The Arena - Sensory Overload Standing here, in this arena that is bigger than five of my houses, I feel like a needle in a haystack. There are so many people around me, it's like I'm a small grain of sand in a huge ocean. The people in the round gymnasium all form a crimson, white and blue rainbow. Their shirts intertwine like a finely woven shirt with strings of different colors. Smelling the food from the concession stands makes me feel like a starving child. The aroma of melted cheese on the nachos makes me want to have a picnic outside. The smell of tenderly cooked hot dogs makes my stomach growl wishing I had them. I can taste the burgers while someone walks by with one. The hot meat, accompanied by a sweet barbecue sauce, is delicious. Then, a man on a loud intercom yells at the players to get out. The roar of the people around me feels like I'm right behind the jet of an airplane. The deafening noise makes me squint my eyes. I open them, however, and stand up from the lightly padded seat. I'm high-fiving with the other fans, and my hands are greasy from eating a hot piece of pizza. My mouth still has the mushy, saucy taste of the slice in my mouth. I look towards the field where the players have now started shooting baskets. Their brightly colored uniforms pop in the spotlight above. The terrain has a waxy appearance, as if it had just been swept, and the glass panels have a shine as bright as a new car. The band starts playing a song and the crowd swings their arms back and forth in the air. The mass of moving people resembles a wheat field blown by a spring breeze. A lady rubs against me as she walks down the aisle. His jeans are cracked and he's as dry as the skin of a lizard that's spent the day in the desert. His sweatshirt contrasts with the dry feel of the jeans. It's made of a soft cotton that reminds me of rabbit fur. Then a man in front of me comes to his place with a glass of lemonade. The pungent smell makes me squint, thinking of someone running their nails across a chalkboard. And then the game ends. The crowd smiled like they were getting one for one. A few others shout and pout as they walk down the stairs to the door. The noise decreased significantly, giving my ears a