Finding Harry

Chapter 4

The next day I woke up bright an early. The sun was shining brightly through my windows and the sky burned a vibrant blue. Birds were singing sweetly in the trees, and I felt refreshed.

I went down to breakfast. Harry and Dorothy were also up. We sat at the table to eat slices of warm toast, and our usual mug of coffee.

"What've you got planned, today?" asked Dorothy, pouring herself another cup.

"Oh, not much," said Harry, his mouth half-filled with toast, "We might go out for a kick-about with the gang...do you like football, Hannah?"

"Yeah, I love it," I replied. Dorothy gave me a surprised look.

"Surely you don't play? Girls aren't meant to get dirty," she said, slightly uneasy.

"Oh, it's okay, Mrs. Webb, all the girls play football where I come from...and don't worry, I've learnt to not get too scrapped up!" I said. Harry and I laughed, which comforted his mum a little. I think she knew times were changing.

"So where are we going?" I asked Harry, after breakfast was finished. He was zipping up his cardigan.

"Oh, just round the corner there's a street we usually play on. Nothing serious, just a small match. I'm sure the guys will let you join in," he said.

"Cool," I said, smiling, and bending over to tie up my trainers.

"What position do you play?" he asked me, inquisitively.

"Goalkeeper," I said. He looked surprised.

"You're a goalkeeper?!"

"Yes...?"

"Oh, sorry for my rudeness...it's just that...well..."

"Not many girls, these days play in goal?"

"Yeah..."

"Oh, well you'll be surprised! Girls' football is a massively growing thing, in the 21st century – there are loads of us!"

"Wow..." he said, as he opened the door and guided me through in his usual courteous way.

We walked up the straight, and, round the corner, sure enough, there was a gang of about six guys kicking a ball around, against the house walls.

"Hey guys!" Harry called, running in to tackle for the ball.

"Oh, hi, Harry!" some of the blokes called.

"Who's your friend?" one of them asked.

"Oh, this is Hannah. She's an old friend of mine – she's staying at my place for a couple of days...mind if she joins in the game? She says she's quite good," explained Harry.

"Yeah, sure, Hannah, if you're sure," said one of the guys. I smiled.

"What position do you play?" asked another.

"Oh, I'm a goalkeeper," I said. Their faces filled with shock and amazement.

"Goalkeeper? You – a girl?" said one of the guys.

"Yeah...and I'm warning you, I'm pretty good!" I said, grabbing the ball and kicking it high into the air with a half-volley. They watched it with astonished eyes, their mouths wide open. They were gob-smacked. The ball hit the ground, and they all looked at me with perplexed expression.

"Okay guys, let's start!" called Harry, and the match started. I stood, poised in the goal, which was constructed out of two ragged pullovers. The guys raced around, kicking the ball against walls, and booting it high into the air. They sometimes would have an opportunity to shoot at goal, but, on remembering that a girl was in goal, they suddenly seemed too anxious to try. I knew all I needed was one shot to prove myself. I think Harry realised this, and, sure enough, the next opportunity he got, he kicked the ball with deadly aim at the top corner of the goal. I watched it carefully, and felt my body kick into action. I needed to get this right. I leapt into the air with all my might, and, with steady hands, managed to grasp the ball out of its flight, and landed on the ground with a controlled thump. The boys fell silent. They crowded around me, waiting for a reaction. My eyes were shut tight. I wasn't sure if I'd saved it. I slowly opened my eyes, and, as the blur dissolved it became apparent that I had, indeed made a save. The guys, seeing that I wasn't injured, began to smile.