The playground gleams under a bright blue sky. Goalio dashes toward the football. His classmates wait near the goal.
The ball rolls between Goalio's shoes and hits the post with a loud CLANG! "Oops!" His classmates call, "Come on, Goalio!"
Goalio tries another kick, but the ball sails wide and splashes into a puddle. He wipes mud off the ball and watches from the edge.
Sneakers squeak on the painted lines. Goalio watches his classmates pass the ball back and forth, dreaming of joining them.
Goalio runs forward and taps the ball gently toward the girl in yellow. She traps it with one foot and passes it right back.
The ball thumps back to Goalio's foot. He smiles and takes a step closer to the game.
Goalio kicks hard toward the goal! The boy in green blocks it with a quick kick. The ball bounces free.
Goalio spots the girl in red waving near the cones. He passes perfectly — the ball sails between the cones. "Goal!" everyone shouts.
Now Goalio is in the game! He passes, runs, and laughs as the ball bounces from foot to foot. The bell rings.
Goalio and his friends bump muddy shoes together. They carry the ball back to the bright goal. Goalio can't stop smiling.