The sun warmed my skin. The weather finally decided it might actually start to feel like summer. I tool off my flip flops and let my toes settle into the grass. Looking down to my left Olivia squints, smiles and looks up at me.
“How’s the blanket? Are you comfy?”
“Yep! Comfy mom! How much longer until the game is over?”
“It just started Olivia,” I answer.
“Can I go play at the park?” she asks.
“No, we are here to see your sisters soccer game. You need to stay and watch.”
“Finnnneee!!!” she says as if she is practicing being fifteen.
“LET’S GO FRANCINE!!!! GOOOOOO USA!!!!!” I cheer. “FRANCINE GET THE BALL!!’ GOOD KICK JOHN!!! WHAT A PASS MAGGIE!!! WOOO HOOO!!”
“Sighhhh,” I turn to my right and look at my husband. He looks at the field pretending not to notice I’m looking at him. So I pretend not to notice he’s ignoring me looking at him.
“GOOD TEAMMMMM WORK USA!!!” I root.
“KICK IT TO EMILY…errr MOLLY,” I shout… oops! Hope no one heard me get the name wrong.
“Sighhhh,” I hear it again. So I turn and look at my husband. He looks at the field pretending not to notice I’m looking at him.
“I wonder how long he’s going to keep this up?” I think.
So I pretend not to notice he’s ignoring me looking at him.
“THAT’S IT FRANCINE. NICE DEFENCES TEAM USA! YEEEEEAAAAAH TEAM USA! WAY TO GOOOOOOO!!!!!!”
“RUN RUN RUN FRANCINE GET THE BALL!!! GREAT JOB MARK. GREAT KICK MOLLY,” ooooo I got her name right that time. “GOOOOO USA!!!!” I shout and clap.
“NICE KICK JOHN! GOOOOOOO JOHN! GOOOO GOOOO GOOOO! FRANCINE GET TO THE BALL!”
“Sighhhh,” I hear again! I turn to my right and look at my husband again. YEP! He looks at the field pretending not to notice I’m looking at him.
“OK! What’s with the sighing?” I say to him.
“Nothing,” he says with a let me pretend it’s nothing but really it’s something smug on his face.
“No really! What is it!!” I say with a seriously tell me look. “What is it! Tell me.”
“You’re so loud,” he answers honestly.
“Other people cheer to ya know!”
“No they don’t,” he replies like he’s right.
“Yes, they do. Besides, I like to cheer. I get excited for the team and well…. I like to cheer for Francine.”
“Sometimes you get the names wrong,” he kindly adds.
“Yeah, hmmmmm ya heard that huh?! Well I still like to cheer.”
“sigggghhhhhhh,” he replies.
“Should I stop?” I think. And begin to think some more, “I really don’t want to make him unhappy. I also don’t want to be annoying or obnoxous. I REALLY don’t think I cheer THAT much more then anyone else. Pishaw, he doesn’t know! Plus, I like cheering for Francine and besides that’s what fans do! I seriously can’t help myself.”
Then I decided…
“Gooooo Francine!!! Run, run! Get up the field,” I whisper.
“Nice kick Marc! Get it! Get it!” I whisper again.
“WAYYYYYY TO GO USA!!!! GREAT DEFENSE!!!!” I cheer proudly.
Looking to my left I smile at Olivia. “Want to come sit up here with momma?” I smile.
“Sure,” she answers with a shoulder shrug added so it looks like she’ll only enjoy it a bit.
“GOOOOOOO FRANCINE! RUN RUN!! GET T…” I catch my hubs looking at me out of the corner of my eye.
I smile.
“Olivia, mommy cheers really loud! If you sit with me mommy be ready for cheering. Mommy likes to cheer A LOT!”
“Yeah you might go deaf,” my hubs pipes in.
I look at him and smile through grinding teeth. Olivia looks at me and smiles.
“You might have to cover your ears if you sit with me,” I say looking at her.
“Yeah momma {giggle giggle giggle} you cheer REALLY LOUD!”
