Felipe dreamed he was kicking the ball toward a roaring stadium, the crowd rising like a wave around him.
He jolted awake and dashed to his room. Under the bed, the scuffed football waited. He grabbed it and kicked hard against the wall — thud, thud, thud — the sound bouncing back in the dark.
In the living room, the football balanced on his sister's foot while he guided it with his knee. Boop. Boop. The cat leapt onto the coffee table, swatted the ball, and sent it flying.
The football sailed through the open window and landed in the garden. Felipe dove after it, grass staining his knees, and dragged it back out, breathless.
His sister appeared in the doorway with the widest grin he had ever seen. She clapped her hands and pointed at the football. He knew what she wanted.
The school championship was buzzing. Felipe received the ball and wove past three defenders with quick feet. His teammates stood wide open on the wings — but he kept running alone.
He wound up for a powerful shot — and then he saw her. His sister at the fence, jumping up and down, pointing desperately at his open teammate. That's when he realized: he had been playing alone the whole match.
Felipe rolled the ball backward to his teammate. The pass came back across the goal. He tapped it gently past the keeper — and the crowd erupted.
They collided in a hug and tumbled into the grass, laughing hard enough to choke on air. The referee blew the final whistle. The scoreboard flashed the winning score.
Felipe stood on the highest step of the podium, the heavy gold medal warm against his chest. His teammates piled onto his shoulders. His sister gripped the fence rail, cheering so loud her voice cracked.
Felipe lifted the trophy overhead as the stadium lights flared bright above them. The crowd roared. He looked down and found his sister's face in the sea of faces, grinning just as wide as before.
Later, back in the living room, the football rested on the coffee table. The cat curled up beside it. Felipe sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa, his sister asleep in his lap.