Honestly, it was kind of too hot for soccer practice I thought, but the kids didn't' seem to notice too much. The boys were being run through their drills and looked to be as focused as nine-year-olds could be, but also looked to be having fun.
Clearly most of the parents thought it was too hot as well, because they weren't there. I'm not usually the one bringing our boy to practice, but my wife had a work thing that was taking too long so I was more than happy to step in. I had kind of looked forward to catching up on any gossip from the group of parents that was mostly the neighborhood moms.
But I was alone, way off to the side, under the shade of some trees that lined the field behind the school. After a few minutes, I pulled out my phone and started playing a mindless game, lining up jewels as fast as I could. So I didn't even notice when Ellie showed up until she was standing next to me.
"Mind if I join you," she asked, smiling.
"Not at all" I replied, "I was beginning to think I might be the only one foolish enough to sit through this."
"Well I'm glad you're here she said, otherwise I'd be thinking I'm the foolish one," she offered in a light-hearted tone and short giggle.
She unfolded her chair and sat down and said, "where's Steph?"
"Oh, she's stuck in a meeting that seems like it will never end and couldn't get away." I replied
"Lucky you," she laughed.
"At least the company is good" I said, shrugging my shoulders and smiling.
She laughed, but I was suddenly a little concerned I may have overstepped, but she didn't seem to notice.
After a moment of watching the boys run through a passing drill, she said, "I'm actually kind of glad to be out in the sun, its freezing at work and my feet are killing me."
I knew she was a nurse at the university hospital downtown but didn't really know much beyond those basics, so I asked, "what do you do at the hospital? I mean, I know you're a nurse but I don't really know anything else."
"Oh, I work in the NICU, that's intensive care for babies, mostly preemies. I love it but there's a lot to be done and never a moment to just sit and collect yourself, or get off your feet. It's go, go, go the whole time."