Few minutes later.
Turning the corner, the park was in their view. As they were nearing, Eric could see some people scrambling with haste. People were shouting at their family members, but from where Eric was, the shouts translated into muffles. He assumed the same boys from before must've smashed their windows and took off. Because they were running out their houses with macheties. This sparked a thought into his mind, was his father actually right, was the government actually planning something. He thought. His thoughts were interrupted by the frightening roar of the blackend clouds. His spine shivered, sending in a second wave to his shoulders and to the back of his neck.
"Is it really going to rain before noon." Eric said out loud.
"Yes. We have been getting some really unexpected weather since Febuary."
"I completely forgot how bad the weather is here."
"The last time you came here, you were about 7 or 6."
"I think I was 6."
Suddenly Keji face gradually morphed into a smirk as they were walking.
"Are you going mad." Eric said with a teasing look on his face.
Keji laughed until he barely managed to get what he wanted to say out of his mouth.
"Do you remember when," A brief pause of laughter.
"When you ran outside not wearing no underwear no nothing and shaked your p p at those little girls." Keji erupted in laughter.
Eric face was shallow and unwavering, but yet under that fasade he clenched his teeth as hard as he could. If Eric's skin was just as light as his mother's, his face would have been glowing bright red.
He began walking with more haste away from Keji. He had no interest of hearing his further mocking and no interest in hearing more embarrassing stories about the past.
Some moments later they walked into the park as the dead leaves floated throughout the air. The park size was massive, the air was filled with silence, the only sound to be heard was the high pitch notes of the whispering winds. Most of the park was littered with dead leaves, some in ponds, some on the ground, some on the benches and some scattered across a bridge. They all came from the tress with hanging brown leaves. As Eric passed by he grabbed one and crushed it into dust.
In their long walk to the park, Keji has finally quiet down with some occasional chuckles. To shut him up for good Eric had to find something to talk about.
"They made a bridge."
"Oh, yes. It has some fish in it. The market sells some fishes that are alive, and the children buy them. Then come here to set them free in the river."
As they were walking over the surprisingly clear water beneath them, Eric saw some colourful fish swimming up and down stream.
"I have some fish food in my pocket."
He pulled out a clear plastic bag of brownish substance that almost appeared to be crushed into powder.
"Here." He said, giving it to Eric.
Steering over the bridge, he careful shook the food out, as he watched multiple fishes swarmed, both big and small, eating. He watched as their little mouth open and close, repeatedly as the the bag emptied.
"There is a garbage can up ahead, you can throw the bag in."
"There is the field." Eric said enthusiastically.
He began running to the field and quickly dumped the bag in the garbage bin on the the way off the bridge. But within 10 seconds of running, his body began to fail him. Just like a heavily used car slowing down in the middle of the road. His breathing was heavy as he tried to catch his breath.
"ERIC." Keji shouted as he kicked the ball in the ear.
He began running to receive it. But instead of receiving it he merely stopped the ball from hopping across the field.
When he looked back Keji was already on the field, jogging towards him. How could a old man like him be so strong and energetic. He wondered.
"Lets play a 1 on 1 and then do some free kicks."
Eric nodded slowly, accepting the challenge. But at the back of his mind he knew their is a good chance he won't be able to win against him.
"You start." Said Keji, as he backed up, giving Eric enough room to start with.
He took a deep breath, and rushed towards him, kicking the ball at a safe distance.
As he was nearing Keji got ready to intercept, but Eric glided the ball away from him, planning to shoot the ball at the right flank. But Keji woudn't let that happen, he chased Eric, gliding in the wind. Why is he so. Eric coudn't finish the thought before Keji tried to steal the ball away from him. Eric blocked Keji with his arm, and Keji did the same. Eric, desperate tried to lean his body onto him, but that didn't work. So Eric tried to use his old trick that always through his School mates off. Eric suddenly stopped, holding the ball in place with a foot. But Keji violently kicked the ball away from. Eric was in shock, he was hoping to throw him off and use his momentum against him, so he could have a brief 1 second window to glide past him. Eric, in disbelief tried chasing him, trying to close the 2 meter gap between them. But it was too late, Keji shot the ball, the collision a shock in the air. As the ball pierced the air, it curved and made contact at the far right side of the goal. Eric was stunned, everytime he saw people shoot the ball that way it was like a miracle to him. As if the striker was defying physics itself. He tried practicing over and over, trying to develop a technique that can grant him the same ability. But it didn't matter how many hours he spent after school attempting it, he never succeeded.
