FastestGameonTwoFeet

ArtbyBradenHallett

吴景超译

棍网球号称最快的球类运动，但当凯勒和他的队友们争夺一个地面球，试图为海豚队获得控球权时，一切仿佛都慢了下来。球从对方守门员的球杆弹出，落到地上。作为一名中场球员，凯勒的职责是把球传给进攻球员，帮助他们进球得分。凯勒触到了球，但由于球杆举得太高，没能把它铲起来。他转身进行了第二次尝试，却被对方中场球员抢了先。凯勒知道因为自己的失误，全队输掉了比赛。他很是沮丧，觉得自己或许该放弃棍网球，继续踢足球。赛后，教练在训练时强调，中场球员要想办法把球传到空旷区域，为了达到这个目的，用脚也行。凯勒内心一喜，因为比起用球棍，他更擅长用脚去控制球。在下一场比赛中，又到了两队比分接近的关键时刻，凯勒拦截了对方传球，球落在了地上，瞬间一群球员一拥而上。凯勒的足球本能觉醒，一脚把球踢到了无人防守的地方……这次他的助攻成功了吗？

Lacrosseiscalled“thefastestgameontwofeet,”buteverythingslowedtoacrawlasKylerandhisteammatesfoughtforagroundball,’sgoalie.

Asamidfielder,or“middie,”Kyler’sjobwastogetth,butnowseveralplayerscrowdedaroundtheball,someevenstandingstillastheytriedtorakeittowardthemselves.

“Don’trakeit!”Coachshouted.“Scoopit!”

Parentswereshoutingtoo.“Someonegettheball!”

Someonedid,,themiddiesprinteddownfieldandbouncedashotpasttheDolphins’goalietotakethelead,3–2.

Thegameedaminutelater,andKylerfeltbadknowinghe’,hethoughtglumly.

“You’regoingtogettiredofhearingmesaythis,”Coachtoldtheteamafterward,“’’ssomethingwehavetogetbetterat.”

“Guesswe’llbeworkingonscoopinggroundballsnextpractice,”Kyler’

Kylerwonderedifhe’,slidethepocketofyourstickunderneaththeballjustbeforereachingit,out.

Atpracticethatweek,Coachcameupwithadrillthatincludedaground-ballsituationliketheonethey’’sturn,hewassupposedtoscooptheball,dodgeadefer,andpasstoanearbyoffensiveplayer.

“Looktopassrightaway,orrunawayfromthepressure,”,acrowdofplayersbattledfortheball.

“Doanythingtogettheballouttoanopenspacewhereit’sgoingtobeeasiertopickup,”Coachsaid.“Youcanuseyoursticktoswattheball,!”

“That’slegal?”Kylerasked.

“’llcount.”

Astheirnextgameapproached,

“Youcandothis,”CoachtoldtheDolphinsongameday.“You’vebeenpracticinghardallweek.”

Onceplaybegan,Kyler’spregamejitterslifted,replacedwithexcitement.

,oneofthemwastheretopickitup.

TheBobcatshadcontrolledtheballformostofthesecondhalfwhentheDolphinssuddenlyrattledoffapairofgoals,puttingthemahead,6–5.

TheBobcatsansweredwithagoaloftheirown,,butaDolphindeferforcedhimtomakeabadpass,whichKylerintercepted—anddropped.

“Ball!”someoneyelled.

,,Kyler’,itsaid,echoingCoach’,sprintedafterit,andscoopeditup.

ButadeferwasalreadyjabbingatKyler’,thodgedleftandranaroundhim,chargingintotheBobcats’

,,,hespunaroundtheleftsideofthecreaseandtuckedabackhandshotintothegoal,makingthescore7–6.

“Youwereusingyourheadoutthere!”CoachcalledtoKyler.

Andmyfeet,

LacrossewasgoingtobeOKafterall.

本文刊登在《英语沙龙》（原版阅读）

2024年5月刊