One Goal

by N. J. Corbo

  He has a mechanical arm that looks like it can extend at least three feet, with articulating metal fingers. Each finger has a rubber pad attached to the tip, which Bowie explains is for gripping things better. He also has a small remote-control robot with a camera that syncs up to his phone. You feel like an international spy whenever you play with him. Joey is in heaven too.

  “Okay, guys, here’s the plan” you say, once you’re all in the car. “I’m positive the trophy will be at Shawn’s house, because his dad is the coach of the Densen club.” They both nod. “I’ve been in his house before, and they have a huge trophy case in the front room. Only problem is that, if they’re home, we’ll have to abort our mission.”

  The house is empty and the skylight is open. The trophy is exactly where you thought it would be. Could it get any easier? You and Joey climb onto the roof and Bowie instructs you on how to use the mechanical arm, but it’s just not long enough. Joey gets the idea to lower you down so you can grab the trophy. It seems like a good idea until it isn’t, and it isn’t as soon as you’re dangling four feet above Shawn’s living room floor and Joey accidentally drops you.

  You instinctually put your hands out, which breaks your fall, but also badly tweaks your right wrist. You muffle a cry of pain, and you hope the thud wasn’t too loud. Joey whispers apologies from above as you cradle your sore arm to your chest. You grab the trophy and head for the door. Mission accomplished.

  You’re half an hour late for the dance. You expect to see Autumn sitting alone in a corner, and you’re fully prepared to offer massive apologies and regale her with the story of your heroism. But, she’s not alone at all. In fact, she’s dancing with Chuck Grady, the keeper for the varsity soccer team, and he’s a senior. What just happened? There’s a senior dancing with the girl you like, you’ve got a sprained wrist, which means no flip throws, and you went from hero to zero in seconds flat. This is not where you saw the evening going. Sure, you got the trophy back, but you’d do it all differently if you could choose again.

  THE END

  You can’t believe you have to choose between your soccer club and playing on the varsity team your first year in high school. Your gut is telling you to stay with your club. Not only have you been there forever, but Coach Duncan knows your dream to play in the Olympics and he’s dedicated to helping you achieve it. Plus, he’s an amazing coach.

  Just after school on your first day, Coach Oliver, calls. You know it’s him, because you recognize the number from the high school on the phone display. You don’t answer it.

  Instead, you listen to the message he leaves. Actually, you listen to the message three times. Then you finally call Coach Duncan from Weston. When you tell him about the offer to play varsity, his first reaction is to talk you out of it, but then he says that you need to do what you want. He tells you there’s many ways to achieve your dream. You tell him you’re happy with Weston and he’s glad you’re going to stay. You wish you could call Autumn right now, but you’re still nervous about talking to her.

  Instead, you make the difficult call to Coach Oliver. He’s disappointed, but understands, and he still invites you to swing by a practice sometime. He says you never know what can happen over the next four years.

  Okay, now that that’s figured out, what are you going to do about Autumn? She’s your best friend. Maybe you should just ignore your new feelings for her. That might be easier than telling her you like her. You don’t want her to laugh in your face, and you don’t want to wreck your friendship with her or with Bowie. The three of you do almost everything together, except play soccer. Bowie is more of a scientist than an athlete, but even he gets into the game. He once used physics to help you advance a move that was giving you trouble, and, even though you don’t know how he gets his machines to work, you love helping him test them. Autumn is both smart and athletic, which makes her the perfect third in your trio. She can challenge you any day on the field, and she can understand most of Bowie’s mad scientist creations. You don’t want to mess up what you all have together.

  You are lying on your bed thinking about what to do when you hear the doorbell ring. It’s your Goda and Poppy, your mom’s parents. When you were little, you said “go-da” instead of “grand-ma”, but you’re not sure why, that’s just what your mouth did with the word. Everyone thought it was cute, so it stuck.

