When I said "The worst is yet to come," I meant more bad stuff is going to happen to Raimundo. But things get a lot better for him in this chapter.
After I landed and dried my tears, I was surprised to see I was on the school soccer field. Raimundo was walking toward the coach, who was getting out lots of soccer balls. Raimundo looked a bit happier. "Hey Coach,"
"Raimundo!"
The coach looked startled, but glad to see him. "I thought you were never coming back to school again!"
"I'm not. I don't want kids staring at me or telling me their sorry. I've had enough of that. But I really miss soccer. So I was wondering if I could help you teach,"
The coach scratched his head. "I would love for you to help out with one student. But I'm going to have to talk to your teacher first,"
Raimundo nodded and started kicking around a soccer ball while the coach went into the school. After a few minutes, recess came. Most of the kids were playing two-square, or dodge ball, or jump rope, but one girl sat on a bench in front of the soccer field reading. I saw her eyes go from the book to Raimundo now and then. The girl was Raimundo's height and age, with fair skin, green eyes, and beautiful, red, curly, hair that went down to her waist. I noticed Raimundo was sneaking peeks at her now and then to. Then he 'accidentally' kicked the ball over to the bench. "Hi," he said as he went over to get it.
"Hi," she said in a quiet voice, her attention focused on the book suddenly.
"What are you reading?"
She flashed him the cover.
"Define 'Normal'. Is it good?"
She nodded and I think I saw a faint blush in her cheeks. Or maybe she was hot from wearing a cotton jacket in this weather.
"What's it about?"
"A punk and an overachiever in a peer counciling program trying to get each other to open up and talk,"
'Kind of what I'm trying to do with you.'
Finally, the girl looked up at him. "You're a good soccer player,"
"Thanks. I don't think I've seen you here before. Are you new?"
The girl nods then asks "Why were you out here before the bell rang?"
Raimundo hesitates, then says "I'm a teaching assistant in P.E."
"Oh," says the girl, suddenly depressed.
"What's wrong?"
"I suck at P.E. I usually just hang back and watch the others, but then I feel useless. I'd like to try, but I don't want to look like a retard in front of everyone. Usually if I keep my head down, nobody notices me,"
Now I was sure she was blushing. She seemed to think she said too much.
'This must be the student Coach wanted help with.'
"Would you like me to help you?" he offered, holding up the ball.
The girl stared at him for a moment, as if deciding whether he wanted to help her to make fun of her, out of sympathy, or if he actually wanted to help. "Okay, thanks,"
After a few minutes of just running around, kicking the ball to each other, Raimundo said "By the way, my name's Raimundo," and grinned at her.
"I'm Tay," she replied, and smiled back.
I was glad Raimundo was finally happy for awhile. He was begining to become the Raimundo I knew at the temple. A few minutes before the bell rang however, I heard Raimundo think 'Mom!' and the wind went out of his sails. He sighed, picked up the ball, walked over to the bench, and sat down.
"What's wrong?" asked Tay.
"Nothing," snapped Raimundo.
Tay looked a little hurt. She had lowered her defenses only to get dropped in the dirt. "Okay then. Bye," she said softly and started to walk away.
"Tay, wait,"
'She shared her feelings with me. I guess it's my turn.'
"I'm sorry. It's just that my mom died recently and this is the first time I've done something without thinking of her at all. She was a very special person, and I don't ever want to forget about her. That would be like her dying completely. And please don't say you're sorry about her dying. I've had enough of that stuff and it won't help bring her back,"
Tay stared at him for a moment then said " I can understand that it hurts and probably will never go away, but it might get better if you let it. Your mom wouldn't want you to grieve for her the rest of your life. She'd want you to live your life. Just because you don't think about her every second of your life doesn't mean you're going to forget about her. She was a important person in your life and I'm sure you couldn't forget her if you tried,"
I felt Tay's words lift Raimundo's spirits.
'That's a million times better then saying sorry, and a lot more helpful.'
Raimundo smiled at her. "Thanks Tay. That really means a lot,"
Tay smiled back, and the scene dissolved and I started falling again, relieve that not all of Raimundo's memories were sad.