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[Dragon]

This is the story of "Cia".  A little girl...no, a young woman who fell in love with soccer on a summer day while watching kids play.  It is also the story of her family and the tragedy they had to face and over come.

This is a total work of fiction.  Dragon has "borrowed" a few names to make the story more humerous and light hearted at times.

This story is not based on anyones life...it just came to me.  It was as if there was a little girl named Marcia that spoke to me and told me her story....I would have written it all in one sitting, but Marcia took her time in "telling it to me".

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.  I enjoyed writing down what Cia told me...Her life is one of many that is effected in more ways then one by this beautiful game we call soccer!


Enjoy :mrgreen:

[Dragon]

CHAPTER ONE...

THE JOY OF SOCCER


      Once upon a time there was a little girl.  She loved to play and run and go on the swings at the park.  Her mother and father were very proud of her and loved to watch her play.  She was always so full of life and watching her made their hearts swell and their eyes well up with moisture.  She was their pride and joy.  Her name was Marcia.
      Marcia was a typical little girl around seven years old at the start of her journey.  She had pleaded with her parents to take her and her little brother, (Matthew) to the park that day.  As always they could not resist her big blue eyes and after some grumbling, gave in.  It was that summer day that changed her and her parents life for ever.  For out in the middle of the park among bright orange cones and white poles with little red flags on them was the very first time Marcia had seen the game she would come to play, and love, and hate all in due time...it was a game called soccer!
      She watched the kids who all appeared very happy kick the black and white ball around on the grass.  It did not take her long to understand that the objective to the game; for surely it was a game, was to kick the ball between the two poles with the little flags.  She saw this made the kids smile and give out little bursts of glee, and also saw the parents jump out and down and scream in joy!  She found the parents strange because they yelled all the while the little boys and girls ran around after the ball and to her it looked like they were scolding the kids!  But when the ball went between the sticks the parents forgot what they were mad at and jumped up and down like all was forgiven.  Sometime the parents even yelled at the bigger kid.  There was a girl; who couldn't have been much older then her cousin Annie (who was 14), and she wore a bright yellow shirt and black pants; it reminded Marcia of a big bumble bee and made her chuckle to herself.  This girl ran around inside the orange cones just like the little kids and even got to blow a whistle!  The only thing that was strange to Marcia is that the parents sometimes yelled at her too...and she wasn't even kicking the ball!
      As the kids stopped playing they all sang a song, clapped hands with the other kids and ran after their parents to the parking lot Marcia daydreamed about what she had seen.  The swing took her higher and higher the harder she pulled on the chain.  She loved tilting her head back far as she could go and looking at the sky. She used to always imagine she could see angels up in the clouds...this time though all she saw was herself, with a little black and white ball running around and having fun like the kids she had just witnessed.  Whatever they were doing, that is what I want to do;  She thought to herself.  "Marcia", her mom called.  It was time to go...she grabbed Matthews hand and started for the big red car that was her dad's.  She would have to ask her parents what is was that those kids were doing...and more importantly.  How could she get to do it too!



CHAPTER TWO


SIZE 3 BALL


       Not even 4 days had went by since Marcia had learned that the game she had watched was called "Soccer"!  She had quired her parents on the ride home that day as to what the game was called.  Soccer!  She liked the name of that game, it kinda rolled off her tounge and she had let her parents know that she had wanted to do that too.  She was suprised that they did not bicker about it, but said they would "look into it" the very next day!  Her dad said her had played that game in College when he was younger and in "better shape".  She wasn't too sure what the heck college was, but she was grinning ear to ear when her parents had said yes.  She was also pleased that her parents seemed very happy over the idea. They were smiling as well.
     
       The next day at dinner her dad had come home and they were sitting down eating mom's "special meatloaf". Marcia as always tried to sneak scraps to "muffin" under the table because she didn't like the specks of green stuff in the meat loaf.  Her mom spotted her and gave her a look that told her she should "quit while shes ahead".  Towards the end of dinner her father announced that he had signed her up to the local rec club for only thirty dollars and that the team had needed one more player.  He also said that the teams name was the "Blue Dragons"!  She didn't know what the heck "mod, rec, or club" meant, but when she heard the name her face became flushed and she was brimming with joy!  "I am going to get to play soccer"?  Yes, was the answer her dad told her.  She ran from the table and hugged her mom and dad and then ran to her room to find a ball.  Desert all but forgotten, little Marcia was lost in a world of fantasy; Of black and white balls and wearing a blue shirt with wings on the back just like a dragon!
       The trip to the soccer store seemed to take forever.  It was on the other side of town from what mom said, and dad had added she needed shin guards, cleats, and a ball.  She had no clue in the world what a shin guard was, or cleats; but when he said ball she was very excited.  The only ball she had found in her room that evening was an old yellow chewed up tennis ball that she had used to play with Muffin.  It was not a soccer ball but she had kicked it around the house the next three days.  Arriving at the soccer store, Marcia could not wait.  She jumped out of the car as fast as she could.  She barely heard her mom scold her for unbuckling before the car had come to a complete stop.  She ran into the store and she didn't even notice the little bell that jingled as she stepped into the little shop.  Her eyes were overwhelmed with the hundreds of colorful jerseys that hung around the store.  There was also a whole wall full of shoes and last but not least...Balls!!!  Tons of them.  She ran to the balls while her dad came into the store and started talking to the "funny sounding" man behind the counter.  Her mom pushed Matthew into the store in the stroller because he had fallen asleep on the ride over.  She didn't notice anything else in the store because her eyes had fallen on a big round shiney Pink ball!  It was just like the one the kids in the park were kicking around, but was all pink.  Her favorite color...thirty minutes later she walked out of the store trying to carry the heavy bag herself.  In it were Shin guards, and new pair of black and white cleats, and what the funny man had called behind the counter; "a darn nice looking pink #3 football"!


Chapter 3 coming soon

[Dragon]

CHAPTER 3

MEET THE BLUE DRAGONS!



Marcia was besides herself.  She watched the other kids in the culdesac riding their bikes as she pulled away in the back seat of dad's big red car.  She felt she had a secret that none of them knew.  Normally she would be jealous not to be out there riding around with the children of her neighborhood and with Kristina, her best friend.  Not today. Today it is they who would be jealous of her if they only knew where she was off to.  She was going to meet "her team".  Today was to be her first practice!   Dad had even left work early to be there, and that made Marcia even more sure that this was a big event in her life this summer.  The daydreaming helped cover the brief ride to the park and she barely even noticed her mother's bad rendition of "I ain't no holler back girl" that she was singing along to with the radio.
Upon arriving Marcia and her family got out of the car and scanned the field for her team.  Several teams it seemed had picked this park for their practices and she clutched her ball close to her stomach as the little butterflys inside threatened to dance even harder.  Her mom and dad, with Matthew in tow walked across the field towards some children all wearing blue jerseys.  None of them hand wings on their backs, but that bright blue; the color of cake frosting still looked magical to her.  A tall man walked up and began talking to her father.  She stood behind her mother's shadow and continued to watch the kids in blue run around and kick the ball.  
She was barely aware when the young tall man introduced himself to her.  His name was Jason and he had a friendly face and warm eyes.  He blew into a whistle and all the other kids started running towards where they were standing.  The sound of the whistle was sharp and piercing when she heard it, but in her mind she heard the whistle say; "Blue dragons assemble"!  Like a group of super hero's...No, like the Teen Titans (one of her favorite cartoons) they ran over to answer the whistles cry for action.  "Hey everyone, this is our new player. Marcia"; Jason said.  Marcia felt all eyes upon her and the butterflys kicked it up a notch in her stomach; they were surely break-dancing now.



