memory lane

It was a cool autumn day. Excitement filled the air as war was brewing. I arrived at the battlefield, two braids pouring out of an old bandanna. I was scared to death and yet eager, anxious yet excited. Fear made me drag my feet, so when I arrived all the weapons were claimed as guys were stretching and sparring. Many were shocked to see me there, for I was not know for athletic prowess or an aggressive nature. "You fighting?" I was asked a few times, each answered with a hesitant "No, I think I will just watch." One strong guy came forward with a six-foot sword wrapped in several socks. He asked no questions, he simply shoved the weapon in my direction. A small tug from behind, "You have a sword, you have to fight."

The battle waged in slow motion. Everyone was divided to one side of the soccer field or another. Everyone with varying sizes of PVC pipe wrapped in camping foam and duct tape. "Fight on!" The leader, a scrawny tenth grade boy, yelled at the top of his voice. Suddenly, boys and men and few girls like me erupted into war cries that could be heard across campus.

The battle was on. The rules: hit in the arm, loss of the arm; hit in the leg, drop to your knees, chest and back hits were lethal and you drop to the ground; hit twice and you are dead.

Within a couple of minutes, I learned to wield the enormous weapon I was given. It had an incredibly long reach, so I felled more than I anticipated. A blow from behind dropped me to my knees, but I was able to return the blow fast enough to not loose my life. All of the sudden, I was aware that the battlefield had turned eerily silent. From my knees I could see everyone was on the ground, my comrades and enemies; everyone that is but one opponent on the other side of the field. He charged yelling with his sword drawn.

As I saw him cross the field, I prepared for the death blow. All eyes of the "dead" were fixed on me watching my certain fate. Suddenly, I was as aware of the six-foot sword in my hand as I was my approaching opponent.  I waited till he was five fee from me. With all the strength in me, I thrust the weapon in his direction and closed my eyes. Cheers went up as my foam sword met with the champion's head. The force of the blow sent him sprawling to the floor, and I, a timid and awkward girl, won the battle.