I don’t remember exactly when I stopped being a kid

 

It seemed to have gradually ended 

 

Like how a soccer ball slowly deflates with every kick

 

 

My father taught me how to play soccer

 

He found it important to pass on such an important part of our Hispanic culture

 

For hours we would play

 

Our patchy dried up yard became a world class stadium 

 

The fear of an uncertain tomorrow was subsided through soccer matches between 

 

father and son

 

Until the sirens came to spectate

 

I had never been more terrified of the color green in my life

 

I didn’t even know the meaning of I.C.E at the time

 

Son translate what the officer is saying

 

For five years, I played soccer on my own

 

I felt that kick

 

 

We constantly face adversity in this foreign land

 

For simply wanting a better life

 

Our mere presence raises emotions of animosity

 

But they forget 

 

They forget that we were once children who also just wanted to play soccer

 

 

 

You have to be the new man of the house 

 

Find a job outside of school

 

Care for your siblings when you get home

 

Child, no now your a clown

 

Juggling school, work, and family

 

My dreams and aspirations became burdens

 

Soccer?

 

No time for that

 

Let the ball get kicked by someone else

 

 

But it just sat there 

 

On the barren yard

 

Its white paint flaking off as the sunlight penetrated the outer coating

 

 

It longed to be used 

 

To bring back happiness, to a naive child who simply wanted to play soccer

 

 

 

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