Marco: Do you remember when I wanted to try out for the football team?
Mum: Overnight you started watching football. You spent all your pocket money collecting player cards. You even begged us to buy you a football.
Marco: Do you remember why?
Mum: A local business was sponsoring the team. They said anyone with talent could win money. And if you were really good, the junior league would snap you up.
Marco: Every boy in the neighbourhood wanted to get on that team.
Mum: Most of them pushed by their parents.
Marco: You and dad always did the opposite of what everyone else was doing.
Mum: I bought you a football didn’t I?
Marco: Dad wasn’t happy about it though.
Mum: Your obsession came on so sudden I thought it would pass just as quick. In the back of my mind I thought the experience might do you good.
Marco: Dad talked me out of trying.
Mum: Do you remember why?
Marco: He never said. I suppose after watching me practice he could see I was no footballer.
Mum: You spent hours trying to dribble that ball. You couldn’t keep the blinking thing at your feet. You kept tripping over it.
Marco: I was so mad at him for not letting me try.
Mum: You’re not the sporty type.
Marco: The boys that didn’t make the team were laughed at, for years.
Mum: Nearly caused a neighbourhood riot.
Marco: It might have damaged me for life. Do you remember Lucio?
Mum: I don’t think he ever got over it.