Leo stood at the window as the screen flashed, “Mexico 2, South Africa 0!” A grape slipped from his snack and bounced once on the sill. Outside, flags filled the street, and neighbors’ cheers rattled the glass. Leo pressed his palm against the warm pane and watched the vibration travel up his arm.
The scoreboard changed: “Korea 2, Czechia 1!” Leo’s snack tumbled from his hands, and the lone grape bounced off the sill into the grass. A drumbeat started outside. Flags snapped above the neighbors’ heads while cheers rolled down the block like thunder.
Leo raced to the garage and grabbed his scuffed soccer ball. He marched onto the driveway, replaying every goal with his feet. The ball rolled wide and struck the fence. Clang! He kicked again, harder, and the hollow sound answered.
The ball missed again. Thump. Clang. Again, Leo kicked until his foot stung and his shoe scraped the concrete. At last, the scuffed ball rolled to the storm drain and stopped. Leo stared at it, breathing hard, while flags fluttered beyond the fence.
Leo closed his eyes. He pictured the score: “Canada 1, Bosnia 1.” Suddenly, bright stadium lights blazed around him. Paraguay’s keeper dove left as Leo drew back his foot. This was the winner, he thought. Then a voice shouted from the sideline, “Pass it!”
Leo’s foot met the ball softly. It slipped into another player’s path instead of flying toward the net. He chased after it, lungs burning, while the kid in the Paraguay jersey waited alone near the goal. The pass rolled across the grass with a gentle swish.
The kid’s eyes went wide. Tap! The ball tucked into the net. Both players tumbled into the dirt, laughing beneath the blazing lights. The crowd erupted, flags leaping in every section. Leo thought, That was better than any goal I could have taken alone.
Leo opened his eyes on the real driveway. The golden retriever was sniffing his scuffed soccer ball, its tail thumping the fence. Leo wiped dirt from the ball on his shorts and tossed it gently. The dog caught it and bolted toward the street, where children gathered beneath flying flags.