Olympic Dreams ~ by Melissa

My Plan:

Throughout my life, I've been very observant. I watch and I learn from the people I look up to. My life plan was simple let them figure it out and I would copy. This created a habit that I called "Note to Self," which meant that I recorded important information that I might use later.


My Dream:

Get ready! Get set! Go! The shot went off in my head. I ran, ran, ran until I was flying; I was free; I was invincible. The hot Greek summer sun snaked around my body. The hard earth underneath my feet was trailing along with me on my race. This is the best time of my life. I have been on this earth for 13 and a half years now, and I have been to the Olympic games for as long as I remember. It is the very beginning of the second century A.D., and I am free as a bird. That day will be a special day.


Olympics, 200 AD:


"Runners, on your mark!" I made it. "Get set!" Here it comes. "GO!" I can't believe I'm at the Olympic games, I thought to myself, preparing for a great event.


Five athletes, one winner and four losers, sprinted away from the line. In the lead was the most famous athlete. He had won most of the competitions during the last week. He thought he was a big shot and flexed his muscles for the women. He was so big and muscular, and just by the look on his face, you could tell that he only cared about himself. In second place was the other hot shot. He had won first place in one of the games and second, third and fourth in the other games. He was a clear contender for this race. In third place was the guy who really, really wanted to win. He had a very concentrated expression on his face. He was shorter than the others but just as strong.


As I watched the race, I saw different expressions. Some were on the prize, while others were filled with determination. Some were actually angry. I watched as they started the race. Some flew out of the starting blocks, while others took it nice and easy. Only few kept a pace, others thought that by going faster and faster they would make it. Should they really make it after starting fast and ending slow? Or just the opposite. Everyone started slowing down, one by one. The person who started out in last place, was now in the lead by what I guessed was two feet. One by one their expressions changed from wanting to win, to the expression of a mother lion preotecting her baby. The lead runner was almost to cross the finish line; he was so close... then, the runner in fifth place threw his boney yet muscular arms out to the side and went past the other runners to reach the finish line first. The crowd went wild. Who would have guessed that he would have won the race? The person no one suspected would win, won.


Note to self: start out slow then speed up to reach victory.


"Venus!" I knew that voice, that voice that I had heard my whole life.

"Father!" I ran to him. My father was the Olympic Game coordinator so he got to put the games and activities together.


Note to Self: You never have to, you always get to.


"Venus, did you enjoy the race? " father asked.
"I loved it! I would never have guessed that Leonidas would be the winner of the race -"
I was interrupted by my Father's best friend and working partner, Uncle Jonathan. He had black, sleek looking hair and was tall and strong.
"Robert, so glad to see you! Oh, hello, Venus." Uncle Jonathan patted me on the head and turned his attention back to Father. " We need you down by the finish line to congratulate Leonidas. We need you right now!" He looked at me, "Wasn't that race exciting? I knew that kid would win. That's a great strategy!"
Father turned to me with an expression that said, Sorry honey. I'll catch you at dinner. I love you. I knew that he was a very busy man. Sometimes he was forced to go and do his job when he would much rather be spending time with his family. Uncle Jonathan was always, and I mean always, busy. He was only free on weekends when the family had picnics. We all knew the games and embraced the Greek sun, and the Emperor wanted them to be good.

I started to look around for anyone I knew, but the crowd was so thick it was like looking for a piece of straw in a hay stack. I walked around a corner to see what else was going on. That was when I I saw all of the contestants who had been beated. Their good sportsmanship had all but disappeared as they kicked at the dirt, complained, and threw their things around.


Note to self: Everyone who loses in an event of any kind will be very mad. You can tell what people are like if they throw a huge fit in public or if they wait to be alone. Good Sportsmanship is an important trait.


To the crowd and their families, the "losers" were saying it wasn't a big deal and there was always next year. If their eyes hadn't been filled with anger and defeat, I would have believed them. But alone, they seemed to be mourning their missed shot at victory.

"Venus!" I was startled. Who could be calling my name? How could they even find me? I turned in all directions and then finally saw a familiar skinny, muscular, tall body. It was my best friend Zues. Our parents had known each other even before we were born. We were next door neighbors, so we got to spend a lot of time together. Zuess was older and taller, but not faster than me. We always competed with each other in running races, and I always won. He came closer and stood directly in front of me. "Where were you? One second you say we can sit together, and the next thing I know you are running almost as fast as the racers." I blushed and turned pure red. Could he see that? I thought I was only running in my dreams.

"Oh, you saw that?" I blushed even more. "Did you enjoy the race?" I wanted to change the subject fast.

"It was awesome! It would have been a lot more awesome if you were with us. I was amazed when Leonidas won!"