CHAPTER 4

SHARKS AND MINNOWS



Marcia was feeling a little better now.  She had been instructed by Jason, who was called "Coach Jason" to go out on the field and warm up with the other kids.  She wasn't quite sure of why she had to warm up, the day was a warm day already. But, she loved the feel of kicking her little pink ball and chasing after it while all the other kids did the same.  "Don't run into eachother, keep your heads up"; Jason called out to them.  She ran faster and faster bound to do the right thing and picked her head up from time to time to ensure she was doing what the coach wanted.  She was running so fast she could not even pick out her parents faces on the sideline where a crowd of parents were watching them.  The whistle blew after a long time had went by it seemed, and she ran towards coach Jason for her first "Blue dragons assemeble" meeting!  She was instructed to take a water break with the rest of the children.  She found her parents who had brougt a water bottle full of cool water for her to drink.  She had not even remembered her parents bringing one.  Maybe they had got one from the other parents she thought.  As Marcia pulled water out of the bottle in huge gulps her dad told her to slow down before she drank too much.  "I think I already did" she said smiling; because she had surely drowned the break-dancing butterflys.
Minutes later Marcia was back out on the field with her new "team-mates" listening to Jason explain about a game he was going to teach them.  It was called; Sharks and Minnows!  She had seen a shark before on TV but had no clue to what a minnow was.  She grasped the idea of the game though, that the minnows did not want to get attacked by the shark.  She was a minnow during the first game.  She ran and ran around in circles kicking her pink ball out ahead of her.  I am swimming I am swimming she thought with a smile on her face.  Tyler, the little boy dubbed the shark came up to her and kicked her ball outside of the area of cones.  A smirk was on his face as he cried; "Gotcha"!  Marcia felt a lump in her thoat as she ran to get her ball, and thought to herself; "I've been eaten".  She sat on the sideline watching the rest of the game unfold.  It didn't last no more then a minute more, but to her it felt like an eternity.  She wanted to "swim" again, and made a vow to herself she would not be eaten again!  Jason gathered all the children together and announced they would get to play again!  All the kids must of made the same vow she thought, because they all cheered when he announced this.  This time Tanner was to be the shark.  Tanner looked just like Tyler, Marcia thought.  Must be twins she reasoned; twin evil sharks!  Faster and faster she ran and keeping her pink ball close she avoided the twin shark as fast as she could.  Before she knew it the whistle blew and she looked around.  She was standing there with her pink ball with Tanner a few feet away looking even redder and more sweaty then surely she was.  "Marcia's the Winner"!  Jason cried.  A huge grin attacked Marcia's face as the other kids cheered and patted her on her back.  Her chest was so full of pride she looked over to her parents and this time she spotted them.  Her mom was giving a bottle to Matthew but her dad was looking straight at her.  "That is the biggest smile I have ever seen him have" Marcia thought to her self.  Her dad's face looked like it would split in half.  This made Marcia's smile grow even more!
Several games and running around orange cones went bye when they were told by Jason that pracitice was over.  She ran over to her parents and grabbed her water bottle to finish drowning any remaining butterflys that were good swimmers.  As she walked to the car with her parents, hair sweaty and still out of breath; Jason walked up to them with the little girl who was named Carmen at his side.  He handed Marcia a blue jersey with a big number 5 on the back and patted her on her sweaty head.  "Great job speedy, see you at the game"; he said.  Another huge smile broke on her face as she clutched the jersey to her.  She looked up to see her dads face about to split in half again.."I am a Blue dragon now" she said in awe as they made their way to the car.




stay tuned for chapter 5

[Dragon]

CHAPTER FIVE

The 1st Game...The next Mia Hamm?




Marcia was so excited she could of burst.  After a evening meal of her mom's best pasta (they are good for excercise her dad had said) the evening before, and a glass of orange juice this morning along with a waffel, she was ready!  More ready for anything then she had been in her entire life!!  Today was her first game with the Blue dragons.  This was the teams second game overall but she did not care.  She put on her cleats in the silence of her room and placed the shin guards over her socks and "velcroed them" just like her dad had showed her.  She had no idea that her shin guards went on the inside of her socks, she had not yet seen older kids play; Plus, she had thought it made her look cool!

Jumping out of dads big red chevy she ran to the field to find coach Jason.  He had said meet him at the field at 1100 o'clock because the game was at 1130.  It was 1103 by her dad's announcement as she sprung from the car.  She wanted to be the first one there.  Jason was already there with the little girl Carmen.  Marcia would come to realize that this was his daughter even though he did not treat her like his daughter at the last practice.  Jason greeted Marcia with a simple grin...as if to say; "I knew you would be here speedy".   Marcia through down the water bottle by Jason that her parents had insisted she take, and ran out onto the field to play with Carmen.

Marcia noticed right away that the field was already "marked".  The cones, so bright and orange; And the flags on the poles were already in place.  She thought about the game to come as she said; "Hi", and started passing her pink ball with Carmen.  Her stomach let her know that a few of the butterflys had worn life-preservers and she tried to ignore it.  As she and her new friend passed the ball back and forth other kids started to arrive.  Samantha, Kallie, and Brianna, along with the boys; Cecil, Michael, and of course the evil "twin sharks", Tyler and Tanner.  Other kids started to arrive as well.  They were wearing a bright green jersey. So bright that it almost hurt her eyes.  Their team name was "Dynamo"...Marcia did not know what the heck a Dynamo was, but it sounded scarey and she did her best to calm herself.

Game time!  The whistle was blown by another "bumble bee kid" but this time it was a boy.  Tyler ran down the field with the ball towards the other teams "sticks". Marcia ran after him as fast as she could.  Carmen was "stuck playing goalie".  It must have been something bad because she whinned and pouted when her dad Jason had told her she was starting there.  Tyler kicked the ball very hard at the other teams "goalie".  It hit his legs and bounced right to Marcia's feet.  She thought for a second that she was upset they hadn't used her ball.  Her favorite Pink ball.  But that was forgotten as she kicked the black and white ball as hard as she could.  It went right past the goalie and she heard the whistle blow!  It was very loud, but not as loud as the parents on the sideline.  She turned around and faced her team-mates who were all smiling at her.  She then looked over at her father who looked happier then he ever had!  She had scored a goal!!!  She was so happy that she barely noticed that she scored 4 more that game.

The ride home was one of the best she had ever had!  Her Coach Jason had called her; "the next Mia Hamm".  She had no clue what that meant, but it must have been good because her dad took them all out for Pizza after the game, and wouldn't stop talking about the game and her "5 goals".  You are going to be better then Mia Hamm; he exclaimed!  you will be the first "Cia Hamm"!  And him and mom laughed and laughed.  "Cia", she knew that was a nickname for her whole name but she liked it very much.  All the while eating pizza she said the name over and over in her head; "Cia, Cia, Cia".  This was one of the happiest moments in her life.She had scored what her dad called the "game winning goal" and her team had won seven to five!  Life was good for "Cia".




