WHOOSH!

my inspiration for the following story? the boondocks episode: the red ball; how i wish kickball was. however my story is no parody, its a sp_on original production. though i left it unfinished for good reason.

WHOOSH!

By: Sam Pernicano

10-01/10

 

It was the final quarter with only one minute left in the game.  Eleven-year-old Joseph Grelos soccer team was deadlocked with their opposing team.  The only thing that could save them was a goal to tie the score.  Joseph stood steady as he watched the other players kick the ball across the field.  He was waiting for them to get close enough to him to get the ball.  They finally came within ten feet of him, he knew it was now or never to score. 

It was one of the most important games of the season.  It was the championship game and winning was everything.  Joseph’s team, the raging panthers, was dressed in their purple and blue jerseys. He may only be eleven years old, but he was more athletic than anyone else his age.  He had a mastery of seven different styles of martial arts and was incredible at sports.

He ran up to the player dribbling the ball across the field towards his team’s goal.  The player felt a brush of wind against his leg, but he kept going for the other teams goal.  It wasn’t till the announcer yelled that he realized what happened,

“And Joseph Grelo steals the ball from the opposing teams player! It looks like he doesn’t even know that the ball is gone!”

The player looked down at his feet,

“What?! How did he get the ball without me noticing?!” thought the player to himself as he truned around to see joseph headed for his teams goal.

Joseph was almost to the goal, but he had no time left to get there.  He knew that it was now or never to win the game.  He pulled his left leg back and swung his foot into the ball.  The ball went soaring across the field as it headed towards the goal.  The goalie jumped into the air as he head butted the ball back out to the field.

“There’s no way I’m losing this game!” thought Joseph to himself.

With only five seconds left in the game, the timer was ticking down fast.  “Five”, Joseph began to run across the field.  “Four”, he ran into the path of the flying ball.  “Three”, he began to dash towards one of the opposing teammates.  “Two”, Joseph ran up the players back and back flipped off his shoulders.  “One”, he kicked the ball as hard as he could in a midair flip.  “Zero”, the ball slammed into the goalies chest, taking him with it into the back of the goal net.

The crowd cheered in ecstatic pleasure as their jaws dropped to the bottom of the bleachers.  Even the announcer was cheering through the microphone,

“WHAT AN AMAZING FEAT OF PURE AGILITY AND STRENGTH! I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT! THAT GOAL IS GOING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS PEOPLE!”

The other teams goalie still hadn’t come out of the netting yet, and people were beginning to worry.  Murmurs began to exchange through the crowd as seconds turned to minutes, and the goalie still didn’t come out.  Finally, the coach ran into the goal to get the goalie out.  He came out supporting a badly bruised and limping boy.  The coach helped the goalie over to the sidelines and sat him down.

Joseph’s teammates ran over to him and began to praise him for his amazing kick.  He knew he had performed a spectacular kick and won the game, but at what cost? His coach, noticing the worried look on his face, came over to talk to him.

“Joseph, what’s wrong?” asked the coach.

“I just incapacitated their goalie,” answered Joseph nervously.

“Joseph, what you just did was beyond my comprehension and the physical abilities of anyone I know,” said the coach proudly.

“Yeah, but I hurt someone in the process,” said Joseph sadly.

“Well accidents do happen in sports, it’s a liability just playing them,” said the coach reassuringly.  “You should go see your parents at the bleachers.  I’m sure they would love to congratulate you.”

Joseph began to walk away with a concerned look on his face.  He was halfway to the bleachers when he heard a mans voice from behind him.  The mans accent sounded like a mix of Russian and German.  Joseph turned around to see the wealthiest man in the state, Fredrik Pead.  He was dressed in a grey suit with matching pants and had a smile on his face.

“Excuse me, are you the young boy who made that spectacular kick?” asked Mr. Pead.

“Yes, that would be me,” answered Joseph.

“That’s some pretty unique talent that you got there,” said Mr. Pead.

“Well I beat up the other teams goalie though,” said Joseph sadly.  “Why are you here anyways Mr. Pead?”

