were allotted a five minute break between games.  The gym that had been a tolerable 75 degrees or so in the morning was by then a muggy 95. 

I watched from across the gym as the minister from First Baptist said something to his team parents.  Several looked at their watches, but most nodded their heads.  He stopped at the scorer’s table and motioned the referees over.  An older ref gave the thumbs up. The minister called Father Tim over.  They had a brief conversation.  Tim shook hands with the minister, the refs, the guy running the clock, and the woman keeping the score book.

It killed me not knowing what they had said. 

Father Tim told us to relax.  The minister had convinced everyone to give our team an extra half hour to recover from our game.  Even though we had beaten his team by fifteen in our last matchup, he offered our boys a chance to rest and absorb some fluids.

On paper, sixth grade church league basketball gave kids a chance to develop their skills, and learn the value of teamwork.  Winning wasn’t supposed to be important. In that light, the minister’s gesture was no big deal.  In the harsh light of reality, many parents relived their own athletic glories through their children, others tried to eradicate their disappointments the same way.  Families like Chad’s used sports to distract themselves from their many issues.  These folks needed their kids to win. Giving our boys an extra half hour was a kindness we hadn’t expected. 

Today I will be grateful for unexpected kindness.

Life on Life’s Terms II © 2015 by Ken Montrose

(Just a reminder: LOLT II is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to anyone you might know is purely coincidental.)