CHAPTER SIX


SCHOOLS BACK AND THE BIRTHDAY GIRL




The summer vanished like a mirage in the desert.  Her team had won the "Championship" if there was one, her dad had said.  They had beaten every team in "Recville". School was starting tomorrow and she was happy that she would be in the third grade and reunited with her best friend Kristina.  Her birthday was a few days after school started so her parents had held a suprise party for her the last weekend before school started.  She had a lot of friends over to her house, and they all splashed and played in the above ground pool her dad had bought the year before.

The invitation list to her party seemed like a "soccer reunion" to her.  All her friends from the Blue dragons had come.  She played and played and almost forgot about soccer altogether.  When it was time to open presents from everyone she tore into each and every box like her last meal was inside.  She got toys and also some shoes from her friends. Her mom was surely the one that had bought her the pretty white "Sunday dress".  After all the presents had been opened, or so she thought; Her dad appeared bearing two hugh boxes with ribbons and lace on them.  She tore into those boxes as well!  She was happy to see, (even though somewhat confused) three soccer tapes that showed little kids on the box.  She also received a new pair of "boots" as her coach had called them.  They were pink!  Her favorite color.  She looked at her dad in the eye and said; "Thank you daddy".  Her father with a look of softness she didn't always see looked her back and said; "anything for my litttle soccer star".  Her dad was very happy about her playing soccer and this made her very happy because she loved to play that game.  Her dad rubbed his eyes; "was he crying"?  And explained that he had to go lay down due to a "headache".  Marcia was very happy and forgot her fathers disappearing act soon enough.  She was eight years old now!  And soon the third grade would be her kingdom.

The shool year seemed to fly by.  She had tons of fun, as she always did in school.  Miss Tumsky was her homeroom teacher and she was always so jolly and full of good humor that it started out Marcia's day in a happy way always.  She had told her friend over lunch that her new name was; "Cia".  Her friend looked at her like she had swallowed a bug and asked why?  Because it is short for "Marcia", and plus my daddy said I might be famous someday! Kristina laughed and laughed at the thought of Marcia being famous.  Marcia was "hurt" at first, but soon joined in the laughter and almost shot chocalate milk out of her nose.  Soccer was long forgotten for this happy thrid grader.  Eight years old and not a care in the world.  Life was good!

As it turned out; Marcia had classes with both Tyler and Tanner.  They were not in any of her classes together, but she had them both in one class or another.  Over lunch they would both sit at the same table as Marcia and Kristina.  Marcia did not even notice until Kristina pointed out that they were making "goo goo eyes" at them.  Marcia didn't mind that they sat there, but when her friend pointed out the "obvious" she felt her face flush.  "You are an awesome soccer player" Tyler had said as he strolled by with his tray.  "Are you playing with the Blue dragons again next year"?  Marcia just smiled but didn't answer.  Kristina drilled her on the way back to class.  "Who are those two boys?  How do they know you"?  Marcia remained stoned faced in the flurry of questions.  Upon reaching their fifth period Kristina asked; "And what the heck are the Blue dragons"?  Marcia just looked at her friend and smiled.  She had a secret from her friend...No one, not even her friend knew she was secretly a Blue dragon!  Marcia felt content as she sat in her chair, and dreamed about kicking the ball again when the sun came again!



Part seven coming soon

[Dragon]

CHAPTER 7

...HAS IT BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS?



Coach Jason smiled a knowing smile as he watched "Cia" weave in and out of the oppositon.  He could not believe it was going on two years since he first layed eyes on the little "wunderkind" that would become known only as Cia to her friends and team-mates.  "Great job Cia"; he yelled from the sidelines as she switched her pace at the last moment and fired a rocket right at the small goals right corner.  Another goal, with her left foot no less.  "I need to talk to her and her parents"; Jason thought as the final whistle blew.
The "Sweet tea" was wonderfully cool and refreshing as she let her tounge play with it a moment before swallowing it.  Coach Jason and his daughter Carmen had come over her house to celebrate with her family after winning their final game this summer.  The offical party for the end of the season was to be at dogfathers pizza tomorrow, but Cia was happy he had chosen her and her family to do a little early celebration with.  Michael; (Cia's father), and Coach sat out on the back patio drinking that disgusting smelling beer her dad loved to drink and talked in hushed tones, or at least quiet enough that Cia could not over hear them.  Carmen was engrossed in Matthews swingset in the back yard and she and her little brother took turns pushing eachother on the red plastic seat.  Cia had a ball at her feet and was dribbling around the back patio deck trying to hear her fathers conversation.  "Come here Cia"; her dad called.  Cia slowly flicked her ball up in the air with her toe and caught it, she then walked calmly over where her dad and Jason were sitting trying to not look like she had wanted to do that all along.  "How would you like to play soccer all year round"? Her father questioned.  "Yeah baby; Cia exclaimed.  The Blue dragons are going to enter into a winter season or something"?  Jason and her father exchanged a glance at eachother and then said nothing.  Finally after what seemed like several moments her Coach turned to her and said; "Cia.  I think and you know that you are the best player on our team right"?  Cia said nothing but continued to look him in the eye.  He continued; "...I think it is time that you played with kids your own level, and....and on a team at your level.  Not the Blue dragons".  Her coached almost gulped on the last part of his statement, but now he looked sullen eyed straight into hers.  He wasn't going to say anything further.  Cia did not know what this all meant.  She grabbed her ball and ran to her room very upset and confused.
Near dusk Jason and Carmen left and Cia heard her father or mother making their way up the stairs to her room.  Her father gave a polite tap at the door and just walked in.  He looked at Cia and then sat down on the edge of her bed were she was laying down holding her ball.  "Young lady.  You have outgrown your team, I know that, you know that, and your coach knows that.  You are going to what is called a gold level team.  They play year round and have a state championship and everything!  The team Jason recommended for us to take you is over in "Selectville", only about 15 minutes from the city; the team name is: Ruby City FC!  They are going to have tryouts and I just know you are going to be the best player there as well.  Aren't you excited sweety?  Mom and I sure are...time to hit the sack now anyways superstar.  See you in the morning".  Her father stood up from her bed and did not even wait for a response from her.  He stood still for a moment and kind of swayed like he was dizzy.  "Gotta lay off the booze" her dad chuckled.  He did not even turn around as he walked out of her room.
Cia's head was spinning; Ruby City FC?, Selectville?, tryouts?  She was so confused she felt like crying.  She picked up her ball and held it close to her chest like it would protect her from all these things she didn't understand.  A trickle of tears marked their territory on her cheeks as she drifted off to sleep...