"Good match. I think the problem is, is that i'm taller than you." Keji said extending his arm for a fist bump.
Eric fist bumped him and sat on the ground, breathing heavily.
"Either that or your just slow." He said, playfully kicking Eric's arm.
He gave Keji a brief smile then resumed trying to control his breathing. His lungs seemed to be on fire, with each breath he could feel the soreness of his lungs. This was always a problem for Eric, even before he gotten bigger. He always had low stamina compared to his peers when they were playing, most times he was the one always getting a water break. The extra fat just made it worse. Or was it not the fat, is it my breathing. Maybe a combination of the both. He thought.
"Alright, are you ready to take shots." He said making another goal.
Eric nodded, and got up. By the time he retrieved the ball form the goal he could see some children his age walking down the bridge. They were close enough that Eric could make out their genders, 5 boys and 2 girls.
He Ran back to Keji, with the ball in hand.
"Old man Keji, how did you make the ball curve."
"To be honest with you Eric, I just know how to. In my late 20s I practiced every day until I finally knew how to do. Same with Adut."
"So I just have to keep practicing. Maybe. Maybe their is a technique for it, but I am telling you right now Eric, I have no clue.
"Alright."
Eric prepared to make a free kick. He breathed in and out, then dashed forward, building momentum, and shot the ball. For a second he thought the ball was going to go over the goal, but instead it colliding with the top net.
"Not ba."
"MISTER KEJI."
The loud voice interrupted Keji, the sound briefly rung in Eric's ears. When he turned to look who it was, it was one of the girls from that group of children. She ran towards Keji, hugging him, as the others followed behind her.
"Akeer, what's up. How are you."
"I'm fine." she replied looking up at him, smiling.
"Old man Keji, guess what?" A boy said running behind her.
"What Gatluak."
"They are rioting. Our parents sent us here, so they can protect their shops."
"Where are they rioting?" He asked with a concerned tone.
"Everywhere, at the market, in the communities everywhere."
The oythers nodded, supporting what the boy said to be valid.
"Eric, sorry, but stay her until, me or your father come for you." He said, running off.
Eric stood there, confused about what is going on. Are they talking about the people from before, he wondered.
"Hello." A girl shighly said.
"Hi."
As Eric made eye contact, she quickly looked away.
"Do you want to play Football?." One of the boys said.
He was tall, taller than Eric and the whole group, tall enough to look down on Eric.
"Sure." Eric responded.
"What position do you play?" Another boy asked.
"Striker."
"Good, so me you and Akeer."
Eric looked at her again, but she broke eye contact. Then Eric recognised her, she was one of those girls that saw him naked. The realization sent a jolt into his heart, his cheeks stung with embarrassment, he looked away quickly.
"Nyandeng, do you want to be gold keeper?" The tallest asked.
"Ok." The other girl responded.
"Alright, so me and you Arop." He said, tapping the boys shoulder.
"Eric, let's go, this is our goal." The boy on Eric's team said, pointing towards the opposite goal, jogging.
Eric followed.
"Ok, Akeer, you be goal keeper."
She nodded.
"YOU READY." The tallest yelled.
"YES." Eric's teamate yelled.
"I'm going on the right flank, that part is where i'm most good at." Eric said.
The boy nodded. Eric passed the ball to him.
"Pass it back to me, when i'm open." Eric said, running out into the field. His teamate followed.
The opposing team ran out too, positioning themselves.
