It was a wonderful feeling that I could finally do sports after school, join the school newspaper, hang out. I started trying out for the girls' basketball team...but I missed the final try-out because I didn't hear the announcement for it at the end of school, so I missed being on the team. I was very frustrated because it was something that I had wanted for a long time. I played volleyball instead. There was no team but there were round-robin games after school.
Then, in the spring...I decided to try out for cheerleading. I practiced my jumps for months before the tryouts. The varsity cheerleaders conducted the tryouts. They didn't know me well and I think some of them were surprised that I was a decent jumper. I wasn't one of the popular girls who were normally chosen for cheerleader and I wasn't sure that I really had a chance. By the time the audition came around, I gave it my all and waited til the following Monday for the results. I was chosen to be an alternate! That meant that if a regular was absent/sick/ineligible due to grades, I would get to cheer in her place. And it did happen...I was able to cheer often enough to make it really fun traveling to football and basketball games on the bus.
The bus rides were great! I feel sorry for the bus driver though...we were loud and had so many bus songs...some rude and bawdy. Like the one about granny...swinging on the outhouse door, without her nighty, waiting for the garbage man...he comes at 7...sometimes 11...all the way to heaven on the outhouse door!