CHAPTER EIGHT


U11 TRYOUTS IN THE BIG CITY


Cia's mom drove her to her tryouts in Selectville.  Cia was a little nervous at the unknown, but had given up any chance at going back to the Blue dragons.  Not for lack of trying though!  She had carried on for two weeks after their end of year party about how her team needed her, and how she would miss all of her friends; even the twin shark brothers.  None of it seemed to phase her father though who had an answer for everything.  He was going to meet them at the tryouts because he was at an eye doctor appointment.  Mom had finally talked him into getting a new prescription because of the frequency of the headaches he had.  Cia had her best 4 ball in the front seat with her that she juggled softly on her theighs.  This ball was not pink, but it was a good ball and that was all that mattered to Cia nowdays.  Matthew whinned in the back seat about Cia getting to "sit up front".  "For the millioneth time you little booger, I am a big kid and you are a pipsqueak, That is why I get to sit in the front"!  This of course led to a new string of whines from her little brother.  "Enough" yelled her mom. We're there".
Cia walked across the field and looked at all the girls.  That was the first thing she noticed..."Where the heck are the boys"?  Her mom had explained that at this level of soccer boys and girls don't mix anymore.  She thought that kind of odd because boys were some of her best competition, but she kept this to her self.  Her mom signed her in at a table and wrote a check for some reason.  Cia went off to the side of a big group of girls and started juggling by her self.  "How many times can you do that"? asked an older man with salt and pepper hair.  Cia figured it was safe to talk to the stranger since her mom was so close and replied; "I just broke 100 the other day".  The man's mouth opened wide with shock and said; "I couldn't juggle that high until I was 30"!  He then gave her a wink and walked away.  Thirty, Cia thought.   That guy was like 90 years old she thought, and knew that he was kidding her.  He must have a grand daughter here she thought to herself.
Tryouts were a lot funner then she thought it would be.  It was like one big practice, just without games like sharks and minnows though.  Two men with clip boards game up to her after she had scored on a goalie while in the PK line and asked her to go to another area of the field.  She looked to wear they had pointed and saw seven or eight other girls over taking shots on a different goal.  She didn't have any idea what this gesture had meant, but she spied her dad standing off the side of the field with his new glasses on and he gave her the "Thumbs up".  It must be good she thought. After about 20 more minutes of shooting on goal the tryout was done.  Her little group had grown to about 14 girls and Cia had liked everyone of them.  They all seemed to like soccer just like she did, and most of them were better shooters then any boy on the Blue dragons.
The trip home was brief but full of questions.  Her dad asked her to tell him everything anyone had said to her, and when she said she didn't recall he got upset and raised his voice; "The guys with the stinking clipboards.  I saw them talk to you, what did they say"?  She knew he was getting at his wits end so she made up something to say; "They said I was great daddy".  This seemed to make her dad's mood change.  Him and her mom shared a smile and dad proceeded to put in his favorite CD by some guy named Bob and his band of bullets or something.  All the rest of the trip was filled with giggles as her and her brother covered their mouths and tried not to laugh as her dad sang some song about "nuts, a bush, and some citys limits".  The car phone rang as they pulled into the driveway and her dad yelled; "QUIET"!  at the top of his lungs; even though he was the only person making any noise in the car.  Her dad answered the phone and said "yes" about 50 times.  After he had parked the car and hung up he jumped out of the car and yelled "yah whooooooooooooo" in the driveway and yelled something about having to call her old coach as he ran into the house.  Cia was totally confused and as her mom opened the rear door to help Mathew out of his car seat she looked at Cia and saw the question in her eyes..."You made the team Marcia".  Cia didn't know what to say.  She grabbed her ball and headed towards the front door.  "yeesshhh, dad could have told me that"; She thought to herself.  I think he loves the new team more then I do!  This thought made her giggle, but she thought it best to keep that thought to herself.




Chapter 9 coming soon

[Dragon]

CHAPTER 9

DISAPPOINTMENT...TRYOUTS PART 2



Cia's father slammed the car door and not a word was spoken for almost the whole trip home.  Lost in the quarter finals...we lost...this is all that went through Cia's mind on the way home.  "It was all my fault"; Cia sobbed.  She started to cry openly now and didn't care what her parents would think.  This actually seemed to change her fathers mood; Instead of wearing that stone mask he called a face almost all the way home, his face seemed to soften.  "It's not your fault super star, the coach had his head up his butt and didn't do anything to correct what went wrong in the first half.  The other coach did, bottom line"!  Her coach, "Ned", had pumped them up as only he could before the game.  She had really enjoyed playing for Ned the whole season, he had been nice to her ever since they had met at tryouts.  She had never guessed back then that the "Salt and Peppered" older guy was going to be her coach, but she was glad that he was.  He taught the girls a "direct style" of play, "Get the ball out and over" he had said countless times, and for most of the year it had worked.  Her team; Ruby City FC had won their fall league with a perfect record and had even won 3 of the 4 tournaments they had entered.  Maybe the team and all her friends were overconfident going into the state cup.  The team that had beaten them kept the ball on the outside and used some great passing to beat them 2-1.  Cia had scored the lone goal, but she felt now in the car that she "could have did more" to help her team win.  "Things will change next year!  You can bet your life on that"!!  Her father snorted as they pulled into the driveway.
Cia glared at the other girls all standing around the pitch.  In her mind these were her enemies!  The very girls/team that had knocked them out of the state cup.  They had not made it past the semi's, but still it bothered her to be at these tryouts. "We are going to explore our options"; her father had said.  "OUR"?  Was he going to play too she thought as they pulled into the parking lot of the tryouts.  She repressed a giggle to herself and grabbed her ball to head out on the field.
The tryouts for this team; Westside FC were very much like the ones last year for Ruby City FC.  The coach of the team introduced herself at the beginning of tryouts.  Her name was Marsha, "just like my name but spelled different" Marcia thought; Marsha Fry.  Cia didn't even know that females could be coachs, but she liked her right away, even if she did dislike most of the other girls there.  By the end of the tryouts Cia again found her self in a group off to the side of the rest.  Coach Marsha walked up to the group holding a clip board.  Most of the group was made up of ten girls that played for her last year, with four different girls added; including Cia.  The coach dimissed the girls from last years team with a wink, the remaining four she kept back.  "If you didn't know it already, I want you girls on my team.  If you four were on the team last year we would of made it further and possibly even won state"!  Cia didn't know how to take this.  In her mind she was just "exploring her options" like her dad said, but had no intention of leaving her friends at Ruby City.  Cia just smiled and tried to act polite.  
On the ride home her dad was more quiet then usual. He rubbed his temples as if in deep thought, or as if he was having another headache.  Finally he said; "Hope you like the coach, that's your new team".  Cia was shocked.  She did not even get any input.  She swallowed back a spew of venom, which would have made her cry if she said it, and chose to simply say nothing.




