The Rugby Match (work in progress

The car weaved its way through the deteriorating town. I sat in the front making small talk with Thomas. Raymond sat in the back passenger seat recollecting his glory days as a rower. The sun was shining timidly through the trees which were shedding their leaves in dribs and drabs. Orange and yellow bounced of the metallic car. The dry air caused dust speckles to fly off the tarred road and create a secondary haze about the car. As we approached the parking lot where hundreds had already left their cars, a staffie dressed in a blazer and tie galloped toward the car. Thomas stepped on the brakes and we waited while the mascot dog crossed the road. The parking lot field was filled with cars that had been placed haphazardly by owners rushing to catch the various matches being played that day. Thomas maneuvered the car around the field, looking for spaces between the crowded areas. He drove to the end of the field, saw a spot that would have sufficed had not a white Renault Megan stood half in and out of the space. 

 

'Let's move the Renault.' Raymond suggested, smiling at my shocked face as he spoke.

'No!' I said.

'Do you think we can do it?' Thomas replied, ignoring my pleas concerning the safety of hte procedure.

 

Thomas and Raymond slammed the car doors simultaneously and walked toward the Renault. I watched in horror as they lifted the vehicle by degrees. Their faces were red with exertion but the smiles on their faces when they returned were smug with pride.

 

'I can't believe you guys!' 

'That worked. Helps to go to a varsity where the parking lot is always full.' Thomas beamed from lobe to lobe with pleasure. 

 

We walked past the cars  toward a path that seemed to lead to the field.

'I know a shortcut-' Raymond blurted.

'No! Let's just go this way. It's-'

'Ok cool.'Thomas finished my sentence with a hearty assent.

 

The shortcut was a steep grassy descent that appeared, to my agoraphobic being, extremely high. I leaned ever so slightly to gain a better view of the gradient of the incline. Thomas walked down as if treading on level ground. Raymond observed my hesitation and grinned. Annoyed at being his source of amusement I began a slow decent, brushing past his outstretched arm which he offered for assistance. We crossed several sports fields and arrived at the event of the day.

 

Hundreds of spectators lined all three sides of the field. The red supporters sat on the right hand side of the field, waving flags and screaming encouraging and threatening words to the sandy rugby players who were holding out for the last minute of the game. The red team lost to the zebra striped contenders.