Last of a 3-part series.
Last year, Kevin made his return to On Goal after not going for at least 4 years. He’s not playing soccer anymore, but, had fun last year and didn’t embarrass himself, and all was good, and the parents make plans for all boys to return in 2009, and, I know, we made several allusions to Kevin attending and it being the last time he can go (he’s too old next year).
So, it comes as an unpleasant surprise, when, about a week before On Goal starts, that Kevin starts complaining, rather vehemently, that he doesn’t want to go. Not going to have fun, not good at soccer, hasn’t played in years, and the kids who go play all the time, blah blah blah, can you cancel the registration? (no, it’s non-refundable after a certain date) can I pay you the money out of my bank account and not go? (no, and if you don’t stop you’re going to get grounded) blah blah blah (you’re grounded) blah blah blah. This isn’t just one day of complaining; it’s a solid 3 or 4 days of this rising back to the surface intermittently and going over this ground over and over and over (Kevin's all into the “I’ll wear them down eventually” philosophy). Insists that he’s not going to have fun….if there’s one theme in these 4 days, it’s that it will be torture to go; it won’t be fun.
On Goal finally arrives….Kevin heads off with his brothers. Suzanne gets them from camp the first day, so, I call to check in with her and ask about Matthew, and Christopher, and if they know anyone on their team, and get around to asking about Kevin.
“Did he have fun?”
“Yes”
Both Mom and Dad reacted the same way to this news….”what?….you had fun?!?….you’re not allowed to have fun, stop doing that right now!” This was the ongoing joke for the week…any time Kevin would mention that he was enjoying or having fun, Suzanne and I would immediately tell him to cease and desist…we did this so much that Christopher stepped in one time and said that there was no problem with Kevin having fun!
Kevin knew a lot of kids on the other teams, but, none of those kids made it onto his team. Kevin played mostly on defense, and scored a goal the one day he was up at midfield. He was overly concerned about his soccer skills and these were unwarranted; he more than held his own and his conditioning and speed were a big help.
Video of Kevin here….nothing flashy, just solid. Probably the last video we’ll ever get of Kevin playing soccer.
The other ‘Kevin’ moment on Goal is the camp ‘verse’, the biblical verse that the campers are asked to memorize and say in front of the camp. This year, it was this:
Philippians 2:6-11 (New International Version)
6"Who, being in very nature of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
After Day 1, you could hear Kevin at home (and up in the tree!), not just memorizing it (which I’m sure he had done before he left camp that day) but, instead, doing it as fast as he can. Because there is the ‘speed’ competition….you challenge one of the coaches to see who could it the fastest. Kevin had his turn the next day and was extremely speedy (he thinks he had the fastest kid time all week) but was still judged to be a little slower than the coach, who Kevin feels mumbled his way through it.
Kevin’s team, much like Christopher’s, was made up of good, not great players, and bowed out early in the elimination round in the afternoon. Kevin, like Christopher, journeyed over to see Mom, and, unlike Christopher, took the opportunity to explain to Mom just how the lackadaisical and poor play by his teammates cost them the chance to move on. Sigh….
Mom, being patient as Kevin vents….
“I’m not having fun!”
