He didn’t want the other team to win but
on fourth and four, the other team’s quarter-

back threw right down the middle into the
end zone into the arms of the receiver and

the ball slipped right through, right through
even in unmerciful, brutal slow motion.

His team went on to win but he grieved
for the kid on the other team who couldn’t

hold onto the ball to tie the game and
leave it to others to decide the outcome.

As it is, the kid sat on the sidelines crying
his eyes out and the hard-bitten, old man

who had experienced his fair share of sorrow
shed a tear, too.