THE TWO SANDYS

I have previously mentioned that I have an over developed sense of fair play in my post on Ulysses. I really don't know the origin for this but think it is probably hereditary as I had a very soft centered Mother. My story will use name changes but if you were there, you know who you are and if you witnessed it, then you were as lucky as I was.


I have always been just slightly above average as an athlete but never even close to exceptional. Comfortable in sports would best describe my abilities I am totally lacking in competitiveness. Winning is nice but losing is Ok also. I just wanted to play. Thus when it came to the dreaded,"pick to play"scenario, I was among the first picked. A nice feeling. It always killed me though to watch the lines dwindle down to the "last picked".


I was in my senior year in high school when the PE department put on an intramural volleyball tournament at the end of that session. The instructors picked 8 of us to be captains and it was our job to field a team from the long line of hopefuls. Everyone was supposed to participate. There were to be 7 players per team, six on the floor and one sub. The captains lined up and took our picks in sequence. The competitive would go for the best players while some would try to field their friends.


My first pick was Joan who was a good, competitive player but more important, a good sport. She was thrilled and stood behind me as the start of what she hoped would be a good team. When it came my turn again, I picked half of the "Two Sandys."


The Two Sandys were friends you always saw together, always isolated, thus the name. They were each others only friend. Big Sandy was way too tall. She had badly stooped shoulders trying to hide that fact. Joan was a bit shocked by my choice but made room for Big Sandy behind her and my team was forming. Big Sandy was confused but had a small pleased smile.


When it came time for my next pick, I picked Little Sandy. Little Sandy may have been a "little person", I wasn't knowledgeable enough in those days to be sure. She was tiny and hanging out with Big Sandy only emphasized her smallness. The term,"Mutt and Jeff" was often snickered behind their backs. The Two Sandys were so pleased to be on the same team so early in the pick. Joan was getting more concerned. What was I thinking?


Hanna was my next pick. Hanna had epilepsy and while she only had one seizure that I knew about, she was generally given a wide berth as if it were contagious. That made her seek the back of any line with the exception that she was very talented in the modern dance portion of PE . Paula came next. She was very over weight but also did well in dance class. Typically light on her feet but sucked at sports.


By now, Joan was not thrilled to be on my team. She saw only crushing defeat in store for us. However, I was not picking a winning team, I was just trying to keep these girls from being picked last. I couldn't stop. My last pick was Susanna who had terrible acne but some athletic ability. I stayed true to my goal. I had a team of misfits and loners. They were confused but they seemed to hold their heads a little higher and paid close attention as I ran over our game plan.


We played in a single elimination tournament. Lose and you were out. I played in the first game but benched my self through out the rest of the games much to Joan's distress. Even the instructors asked me why I was sitting out, was I OK? I kind of half ways fibbed and said that I couldn't coach and play at the same time. Truth was, I was just thrilled with how my little team was playing. I wanted them to feel what it was like to win. I all ready knew that feeling. The other teams, who thought they had an easy win when the saw us as opponents, were suddenly giving us a bit of respect. We would not be rolled over.


Big Sandy could not spike but she was awesome at blocking shots. Suddenly her tallness was a good thing. Little Sandy got those close to the floor digs, being small was now an asset. Paula put her weight behind the serves and few could handle them. Hanna's natural balance and surprising speed, made her solid in the middle along with Susanna. Joan ran her self ragged picking up any slack. We were winning. Each unique girl played a unique role.


It would be nice to say we won it all that day but that only happens in the movies. We did place third though which was amazing. Those girls played over their heads and as a unit. We didn't know "high fives" in those days but there was a bunch of back slapping and hugs. This was from girls that previously had not even spoken to one another. I was so proud of them but most importantly, they were proud of them selves. It was a way cool day.


We didn't get any trophies but the first 3 teams were acknowledged. We were given gold stickers in the shape of a star that had a big "3rd" hand stamped in the center. All of us plastered these on our note books. No we didn't all magically become close friends and start hanging out, but we were bonded. We now smiled and spoke when we passed in the halls displaying our simple gold stickers proudly.


Thank you girls for giving me such a special memory. You truly are the best. Love ya.