Flash Fiction: Half Time!

My voice was hoarse from shouting words of encouragement as every good parent should and my hands, sore from unsuccessfully trying to dispel the flies buzzing around me. Single parenthood was not easy, I thought to myself. Sighs of relief from several dehydrated parents could be heard as the referee whistled for half time. Only forty five more minutes to go.

“Good show Jackson!”, I yelled, to the stinging stares of his team mates parents. It seemed each time the ball was passed to Jackson, he held it for only a second before it was tackled by the opposing teammates. At one point, he shot a goal, turns out it was in his own net.

Jackson ran over, drenched in his mud stained sports shirt and smothered me with a peck on the cheek.
“Thanks mum, I knows there are so many other things you’d rather be doing”.
“Course not, honey”. I lied through my teeth. But in that moment, his horrible football skills didn’t matter, he was already the best son.

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word count: 172 words. The above story is in response to Flash Fiction For Aspiring Writers photo prompt challenge hosted by Priceless Joy. Each week, we are given a picture and expected to write a 75-175 word story on it. Thank you @Yinglan for this week’s picture.