Bruno stepped onto the empty field. His faded Olimpia jersey hung loose on his small shoulders. He dribbled toward the goal and missed.
At the gym, Bruno lifted the light weights. The metal clanked up and down. One slipped and rolled away.
The gym was quiet except for the clank of metal. Bruno watched the weight roll. He thought: again.
Back on the field, Bruno kicked again and again. Each shot thudded into the net. He brushed grass from his cheek.
The ball thumped the net. Again. Again. Bruno's legs grew tired but he kept lining up his shots.
He picked up the ball and placed it on the spot. Again. Again. The net rippled each time.
Bruno lined up one last kick. He struck the ball hard. It arced high into the dark sky.
Bang. The ball hit the bar and dropped right into the net. Bruno pumped his fist. He had made it.