When the ball hit the road it popped like a firecracker and spewed lit match heads in the air. For the most part it was anti-climactic and was harmless. The ball bounced over the fence and onto the track where the girls track coach was working with his athletes. We laughed a little and walked away without giving it a second thought.
Within an hour Daniel and I were called into the office to see the principle but we had no idea why. Our innocence was demonstrated on our surprised expressions as the principle portrayed his angry disposition. Furthermore, there was a police officer there with the girls track coach. We were threatened with expulsion, arrest, and prevention of graduating from high school in two weeks.
The most detrimental threats they barked however, were my exclusion from being able to enter the Marine Corps and not being allowed to go to the high school state track and field championchips. We were scheduled to leave that day and I was favored to win the discus again and our 4x100 meter relay team had a chance to place or win as well. Daniel and I both were on that relay team.
I was concerned about all the threats but the one that got me down the most was not being able to join the Marine Corps. If fact I was heart-broken because in my nieve mind I honestly thought that because of a stupid home-made firecracker I was going to be denied an entry into the Marines.
Within an hour they decided to let us go to Provo, Utah for the track meet where I ended up winning the discus again despite my paranoia. My father was a teacher at the high school and my track coach and thought the whole bomb thing was funny. In the end I never really heard much more about the incident and never really suffered any consequences nor did Daniel.
I feel that the whole experience was a lesson for me to combat fear, paranoia, and anxiety. I have overcome a lot of all three in my life since joining the Marines for the first time but it has taken several situations like the tennis ball fiasco to learn to roll with the punches.
After graduation, I would work the summer of 1997 laying concrete slats at the pig farm in Milford, Utah. I was scheduled to leave for boot camp on October 13, 1997. My objective was to join the reserves which would allow me to go on a full-time Mormon mission.
Quote of The Day: Albert Einstein said, "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."