  You tell them about Sam hitting Autumn with the car, and your big decision between Weston and the varsity team. Then, somehow, it slips out that you’re feeling weird about Autumn.

  “Do you mean you like her?” Goda asks. You shrug and Poppy chuckles.

  “When I first told your grandma I liked her, I was so nervous,” Poppy offers, “but I believe in being up-front.”

  After practice the next day, you walk across to the adjoining field where the girls are running drills. When they’re finished, you take Autumn aside. Although you try to say it casually, you just sort of blurt out that you like her. It’s pretty awkward. She looks at you like you’ve lost your mind, then gets kind of mad, then starts to cry. Then she runs over by her girlfriends and won’t even look at you. How confusing.

  That’s when Coach Duncan comes over with the rest of your team. He calls all the girls over and let’s everyone know he’s offering an optional co-ed practice on Saturdays. He says you can learn from each other, because boys tend to use strength and speed more, while girls are usually better at technique and finessing the ball. This is a tricky decision.

  GO TO PAGE 42. You want to take every opportunity to improve your skills, so even though you feel weird about hanging out with Autumn, you’re in for co-ed practice.

  GO TO PAGE 11. You want to focus on strength and speed to contend with aggressive players, anyway. You opt out of co-ed practice.

  You’re grateful to have a friend on the team, especially since Chuck isn’t too happy with you for lying to him about Autumn, but you just don’t think that helping Evan improve his game is the best way to improve yours. Not only are you about to play your first game as a varsity team member, but it will be in front of a scout for the Boys’ National Team. You need to focus on your own game and get ready for that scout.

  You decide to call Coach Duncan from the Weston Soccer Club for some advice on how to train. You hope he won’t mind hearing from you after you decided to leave the club for a chance to play varsity, and you’re in luck. He’s actually happy you called.

  “I have some great news,” he tells you.

  “Hey, me too, Coach,” you say.

  “Okay, you first,” he says

  “We’ve got a scout from the Boys’ National Team coming to our first game.”

  “That’s great, Kevin, but I’m not surprised,” coach says, laughing, “he’s coming into town to meet me and check out the club.”

  “Oh,” is all you manage to say, feeling a bit deflated.

  Coach Duncan can tell you’re disappointed, so he changes the subject and asks how you’ll get ready for the scout. You tell him that’s why you called, and he suggests you focus on your long pass.

  “Set up a target about 20 feet from you,” he says, “then, kick the ball into the air; when it comes down, control and pass it to the target. Do this drill, and you’ll improve your aim. And, Kevin,” he adds, “you’ll impress him. You’re a freshman playing varsity, so he’s already going to be interested in you. Just focus and remember to share the ball.”

  Between team practice and running drills on your own, you’re feeling good come game day. The stands are filled. You see your parents and grandparents. Even Sam is here. Bowie would have been, but today’s his birthday and he went to the city with his parents. The only person missing is Autumn. She’s never missed a game before, unless she had one of her own, of course, but that was when you were friends. You guess that’s over now.

  Coach Oliver starts you, and things are going pretty well. Only, these guys are big. They’re stronger and more aggressive than what you’re used to, and when you challenge a Re
dmond player for the ball, you get knocked down. That’s normal enough, but the force of the knockdown is powerful, and you put your arm out to brace yourself. Your wrist gets twisted. The ball goes out over the sideline, so the throw-in is yours. Your wrist isn’t broken, but it hurts, and this is definitely going to affect your flip throw. Is it worth it?

  GO TO PAGE 53. You want to do all you can to impress that scout, and your flip throw will definitely do that. You’re doing it.

  GO TO PAGE 7. It’s not worth the risk of injuring yourself further. You know you’ll impress him with your control of the ball and your dribbling skills. You do a regular throw-in.

  You know it must have been Shawn and his buddies who took the trophy, and you really want to go get it back, but this dance is your big chance with Autumn. You tell Coach Duncan what you saw. You’re relieved when he says he’ll take care of it.