“Tell me Joseph, have you ever played dodgeball?” asked Mr. Pead.

“Well yes, in school PE class,” answered Joseph.

“Have you ever heard of the Douji dodge ball Tournament?” asked Mr. Pead.

“No, not really,” answered Joseph.

Mr. Pead sighed, and then began to explain,

“The Douji dodgeball tournament is an international dodgeball contest between all the major countries of the world.  Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and the entire North America all participate.  The game combines the aspects of soccer and dodge ball, with four quarters each ten minutes long.  the only rules are that once a player is taken out, they are must leave the field till the end of the current quarter.

There are thirteen players to a team, five runners who can only kick, five passers who can only throw, one defender who can only repel the ball from the goal, and two thrashers who can do anything and everything.  each player can only play the positions they are given and if a player steps out of their position a foul is called.  The game itself is played on a fenced in field to prevent the loss of the ball or people, and is the most intense sport in existence.

 “That sounds interesting Mr. Pead, but why are you telling me this?” asked Joseph.

“Because I think that you have the skills that we greatly need to win this years tournament,” answered Mr. Pead.

“Why do you need me to win?” asked Joseph in confusion.

“Because the team that plays for our country doesn’t have skills like you do,” answered Mr. Pead calmly.  “I’ll give you some time to think it over before you talk to your soccer coach.”

Joseph looked over at his teammates, who were still basking in the warmth of victory.  Then he looked at his coach, who looked back at him.  Joseph quickly turned his head away so the coach wouldn’t see his face.  He didn’t want to hurt another soccer player, but he knew that his “unique skills” could finally be useful if he joined the Douji American soccer team.

“I don’t know if I want to join yet, maybe you could show me what I’m getting into first,” said Joseph thoughtfully.

“Well we’re having practice tomorrow morning at Scottdale Parks soccer field, you can come watch if you want,” retorted Mr. Pead.

 

The next morning Joseph was walking towards the Scottdale soccer field.  His dad had just dropped him off and told him to go.  He didn’t want his dad knowing what he was really going to do.  As Joseph walked up to the gate surrounding the field, Fredrik Pead walked over and opened the gate.

“So I see you came, let me show you around,” said Mr. Pead happily.

Mr. Pead began to walk Joseph over to a large group of people.  There were six full-grown men, and six young boys, all older than Joseph, standing together.

“I forgot to mention that you must have an equal number of kids as you do adults to a team,” said Mr. Pead.

“Hey boss, who’s the little runt?” asked one of the teenage boys.

“This here is our new thrasher,” answered Mr. Pead.

“I thought that I was your thrasher!” shouted the boy, his face turning red with anger.

“Not anymore Brent, you’re quick temper has gotten us too many losses,” said Mr. Pead.

“That little runt doesn’t even look like he could pick up a ball, let alone throw it!” shouted Brent in retort.

“Actually I haven’t made my-” being interrupted by Brent’s continuous yelling, joseph never finished his sentence.

“If you think he’s so good, lets see him play while he’s in the hospital!” shouted Brent in rage, as he picked up a ball and threw it at Joseph.

The ball flew so fast that the only thing everyone else could see was a red blur.

Joseph pulled his right leg into the air and slammed it down on top of the ball, sending it flying high into the air and catching it in the palm of his left hand.

“So what, he can defend, he’s no thrasher!” said Brent in frustration.

“If you would please be qui-” Joseph was cut short again by Brent’s excessive yelling.

“Try stopping three balls!” shouted Brent, as he kicked two balls at Joseph, and then threw a third.

Again the balls flew so fast that they could barely be seen.  Joseph was sick and tired of being interrupted.  He began to count down from five in his head,

 

 

and with each number he performed a different move. “Five!” Joseph jumped and did a frontal flip, slamming the balls into the ground.  “Four!” Joseph kicked the thrown ball back at Brent.  “Three!” Joseph spun and kicked the ball on his right.  “Two!” Joseph spun and kicked the ball on his left.  “One!” the three balls flew into Brent’s body, sending him flying into the fence fifteen feet behind him.

