Peter couldn’t recall how the weeks had flown by, but the final pre-match training session had arrived. He was anxious, but felt in good shape. The last training session was held in the gym with both Teacher Tinkerbell and Wendy. There was also a small audience, with younger children from the orphanage who had come in to watch. Everyone listened intently to Tinkerbell’s admonitions.
“So, remember that Captain Hook’s team will be playing a traditional attacking game, focusing on Colin and Grant, the two strikers, to push forward. Curly and Tootles, try to cover Hank and Dylan, they are the ones who pass the most to the strikers. And if they gain possession and they attack, don’t all run after them without thinking. Peter and Nibs, you stay in the back so that if Jacob defends the shot, he can give you a long pass immediately, and you can counterattack”.
“And most importantly,” she raised her voice, “I expect fair play from everyone, even if the opponent fouls!”” “Peter found it very difficult to sleep, he spent the whole night trying to see himself as the winner.
The day of the clash was slowly dawning. His eyes popped open; he couldn’t wait for the afternoon… the day passed by unnoticed. The afternoon came and they were finally on the pitch. It was as if time had stood still. He was ten times more aware of everything around him, yet he was focused only on one thing. They stood in the middle of the field with Colin, staring each other down. The ball was on the ground between them. Waiting for the whistle. The game finally started. Colin was faster, got the ball and immediately went for the attack. Nibs and Curly tried to block his path, but Colin flew unstoppably towards the goal. A shot! And a post. Patrick took the rebound with his chest, passed it to Tootles, who passed to Peter. Rob followed closely behind Peter, caught up and pushed him to the edge of the field, muttering, “anyone who is coached by girls should play in a skirt”.
Peter was overcome with anger, his legs started shaking. Rob took advantage and stole the ball from him. He passed to Grant, but not accurately enough; Nibs, running between the two, got possession. He passed to Tootles, Tootles to Peter, Peter again to Nibs, around it went. They were already in the opponents’ half, getting closer to the goal…” “Tootles has the ball. Grant suddenly got in the way. Although he took the ball with a regular tackle, the lanky Tootles spun in the air as his foot caught on Grant’s big, muscular leg. Tootles fell to the ground and didn’t get up. Peter and Nibs ran to him, frightened. Meanwhile Grant scored. The referee did not stop the match. Poor John had no chance of saving it. One-nil to the Pirates.
Tootles woke up, but was clearly not well. Teacher Tinkerbell and Wendy support him off the pitch. Michael substitutes Tootles. Peter nods encouragingly as he catches up to him: Michael has already proven in training that he can play as a striker. Colin attacks again, Peter is after him, trying to take the ball away from him, but it looks like an effort in vain. And then suddenly…
“A bicycle!” The thought flashed through Peter’s mind as Colin began the trick kick, and although the execution was professional, Peter couldn’t be fooled, he grabbed the ball – and took it! He immediately passed to Michael, who passed to Nibs. Nibs was chased by Hank and they battled until the ball left the field next to the goal. It was a corner.” “The corner was taken by Nibs who sent it to Peter, Peter kicked it with a bending shot to Michael because Rob was in his way again. Michael leapt up for and hit a beautiful header towards the goal. The goalkeeper threw himself at it in vain. Top right corner! Goal! One all!
The boys almost went crazy, ambushing Michael, jumping on him, almost crushing him to death. In the audience, Wendy and Teacher Tinkerbell jumped up from the bench, cheering the scorer. Peter hears Captain Hook swearing. Half-time is called by the referee.
Peter rests happily on the dressing room bench and listened to the boys as they talked over each other’s situations, analysed the game, praised Peter’s goal pass and Michael’s goal. A strange, pleasant feeling came over him, he smiled. He was happy, but somehow not for himself, but rather for the joy of the boys. Both Wendy and the Teacher came into the changing room, patting the boys on the shoulder.
“Well done lads, keep up the good work!”
The break was over, everyone went back on the field.” “The Pirates were visibly more tense. They did not spend the break as cheerfully as Peter and his friends. They stood around the coach, who addressed them nervously. The whistle blew, the second half began. Peter got a break, he gets around Grant with a nice trick, but Colin got in the way, so he passed back to Tootles, Tootles back to Lachlan, and Lachlan made a great forward pass. Peter has the ball again. Rob again clamps down on him, violently tries to take the ball from Peter, they clash and both take a tumble. Peter jumped up, wanting to run with the ball, but sees that Rob is still on the ground, clutching his ankle.
Captain Hook shouts from the side lines.
“Get up, for God’s sake, you wimpy kid!”
Rob has tears in his eyes. Peter reaches out his hand to help him up, Rob takes Peter’s hand, but he can’t get to his feet. He starts crying. Rob sits on the ground, his face buried in his hands. Peter and Nibs put their arms around him and help him up, Tinkerbell and Wendy arrive and gently lead Rob off the field.