  Then there’s a knock on your bedroom door.

  “I’ve got a little something for you,” your mom says as she comes into your room. “It’s downstairs in the fridge.”

  “What?” you ask.

  “Kevin,” she says in a disapproving voice, when she sees you sprawled out on your bed. “The dance is in an hour. Don’t you think you should get in the shower? And what are you going to wear?”

  “I was just waiting for Sam to get out,” you say.

  “Sam got out of the shower ten minutes ago and went to Diane’s. Here,” she says, pulling a blue button-up shirt from your closet, “this will look nice with pants and a belt.”

  “No way. Too formal. People will make fun of me.”

  After you complain for another five minutes, she compromises: You can wear your favorite T-shirt. It says “Messi Rules” – you think he’s the best Brazilian player there ever was. But you can only wear it under your button-up, and you have to wear pants, not jeans.

  “Hey, you said you had something for me,” you wonder out loud.

  “Oh, yes,” she says, brightening up. “I got you a corsage for Autumn.”

  “A what?” you ask.

  “A corsage, silly. For her wrist. Now, Autumn’s dress is blue, so I got you a white orchid with little bluebell accent flowers.”

  “Whatever, mom,” you say, rolling your eyes. Like you care what kind of flowers she got. “Um, thanks,” you add, when you see her shoulders slump in disappointment.

  “No problem,” she shrugs. “Oh, and Sam will be back by six to get you, so hop in the shower,” she says, scooting you toward the door.

  You’ve been to Autumn’s house a million times, but this is different somehow. You’re nervous, and you walk up to her door one slow step at a time. Before you knock, the door bursts open and Autumn’s mom practically throws you into the house, saying she needs to get pictures, lots of pictures. Then you see Autumn. Her long brown hair is down, and she’s curled it. You think she might be wearing a little makeup. You want to ask who she is and what she’s done with your best friend, but you’re a bit tongue-tied. She looks beautiful.

  After a thousand or so pictures, you finally leave for the dance. It’s actually pretty fun. You and Autumn slip into your familiar friendship mode and dance like crazy people. But then a slow song comes on. At first you just stand there frozen. The blood drains from your face and you feel a little faint. Then, Chuck Grady, a senior and the keeper for the varsity soccer team, walks up to Autumn. Is he going to ask her to dance? You don’t wait to find out. You pull her onto the dance floor. You’re a little awkward at slow dancing, but she doesn’t seem to mind.

  THE END

  You can’t believe the seniors asked you to hang out with them. You feel bad about being late for Bowie’s birthday dinner, but you can’t pass up this opportunity. You send him a quick text, and tell Sam that you’ll catch a ride with one of the guys.

  Back out at the bleachers, all the spectators have gone. A few of the guys are there playing hacky-sack and talking about the game.

  “Hey, the kid looks thirsty,” Jason says. “Give him a beer.”

  Chuck tosses you a can. You don’t drink, but you don’t want to be “the kid” to them all year.

  While they toss back beer after beer, you slowly sip yours and hope no one will notice. Luckily, they don’t. Then, they run out and want to get more. You need to get to Bowie’s anyway. Chuck, who has probably had the most to drink, offers you a ride. This is not good.

  GO TO PAGE 55. You know drinking and driving is stupid, but these guys are seniors, and you don’t want to be any later for Bowie’s birthday dinner. You get in the car.

  GO TO PAGE 57. There is no way you’re getting in a car with a driver who’s been drinking. You’ll just walk to Bowie’s.

  Autumn has been so weird since you told her you like her, and even though you’d rather practice with her, and Laini assures you she would say yes if you asked, you decide to take Katrina up on her offer. Katrina seems cool, and you’re too nervous to try talking to Autumn again just yet.

  While you practice one-on-one with Katrina, you keep stealing glances at Autumn, but she won’t even look at you. There’s not much you can do right now, so you decide to just focus on practice.

