My Two Cents: Everyone's Got One
"Remember the time that we thought 'Big Cliff' was going to beat your butt," my friend said.
I recently ran into a childhood friend. It was great to see him. We were reminiscing and sharing stories about the 'old days' when he said this.
"Remember the time that we thought 'Big Cliff' was going to beat your butt," my friend said.
"Yeah, how can I forget?" I said. We both laughed.
I am twelve years old and it's a hot summer day. The New York City sun is out in full force, burning up the tar on the playground basketball court, as well as anyone that has the nerve to step foot on it.
Like any other hot summer day the scalding temperatures never prevent a huge turnout of ball players from showing up at the courts. But for me, this day is not like any other. It is the day that I have decided that I am ready to step on to, and finally play on the 'main court'.
The 'main court' consisted of the better players ranging from high school athletes on up. This was where the competition was happening and this is where I was determined to be.
I was tired of being relegated to playing with kids my age or younger. I hated sitting on the sideline watching the excitement on the 'main court'. I was done with fantasizing about what it would be like.
I worked on my basketball game long and hard until I had my jitters under control. Finally I was prepared and ready to go.
With all the courage and coolness that I could muster up, I step up to the players on the 'main court' and call out --
"Next"!
Just so that every one would be clear that - I have arrived!
Five or six games later, it is my turn to play. I am shocked to discover that there will be one more obstacle to face and not the least bit insignificant -
'Big Cliff'.
All six foot five inches, 260 pounds of 'teenage Man'.
When 'Big Cliff' showed up to play, it didn't matter who had the next game - as far as he was concerned it was his innate, inalienable right to do whatever the hell he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it. Rather than face off with 'Big Cliff' it was understood that the safer and healthier thing to do was to "just sit this one out".
It was kind of an unwritten law.
But, in that moment, after all my hard work and determination, I disregarded all of that. Today it was my turn to play!
I wanted it bad!
When was the last time you wanted to play so badly that you were willing to face 'Big Cliff'? When was the last time you remember being unwilling to allow anything to stop you or get in your way?
That's where I found myself. I was so determined that I was ready, I was willing to lay it all out on the line?
After I get done verbally challenging 'Big Cliff' about his controlling and intimidating habits - there is an eerie quiet that comes over the playground.
Everyone stops to watch what they expect will be the end of my life as they know it.
Cliff takes a deep breath, looks me straight in the eye, puts one foot in front of the other, looks all the way down at me, hands me "his" ball and says,
"Play".
And so I did.
That's my two cents (for whatever it's worth),
Auguste Roc
auguste@danaroc.com
