Sportsmanship is a new short story by one of Mooresville’s very own. If you would like to contribute a short story of 350 to 500 words, contact Hanna Schoenrock, Managing Editor.

 

Sportsmanship

 

My throat stung. My lungs ached. The roar tearing past my lips was drowned in the shared elation of thousands of strangers. Finally, I gasped for a breath and started a second triumphant yell, swinging my fist, kicking my leg.

Seconds ago, all my energy had been required for each movement. Now, it would take my entire focus to be still. I flung my hands in the air and flapped them to further engage the crowd. The blare of celebration reached an even higher volume. Reeling in the spectacle, I wondered if I had started to spin or if the crowd was moving in circles around me. I remembered to breathe, interrupting my second shout. I gazed at the celebrating masses and pondered the completion of my goals. I had always thought it would feel deficient, that I’d never be able to live up to my towering hopes; I laughed.

“I gazed at the celebrating masses and pondered the completion of my goals.”

I halted my spinning and faced two of my teammates. They were immersed in their own ecstatic reveries, living the culmination of their dreams. One was still shouting; one was silently smiling. In the shadow of the two towering celebrants sat a figure, head down-turned. Confetti covered his immobile frame. A flash of sorrow cut through my joy.

I strode to the man on the floor, “You played admirably.”

He lifted his head, and I offered my hand. He gripped me at the wrist and we hauled him to his feet. At full height, he stood taller than me. He leaned down so that our faces were close. “I’ll be back next year,” he barked, a rekindled light in his drying eyes.

“I’ll be back next year,” he barked, a rekindled light in his drying eyes.

“I’d expect no less.”

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

 

Brent Holmes is a Data Scientist at Lowe’s by day and a fiction author by night. His work has appeared in October Hill, Night Picnic Press, Literally Stories, and Active Muse. Brent has a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Kansas, and he lives in Mooresville, NC. You can follow him @author_holmes.