CHAPTER 10

U13 AND THE COMING OF THE ADL




For the thrid year in a row Cia was on a new team.  At points this year she had longed to be back on the Blue dragons, where all they seemed to do is have fun.  Her father was to have a meeting tonight at their house after dinner.  The dinner guest was to be the coach of the state championship runner-up team; "WashFire Premier".  They were the club that almost won it all last year after beating her old team in the Semi's.  The coach was pretty famous her dad had said; she had never heard of him.  His name was Simon Potter, he and he wife both coached for WashFire Preimier.  
Cia knew what this meant.  Her team had did great she had thought. Westside had made it to the semi-finals, losing a close game on PK's to a team from further south called FC Doyles.  The WashFire team had made it too the finals but lost also to the Doyles, also on PK's.  Cia knew her dad was "shopping for options" again.  "Am I gonna play on a different team every year?", she said to her brother in the den.  Her little brother just ingnored her as he continued to explore the tire options on his new corvette he had bought in his grand terismo game.  "Little brat" Cia said under her breath as she headed to the kitchen to see if her mom needed any help with the dinner.  "I'm fine sweatheart, just fold the napkins for the settings if you wouldn't mind."  Cia questioned were dad was and her mom just rolled her eyes and told Cia she bet he was up stairs watching the semi-final game her team had lost for the millioneth time.  They both shared a laugh at the thought of that, but Cia knew her mom was really serious when she said it.
As she folded the cloth napkins, just like her mom had showed her, Cia thought about her team-mates.  She had grown to like them all.  From what started as her "enemies" turned into her closest friends.  One of the girls; Morgan, had even went to school with her and had replaced Kristina as her best friend.  Kristina these days seemed more into music and boys then anything else; she hadn't understood Cia's love for soccer or never having weekends free.  Morgan on the other hand, understood exactly!  Lost in thought she almost didn't hear the door bell ring.  "Get the door honey!"; Her mom called out.  Cia skipped to the door and opened it.  "There she is!  There is the next Mia Hamm" the tall younger looking man at the door said upon her opening it.  The man was Coach Simon and his wife Tamy (with one "m").  Cia flushed just as she always did upon being flattered and showed them wear to hang their coats.
The dinner was great as always and Cia ate quietly as she listened to her father and Coach Potter discuss soccer and WashFire's chances of winning it all next year.  She didn't ask her dad why he had invited him, she already knew.  Even before tryouts, a week away, he was hand picking her new team for her.  She couldn't believe how much her father was into soccer and her teams.  "I am the one that wanted to start playing, I am the one that goes out there and plays!  It's not fair that I have no say in where or with who I play!"  She thought about yelling this outloud, but knew better.  Saying goodbye to the coach and his wife Cia offered up a polite smile.  She knew she would be playing for him soon on WashFIre, and they would be playing in a league starting this spring called the "APL" (advanced development league).  She listened at the breakfast table while her father with beer in hand proclaimed that the APL was the "Best thing since sliced bread", and how CIa playing on a team in this league would not only benefit her, but the whole state.  
A huge yawn ecscaped Cia's mouth as she got up from the table and gave her mom and dad a kiss goodnight.  She tip toed up the stairs as to not wake her little brother who was put to sleep before the coachs even left.  She layed in bed with her ball still her companion by her side.  She reached over on her nightstand and grabbed the new cell phone she had gotten for Christmas.  "I better call Morgan"; She thought.  As she dialed her best friends phone number and listened to her "Bringing sexy back" ringtone on the receiver, she thought of what she would say, and how she would tell her best friend that she would no longer be on Westside FC and instead would be going "Selectville's" crosstown rival.  Morgan answered the phone...



Chapter 11 coming soon

[Dragon]

CHAPTER 11

THE SAME TEAM, FINALLY!  AND THE TPT'S



Cia kicked the ball hard at Morgan, who in turn would kick it even harder back.  Cia then trapped the ball on her chest and would volly it back before it hit the ground, then Morgan would start the same cycle.  This was part of the warm up that Coach Simon always had the gals do before their game.  Cia liked how he conducted the warm ups, a lot of the things they did was mimicing the older U17 girls team (the defending state champs no less) of Coach Sillyproot.  WashFire had 3 state champs during the state cup and 4 state finalist.  Sadly, Cia's team was one of the finalist.  She had played "out of her mind" her coach had said, but it wasn't enough to keep a silly foul from being called and giving the other team the win 3-2.  The winner was a team called FC Mush, a "vagabond team" her father had called them, when Cia jokingly asked if that was to be her next team.  Her father had not thought it was funny and told her without hesitation that WashFire was the team for "them".  She didn't mind staying on this team though, the team was a good team; and referred to as "The best team in the state" all the time.  At least that is what her dad said.  Her father was into reading soccer forums, and would report at least once a week on how some guy call; "Buffoon" would rank her team.  He seemed to take her soccer and everything related to her team very seriously.  Cia didn't mind though.  Morgan was very upset when she found out at the beginning of the U13 year that they would be on different teams, but aparently her dad was just as crazy as Cia's; Half way though the season last year Morgan had joined her squad.
WashFire was at the TPT's (team placement tournament), and hoped to place in P-1 which meant your team was one of the top teams in the state.  They were in the city of "Suckyfieldsville" which was over in the eastern side of the state.  Cia was very excited and also confident in her team.  They had almost won the state cup in the winter, and had added 3 girls at tryouts.  One was an awesome defender, and the other a Middy.  The 3rd was a great backup goalie incase their goalie; Sammy got hurt.  The sun was hot and Cia spent a little too much time worried about her soon to be "farmers tan" and the she lost controll of Morgan's incoming ball.  "Get with it Cia", her coach snapped!  She hadn't even realized he was standing behind them.  She snapped off a quick; "Sorry Coach" and continued to run through the drill.

The water in the pool was cold and she hesitated to jump in.  Morgan and Sammy helped end her hesitation.  SPLASH!  Cia bobbed up from the deep end and yelled some curses at her friends with no strength behind them.  "Come on super star, fraid to get yer hair wet"?  Sammy mocked her.  All three girls laughed and laughed til each in turn took the plunge.  They had won 4 games in a row, the only other team to do that besides her old Westside team.  This for sured them a P-1 spot!  The coach had a huge grin on his face as he made the proclimation that "swimming is now ok with him".  The friends wasted no time upon arriving back at the hotel in taking him up on his announcment.  Cia was having the time of her life until her little brother Matthew showed up with his "Super Soaker".  He had fun traveling with his sister to all her tournaments even though he was more into baseball himself.  "Get out of here you little brat, before I drown you"!  Cia screamed at him, half serious and half showing off to her friends.  Matthew ran away screaming for his mother that his sister threatened to drown him.  Cia and the girls just laughed, she was having a great time.  "Where is your father"? Morgan asked her.  This made Cia quiet as she climbed out of the pool and reached for one of the hotels complimentary pool towels.  Her father had never ever missed a tournament.  His headaches had gotten worse and worse until her mother had forced him to go see a neurologist.  The doctor had a long waiting list of MRI's and CatScan's, and when he made the appointment for her dad he couldn't change it.  She knew this bothered him greatly, missing her TPT tournament, but he had wished her well and called after everygame.  She missed him greatly but as she dried off she thought; "boy it is sure nice to not have to break down every game I play, and talk about the game non-stop on the ride home or to the hotel".  Cia smiled to herself totally forgetting her friends question.  "Who's hungry"? She yelled, as she ran back into the hotel.




CHAPTER 12

BAD NEWS



Cia enjoyed the road trip home.  Her brother had caught a ride with Morgan's family so he could play with her little brother, while Morgan rode with her and her mom.  "I bet dad has a big suprise for me when I get home" Cia stated to her mother.  "Nine goals in eight games is pretty awesome sweety, I bet your dad is still gloating". Her mother replied.  Cia had did fantastic at the TPT's, and she knew that everytime she had played that well her father had spoiled her.  Last year at the WashFire Challenge tournament, she was named tournament MVP, and her father had taken her on a shopping spree to end all shopping spree's!  She could hardly wait to get home.  Maybe he will buy me that new Lime Chocolate Cell phone I was bugging him about, she thought.
Morgan was fast asleep next to Cia in the back seat.  Cia thought she was on to something and decided to follow suit.  Hours later, the sky had darkend and Cia awoke to the sounds of doors shutting on her mom's SUV.  "Thought you would never wake up sleepy head" Morgan said sticking her head through the open back hatch.  They had arrived at Morgan's home and were dropping her off.  Cia said her goodbyes to her best friend and before she knew it her mom was pulling away.  "What about Matthew"? Cia questioned.  "Your father called a little bit ago and said he could spend the night with Scotty".  That was Morgan's little brother.  They drove the rest of the two miles home in silence.  Cia was clearing the cob webs from her mind when they pulled into the driveway.  Her father was nowhere to be seen.  Cia thought he would have met them outside; Maybe nine goals isn't enough anymore Cia thought sarcasticly.
Running upstairs to unpack and shower Cia made her way down the stairs to find where her father and mother were.  Both her parents were sitting at the kitchen table; their favorite spot.  Cia greated her dad as she grabbed for a bottle of juice in the refridgerator as she spotted his face for the first time.  For the first time in her life she could swear that her dad had been crying.  She stood their silent and she looked over to her mother who with a box of tissues beside her made no excuse to hide the fact that she had also been in tears as well.  Cia thought to lighten the mood with a silly antedote, but thought better of it quickly as her father patted the seat between them and beckoned for her to join them.
"We...I have some bad news sweet heart"; her father started.  Cia's hand was shaking as she steadied herself into the chair.  She felt a dark cloud form above her as she looked into her father's eyes and for the first time knew what despair looked like.  "As you know I went to the doctor Caldwell's office for my appointments while you all were gone.  It turns out all those headaches I've had for the last three years have nothing to do with my eyesight...it's something far worse"...

