by Kathy Sattem Rygg –
Nate dribbled the soccer ball between his feet, warming up before the start of the game. Fresh morning dew coated the field and blades of wet grass stuck to the top of his shiny, black cleats. His team, the Timberwolves, was playing the best team in the league, the Bulldogs. The Timberwolves hadn’t defeated the Bulldogs this season, but today was their chance. The butterflies in Nate’s stomach meant he was ready.
The soccer ball bounced off the toe of his shoe and rolled toward the goal. He jogged over and noticed an unusual bug stuck to the metal post attached to the net. Its tiny head had two bulbous eyes and sat on a slender, green body. The long, delicate legs looked like twigs, and the two front legs formed into pincers at the end. One of them clasped onto a brown grasshopper, which lay limp in the larger bug’s grasp.
“Whoa, it’s a praying mantis,” Nate whispered. He’d never seen one that big before. “Poor grasshopper, he’s trapped.”
Nate had an idea. He scanned the ground and found a small stick. Holding it in front of the praying mantis’s other pincer, he poked the bug. After several jabs, the praying mantis snapped at the stick, letting go of the grasshopper with his other pincer.
“Next time pick on someone your own size,” Nate said to the praying mantis. The grasshopper dropped to the ground, landing upside down. Nate knelt on the grass, turning the grasshopper right side up. Worried it was injured, Nate nudged the insect. Its legs twitched, and the grasshopper jumped. It jumped again then flew away. Relieved, Nate picked up his soccer ball and ran back to the middle of the field.
“Nate, you’re starting forward today,” his coach said.
“Sweet!” Nate pumped his fist in the air. He found his position on the field. The referee blew the whistle, starting the game. Nate sprinted toward the ball, kicked it, and dribbled down the field. Spotting his teammate Jack, Nate passed the ball to him and ran in front of the Bulldogs’ goal. Jack dribbled the ball and passed it to Nate, who kicked as hard as he could, shooting at the goal. The ball sailed through the air and landed in the goalie’s hands.
“Aww, man!” Nate groaned.
The Bulldog’s goalie kicked the ball back to the middle of the field where his teammate dribbled it toward the Timberwolves’ goal. Nate glanced at Joey, his team’s goalie. Joey wasn’t paying attention to the game. Instead, he was studying something on the goal post. It was the praying mantis.
“Joey, the ball!” Nate yelled across the field.
It was too late. By the time Joey realized the other team’s player was in front of the goal, the Bulldogs kicked the ball. Joey dove toward it, but the ball smacked him in the head, bounced off and landed in the net, scoring a point. Joey landed on the ground and didn’t get up. Nate ran to Joey where his coach and teammates joined him.
“Joey, are you okay?” Nate asked. Joey sat up, rubbing his head.
“You better sit out until we make sure you’re all right,” said their coach, helping Joey up. “Nate, take over as goalie.”
Nate’s eyes grew wide. He had never played goalie before. He was fast, and good at dribbling the ball, so he played the forward position.
“I’m not tall enough to play goalie,” Nate said. His stomach churned as he slipped the goalie jersey over his head and pulled on the padded, white goalie gloves. They looked like Mickey Mouse hands. He glanced at the goal post. The praying mantis still clung to it.
“You’ve caused a lot of trouble today,” Nate said to the bug as the referee’s whistle blew.
The game resumed, and Nate’s teammate Jack dribbled the ball down the field. One of the Bulldogs’ players stole it away, bringing the ball back down the field toward the Timberwolves’ goal. Nate’s muscles tightened. How was he supposed to defend such a big area? The goal box surrounded him, like he was standing at the opening of a giant cave.
The other player zigzagged toward Nate with the ball, paused then kicked it to one corner of the goal. Nate leapt in the air, his arms outstretched. The soccer ball grazed his fingertips before landing in the net.
“No!” Nate threw his arms in the air and shook his head. He was a terrible goalie. The Bulldogs player smirked at him while the other team celebrated across the field. Nate caught a glimpse of the praying mantis. It opened and closed its pincers like it was clapping. The praying mantis was cheering for the Bulldogs! Nate huffed and ran off the field for half-time.
On the opening play after half-time, Jack took the ball, dribbled it down the field and scored a goal on the Bulldogs. The Timberwolves were down by one goal, but the Bulldogs drove the ball down the field. Nate was face to face with the same player who scored on him last time. The Bulldogs player zigzagged toward Nate with the ball, paused then kicked it to the same corner of the goal.
Nate leapt in the air, his arms outstretched. The soccer ball grazed his fingertips. Then Nate saw something fly toward the ball, knocking it back out of the goal box. Nate scrambled on the ground and grabbed the ball. He glanced at the net where the brown grasshopper clung to it.
“No, way!” Nate said. The insect had knocked the ball out of the net! “Thanks,” he said to the grasshopper, then threw the ball back into play. Jack got the ball and dribbled it down the field. He passed it to another Timberwolves teammate who kicked and scored a goal. The game was tied up with a few minutes left.
The Bulldogs came down the field. Jack chased after the ball and slammed into one of the Bulldogs’ players. The referee blew his whistle, calling a penalty. The Bulldogs would get a free shot at the goal.
Nate bent his knees and stared down the Bulldogs player who kicked the ball. It came directly at Nate, but was high in the air. He jumped straight up, his arms over his head. The ball touched his palms and bobbled in the air. The grasshopper zipped off the net and hit the ball, sending it sailing to the side of the goal. The ball hit the post and bounced off where Nate picked it up, throwing it back onto the field.
“Thanks,” he said to the grasshopper, who was sitting on the goal post. The praying mantis was no longer there.
Nate’s coach called a timeout so Joey could come back in as goalie. Nate went back to his position as forward. On the next drive, he sprinted toward the ball, kicked it and dribbled down the field. Spotting Jack, Nate passed the ball to him and ran in front of the Bulldogs’ goal. Jack dribbled the ball and passed it back to Nate, who kicked as hard as he could, shooting at the goal. The ball sailed through the air and landed in the net.
The referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the game. The Timberwolves had won! They beat the Bulldogs! Nate and his team huddled in the middle of the field, cheering.
“That was some great goal-keeping, Nate.” His coach patted him on the back. “I thought you said you weren’t tall enough to play goalie?”
Nate grinned. “Being short doesn’t bug me at all!” he said.
the end.
Question Time:
1. What did Nate see on the metal post of the goal?
2. What distracted Joey?
3. Who helped Nate keep the ball out of the goal?
4. Who won the game?
