SEPTEMBER SUN

I went to the park with a (vegan) cheese roll today. It was one of those hot September afternoons when the cumulus clouds hang in the pale blue sky, the sun burns, but there’s also a cool wind, and long shadows from tall trees.

Two groups of sixth-formers from the local school turned up. Piles of bags and coats, a shiny ball, and some shouts of hilarity heralded (as they always do) the friendly game of lads’ football about to begin. I watched from the bench.

I kind of miss those days. I mean I didn’t much enjoy them - football wasn’t exactly my thing. But camaraderie was. Toe-punting a ball into the trees might have caused some groans and a few swears in my direction, but at least it was kind of funny. And we were mates together, as I remember. I doubt my peer group today would be up for a kick-about in the park somehow.

Bit hot for jeans, I thought as the ball rolled towards me. It was being chased by a cool guy in a black t-shirt and yes, dark blue jeans. He’d just been side-footed by a dude now running about with his t-shirt over his head.

I’m guessing these guys had to go back to school after that. They must have been sweating like sailors later - not exactly what you want in Further Maths or A Level English. Perhaps they have showers these days. All seems a bit revolutionary to me.

Anyway. Time’s odd isn’t it? Men get isolated as they grow up. No-one’s exactly sure why, I suppose. Family, life, work, harder to make new friends. We invest time in our partners and our children, and then suddenly - where is everybody?

A loud roar came from the lads. Something - maybe a foul, maybe a nutmeg or some fancy ball skills, perhaps even a goal at the other end? I wished I could have joined in. Or perhaps better, I could have sat like a wise old sage and told them that this feeling, this moment in the September sun… wouldn’t last forever, that they should cherish it and remember it, and hold on to it.

I munched the last of my cheese roll and stretched my stiff legs, extending my toes in my trainers.