As Cia lay on her bed trying to catch her breath the walls between her's and her parents room now seemed paper thin.  She heard her mother crying and it made Cia cry even more.  Then she distinguished her fathers voice and he cried out and asked God "Why" as he cryed as well.  This not only made Cia cry even harder then before but tore at her very soul.  "Why God why"?  She cried into her pillow!!!  Cyst's, malignant, Cancer...she new what all these words meant and they mocked her heart and her cries turned into soft screams buried in her bedding.  She wished more then ever that she could be her little brother, so young, so naive, so unaware.  It was not these words though that haunted her so badly after being spoken to her less then forty minutes ago.  It was finality of what her father said the doctor had told him.  "Six months"!  Six months was all the time the stupid physician had given him...why God she thought again, why do you want to take my daddy from me!?




Chapter 13 coming soon :oops:

[Dragon]

CHAPTER 13

LONGEST SEASON EVER


Cia was very impatient as the 2nd half began.  Her team was playing in their third league game of their inagural P-1 season.  They were undefeated at this point; but finding themselfs down 0-1 as the second half began Cia decided to try and focus on the game, and try to "get her mind in the game" as her coach had scolded her at halftime.  She trapped the ball off her left theigh after a monster cross from her team-mate Terika.  She trapped it to perfection and as it became gravity's pawn and started to fall to the pitch she spotted a defender coming up on her left side from the rear.  Cia twisted her torso to shield the falling sphere from the defender...then flicked out her right foot and vollyed the ball over her head and over the defender...at the same time in one fluid motion she spun on her left heel and burst past the dumbfounded defender.  The goal was kicked hard into the corner past the frozen goalie almost as Cia knew the goal was "a matter of fact".  Her team-mates cheered and Morgan ran forward to give Cia a hug.  Cia held up her hand to her onrushing friend and said in a calm voice; "let's get this over with, I have places to go".  Morgan would have been taken aback, but she knew what was on Cia's mind...She wanted to get to the hospital where her dad was admitted again.  Morgan could see that Cia was "on a mission", and as they lined up for the kick off she almost felt sorry for the other team.

The elevator slowly made its way to the seventh floor.  Cia hated the fact that the "Cancer floor" was on the top floor.  This being her fathers eigth trip here since he started the chemotherapy she had started to despise this sterile smelling place.  On two different occassions she had been in the cafeteria and had heard employees of the hospital call the floor her father was on; "Seventh heaven" and "...a little closer to heaven" referring to the oncology ward being the top floor.  The nurses at the desk gave her a soft smile as she passed.  They had all become used to seeing Cia here along with her mother when her dad was admitted for a day or two after his treatments.  Her father did not respond well to the treatments and always wound up being hospitalized every time he went in for a heavy treatment of chemotherapy.  Cia looked into the room her mom said he was in this time and even though she was starting not to recognize the ever thinning man in the bed, the sparkle in his blue eyes were unchanging.  Cia went to her fathers side.

"The final score was 3-1 daddy"!  She said to cheer her father up.  "Yes, Cia got a hat-trick all in the 2nd half"; Chirped in the mother who had joined Cia after parking the car.  Cia's father for a split second looked his normal self as he attempted to sit up in the bed and wound up having to use the electric controls.  "Come here super star, let your dad give you a hug".  He hugged her as best and as tight as he could.  Cia almost flinched at the touch of his frail frame..and instantly regretted what she felt.  She hugged her father back gently as if she was afraid she would brake him.  Cia sat and tried to read a book as her mom sat near her father's bed and talked to him in whispered tones.  Cia could not stand to look at her father too long; his hair was all but gone with just a few strands that looked like whisps of smoke, and his face looked as if he was a skeleton who forgot to shed it's skin.  She "Hated herself" for the way she felt when she looked at him.  Her father would be released the day after, but right now she thought he looked like he would never leave that bed.

The Washfire team, Her Washfire team was undefeated that season.  Out of fifteen games that had only given up 3 goals, and had scored an amazing 49 goals!  Most of the goals were to the credit of their "super striker" and now ODP member, Cia.  Her father came to watch as many games as he could, but he was not the same.  No yelling tid bits of encouragment from the sideline anymore for him, no long talks about the game on the way home, none of "Thumb ups" she was so accustomed to everytime she caught her fathers eye in the stands.  As the night winds pulled on the trees outside her window and their branches tapped on her window in a secret language only she could understand; Cia Wept.  She wept for her family, for her father, for her little brother who barely understood what was going on.  Her mom came in to kiss her goodnight without Cia even being aware she had entered the room; "Will everything turn out all right mommy"? Cia pleaded with her eyes.  Her mother brushed back her hair with the softness of her hand and smiled as best she could but did not answer.  As the door closed Cia lay back on her bed and starred at the ceiling.  "Six months is tomorrow she thought" as she drifted off into a fitful sleep.





CHAPTER 14

HER FATHER'S BEDSIDE



Her team-mates stared after her as Cia ran from the field.  They didn't say anything because they were used to her "not being herself" these past few months.  Cia found the hidden area of a big pine that watched over the local field where her team practiced.  Her coach had told the girls to "let it all hang out" during the upcoming state cup, and had even made a bet that if any girl scored with a diving header or a bicycle kick, then he and his asst coach (Coach Lumpybard) would shave their heads.  The rest of the team had giggled and laughed, but all Cia could think of was her father's pate that was now devoid of even the thinnest wisp of hair.  Instead of bursting out in tears in front of her team-mates she chose to run off the field and shed her tears in front of the big lonely pine.  Cia finished the practice with her normal vigor and heart.  That is what her father always insisted on. "Practice as you play super star", is what he had always said.  Towards the end of practice she noticed her mom standing at the edge of the end line.  That's strange she thought, Morgan's mom was supposed to give her a ride home today.  Then it hit her.  Father.  Cia ran from the field to her mother's side.

Her father was still when she entered his room.  Her mom had said he collapsed at home and she had called for emergency assistance just to get him to the hospital.  Her dad was a fighter!  It had been almost three months since the dreaded "six month mark" and still he fought on.  "I will be at the state finals when you win it super star", he had repeated more then once to her; And she believed him.  The state cup started in two days and she knew, no matter how bad off her father was he would make it too those finals...it seemed the only thing he held on for.  "Hi daddy, I'm here" she said in a soft tone as she sat on the edge of his bed and cradled his hand in hers.  He did not respond and for the briefest moment she allowed herself to fear the worst.  Then her father's eyes opened, and even though yellow with sickness they still held that sparkle that was ever-present since as long as she could remember.  "Did you win super star, did you score"?  Same old dad, just a little absent minded.  Must be the pain killers she thought, and told a white lie on how good her team had done in their game today and how she had scored not once, but twice with a bicycle kick!  "Hell!  Next Mia my ass!  Your are the FIRST Cia"; her father said in a rattle.  She knew it was a lie but it made her heart melt to see the thin smile drawn across his face, and again he closed his eyes.

