Page 53 - Highlights for Children (December 2017)
P. 53
I broke away
from the
pack.
A plan suddenly came to to tie the game. Our goalkeeper calcio. I kept going.
me—a plan that would have barely managed to stop the I was more than three-
meant a quick trip to the bench forward’s latest shot. The ball quarters of the way down the
if I had tried it back home: landed at my feet. field when a defender finally
ignore the coach. Instead of Dribbling it toward the came to meet me. I waited for
trying to translate what he said, sideline, I looked for an open just the right moment, then sent
I would use my instincts and teammate. Everyone was a centering pass across the
run more fast. Er, faster. covered, so I kept moving. The middle to Fabio. Istintivamente!
midfielders were tired; my legs Fabio rushed forward to meet
A plan suddenly were still fresh. I broke away the ball. Whump! He kicked it
from the pack. past the goalie’s outstretched
came to me. The ball and I crossed the fingers and into the net.
centerline. My coach was yelling “Goal!” my teammates
After the second half started, instructions, telling me what to shouted. (That word is actually
I listened when someone called do. Was he angry or pleased? the same in English and Italian.)
for a pass, but I didn’t let the I couldn’t tell. But back in the “Bravissimo, Tomas!” my
other words get in the way. My States, my coach had always coach roared.
plan seemed to work. I felt like encouraged her players—even Luigi arrived and thumped
I’d pulled off a lead vest and left the defenders—to dribble the me on the back. “Ben fatto,
it lying on the sidelines. ball up the field on a breakaway Tomas!” My old confused look
With only minutes left to go, if the way was clear and no one must have come back for just a
we were up by one goal. But was open. Soccer was soccer, second, because he translated,
number 54 was doing his best even if my teammates called it “Well done—Tom.”
