My World Cup – Someday
Author Unknown, Adapted by Candy Mazze
1 “So how did I do? Do you think I’m ready?”
2 Charlie and his dad had just finished their soccer game. Each week, they play in the World Cup. Their own World Cup. Charlie stays with the same team every week – Costa Rica. He heard it was a cool place. His dad changed his team every week. This week, his dad was Brazil.
3 Charlie’s dad looked at him and smiled. “Charlie, you did awesome. You kept your eye on the ball the whole time, you kept moving and looked ready to go whatever way I kicked the ball. Have you been practicing on your own?”
4 “Yes,” Charlie said hesitantly. “Please don’t be mad. I know you don’t like me coming here by myself, but I come in the middle of the day when the park is busy and don’t stay too long. I just really want to get better so I can make the team this time.”
5 Charlie had tried out for the travel soccer team last year and didn’t make it. He was a small boy for his age. The travel team consisted of boys age 12-15; most of them had played soccer since they were babies, and all of them were fast and strong. Charlie was a little shorter than most of the boys he had seen at tryouts and was a little scrawny. He wasn’t as strong as those boys. But ever since watching the World Cup with his dad a couple of years ago, playing soccer was all he could think about. They watched every game of the World Cup together since then. And every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, even after school, if his dad got home early from work, they would come to the field, and his dad would teach him everything he needed to know to play on a travel team.
6 Charlie wasn’t so interested in playing soccer at school as he was part of a travel team. He wanted to go places, see places, and meet people from all over while playing his favorite sport. His parents told him he should probably try out for the school team first. Charlie didn’t want to. He had a few friends at school, and none of them played sports. And he liked the idea of doing something bigger than a school team.
7 “I think you’re ready, Charlie. You’ve gotten quicker on your feet. You react a lot more quickly in the goal cage. You’re just as good, if not better than any of the goalies on the travel team. So let’s get you signed up for try-outs. And maybe you’ll be playing in the REAL World Cup someday!”
