Madelyn Smith

Picking Teams for Kickball

Madelyn Smith

Standing back to the baseball fence 

at recess, the gym class heroes: 

hockey players, the class clowns 

already nominated 

captains. 

One by one they pick the fastest,

desirable players, survival 

of the fittest. Red faces, 

awkward smiles, jittery 

movement, swaying bodies 

waiting.

Until there is just one.

Their life is harder than the rest. 

It’s awful how 7 year olds decide

a person's worth

just by how far they can 

kick a ball.

I was never the last to be picked.

Unfortunately one of the first,

due to little crushes. 

So I was safe 

distanced,

on the other side of the field.

The division felt so wrong,

my throat would swell up, 

I wouldn’t even want to talk to anyone.

I’d just count down the seconds

until gym class was over.

Author's Note: I love writing, it helps me learn what I’m feeling and understand myself. I truly think anyone can write anything they want to.