Help Someone Out

It's that time of year.

Sunday, I had a soccer game. I thought my schedule said 4:10pm, but it was 7:30pm. I was way early. It's obvious I,m there to play; I'm in my Goalkeeper Uniform. I sit down in the stands, next to some kid, start to watch the game when the Captain of one of the teams waves me on. Their Goalie is not there. I play for them, then go back to the stands. Same kid is sitting there. We talk a little bit about my performance in the previous game. Halfway through the current game, someone from the Arena staff comes to me and says that one of the teams in the next game is looking for a Goalie. Do I want to fill in? Yep. Next game I go out and play. Afterwards, I head back to the stands. Same kid is there. We chat a little bit. I introduce myself.

He tells me he is Armando and he is 18. He has now been sitting there through three games and I know the games coming up are in the Over-30 league, so I ask him if he has a game coming up. He says no, he's just there to watch. He is from Yakima and going to school in Vancouver. He's away from home for the first time and just likes to come down and watch. I tell him he should go to the Arena staff and give them his name. They will find him a team. He says he's a student on a budget and can't afford a player's card ($20) let alone team fees. I told him to bring his gear and sit in the stands. A team will eventually call him on. I played two of the previous three games and I'm almost 60.

We talked a little longer. I told him I have a daughter in college and I know what it's like to be so far from home. My 7:30 game was approaching. But before I took the field, I took him into the Office and paid for a Player's Card for him. $20 makes no difference in my budget, but it gives Armando a chance to get out of his Dorm Room.

I talked to one of the Team Managfers in the Open League this week. If Armando shows up, I might be able to get him on a team, too. Might be able to subsidize his fees for the first season.

That's my good deed this week. I know it's not earth shattering.

What can you do this season for someone?