The "short" stay in the hospital turned into forty-eight hours of worry and waiting for Cia and her family.  She was upset that not only her brother had been allowed to visit but also every family member that she could remember from every family reunion she had ever attended.  "Why is everyone coming to visit this time?"; She thought.  They all acted as if he wasn't coming home.  They didn't know her father, they didn't know what a fighter he was, they didn't see the sparkle in his eye that she had seen the last time he was awake.  Show them daddy, show them that their all wrong she said to herself.

On the morning of the third day Cia was awoken by the nurse taking her father's blood pressure.  The nurse looked sad and she turned to Cia's mother and said fifty eight over twelve.  Cia did not know what that meant, but even she was getting concerned.  Her father had been sleeping for almost three days straight, and the rattle in his breaths frightened her.  Her mother asked if it was ok to leave her alone.  Her mom was going to go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee and some fruit and juice for Cia.  She looked up at her mom as if to say "ok" and her mother left the room.  Cia picked up her father's thin hand, careful not to dislodge the tube that was stuck there "feeding him" as the nurse had said.  She was humming a nursery rhyme she remembered from her childhood when she looked up to see her father looking at her.  "...Love you super star"; her father said in a voice that was barely audible.  It sounded as if his vocal chords were made of sandpaper.  She came close to her father and kissed him on his forehead.  "I am here daddy, I am here...".  Her father, who seemed to be "un-drugged" for the first time in a long time cleared his throat and spoke to her in the clearest tone she had heard in a long time; "I will always be proud of you Cia...Marcia.  I love you, and no matter where you are in life or what you are doing I will be watching over you.  Win or lose, happy days or sad I will be there, I just wanted you to know that before I said goodbye.  I love you super star....".  Cia looked into his eyes for a moment then told her father it was not "goodbye" and that he was going to be around for a long time.  She looked a moment longer into her father's eyes and started to sob.  The cry was deep and gutteral...almost feral in the moaning that escaped from her lips.  She felt a stab of pain in her chest and her heart stopped, or at least it felt like it did as she began to rock back and forth and cry; "daddy, daddy, daddy....".  

Her mother walked back into the room and sat the coffee on the sink as she hurried to her husbands side.  "Look Cia, he's awake"!  Her father's eyes were open and looking straight at them.  "I knew he would wake up!  Are you thirsty honey?  Are you hungrey?  I will go get the nurses and tell them you woke up"!  Either her mom was not seeing what Cia had saw or was refusing to believe what she saw.  True, Cia's father's eyes were open.  One thing was missing though....the sparkle was gone...Her daddy was gone...........




Last Chapters coming soon :cry:

[Dragon]

CHAPTER 15

STATE CUP TIME!




The popcorn was bland.  Morgan had insisted that they not add butter or salt; "Butter will make us fat and salt will raise our blood pressure" Morgan had said.  Cia was staying the evening at her best friends house.  Three weeks had passed since her father's passing and his funeral.  She sat on the sofa and tried her best to be social.  Her mother had insisted she "get out of the house".  So she called her best friend who seemed overjoyed to hear from her.  She had no contact with anyone outside of her family since the funeral.  She still recalled her father's tombstone and the movie they were watching made her winch when she saw the name of it: "TombStone"!  She watched the beginning credits with little hope; She did not like westerns, even if Val Kilmer was in it.  The movie was picked out by Morgan; "it's one of my favorites" she had said when Cia was undecided about which movie to watch.  The movie had said it was based on the screen play by "Kevin Jarre".  She had never heard of him and she suspected, due to the name of the movie it would only make her more depressed.

Her father's tombstone had simply said his name, his date of birth, and that other date, and the simple inscription:  "Beloved father.  May the Sparkle in your eyes never wain".  It was a simple inscription, but one that meant a lot to Cia.  The previews on the DVD ended and the movie started.  Cia was half in and half out of trying to enjoy the movie.  But then a moment came in the motion picture that made her think of her father.  Doc Holiday, who was played by Val Kilmer faced off with the villian named Rico.  As the two faced off in the woods Rico the bad guy had thought he was going to face off with Wyatt Earp played by Kurt Russell.  Slowly the brim of the black cowboy hat lifted.  Doc Holiday was there to face off with the villian instead of Wyatt.  Slowly the hero looked into the bad guys eyes. "I'll be your huckleberry" he said in a slow southern drawl.  The line in the movie was not the part that grasped Cia as much as it was the Hero's eyes...He had that sparkle!  Just like her father.  Her father now would be remembered in a different light to her.  Not only was he a great dad and supporter of her soccer, but he was also a lot like Doc Holiday she thought.  Doomed with a horrible affliction that both knew they could not overcome, but both remained with that sparkle in their eyes....The eyes of a gun-slinger.

Cia lined up at the midfield line.  She awaited the whistle of the ref.  She had missed her teams first two games which they had both won.  The first one had been against a team that was P-3 during the season, the second game was against a P-2 team that had scraped it's way to sixth place in the season.  Both games, even without their star forwards help had been easy wins for WashFire.  This game though was against another P-1 team.  One that they had almost come to a draw with in league play.  Cia was frozen like a statue as she looked at the other players.  The girls on the FC Doyle's thought they had a chance to win this one...They were wrong.  Cia started the game like she was shot out by a cannon.  At the end of the first half the score was 4-0 in favor of Washfire; all the goals by Cia!  Coach Potter did not want to get blasted by the forums for running up the score too much so he decided to play Cia back at stopper for the remainder of the game.  He should of took her out.  Cia went on to score 3 more goals that game!!!  The last one she had trapped a clearing ball sent by their midfielder and was at her own 30 yard line.  She preceded to dribble past all ten of the field players.  She rocketed the ball so hard against the back post that even the crowd was silent.  Her team-mates stood in awe!  "Yeeeeeeeahhhhhhhh"  Cia screamed at the top of her lungs!  "What now"?!!!!  Cia stood at her opponents 18 yard line and looked around.  The FC Doyle girls were in shock and just looked at her.  Her own team-mates did not even congratulate her but instead walked back to mid-field.  Morgan stood at the farend of the field in her new position as fullback for their team.  Tears welled up in her eyes and as Cia screamed she thought to herself; "woe to anyteam that faces us now", Cia is back!

The state cup went by in a blur.  With Cia back and the whole team wearing black armbands in rememberence of her father it seemed to give the team new life.  They were a good team all year long, but Now, they were great!  They made it to the semi's were they faced off with the non-ADL team the FC Mush (who had won the state cup in the past).  They were a good team Cia thought before the starting whistle;.....but I'm better!  Cia had only scored twice in that game, but it was enough.  Her team won 2-1 and were headed to the finals!  Her team had a party after the semi-final game.  All the girls and even the coach seemed in good spirits.  Many of the soccer mom's and dad's were still coming up to Cia's mom and offering their condolence's.  They did not approach Cia though.  It was like an unspoken thing among the players and the parents (and even the coach).  Cia was out to prove something, and like a big league pitcher on a "no-hitter" going into the final inning; No one spoke to her.  "That's fine"; Cia thought.  I wouldn't have it anyother way.




