The Rain at Half-Time

Tessa checked the touchline for the third time. Grandad’s green raincoat was nowhere in sight. He had promised to watch her match, and today she wanted to score. Eli jogged beside her. “Coming?” Tessa pulled up her socks. “Yes. I was just looking.”

The first half went quickly. Tessa chased a long pass, but the ball rolled out. She tried again and a blue-shirted player blocked her shot. At the next throw-in, she looked towards the gate. Still no green raincoat. “Eyes here, Tess!” Coach Mo called. Tessa turned back to the game.

A few minutes later, the ball came to her near the goal. Eli was waiting in an open space. Tessa wanted to shoot, but two defenders were closing in. She passed. Eli kicked the ball into the net. Everyone shouted. Eli ran over with his hand raised, and Tessa gave him a quick high-five.

Then the rain arrived. It tapped the team bench, rattled against the fence and turned the far goal grey. At half-time, Coach Mo gathered the players under the shelter. The referee spoke to both coaches. “We’re stopping here,” Coach Mo told the children. “The ground is getting too wet.”

Eli was still grinning about his goal. Tessa pulled her jacket over her red shirt. “I wanted Grandad to see me score,” she said. “He might have seen the goal,” Eli offered. “Your goal.” Eli’s grin faded. For a moment, neither of them said anything.

A green raincoat appeared at the shelter entrance. “Sorry I’m late,” Grandad said. “I got stuck behind a delivery truck.” Tessa made room on the bench. “The match has stopped.” “I saw the last few minutes,” he said. “That pass of yours was lovely.” She looked up. “You saw that?”

“Straight through the gap,” Grandad said. Eli sat down beside her. “I was waiting there for ages. Then she found me.” “About two seconds,” Tessa said. “Well, it felt like ages.” She laughed. Outside the shelter, the rain kept falling. Coach Mo began collecting the footballs.

They walked to Grandad’s car together. Eli waved from the gate. “Same again next week?” he called. “Maybe,” Tessa said. “You could pass to me.” “Deal.” Grandad opened the car door. Tessa put her muddy boots on the mat and asked, “Did you really see it go through that gap?”