Uncle

I am 14 years old living in our same own home all the years right from my birth. Just like any other young man of my age, I love sports too. I play variety of them with football being my favourite. Recently my street mates and me planned to clean up the small ground in the end of the street and make it a proper badmitton court so that we don’t have to look for one far away every time.

I took the initiative and made the plans with my mates. We splitted and collected money from all the residents in the street. Some didn’t bothered and some encouraged us and some wanted to play with us once the work is done. The uncle lives opposite to my house is one of that kind. I knocked the door aiming for 10-20 rs. fund but taken by surprise to see him given me 100 bucks with out giving a second thought. ‘Good work chaps, do call me when you start playing and I will be glad to join you’. I was happy to see the generosity in him.

We further collected money from all corners and managed it well to clean the ground, fix the poles, buy net, rackets and shuttle corks. All done and we kicked off with a small knock out tournament. It was fun and I was specially happy. I felt like the king of the ground and I started inviting the donors one by one. My opposite house uncle showed his pleasure and he even had his own pair of rackets. I was very happy as all the rackets we had were useless.

I took him to the ground and all my mates were happy too. We greeted the uncle and offered him a place to join our doubles knock out tournament that we conduct every day with the available number of participants. Today we 8 people were there. Handy enough, we made teams quickly. Uncle is the only adult in our whole gang. He looked a sort of nervous and tensed, I cant make out. I allotted the worst player in our gang to him as I anticipated that uncle will compensate the over all efficiency. I joined one of the other chap of my own age and skill. There were these 2 10th standard guys always stay in same team and they play for their school too. One more team formed with 2 8th standard guys. All set and were ready.

The first match was between the uncle’s team and my team. The other chaps will do the umpiring part and the cheering audience. The atmosphere was electric and lively. I am enjoying every second. ‘Uncle, you do the first service’ I ordered him. ‘Its ok, you start’ he gave a gentle smile but chaos in his face. I did the service and uncle cant manage to take it. ‘Uncleeee missed the first take in his career here’ the so called commentator/opponents screamed and I felt pity on the uncle. I thought he is not as good as I expected. The next service went to his partner and he messed up too.

‘Uncle’s team is in trouble’ again commentators started to embarrass uncle. This time my service to uncle and he smashed the cork back to my face with in a flash. ‘Oh… uncle got his form and rocking’ these commentator idiots are hyping everything. The game went on and we were no match for the uncle. Finally we lost in a huge difference. I however enjoyed and din bothered losing to an adult but I cant see the fun of winning on uncle’s face and I cant think of a reason. He should be proud to win with having a worst player in our gang as his partner.

The next game was between those 10th std. guys and 8th std. guys. Obviously these athletic well strong big guys crushed the 8th guys to death so quickly. ‘Here is the finals between the uncle’s team and the 10th guys team’ the commentators thinks that they are speaking for world cup finals. Me took the referee position to avoid fights. Uncle was giving all those crocodile smiles here and then. The match started ‘Uncle serving… oh no ! uncle’s partner cant take the return smash from the opponents’ the commentators were fully charged despite the loss against the 10th guys in previous match. Uncle tried to play his best to win but the 10th guys were challenging. ‘Match point serve for uncle’ my mate shouted. I liked uncle’s game and he is doing well but he is still worried inspite of having good lead. Oh ya, he won the tournament and we all wished him. He took the wishes with simple thanks with out expressing much. My mate murmered to me ‘He thinks he is roger federer’.. I laughed and answered ‘Roger is tennis champ’… he din speak to me after that but I got what he actually meant.

We all invited uncle for next morning’s play. ‘Yeah, I will definitely be there’ he answered in a tiry tone. I never seen him again after that day and we all are still surprised to know the reason.

-- The End --

Dear readers,

I guess you would have guessed who would be the uncle, played a ‘KEY’ role in the above extract. Here are the reasons why the uncle never ever showed a happy smile all over the story and never turned up to that ground ever again.

-Uncle expected atleast 2-3 adults of his age in the ground and unfortunately all were kids.

-Uncle was always feared about his image ‘What if the uncle loses the game to kids’

-Finally, uncle feels that he never heard so many ‘uncle’ in his life as he heard in that ground. Pity man, that 10th std. guy looked like only 2-3 years younger than him and even he called him as ‘UNCLE’

So my dear fellow age mates. Next time you go play with kids, make sure you don’t have this uncle syndrome that might take the night’s sleep out of you.

With best regards,

The Angry ‘Uncle’.