The Game

Steven did not understand what all the excitement was about.  These slack jaws around him were fixated on the television and braying like donkeys every time one of the players touched the ball.  The flags hung everywhere.  All around him people were decked out in the red, white, and blue.  Steven felt alone in a sea of patriotic idiocy.  These people did not care for this sport.  Two weeks ago they barely knew it existed.  Now they were standing on top of tables and leading the whole place in their moronic cheers.

            Steven had not wanted to come here.  His best friend Greg, whom he hated, has dragged him along.  He had said something about meeting women here.  Steven had argued that he and Susan were only on a break, and he didn’t want to meet women who hung out at a place where the servers wore referee uniforms.  As a general rule, Steven did not like crowds, or people, or Buffalo wings.  This place represented a hellish landscape to Steven.

            He took another drink of the swill they passed off as beer.  They served it in a giant glass, as if giving you more of it made up for the fact that it was absolutely terrible.  They probably just used the tap in the kitchen and passed it off as lager, Steven thought.  A roar went up from the crowd.  Someone must have scored, or not scored, Steven did not bother keeping track.  Greg was off at the bar, making new friends and socializing with people who actually wanted to be there.  It was just as well to Steven.

            He pulled out his well-thumbed copy of “The Road” and began to read.  He was lost in his mind for what seemed like ages when he was suddenly jolted back to reality by a loud throat clearing.  He looked up, and one of the busty zebras who worked here was standing over him.  She made that smile that you make when you are obviously faking and asked Steven if he would like another.  Steven resisted the urge to upturn the contents of his half empty stein onto her pink highlights.  He only sighed, pushed down the frustration, and politely said no.  He hated Greg even more for this.