My name is Alan Bosley

My name is Alan Bosley. Some people call me immature, some say I'm hysterical. I've been told that because of my blond hair and green eyes that I'm cute, but no one has ever acted on it.  I love football. I have been playing for as long as I can remember. It's weird though, people laugh at me sometimes when I tell them I play football for the T.C. Williams Titans. Ok I admit it, I couldn't stop those guys when we played out first game. I was glad Coach Yoast put Petey in for me. See, at 5'8 and only 140 pounds, I'm not very big for a football player. I'm also a sophomore. Not like Julius or hell, even Louie. I get knocked over pretty easily. During that first game, I had made an attempt to tackle this huge guy. He through me back like a doll. Not to mention he was really fast. I couldn't stick with him.

Then the coach called me out. My dad nearly had a heart attack. He was really mad at me after the game. "How could you let that guy beat you Alan? You weren't even trying!" He went on like this for hours. I could feel tears in my eyes, but football players don't cry. The next day he went to yell at Yoast and Boone. I sat on the field bleachers crying. I felt someone pat me on the back. I turned around and saw Boone. He must have escaped my dads wrath.

"I'm sorry about my dad coach, I tried to tell him that it wasn't your fault" I stammered.

"Don't worry Alan. You're a great kid. I know you tried your best."

"Why do I have to be so small? I hate it. I try to cover it up by being really friendly and nice. But face it, I'm about as tough as half the girls in our school. Maybe I should just quit, but my dad….." I began to cry again.

"Alan you are a great person. You were one of the first on the team to accept your black teammates and sunshine. And you were never mean to them unlike Gary. You are by far the most liked person on the team, and because of your example, we came together. Now don't you ever give up on yourself you have a lot of potential." Said Boone and got up and left.

I sat there for a little longer. But you know what? I stopped trying to change myself. So I'm small? So what? I will always play football who knows though maybe one day, my size will catch up with my ambition. Till then I will sit on the bench and watch, watch as the Titans dance their way into Victory.