Grab some popcorn, this is a long one.
In elementary school the oldest kids got to have a staff vs students football game. I was one of the more athletic kids in my class so I got drafted, which was a problem because I didn't (and still don't) know zip about American football. I didn't wanna back out though, because I didn't want to look like a wuss in front of my extremely competitive classmates. So the night before the big game I went online and studied football videos to get ready.
The next day everyone in the school was pumped up. My classmates were talking smack, and the teachers did too. They called us out to the field, and the whole school was outside drinking hot chocolate and waving banners. They roared when the players made their way on the field. They hooted and they chanted and my closest friends at the time couldn't even get my attention since I was so overwhelmed by the sight.
We got in our places. There was a tense silence, then the librarian blew the whistle and it was chaos. Whatever confidence I'd held up to that point drained from me, and I resorted to cowering in fear and trying not to get run over. Eventually I worked up the nerve to defend a bit, and since I was a fast runner it wasn't too hard for me to keep the ball out of the PE teacher's (who was only second best to the art teacher, surprisingly) hands.
Time was beginning to run out. It was the final play. Some kid from the other class yelled out "HIKE!" and my teammates and I ran. Once again, I didn't know what I was doing so I just followed their lead. I followed this kid-- Mike, I think-- a couple feet behind. I look up, and the ball's getting thrown to him. The PE teacher goes for the defense, but Mike's already too close to catching it. He's so close, but he's too small. He only succeeds in tapping it, making it flip in the air, right towards me.
It was like slow motion. The ball was coming right towards me, practically willing itself to drop into my hands. If I caught that ball we'd win the game, my team would get two free hot chocolates, and my name would be remembered for the next week at the least.
So I reached for it.
And I missed.
The ball slammed into my face, cracking my glasses, and fell on the ground.
The reaction was almost immediate. My teammates were too shocked to react, but the crowd wasn't. The kids yelled and screamed and groaned and boo'd. The staff on the field looked horrified, like they were waiting for me to cry (There was broken glass near my eyes and that kid had thrown it pretty hard), but I couldn't. I just stared at the ball in horror, grasping the air where it should have been. I was too ashamed to cry.
I was blacklisted for weeks. People didn't forgive me until school ended, but I never forgot. I can't forget.