Alexander stepped onto the field ready to do battle. This year he would not lose. This year he was determined to win no matter what. For years, he dreamed of what it would be like for him and his brother Nathan to take the bragging rights home after the annual family reunion game. Alexander’s cousins John and Marcus always won, but this year was different. Alexander and Nathan had grown four feet taller, and their arms were longer, so getting the ball shouldn’t have been a problem.

What he didn’t know was that John and Marcus had grown since their last encounter as well. John stood a good 5 foot 10, while Marcus was pushing 6 feet! Alexander was only 5 foot 6, and so was his twin Nathan, but what they lacked in height they made up for in determination. It had rained for two straight days, which threatened the reunion, and left a sizable amount of water covering the field next door to their great grandmother's house where the reunion consistently took place. Grandma Sorenson regularly sat on the porch in her white rocking chair to watch the boys play at the reunions making sure not to take sides, but would always keep score.

She also was the one to blow the whistle, which started things. Today was no different, as she sat watching the boys face off against one another with the soccer ball in the middle of the two groups; she put the silver whistle to her lips and blew one sharp high note then watched as both groups of boys dived for the ball sending waves of earth colored water flying in towering arcs through the air.