When it matters most

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·@assegai·
0.000 HBD
When it matters most
![img_0.5879777731397631.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmfLR3pwREVvZKz53kS8NoiHABVj2jdL7fjxtjZJQv9sv6/img_0.5879777731397631.jpg)
[Photo Source](https://pixabay.com/photos/soccer-ball-throw-kid-child-game-1032615/)



"The kid cannot stand even if he gets two pairs of legs! How do you expect him to play football on just two feet?" Ned asked sarcastically.
"Maybe we should exchange his pair of jelly for crab's cartilage, or what do you think?" Jon chipped in too.
He was referring to Greg who they had just gotten cornered at the football field. For the whole term, Ned and his gang had been on Greg's neck. He could barely go or do anything within the school without them breathing down his neck. The game master had announced their class will be needing a team to represent them in the upcoming inter-class football tournament and had asked all willing players to show up at the court doing break. Greg had showed up as accordingly but here is his worst nightmare, staring him in the eyes during the day, in broad daylight! 
I thought the form master said "football players?" Ned asked.
"Yeah, that was what i heard!",  Tony replied giggling.
" Then, what is this stork doing here? It's not a fish eating tournament!" Ned said
Greg could not hold up his head. He had his eyes on the floor, gazing at his boots.
"I advise you get lost boy, you won't make it pass this training session" Ned told him.
Just then,  the form master arrived dressed in his sport kits.
"Okay everybody, let's come round together and get things going!" He shouted.
The boys rallied round.
"Now boys, this tournament is a serious one as you know. The best team will be picked to represent the school on the higher level and the best players will be incorporated into the states league, so boys, give it your best and play as a team, okay?"
"Yes Sir!" They chorued in unison.
"I will pick our team out from today's training session, so let's get going!"
The form master shared them randomly into two teams and gave them each their own half of the pitch.
"Oh no!" Greg thought aloud on sighting Ned in the other team, "Am done for!" He thought.
"Now, play fairly, remember we are all in the same team, its not a paralympic game so I do not want to see anyone on a wheelchair okay? Let's roll boys.
He blew the whistle and the game commenced. The boys went about the game smartly and they played fairly.
During a corner kick, Greg found himself beside Ned and he steathily brought his mouth towards Greg's ear and whispered, " It's your funeral man, hope you have written your Dad to get you a wheelchair, trust me, you will need it before the end of today!" Ned muttered giggling lightly.
Greg was having a rough day as he could barely comport himself. Whenever he got the ball, he felt as if Greg was just behind him. He was slow in making decisions and whenever he did, it was the wrong ones.
An hour later, the master blew the whistle to signal the end of the game.
"Alright boys, come together".
The boys all crowded round him sitting down on the grass.
" You all did well and am glad to see a lot of good players among you. Although I have a Koala among you, he spent the time on the pitch sleeping. Anyway,  I have made my pick and i will call out the 18 boys who made it.
13 names later, Greg did not hear his name.
"What does it matter anyway, I have never been of any good in any sport before, so why will I be now?"
"Greg Pearson!"
Greg looked up sheepishly. He was staring at the master as if in a trance.
"Greg Pearson!" The master repeated loudly.
"Yes Sir!" Greg shouted and at the same time struggling to get up.
"We are not up to the required number so I have added you to fill up the gap, okay?" The master asked.
"Yes Sir" Greg answered soberly.
The other boys burst out laughing.
"Give the team your best boys! Make our class proud!" The master shouted.
Two weeks later, Greg's class were having a crucial game. Well, he was on the bench as the master had picked him as a surplus. They were 2 goals down to their opponents in the 50th minute and it seems they will take more. They have been pushed far back into their own half and were fighting frantically to keep more goals from coming in with no thought of trying to push forward. The master was in a tight corner, with five players injured and only Greg on the bench, he was hopeless. Few minutes later, Joe got knocked down and it seems the game was up for him. He was taken to the sideline and after a few minutes of examination, he was decleared not fit to continue. He was not even keen on going back into the game, as he whispered to his friend Pete.
"It's tortue boy" Joe whispered."They are tormenting the hell out of us! Am not ready for a mass suicide!"
"It's over for us" The master muttered to his assistant.
"But we have one player on the bench? Greg" The assistant replied.
"Greg? Are you kidding me? The boy is a Jelly! He can barely kick the air not to say more of a ball!"! The master said 
" Well, we have no choice!"
A couple of minutes later, Greg was bouncing on the sideline, ready to go in. When he went on the pitch, a groan rose up from his team mates and the crowd of spectators roared up in laughter.
The referee blew the whistle for the game to resume. In the 78th minute, three minutes after Greg came on, a pass came to him and he surprisingly controlled it skillfully, turning round he dribbled past two more players coming on to tackle him and let loose a shot. The ball sail into the net. A goal!
The whole pitch was silent. 
Greg's master rubbed his eyes and opened them again.
"No! It seems my eyes are playing tricks on me!" He thought.
The referee blew the whistle and not until the ball was brought to the centre of the pitch for the opponents to pass did the whole spectators believe their eyes.
Greg's class shouted in frenzy and could barely believe it!
At the 90th minute, 4 minutes was added and the game became so tense that the whole spectators held their breath. Anything can happen now.
Just as the referee was taking up his whistle to his lip, a loose ball came to Greg and he opted for a solo run, he glided past three opponent players and was now face to face with the goal keeper. A fraction of a second later, the goal keeper was lying sprawled flat on the ground and the ball was nestled softly behind the net. A goal!
The crowd went mad with joy, at least, Greg's class were runnng into the pitch and before he could run two steps he was caught and was swimming in the air, a champion!
His master could not believe it. He stood outside, mouth widely opened, so was Ned and the entire team. The jelly boy went stiff today! Unbelievable they thought.
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