© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Roger stood right on the edge,
his heart pounding, his will beginning to waver.
"JUMP! JUMP!" shouted the voices that seemed to come
from all around him.
"C'MON MAN ... JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!"
"Who are these people?!" wondered Roger. "What do
they want?"
Roger was not going to disappoint them. He said a quick
prayer, leaned forward, and arms flailing at his sides, he jumped.
"Fourteen feet, two inches!" exclaimed the referee.
"A new world record in the standing broad jump!"
The crowd cheered. Now Roger knew who they were: good folks
of all kinds, whether sitting in the bargain seats or the brick enclosed skyboxes, whose
inspiration had made him a champion.
25 comments:
Great story! A lovely twist of hope and encouragement at the end.
No more broad jump??? God, how old am I, and how did I go from being hip to being out of it??? Also, when did "hip" stop being a thing. Gah!
I never heard of broad jump. Does that make me very young, very British or the product of a sheltered life? Nice one.
Dear Perry,
I think I might have set the record for the lowest standing broad jump ins school. Not only was I the shortest kid in class, I was the least athletic. But now that I'm the decrepit age of 62 no one expects me to jump. I said all that to say I enjoyed your story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I'm so glad your story didn't end with blood and guts.
I tried to jump a broad once. She was lying on a blanket in the sand, couldn't have been more than 3 1/2 or 4 feet wide. I took a running jump, but my toe caught on her bikini top and worked like a bungee cord. It slung me all the way back to the parking lot. The referee disqualified me for getting out of my lane. Too bad the judge that got Tom Brady off wasn't working that beach.
They still do, Perry. It's just called the long jump now. Silly man!
janet
Looks like I was wrong about the broad jump (See Janet below), but it is no longer an Olympic event which is what I had in mind. Now, JUMP!
Very young, of course.
I am three years more decrepit, so I expect you to jump! C'mon, I'm waiting!
I got a paper cut just now. So it did, sort of.
Very funny. Unless it actually happened, in which case I'm very turned on! Thanks, Russell. And you too, Tom Brady.
I stand corrected. And then I jump. Thanks, Janet!
I wonder how much they pay for those brick enclosed sky boxes. They sound like the ultimate in luxury sports vantage points. LIke Lizy, I'm breathing a sigh of relief that no blood was spilled here.
Good one... not what I was expecting. They called it the Broad Jump when I did it... didn't get too far.
I'm so glad this story turned out to be a positive inspiring one. Thanks Perry.
There I was expecting great tragedy, and again you make me chuckle. Lovely story.
Very funny.
And it may be called the long jump now, but it is definitely not standing.
The have a run up longer than a 747 on take-off.
They have, of course!
Me too. Of course they run non-stop gladiator movies up in the sky boxes.
Yes, I think you, me, and Russell all didn't get too far!
You're welcome, Dawn. Inspiration is what I'm all about!
Thanks. Glad Roger is chuckling too.
That's what confused me! Thanks for the stats.
Well, Perry, at least someone is jumping somewhere. Take heart. Perhaps in time there'll be enough fans to bring it back. That was a great twist. I could see someone standing on a ledge. Well done. :) --- Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne. Now, Jump!
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