Junior Vocab
Post-Match Reflections
Mira: "Arjun, I saved this laddoo for after our match. I was sure it would taste like victory."
Arjun: "I told Amma we’d win for sure. I even wore my lucky blue socks."
Mira: "But we lost three–zero. My tummy feels all twisty."
Arjun: "My legs feel like noodles. I thought everyone would clap for us, not the other team."
Mira: "I don’t even feel like eating my laddoo now. It’s just sitting in my hand."
Arjun: "Yeah. It’s like the fun ran away and left only this heavy feeling."
Coach Aunty's Wisdom
Coach Aunty: "You two are very quiet. What’s going on inside those busy brains?"
Mira: "I pictured us winning and shouting and jumping. None of that happened. It’s like my picture got crumpled."
Arjun: "I feel the same. All my hoping turned into a big stone in my chest."
Mira: "So this stone-y, crumpled-feeling… this is disappointment, right?"
Arjun: "Disappointment is when your heart says, ‘Yay!’ before, and ‘oh’ after."
Coach Aunty: "Disappointment came today, but so did your hard work. Both can sit together."
Mira:disappointment will shrink a little." "If I share my laddoo with you, maybe the
Arjun: "Okay. We’ll eat it and plan our next match. Then disappointment won’t be the only guest."