The tallest was on the right flank and the other was at the middle of the field, ready to stop the boy.
In his mind, Eric cursed, knowing he would have a tough time against the oldest of them. As the opposing midfielder attempted to steal the ball, Eric's teammate passed it to him. But the accuracy was a bit off. He spead up, feeling the cold wind past by his face, as he successfully catch the ball, before it was passed to the enemy. But before Eric could figure out what to do next his opponent one with air, was already in front of him, trying to quickly steal the ball. But Eric was just a half a second faster, and retreated the ball from his line of grasp. He sprinted towards the goal, his lungs on fire, and his abdomen aching. Not yet. The goal is just right in front of me. He thought. He was about to take the shot, but the midfielder was now playing defence. He slid across the ground, trying to knock the ball away to his partner. But Eric saw this coming, he immediately back the ball up, and kick it away to the side, stylefully with his heel. At further ahead, Eric could see his teammate signaling to past the ball. The goal was wide open, left unguarded, all that was left to deal with was the goal keeper. But out of nowhere the tallest of them barreled into him, blocking Eric and kicking the ball away from him. He almost tumbled to the ground, but managed to get his footing. Immediately as he had possession of the ball, he kicked it quarter field, his teammate was already running to Eric's goal and received it. Now, his goal is wide open. Eric and his teammate ran to their goal, trying to somehow by some miracle, reach in time to block him. But Eric knew deep down that it was futile, he was way too far from them to reach in time. Besides, Eric's vision was darkening; he knew if he continued to run he would be blind. It has happened before and it cost him his match. But with little water and a minute of rest he will be fine.
Eric began to slow down, as his lungs burned like a raging inferno. As he did, he saw as the ball collided with the net, as the girl tried jumping in the air to block it to no avail.
Eric and his teammate stopped running, and collapsed onto the grassy field, breathing in and out. He could feel the thick saliva piled up in his mouth, as his lungs filled up with air.
"You are good." The tallest of them said, extending a hand out.
Eric took it. And he helped him up.
"Thanks." Eric said, quickly refiling his lungs.
"Are you traveling with your family?" He asked.
Eric nodded, too busy trying to catch his breath.
"Have you ever been to Juba? How was it?"
"It was nice. It had some really tall buildings, and the streets were really clean."
"Was the food good?" The tallest asked.
"It, was ok. How about you, did you ever went to Juba."
"No, but i'm going to ask my parents if we could go."
A brief silence hung between them before Eric asked.
"What's your name?"
"Thon. And his name is Atem." He said, pointing towards Eric's exhausted teammate.
"The person I was playing with, name is Riak. And the girl name is Nyangdeng, and the pretty one's name is Akeer."
Eric glanced back. He must be talking about her, he thought.
"My name is Eric."
Suddenly the dark clouds erupted in a loud thunder clap, sending shivers in both their spines.
"THON." NyangDeng shouted from across the feild.
Beside her was Riak tying his shoelaces.
"WE HAVE TO GO HOME."
"OK." He shouted back.
They ran off the field, and a couple seconds later, they disappeared behind the trees.
"It's going to rain." Atem said, walking towards them.
"AKEER. COME. WE ARE DONE PLAYING." He yelled, while waving her over.
"We better leave too, before the rain starts falling. Are the both of you coming.
Thon nodded, but Eric shook his head.
"I can't go. The old man told me I have to stay right here until he comes back."
"Yes, but he didn't know that it was going to rain." Thon said.
"But what about the riot, it's not safe.
"He will understand. Don't worry, the old man is really cool. Besides, it's just some people protesting, with some people acting like animals throwing glass bottles at some houses." Atem said.
Eric took a moment to ponder. Should he disobey Keji and potentially feel the pain of a flying glass bottle shatter on his head, or should he stay there and get completely soaked, and wait for him to come back and say, why didn't you go back to Adut's house. Eric came to a decision, he was going to go with them.
"Alright." He said to them.
But little did Eric knew this decision was nothing but the calm of the storm, to the future calamity quickly approaching.