“Now shut up so I can talk,” said Joseph, with a smile on his face.

“Is..that..all..you’ve..got?” asked Brent weakly.

“I said shut up!” shouted Joseph as he picked up a ball and launched it across the field towards Brent.

The ball tore up the ground around it as it roared across the grass.  It struck Brent with so much force that it knocked him out.

“That was incredible!” shouted one of the other players.

“I told you he was good,” said Mr. Pead proudly.  “So are you in or not?”

Joseph had been playing soccer for years, but he had never been able to use his martial arts in the game without hurting someone.  He had taken the martial arts training at the suggestion of his parents and loved every minute of it.  He figured that if one of the richest men in the country needed him enough to ask him personally, he must be really important.

“sure, I’ll join the team,” answered Joseph confidently.

Part 2:

 

“im not sure im good enough to play on your team,” joseph said nervously.

“nonsense,” said mr. pead ecstatically.  “you just took out one of our thrashers and didn’t break a sweat,” said mr. pead confidently.

“im still not sure about joining the team,” joseph said, fidgeting his feet around as he spoke.

“tell me joseph,” said mr. pead.  “have you ever played dodgeball?”

“in school PE class,” said joseph.

“have you ever heard of the Douji Dodge Ball Tournament?” asked mr pead.

“yes,” answered joseph quickly.  “it’s the single greatest sport in the world.”

“I own the American team,” said mr. pead.  “we are currently in the finals, and are going to face off against the russians.”

“that all sounds great, but im done hurting innocent people,” said joseph firmly.

“what about brent over there?” asked mr. pead.

“the only thing hes innocent of is being an ass,” said joseph, flashing a smile on his face.

Mr. pead put his hand lightly on josephs shoulder and spoke to him firmly, “joseph, I am very wealthy as you know.  Most rich people are corrupt and do illegal things with their money.  I need you on the American team as our second thrasher.”

“why do you need me?” asked joseph inquisitively.

“the American team has been rivals with the Russians for years,” said mr. pead.  “we haven’t ever been able to beat them because they cheat in every game they play.”

“im guessing cheating is the only way to win,” said joseph.

“youre smarter than you look,” said mr. pead.  “the only way to win is to cheat, and this year a wager has been placed between the US and Russia.”

“what did you bet?” asked joseph.

“our president got word of some nuclear weapons being built illegally behind the united nations back,” said mr pead.  “if the Russians won, America wouldn’t tell the UN about the weapons.”

“what if our country wins?” asked joseph.

“then the Russians don’t tell about us stealing oil illegally in the middle east,” answered mr. pead.

“that is the stupidest deal ive ever heard,” said joseph.  “im not playing just to conceal a stupid conspiracy.”

“well either you play for my team or I will be sure that youre blamed for our nations loss,” said mr pead firmly.

“ill take my chances,” said joseph calmly.

Joseph turned around and walked off the field.  As soon as he passed the entrance gate, he heard the voice of a young Russian girl speak to him.  Joseph turned around to look at the girl.  Her hair was as golden-yellow as the setting sun, and her eyes were as blue as neon sapphires.  She had a ball cradled under her right arm and was standing firm in place.

“why do you leave the game because of a little conspiracy?” asked the girl.

“do I know you?” asked joseph.

“I am the captain and first thrasher of the Russian team,” said the girl.  “I was chosen to play for the Russian team when I was only ten years old.  I have yet to find a formidable opponent.  Our team has heard about what you can do.”

“I said im not playing,” said joseph calmly.

“we must face each other to see who is the ultimate player,” said the girl.  “what is a player on a team without a formidable rival?”

“im not playing,” said joseph again.

The girl tossed her ball into the air and kicked it at joseph.  The ball flew so fast that it was simply a red blur.  Joseph slammed his right heel onto the top of the ball and sent it flying into the air.  When it came back down, he caught it in his right hand.

“ill play in the game,” said joseph firmly.  “you better be ready for the fight of your life.”

Joseph walked back to mr. pead, thoughts about the game racing through his head.

“im in,” said joseph confidently.