Dribbling on ice (a story )

On a cold January morning in the Scottish town of Nairn a boy was strolling around.

His name was Nam Bian. He and his family were going south to visit his English cousins down in Peterborough. He was sent on some last minute errands to pack up for the journey.

He walked toward Scottish Jerky and paid the store keeper 3 pounds (with the money his mother gave him) for a bag of regular jerky. He sure liked jerky but he was ordered to not eat it as it was for the journey.

He ran across the street and into the Asher’s bakery. The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air as he walked towards the desk. He bought 3 large loaves of bread for 21 pounds. Then he stepped back into the bitter cold air. Racing down the street he returned home. Nam lived in a small rickety gray house. He gave his parents the supplies and walked to his room to pack up his books and sport gear. He played very little sports and the only sport he played was football (soccer). He was not that good at it though.

He packed it up as his mom said it was time to go. He and his family all gathered at the front door. Then they carried the bags and boxes into their car. They had a Ford truck. So the kids and the baggage were in the back as they drove south. Nam's family could not afford a plane so they had to drive the whole way.

They got on the A96 (the free way) then they got on the A9 which they would follow for a long way. They ate the food they packed and read their books on the way. It was a long wait. 8 hours 30 min later they drove into their relatives garage.

They went to sleep when they got in for it was time to (they had left their house at noon). When they woke up they were greeted by their relatives. Nam asked his to cousins their names. One was named Orton and the other was named Derby.

Orton was fat and slow. He was wearing a black shirt with a white blade of grass on it.

Derby was skinny and fast. He was wearing a white shirt with a black rhino on it. They asked Nam if he played any sports.

 He replied "I play a little football, shall we go and play a game in the yard?"

"Yes! Just let me get my brother Coe", replied Nam.

Nam ran and got Coe, while Orton and Derby ran outside (Orton walked). For nets they set up two wooden posts twelve feet away from each other on either side of a 30 feet grass yard. The teams were Nam and Orton VS Derby and Coe.

Nam and Orton kicked off.

When Orton got it Nam just stood there when he should have run up. Orton was slow and lost the ball to Derby. Derby sprint-dribbled up the Field toward Nam's unprotected Posts. Nam Sprinted to catch up and slid Derby just as he shot it. The ball whizzed through the posts. " GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!" Derby and Coe yelled.



Nam was not happy and decided to let Orton pass it to him. When he got it he dribbled up but Derby was in his way.

He passed it to Orton and ran toward his net. Orton shot.... but missed by a mile. As Coe went to get the ball Nam asked Orton what he was good at in soccer. Orton said he was good at keeper. So Nam sent Orton into keep as he was on defense. When Coe took the Goal kick Nam rushed at Derby. Derby just touched it past him as if it were as easy as picking daises.

Then he sprint dribbled with far touches. Nam thought if only he could get in front of him then he could take it. But he was not in front of him, so Derby shot. Orton dived and amazingly saved it! Then he threw it to Nam. Nam dribbled toward Coe but not like Derby's long dribbles.

He dribbled closer to him. Nam shot it and slipped on some ice. The ball whizzed in but Nam hit the ice hard. He woke up to find that he was in his bed that he shared with Coe at his cousin’s house. He had a pain in his knee but he could still walk and run when he got out of his bed. He wanted to keep playing so he ran outside.

The game had stopped and everyone was lying about waiting for Nam to come out. When he did the game continued. At one point when Nam totally missed a shot and Coe took the goal kick badly, Derby said that he was a better football player than either of the Bians.

Nam got mad and scored a goal which quieted Derby down for a little. But when they drove back home (after two days) Nam wanted to become a better football player.

So when he got home he practiced day and night out on the cold ice. The ice became his enemy and friend. When he fell on it he would have to wait a few days before he could go out again. Sometimes it broke a bone and his parents could not afford a doctor but it still healed. Soon when he fell on the ice he did not fell much pain at all. He ate the rare brie from France that came once a year to a local store. He bought it with his own money.

It helped him build strong bones. He shot and dribbled and shot and dribbled on that ice. He bought the soccer ball with his own money. He played so much on that slippery Scottish ice that one day he found that he could not slip on it.

The days past then the weeks then the years. 10 years later he was on the Scottish national team. But he could not play in the world cup yet for he and his team had to win the British Isle cup to be nominated.

For years England had won it and was sent to qualify for the world cup. The losers never even had a chance at it. The cup was between: Ireland , Wales , England and Scotland. Nam was determined to win it with his brother Coe.

They were going to play Wales and England was to play Ireland. They practiced and practiced for the big day. It was in the summer. Nam slept uneasily that night hoping they could beat Wales. When they at last stood on the stadiums field in London, Nam knew they would win. Wales was closer to London than Scotland so they started with it.

Nam was on right Forward and pressured the guy who had the ball. The guy hit it long to a forward on Wales who had run up. It was a one on one! Coe closed in on the guy and dived the right way when he shot it and saved it! " That was some good goalkeeping", said the commentator.

Coe Punted it up field to Ben the center forward. Ben gave it to Aberfoyle the left forward. Aberfoyle shot. The Ball was saved by Owain the Welsh keeper. But Nam sprinted up and got the ball before the Welsh defense. He turned and shot.... it was in. "GGGGGOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!". The game went on with no other goals. Scotland had won! Nam and Coe had a great time for they were to fight England for the final.

Ten days later they were fighting England at Glasgow. Scotland started with the ball. The game was on. Derby and Orton were both on England. Orton was keeper. Ben gave it to Nam. Nam dribbled close and Hit it to a midfielder who had run up. His name was Scott. Scott took a shot on the now thinner Orton. Orton saved it. He Punted it up. Nam ran back on D. Derby got the ball from Parker (an English midfielder) and was long dribbling up. Coe dived for it but missed, now Derby was straight in front of Nam's net. Nam did not make the same mistake that he had 10 years earlier. He jumped with all his might and slid the ball out of Derby's feet. Derby fell face forward as Coe dived on the ball. The Ref said that Nam had slid legally and to play on.

Nam received thanks and praise as he ran back up. Nam got the ball from Scott. Nam dribbled up. The Wales defense tried to push him over but he would not fall down unless he wanted to. The ice had trained him hard. He was in the box. A defender slid him. Most players would be out from that hit. But it did not hurt Nam.It was a penalty. Nam faked left and Orton dived right. But Nam still shot it left. It was in......"GGGGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!". Yelled the crowd. England got back as Derby scored.

At the 88th minute it was 6-6. Rooney had just scored. Nam gave it to Ben and Ben lofted it to Scott. Scott Faked right and Orton dived right. But Scott lofted it over Orton. The ball was an inch from the line. Nam sprinted up and slid the ball in just before Orton dived. The game was over and Scotland had won.