Thackston Smackdown Volleyball Game, Summer 2019 | Billy Thackston ’21

You can hear and smell the creek rushing with water as cold as an ice bath. Family gathers from Kansas to the East Coast to assemble at one place for one reason: The World Championship. Tension rises quickly. “Aim for the fat guy in the back,” says Ty, as he aims for Uncle Stuart. “They’re a bunch of old hags.” Dive for the ball and face plant, protect the ball from hitting the ground. Emotions rise with hands on heads or hands on hips, heads hanging, bruises on arms and pain all over. Despite the bitter loss of 2-1, despite dehydration for the day, we gather around one table, enjoy one last meal of burgers and dogs, cherishing the volleyball game, with boasting and laughter, laughter, laughter.

36 brenna, drawing joshua edgecomb ’22