How to Win a Team Sport by Yourself
I arrived at the volleyball court at 8:53 in time to see the end of the 8:00 game. There were a fair number of spectators, but as soon as the game ended, everyone left in a single body. Only three persons remained on the court: the referee, a player from the team I was to play against, and myself. I sat down and began to read, while the referee began cleaning the building and the opposing player practiced setting and spiking. A few times the ball rolled next to me and I threw it back to him and returned to my book.
At 9:10 the opposing player began to run laps around the building. I paused, considered the benefits of exercise, and returned to my book. Surely more players would come, and then I would put the book down.
At 9:15 the runner approached me.
"Well," he said, "it doesn't look like anyone else is coming."
"Yeah," I replied disappointedly. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a penny.
"Okay," he said, holding the coin in front of me. "You decide the game. Heads or tails."
"Tails," I said as he flipped the penny in the air. We followed it as it rose and fell to the ground with the Lincoln Memorial poiniting to the ceiling.
"Tails!" He affirmed. "You win!"
I stood motionless as he picked up his volleyball and walked away.
"So, that's how it's done?" I asked, cynically.
"There's nothing else we can do," he said.
I shrugged, grabbed my coat, book and phone and left the building with another win under my belt.
I feel so unsatisfied.
At 9:10 the opposing player began to run laps around the building. I paused, considered the benefits of exercise, and returned to my book. Surely more players would come, and then I would put the book down.
At 9:15 the runner approached me.
"Well," he said, "it doesn't look like anyone else is coming."
"Yeah," I replied disappointedly. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a penny.
"Okay," he said, holding the coin in front of me. "You decide the game. Heads or tails."
"Tails," I said as he flipped the penny in the air. We followed it as it rose and fell to the ground with the Lincoln Memorial poiniting to the ceiling.
"Tails!" He affirmed. "You win!"
I stood motionless as he picked up his volleyball and walked away.
"So, that's how it's done?" I asked, cynically.
"There's nothing else we can do," he said.
I shrugged, grabbed my coat, book and phone and left the building with another win under my belt.
I feel so unsatisfied.