  Katrina is actually really good. She can even pull off a quality Elastico dribbling move. You ask her to go over it with you, and promise to give her some pointers on stealing.

  “Okay,” she says, positioning herself next to you. “Start with the ball close, then push it slightly forward and sideways, with the outside of your foot.”

  You start to make the move, but she giggles and grabs you by the waist, pulling you back.

  “Now just wait a minute,” she says, giggling again. “I wasn’t finished.”

  “Oh, sorry,” you say and try to back away from her a little. It was kind of weird the way she grabbed you.

  “So,” she continues, “after you push it forward and sideways, quickly cut it in the opposite direction.” She demonstrates and finishes, “Just make sure you use the same foot, but with the inside, when you redirect.”

  “Got it, thanks,” you say.

  Katrina seems cool, but a little pushy. You really wish you could go talk to Autumn.

  At the end of practice, you look around for Autumn, but she’s gone before you know it. Katrina, on the other hand, doesn’t want to leave you alone. She stands over you while you pack up your things. She says you should hang out more. She even grabs your phone and puts her number in it. Luckily, Coach Duncan calls you over, so you quickly thank her for practice and escape. Coach tells you about an amazing opportunity.

  There’s an international soccer camp, run by the Development Academy, for Under-15 players. It’s for truly elite players only. He says you’ll have to try out, because they only take 18 boys, but he has high hopes you’ll make it. The only thing he has a concern about is that the camp is in Holland. He offers to call your parents, but you ask him not to, because you want to talk to them first. There may be a problem.

  During her freshman year, Sam wanted to go to Spain for a semester abroad. She had been working extra babysitting hours, she’d been studying Spanish every night, and she even put together a PowerPoint presentation to make her case for why it would be the most enriching, amazing experience of her life. But, even after all of that, your parents still said no. They thought it was too big of a trip for a freshman. What’s to make them change their minds for you?

  When you get home you head into your room to formulate a plan. Normally, at a time like this, you’d call Autumn, but since that’s not an option, and Bowie wasn’t very helpful with your last soccer decision, you use the new number in your phone, and see what Katrina thinks.

  “Wow, I didn’t think you’d call,” is the first thing she says.

  “Well,” you laugh, “I did.”

  “Yeah, I got that,” she giggles. “So, what’s up?”

  You tell her all about the camp in Holland and how you really want to go. You tell her about your dream to compete in the Olympics too. Then, you explain what h
appened when Sam wanted to go to Spain.

  “You know,” she says, sounding like she’s got an idea, “I’m always in favor of asking for forgiveness instead of permission.”

  “What do you mean?” you ask.

  “Well, what if we snuck out and took the bus to Clayton? We could both try out. And, when you inevitably get chosen, your parents will have to let you go.”

  It sounds risky, but it’s not the worst idea ever. You’re just not sure what to do.

  GO TO PAGE 48. You think it might be better to ask forgiveness, too. You decide to go to the tryouts without permission.

  GO TO PAGE 15. Katrina’s proposal is tempting, but why even bother going to the tryouts if they’re not going to let you go in the end? You tell them and hope for the best.

  You can’t believe you’re choosing between your soccer club and playing on the varsity team your first year in high school. Part of you feels like you should stay with your club. In general, the play is more competitive among the soccer clubs. Plus, how can you leave Coach Duncan? He’s been there for you, and he wants to help you achieve your dream of the Olympics. But playing varsity as a freshman is such an amazing opportunity.

  You can’t pass it up. You’ll get to play with really talented players – All-State players – who have years more experience than you, and you’ll definitely learn a ton. Plus, as a new kid going into high school, it might be nice to have some older friends . . . assuming your teammates like you, of course. It will be difficult to leave Weston, but playing for the high school varsity team is the right choice for you.

  Just after school on your first day, Coach Oliver calls. You know it’s him, because you recognize the number from the high school on the phone display.

  “Hello? Coach Oliver?” you say, sounding a bit more enthusiastic than you meant to.