"Same here," I knew that everyone would be saying that for a while, a shock it was to everyone.
"What a strategy! Oh, I saw your 'Uncle'," Zuess used air quotations. He knows pretty much everything about me - even how I think about my uncle. "He looked very buisy. He said hi to me though. He stopped me, looked me in the eyes and said that someday I could be the winner."


Note to Self: Winners always need someone to believe in them first.


"Oh please, I could outrun you in a heartbea!." I didn't mean to brag, but it was the truth. I hoped that he wasn't hurt.

"Well, bring it on! I can beat you to the VIP arena."

" Oh, you're so on!" We started to run. We ran, ran, ran, ran, and ran....


We spent the next four years running. It was 4 years since the last Olympic games, since I ran with the racers. It had been four years of practicing my come from behind strategy. Four years since my dream. And during those four years, my dream of becoming an Olympic athlete has become so large it is like a sponge absorbing every ounce of water.

I have become taller; I have grown more in every way. What has grown the most is my passion for racing and my love for running. Olympia, Greece was still hot, sunny and welcoming. I wouldn't wait for the Olympics; they were two weeks away. I walked into the sun room and sat down on the long sun chair. Shall I read something about love, sports, or.... I couldn't help myself but I driffted into a daydream.

I was running and living an even more lovely life than I have. I seemed to be running toward a big house. Is that my house, I wondered. I am a star runner, and there is a man. He looks like a boy, but he looks handsome. No, he is more of a man. Who is this? Is he my husband? Suddenly in my heart I know that it is. He was about to turn around...and I am about to see his face.....

A faint voice suddenly got louder and louder, interrupting the moment. Then, I noticed it was my mother, breaking me free of my dream. Disappointed I opened my eyes.


Note to Self: Run faster in my dreams!


" Venus. There you are. Dinner needs to be prepared." My mother has always been beautiful. She was nearly 38 years old and still elegant.

" Okay, mother. I'll be there in a second." I tried to imagine his face but I couldn't get it back into my head. Frustrated, I got up to help with dinner.

Later that night, Zuess and I raced through the fields. "How can you do that?" Zuess was tring to catch up to me. He was very shocked just like every race when I beat him.

"I just have skill!" We were walking on the mountain by our favorite childhood hiding place that over looked the Medeterrianean Sea. It was nice and warm. This was the place where we could talk without anyone hearing. This was the place we shared our dreams.
There was an evening breeze, and I was wrapped up in a blanket, my long, brown, wavey hair blowing in every direction with the breeze. In sync, we slivered up the tall oak tree, like snakes slithering up a human body. I sat down on a branch that over ooked the ocean and inhaled the sweet salty sent of the summer sea. I didn't want to break this silence, yet I wanted to connect.
I was about to speak, but he beat me to it and his voice was so soft, deeper and more mature than last year. "So, how have you been Venus?" It surprised me as he rarely said my name. I noticed that I was feeling fidgeting, strange.


Note to Self: Sometimes things change with boys, the older they get the more they want to be mature.


"Good, I have been learning how to do housework, knitting, pot making, time keeping and some more running." I decided not to tell him about my dream. "What about you?"
"Um," he stuttered. I knew Zuess had something to tell me, something that I wasn't going to want to hear. "I have been fantastic actually. I have been learning how to hunt and build." His face was becoming sad. His smile faded and his face was turning depressed. I was nervous and my heart became a train, going faster and faster each beat. "I haven't wanted to tell you this, but...I don't want to lie to you anymore. For the past year, I have been training for the olympics. Under the running category. Your father and your uncle think I am going to be great this year. "
My heart shattered into microscopic pieces. I had to be brave, but I was too stunned, too jealous, too angry. I could not keep it together, especially in front of my best friend. I took a breath that seemed to come from the bottom of the ocean. "Wow. I am, proud of you," I couldn't find the right words to say. "That's amazing. You really deserve it. You have become an outstanding runner." I looked at the sky. It was as if the gods heard me and the sky turned gray.
"You know I owe it all to you. Without our races..."
"You really deserve it," I said again. My voice betrayed me. I was about to cry and we both knew it.
"You should be getting home. Me, too. I have to train tomorrow." Zuess was acting like a brave man but before he could get something over to me to protect me from my pain, I started to run. It was a sudden jog, and Zuess caught up to me quickly. He even ran a little further than I did, but as the lighting struck I ran faster than he did. I made it to my yard and took a moment to cool down, I felt the light rain become heavy rain and the rain soaked me. I watched as he ran toward me, something familiar stirring in my stomach.
"I like your style. You are a better runner. I still have a lot to learn from you." Zuess was humble as he ran off toward his house.

