Football

Towards the end of the second half of the footy match, Geoff’s mobile phone beeped within my bag. Its text tone was slightly different to mine, so I could tell them apart. I allowed Geoff to reach in and retrieve it, then read the text message.

“We’re still going to have tea at your place, aren’t we?” he checked.

“Yeah, I think so,” I agreed with a nod.

Geoff bobbed his head, then replied to the text. He dropped his phone back into our bag.

“Come on, come on, boy,” Aaron called out.

He leaned forward in his stadium seat, chewing on his already stubbed fingernails.

“Use your momentum, boy, come on,” Aaron yelled.

The player in blue, black and white was pulled to the turf. Figures in orange and black piled on top of him, then a siren sounded throughout the stadium. Aaron burst to his feet and swore. Who said the football was meant to be fun?

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The younger sister of missing Sydney man Mitchell del Reyan, Nina del Reyan lives on Dharug land in western Sydney. She is studying a teaching degree at Macquarie University. Nina loves her family and friends and is deeply committed to finding answers and justice for the families of missing people.

Abbey Sim is the founder of Huldah Media. She is a theology student who lives on the lands of the Dharug people in Sydney, Australia. A candidate for Honours at the University of Technology Sydney, Abbey desires to explore themes of hope, love and longing through her storytelling. She is the author of 'Shadow' and 'From the Wild'.