It was perhaps a simpler time. No computers or televisions to entertain kids like us, but that was for the best. I'm not sure we would've achieved nearly as much if we'd had those distractions growing up. Actually, I'm sure we wouldn't have.
We all lived in Victoria Lago, second-biggest city in Puerto Farolero, second-biggest state in Farfadillis, as far as population was concerned. Specifically, we lived in Sauce, one of Victoria's many neighbourhoods, but one that stood out for a couple of things.
Firstly, as you go north, Victoria Lago becomes thinner and thinner, ending in a so-called 'spear' right where forests begin encompassing the soil. Sauce was the so-called 'tip of the spear'.
Secondly, at the time, the wood industry was flourishing in Farfadillis. The rich people wanted to keep a close eye on the business and the poor people wanted a job. This led to Sauce being home to either rich or poor people, with little in between. The poor outnumbered the rich roughly six to one, but it never proved very problematic. For the most part, the rich were respectful and, for the most part, the poor were civilized. The government didn't allow private education, so the rich kids and the poor kids went to school together, and often became friends. Rich and poor slowly but surely intertwined.
Thirdly, most of Sauce's streets were named 'Avenida something'. 'Avenida' means 'Avenue' in Faroleran. In other parts of the country, a street's name starting with 'Avenida' indicates the street is important. I can assure you, however, that those asphaltless, barren streets were far from important. A couple were more important than others, but even the most important of them, Avenida Principal, which means 'Main Avenue', was only a parody of the hustling, bustling streets of Puerto Farolero's or Ferdullaele's city centres. For all the rich people living there, Sauce really was quite modest. Still, that meant tranquility. Sauce was by far the most tranquil part of a city that, honestly, even back then could've used a bit of deceleration.
That's where we grew up. Jaime Calañas, Gerardo Do Santos, Lorenzo García and I, Manuel Ñu. Back then, these names did not carry any weight; they did not define us. Our young selves were the ones that defined these names.
Jaime was an affluent kid. The son of one of the three most important men in the wood industry, his family led a surprisingly frugal lifestyle. They had everything they needed, which would not be said about most of the other families in Sauce, but they didn't get to where they were by wasting money needlessly. This upbringing turned Jaime into an innocent but well-meaning kid. He lived in Avenida Principal, as any other son of a businessman.
Gerardo was the son of a doctor. He was neither rich nor poor, which was a true rarity in Sauce. He was the smartest of the bunch, but he was even more innocent than Jaime. After his mother died, his father tried his best to shield him from the world, but, honestly, it probably did him more harm than good. He lived in Avenida Leal. 'Leal' means 'loyal', and I can assure you nobody was more loyal than Gerardo.
Lorenzo was the son of a logger. He was the bluntest tool in the shed. Reckless, rebellious, passionate, crazy. He thought with his heart. Exclusively. He was, however, far more street smart than Jaime and Gerardo, and a lot braver than all of us put together. He was not... quite... as well-meaning as Gerardo and Jaime, but he had your back in the most important moments. He lived in Avenida Victoria.
I, too, was the son of a logger. I was the most astute of the bunch. Always kept the wits about me, always got us out of situations with a clever act. However, I sometimes lacked the sobriety to see things clearly; I had delusions of grandeur.
50'
Anglatia 0–0 Nordeana 