I climbed up the vines to the top floor where my bedroom was. I climbed in and immediatley went to my bathroom. I took of my clothes and wrapped a warm cream-colored towel around my skinny body and my developed chest. It was so warm and so comforting. It wasn't until I got to my dresser to put on my pajamas that I realized that my best friend, the boy across the street, the boy who I grew up with, the boy who is slower than me was now living my dream. He would be in the summer olympics in just two weeks. My anger began to boil. My hands were shaking and tears were sliding down my face. He was going to run in the Olympics, and I wouldn't be. I couldn't. My dream was not even a reality. But why? Why couldn't I?


NOTE TO SELF: Don't let others create your reality.


I turned for the door and jumped down the stairs very confidently, sliding down the silky wood rail. Mother and Father were in the kitchen, and I was ready to ask them - demand to know - why girls couldn't run in the olympics.
" Good evening Venus," Mother spoke with a soft lullaby tone to her voice. Her voice took me into a sleep trance, as if I were a baby. After the sudden silence, I came back to earth and was determind to get some answers.

" Good evening Mother and Father. I want to run in the Olympics?" I meant for it to be a demand, but I was unsure about my words and it came out as a question.
They looked at each other like there was something that they have never told me, and there was. Father answered, "I've always loved your passion about the Olympics. But, you know the Olympics are very important to MEN. The running and sports help us to determine who is the strongest and bravest, " To me, it seemed like he was going on and on.
The only response I could think of without making this longer than it should be is, "Yes."
"Do you ever see any women in the stands during in the olympics?" Mother was calm, but not as calm as it was before.
I still didn't want to make this drag on so I just said what I knew, "No." We were silent but I bet my face was turning blank.
"Well, it is against the rules of the Olympic Games for women to be watching the olympic games if they are married," Dad reminded me of this rule. I was nearing the time when I would no longer be able to even watch the games. "If woman cannot even watch the games, you know that it is against the rules for women to race in the olympic games."
My heart shattered for the second time that day. We stood still for what seemed like forever when I finally gave up and tears started filling my eyes and weakly I spoke.
" Never?" I couldn't help but starting to cry.

"Never." My mother and father spoke in union.

Not only had my best friend been chosen to race in the Olympic games, stealing away my dream. My parents had finally shattered it. I would never be in the Olympic games. I ran upstairs and into my room. I closed the door behind me trying to make it as silent as possible, but I was sure Mother and Father heard it. I leaped to my bed and started to cry. I began to sob. It was like having my baby being taken from me by someone I loved only to slaughtered it. A puddle was forming on my pillow, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to run. I cried until I fell into a fitful sleep.

I had a dream that night that I was racing in the Olympics without a care in the world. And when I woke up the next day, I knew that was my mission.


NOTE TO SELF: It's good to have a mission.


"Venus, could you please go get some fresh water from the well?" Mother was washing the floors.
"Of course, mother. " I grabbed the bucket and left. I was now on my mission to the garden. Father, Uncle Jonathan, and a few of their emplyee's were in the garden talking about the Olympics, which were one week away. I lingered along into the garden and went to the well, slowly attached the bucket to the string, and lowered the carrier into the water.
"The celebration meal will be held at the stadium, but who will be the cook?" I couldn't help but overhearing what they were saying. (I hadn't planned on listening to their conversation, so you can't call it eavesdropping!)
"In the market there is the best restaurant. They have cooked for us before and they are amazing! It's just by the south fruit place and they are true Greek cooks." Father had showed me that restaurant before, and they were amazing chefs. Two summers ago, Zuess and I would saved up our money and buy a frozen treat to quench our need of a cold treat. Feeling nervous about listening, I swiftly moved back into the house and handed mother the bucket, then I grabbed a tray of sandwiches for the men. This was my time to complete my task. I moved like a dancer through the garden, waving all of the bugs away so they wouldn't attack the penutbutter and honey sandwiches. I finally reached the table and gently put the tray down.
"Thank you Venus." Father cheered. I could tell that they were all very hungary after all of that work. I smiled then waited because they would have to make small talk with me if I was just standing there.
"So how is your summer treating you Venus?" Uncle Jonathan looked eager to get back to work, but he was being polite.
"Great," I needed to get to the chase fast. This was my only time. " So, how are the preperation coming?"
"Okay, we are having some difficulties but that is just how work is." Father loved taking time to talk to me. I loved that about him. They started turning around from me to get back to work, then that was the time I had to say it.
"Are there any surprise racers in these Olympics games?" I know it sounded to eager, but they really don't know my plan so I was safe, or at least I thought I was.
"Not yet, but there are always surprised at the starting line!" Father looked at me strangely and then returned to his work.
"Zuess is coming along! I predict he will have a fine showing in his first Olympic games," Uncle Jonathan looked very different then he had any other time I had seen him. He seemed excited, proud. It was like he had discovered Zuess himself.
"I just wish women were allowed into the Olympics," I said as I turned to walk away, "then there would a race!" I smiled as I left them speechless.
" Women in the Olympics?" one of the other men asked.
They were silent for a while then Uncle Jonathan decided to speak. "Women in the Olympics?! That is the most uneducated thing I have ever heard anyone say. Women can't run! They can't race!"
I froze. Anger was growing.
"No women should ever even think about that. Women just need to stay home and cook, clean and stay silent. I don't even like how women are getting an education. It is quite annoying for men who need to go to collage, women are just stealing everything," he continued.
I was still in shock. Who would say that? Was this the person I have always known? Or had he been wearing a mask for all of those years? Furious, I stormed away.
"You've got that right," one of the men said. Father spoke up finally, changing the subject and getting people focused on their work again. I could tell he felt badly for me, but he didn't know my plan. I was now on another mission. I was determind to show him and the other men at that table who would an Olympic winner. The Olympics were two weeks away, and I had a lot of training to do.