CHAPTER 16


STATE CUP FINALS.....THE FINAL CHAPTER




Westside FC Red was ready for them.  They must have had scouts at the Washfire games during the state cup.  Not only did they double team Cia but they Triple teamed her!!!  She got off a couple of great crosses in the game and also one great shot on goal that hit the post, but it wasn't enough.  They were going to overtime!  Overtime in the finals was two five minute halfs; and neither team scored while Cia sat on the bench for the majority of the second overtime until the last two minutes.  Coach Simon had thought if he gave Cia "a break" she would come out even more fired up and score.  It was not to be though.  But Cia was not worried at all.  The butterflys that lived in her stomach were drowned and buried long ago, now the only thing that lived in her gut was a fire!  A fire that unleashed a burning hot desire every game.

The Coach made the girls aware of the PK line up.  Cia was to be number 4; "the clean up batter" her coach had said.  All the girls on her team held hands as the PK's started.  Cia was not even aware of who held each of her hands as she watched the dramatic conclusion to the game unfold.  Their team was up to the mark first.  Sammy (their full time goalie) had broke her hand during the quarter final game, so their very capable back up goalie; Melissa was in the net.  Melissa was also selected to go first!  As the Referee placed the ball at the mark, Cia started to daydream...Little pink #3 ball...Melissa ran towards the ball and cooly "passed" it pass the keepers left side...Blue Dragons...It was now their turn.  The first girl up, number 7 ran at the ball to take the kick...Twin evil sharks..., and she buried it just past Melissa's reach.  The next up for her team was her best friend Morgan.  She never looked at the keeper while the referee placed the ball, and as she ran toward the ball she switched feet...Shin Guards velcroed outside of her socks...and hit a line drive past the goalie! 2-1 Washfire!  The second gal from WFC Red came to the spot.  She looked nervous and Cia knew before she struck the ball that she would miss...Your Name Is Cia now, no longer Marcia...Cia was right!  The third girl went up to the mark, the other forward on Cia's team and Cia knew it was a "lock"...My old friend Kristina, I lost her due to soccer...The goal was made as she predicted; 3-1 Washfire.  As the third player stepped to the mark Cia was overwhelmed with the sense of being watched and a heavy sense of saddness...Ruby City Tryouts, Coach Ned, Coach Marsha, Meeting Morgan, TPT's, Her father's sparkle missing from his eyes..., Blocked shot!!!  Melissa had came up big and stretched to full extension to block the thrid shot.  "This is it!  Your up Cia"; Her coach had said.  She barely heard him but knew it was her turn.  Her shot would win the game, her shot would be talked about for months, her shot was the goal her father had been waiting and longing for.  Cia stepped up to the mark.

Cia looked over into the stands as the referee placed the ball on the mark.  She did not spot her right away, but in a few moments she had spied her mother.  A small smile was on her mother's face; She was not into soccer as much as Cia's father had been, but even she knew how important this kick would be.  Cia lined up a few yards from the ball and looked the goalie dead in the eye.  She took a deep breath and strecthed her head skyward....She could see the clouds as she swung higher and higher.  She usually saw angels when she looked at the clouds, but this time she only saw her father.  Her father giving her his famous "thumbs up" that he did at almost every game...  The goalie was watching and anxious for the kicker to take the shot.  She wondered what the heck the kicker was doing looking up into the sky; "Afraid to miss most likely" the goalie thought.  Then Cia's eyes returned to a locked position on hers.  That sparkle?!  That sparkle in her eyes bored a hole right through the goalie like a laser beam........."She......She has the eyes of a gun-slinger" the goalie thought.  Then Cia said in a voice to soft to hear; "I'm your huckleberry", and without any hesitation  ran towards the ball and drew her striking foot back far as she could; "This is for you daddy" she thought.  Then she hit the ball harder then she ever had................


~Fini


....Cia's mother still lives in Recville and had opened has own soccer shop called "goal".....

.....Matthew is now seventeen and even though he never played soccer, he still loves to watch his sister play and brags about her non-stop.....

.....Morgan gave up soccer after highschool to put all her effort into medical school, she is now an intern at Valley Medical Center in Dosville.....


.....Kristina finally understood her friends passion for soccer, and even thought never again as close as they were, they still keep in touch....


......Coach Jason finally got a real coach's liceanse and starts work as the head coach of the boys U11 D-team next fall for the club Washfire....


.....Coach Ned is now in a rehab faciltiy, trying as hard as he can to make his fourth marriage work....


....Coach Marsha never married, but is now the director of coaching for her club.....



.....Tyler and Tanner (the twin sharks) both "came out of the closet" their senior year, and both are living their dreams as showgirl dancers aboard a cruise ship....



.....Cia went on to lead her team to 5 consecutive state championships.  She attended college at the university of "Fullride U" and got her BA in sports psychology.  She is married now and works fulltime in her field.  Her passion though is her envolvment as a trainer for her old club Washfire.  She has a two year old son named; Donald.  His nickname is "Doc"....Due to the sparkle in his eyes....


THE END

Let D know what you thought CP's

[yote19]

Dragon--I read every last word and loved it.  It is amazing how similar this reads compared to the last 10 years of coaching soccer for real.  There were chapters that read just like real life and many chapters in my book that weren't even touched.  So maybe some day my verse will come out.  Anyway, loved it and look forward to many more tales, songs and antidotes down the road.

[Brat Jr]

And the follow up book is due when?
Loved it Dragon! Thanks!

[Mr Squirrel]

Mr. D, simply a pleasure to read, Thank you for all your work and lastly thanks to Mrs.  D for allowing you to entertain us...

Squirrel

[dogedog]

Very Cool D.  I re-read the story again.  3rd time I think :roll: .  Really enjoyed it.

[Hula Girl]

:cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

What a story..........Loved all the way to the end

[daditude]

You rock, dude!!!  

Suckyfieldsville....hehehe :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[sccraddict]

Thanks for a well done story - a very good read  :mrgreen:

[sockemgirlz]

Started my day off wonderfully!!  WOW!!!  I can't wait for the story about Cia's son and how he good he is at playing the game...   :lol:

[socrtaxi]

good stuff Dragon, I enjoyed the whole story. !!!

[Dragon]

Glad everyone enjoyed da story.

Going to "Unsticky" it now


May do another one in the future!  It will be one to read fo sho! :twisted:

[Dragon]

Bumped this one at Brat's request.... A fan favorite about a little girl named Cia

[soccerpride]

<3 loved it!!! Cried, and cried more...thank you for sharing this. Are there more? Stories that is?

[Brat Jr]

<3 loved it!!! Cried, and cried more...thank you for sharing this. Are there more? Stories that is?

Have you read his Samoan tale?

[soccerpride]

<3 loved it!!! Cried, and cried more...thank you for sharing this. Are there more? Stories that is?

Have you read his Samoan tale?

No, but now I am. Thanks Brat!!!

[Dragon]

I actually started another soccer story, this time about a little boy.  I think I posted it here somewhere...but sadly I never finished it

Glad you enjoyed "Cia's Story".  This was one of my favorite stories I have ever done, and holds very fond memories for me

[soccerpride]

Thanks again. Just finished my second story.

[Dragon]

If you like short stories the "Tarzan/Conan" one halfway down the page ain't too bad (if you like those kind of stories)