I guess I’ll just embrace it

I was watching the class A volleyball championship Sunday, and it was the fifth game. I wasn’t sitting with my friends, but I also wasn’t sitting completely alone.

About 2 seats to the left of me was was an African american couple cheering for the team Southerland. The man had a video camera recording the action, so they must’ve had a daughter on the team. I came to assume that their daughter was #19, the teams best player.

I came to that conclusion not only because she was the only African american player on the team, but also because the two parents would get pretty damn rowdy every time #19 (who’s name by the way I forgot but could never pronounce anyway) spiked a ball down BH-BL’s throat.

Let’s fast forward about 20 possessions. The game was going back and forth for the final points to seal the deal. Each team spent moments behind the other and I was nervous for both teams. Even though I had nothing to do with either squad, the force from both crowds demanded me to get into the match.

It was the final point and after just one volley from Burnt Hills, Southerland came out victorious. Now here’s the important part of the story: the embrace. The mother of #19 gave me an unexpected and uncomfortable hug. I was shocked. After jumping around for only like three seconds, she exclaimed “Aw come here, boy!” in her thick accent and attacked me. It was the kind of hug your heavy set aunt gives you when your faces squish and you don’t hug them back because her goal is to squeeze you to death. Don’t get me wrong, she seemed nice and all but she was just not my type!

All jokes aside, I was left caught off guard with a beet red face just thankful none of my friends witnessed the connection we made. I did end up telling my friends the story on the ride home, and Robbie (Hermey) got a real kick out of it. He went into one of those laughing fits where his “HEH HEH HEH” progessively gets to Michael Jackson pitch.

Looking back at the moment during the game, I still cackle pretty hard. I mean come on, I would have hugged me too.