Olympics, 204 AD:


Get ready! Get set! Go! The shot went off in my head. I ran, ran, ran until I was flying; I was free; I was invincible. The hot Greek summer sun snaked around my body. The hard earth underneath my feet was trailing along with me on my race. This is the best time of my life. I have been on this earth for 13 and a half years now, and I have been to the Olympic games for as long as I remember. I am free as a bird. That day will be a special day.


I walked out of the athletes room ready to prove Greece wrong. I was for sure though that they would recognize me by my face and body structure, but I guess I didn't fool anyone. I walked out with four other men, including Zuess. The men and Zuess wore a diper type bottom and that was it. I on the other hand wore a type of man dress. I had wrapped my chest with cloth so that I didn't blow my cover. I wrapped my hair up and put it in a hat. I really looked like a man. I even dirtied my self up a little bit.
"Contestants, to the starting line." Almost there. " Get ready," I was ready. " Get set," I was surely set. " GO!" Everyone dashed from the line except for me and Zuess. Has he been watching me everytime we raced? Of course he did, he was fasinated by my skill level. I was the last one and I was following everyone else. It looked like I needed to catch up big time, but I knew it could get in front. Faster and faster everybody went except for Zuess and I. I really wanted him to win, but I was the one in this race. The first three started to slow down, now it was me against Zuess. I started going faster picking up all of that energy. I knew he could sence me and sped up, but before he knew it I was in front of him. He looked stunned but I wasn't suprised. He tried to keep up, but he was too slow for me. The finish line was three feet away. I spread my arms out and I split through the ribbon. The crowd was shocked and yet they went wild. I could hear the others behind me and they finished the reace two. In the backround I could hear Jonathan kicking and screaming. He thought that Zuess would win, and I bet he had bet a lot of money on him. It was the perfect timing to show who had really won. Gently getting everyones attention, I faced my face to the sun light and un vailed my hat and my long brown hair drapped around my manly looking body. Everyone who was watching, even the animals, dirt, rocks, and other contestants gasped so loud that the loudness could cause and earthquake.
" Disquallified!" Jonathan rushed over to us. I had a seriouse look on my face because I knew I could out wit him. I could even see my father in the corner of my eye standing there frozen.
" I am not!" I was wanting to make a statement with this.
" Yes you are! Women are just silent creatures that should never, ever particapate in a sporting event! They shouldn't even be allowed to get an education!" The crowed gasped again. I wasn't supprised at all though. In his eyes, you could tell he wanted to take back those words.
"You know what Jonathan," I had thought about this moment my whole life. I have even dreamed about doing this, and I knew that the gods were on my side.
Note to self: When you know something will happen, think about what you will say so you are prepared to win a battle with words.
"Women have every right in the world to do what ever they want." I knew that this would throw him off and it did. He was silent then moved away. How could an adult man be afraid of a fourteen year old girl? I felt I had power. The crowd started cheering again and I felt fantastic, and I had forgotton that Zuess was watching all of this time. I turned to him then he took two steps to me then pulled me to him and gave me a kiss. My first kiss from my best friend, which was know my love.
"You are amazing," He towered me, but I felt comfort. "I tried to do what you do, but you always do it best." We hugged and just stood there while the crowd went even more nuts.
"Today, I got to live my dream, and I have always wanted to share it with my best friend." I gave him another kiss and at that moment I had begun the rest of my life.


Note to self: Everyone can dream, but the ones who follow them are the ones with the power.