Prompted Shorties

Soccer Threat

Prompt: You're a star soccer player for your country's national team. Your team has made it to the finals of the World Cup. Just before kickoff, you are hit by a wadded up piece of paper that is thrown at you from the stands. You pick it up, open it and there's a note: "I've kidnapped your spouse. If you don't lose today's game, you will never see him/her again." What do you do? Write this scene.

Story:

I thought the prompt's title was Soccer Treat. I clearly misread that, anyway, on to the prompt!

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"This is it Johnny, the finals in the world cup!" Greg screamed at my face in pure excitement, unaware of the other people cheering and screaming our team name.

I found Greg three years ago in my neighborhood's soccer field, well actually, he found me doing some shooting drills to enhance my kicking strength. He asked if he could join me.

A few beers later, here he is, with me in the finals of the world cup. Greg's been the best friend I never had, so naturally he was the best man to my wedding a few months ago.

"I know! It's so nostalgic!" I exclaimed. We both laughed while we take in the screams of thousands of fans, then I felt something hit the back of my head. I looked around and saw a piece of crumpled paper on the ground. I opened it and read the note.

It said: "I've kidnapped your spouse. If you don't lose today's game, you will never see her again."

I snort in amusement, what an amateur. Her again? Hardly unlikely.

"What's that?" Greg asked. He saw me reading the piece of paper.

"Oh nothing, just an empty soccer treat. I mean threat." I smiled at Greg to tell him that I'm fine.

"Lemme see" He grabs the paper from me and reads the note, then laughs.

"I guess this goon doesn't really know you at all" Greg crumples the piece of paper and throws it to the benches.

"I guess some things are best kept hidden" I grin. He knows what I'm talking about.

"Yeah, how did you get your wedding to be a secret to the media?" Greg crosses his arms.

"I have my ways" I snickered.

"But honestly, I'd be more than happy if Daniel got kidnapped. That SOB wrecked my Ferrari 458, has been cheating on me even before we got married AND lost our dog Spike" I complain. Me and Daniel got divorced just last month.

"I mean, the Ferrari and cheating thing, I may forgive, but not the dog. I freaking loved that dog!" My blood was racing, my mind was travelling back to that day when Daniel came home explaining that he "lost" Spike.

"Just keep your head in the game man. Forget about it" He rubs my back trying to comfort me.

"Yeah. I just miss Spike so much."

"Me too Johnny, me too. You know what?" I look at Greg. "After we win tonight, I'm getting you a new Pomeranian, how does that sound?" His eyes smiled at me.

I chuckled. I can't believe I'm replacing my Pomeranian with another Pomeranian.

"That sounds nice man." I smiled.

We won the world cup that night, got drunk, went to the pet store with Greg the next day and we never heard from his wife ever again. Weird.

t}>g