The Arena of Misfortune

Tim Sasse

 The boys’ baseball team and the girls’ softball team were brave warriors who strived to do what no man or woman has done before: battle at the International School of Bangkok (ISB) for a fastpitch tournament.

Like all the best gladiators, they flew there on the wings of eagles (planes) to be met by charioteers (buses). The charioteers agreed to bring them the rest of the way. After a long chariot ride, these teams marched onto the expansive campus of ISB. Before they could get into the arena (the field) though, they had to admire it first. Who knew that something so beautiful could be so deadly?

After pondering about their impending doom, they rushed to the arena. Immediately, they geared up on the battlefield: gloves in hands and seeds in mouths; what more could a person ask for?

Both teams started to ready themselves by throwing weapons (baseballs and softballs) across the field. After five extremely short minutes of throwing, the team met in their dugouts to discuss strategy.

For the boys’ team, the strategy was impeccable, but somehow they managed to lose the battle in their heads before they even started fighting. The judge (referee) gave the signal, and the game started. After a few long minutes, the enemies were given the advantage. The team, however, did not give up. They fought the uphill battle even though it was pretty much a lost cause. The only thing keeping them going was the legends of other heroes. The legends were so sweet that a faint taste of an oasis in a desert came upon them.

But the struggle was so great that the contestants were having mirages. Like victory, it was always so close yet always out of reach. Many innings of fighting passed, and the battle halted. Those who remained lined up along the field to pay their respects to the enemies. As one of the greats said, "Our journey was filled it's an abundance of mishaps and glory, though mostly mishaps," Dominic Fitzgerald. Although the boys did not perform as well as they wished, they learned an important lesson: even the best fall sometimes.