Chapter Thirteen
Two nights later, Phoebe settled blissfully into the cosy folds of the couch. Her parents were getting ready to go out. Max was playing on the computer. She had the TV all to herself and had prepared some drinks and snacks. She knew Caitlyn would be arriving soon to look after them and had chosen a movie they could watch together.
‘Phoebe! I almost forgot!’ Dad bustled in, dressed for dinner but still with bare feet and unbrushed hair. He picked up the DVD remote and started jabbing at the buttons and muttering in frustration. Nothing changed on the TV.
‘Dad, what are you doing?’
‘Australia’s playing New Zealand – Diamonds versus Silver Ferns. I thought you’d want to watch the game,’ he said, as he frowned at the remote, then up at the TV.
‘But I’ve already picked a movie to watch,’ said Phoebe.
‘This will be much better … Urghh! This stupid thing never works!’
Phoebe giggled. Dad had no idea when it came to any form of technology. Once she had even seen him pick up the TV remote to answer the phone!
‘Dad, that’s the wrong remote,’ she said.
The doorbell rang.
‘Max, can you answer the door?’ Dad bellowed. But after a few moments had passed, it was obvious that even Dad’s voice couldn’t penetrate Max’s concentration when he was playing computer games.
‘I’ll get it,’ said Phoebe, and she went to let Caitlyn in.
Caitlyn was six years older than Phoebe, but Phoebe always felt relaxed with her. She seemed happy to watch the TV shows Phoebe and Max liked, and now that Phoebe had started playing netball, Caitlyn was always willing to give her tips and have a practice game.
‘Got it!’ said Dad, when Phoebe walked back into the lounge room, followed by Caitlyn.
‘Hello, Caitlyn!’ said Dad. ‘Have a seat. The game’s just started. Now Phoebe – this is the player you need to watch …’
Dad stood up, pointing out the Australian goalers and leaning in to check their names, which were written on the back of their uniforms. He was so enthusiastic that he kept shuffling closer and closer to the TV. Squinting to read the words, he completely blocked the screen so that Phoebe and Caitlyn couldn’t see a thing! The girls grinned at each other.
‘Watch the Goal Shooter, Phoebe. See the way she keeps working the ball out to the Wing Attack until she’s close under the ring? Can’t miss from there,’ he said, watching and admiring the players.
‘It would help if we could see through you!’ said Caitlyn, laughing.
‘Bill, we’re running late,’ Mum called out from the bedroom. Dad stepped back from the screen, reluctantly.
‘Watch it, Phoebe,’ he urged. ‘You can learn a lot from these players.’
Phoebe had really wanted to watch the movie she had picked, but now the netball game was on, she had to admit that her dad knew her well. This was way better than any movie!
‘Okay, Dad,’ said Phoebe. ‘Do you mind, Caitlyn?’
‘No, I love watching the Diamonds play!’
Chapter Fourteen
Finally Mum and Dad left and the house was quiet.
Phoebe tried to watch the Australian goalers as Dad had suggested, but her eyes kept being drawn to the Goal Attack playing for the New Zealand Silver Ferns. Her movements were just so smooth and graceful, and she was unfazed by the constant jostling of the Australian defenders. She would shoot for goal from wherever she was standing, and it seemed that the ball glided through the goal ring every time, barely skimming the sides as it went.
The Australian Diamonds were winning the game, for which Phoebe was glad. Secretly, though, she cheered every time the New Zealand Goal Attack got the ball and scored again. She didn’t want to admit it to Caitlyn, though, in case she thought Phoebe was being disloyal to Australia.
At the half-time break, Australia was leading by seven goals. Caitlyn wandered off to get her self another drink and to check on Max. Phoebe stayed in front of the TV, wanting to know the name of the goaler she’d been watching.
As they displayed a table of the goaling percentages, the commentators discussed the results. ‘Maria Tutaia, of course, is in Goal Attack for New Zealand. She’s a very consistent player, shooting at 95% accuracy tonight.’
Phoebe knew this meant that Maria Tutaia was getting almost every goal.
Maria Tutaia, Maria Tutaia, Phoebe repeated the name to herself. I want to play like her!
Caitlyn wandered back into the room and plonked her cup of tea down on the table. ‘So who’s your favourite player in the game?’ she asked Phoebe.
Phoebe hesitated, unsure if she should admit to favouring a New Zealander. She shrugged noncommittally.
‘Well,’ said Caitlyn, ‘I have to admit that whenever Maria Tutaia’s on court, I’m cheering for her. She’s awesome!’
‘I know!’ said Phoebe. ‘She’s amazing!’
When the third quarter commenced, Phoebe curled her legs up underneath her, keen to watch Maria Tutaia again.
‘That shooting action,’ Caitlyn murmured, as they watched Maria put another goal through the ring.
Phoebe nodded silently in agreement, not daring to look away from the screen in case she missed anything.
They continued to watch the game together, both completely absorbed. It was an exciting finish, with a clear win to New Zealand, who had come from behind.
Caitlyn turned to Phoebe. ‘Want to try to shoot like Maria Tutaia?’
It was too dark to go outside and practise, so while they waited for the popcorn to pop, they stood up in front of the couch and mimicked the way Maria held her arms when she went for a goal.
Chapter Fifteen
It was time. Her moment had finally come. The mood in the stadium was electric. Everyone knew how tough this game was going to be, for both teams.
Phoebe’s nerves were tingling. As she stood on court, waiting for the whistle to blow, she went through her last-minute ritual. It always helped to steady her nerves before the game. First she tightened her ponytail, then she adjusted her shoelaces – left foot first, then right – and, finally, she bounced on her toes to loosen the tension in her muscles.
The whistle went and the game exploded into action. Phoebe stood poised, ready for anything. Australia had the first centre pass and moved the ball quickly into their goal third. But Phoebe’s teammates were ready for them. The New Zealand defenders put pressure on every pass. They quickly intercepted the ball and sent it down towards their team’s goal circle. Seeing the turn of play, both the Australian defenders rushed back to defend Phoebe, the New Zealand Goal Shooter. She was blocked at every turn!
Just then, Maria flew into the goal circle. She took a pass from the New Zealand Wing Attack and turned to shoot for goal. But as soon as it left her hand, Phoebe knew it wouldn’t make it. It was very rare for Maria to miss, but Phoebe was right. The ball rebounded high off the ring. Phoebe was determined to catch it. She paused deliberately and waited until the last possible moment, then she soared into the air and just managed to tip the ball up and out of the defender’s hands. Snatching the ball for herself, Phoebe quickly popped it through for the first goal of the game.
One section of the crowd – the section where everyone was dressed in black and white – roared. ‘Sil-ver Ferns! Sil-ver Ferns!’
Maria Tutaia turned to Phoebe and, with a wide smile, gave her a high five before turning back to be ready for the next centre pass. Phoebe grinned in delight at their successful start. She was buzzing with energy, but told herself to keep focused.
This time it was New Zealand’s centre pass. The ball was heading their way. Phoebe, all senses alert, saw Maria head to the top of the goal circle. This left room for Phoebe to run along the baseline, where she took a high pass from the Wing Attack. When she turned, though, she realised that she wasn’t close enough to the goal ring to make an easy shot.
‘Here if you need!’ she heard her team’s Centre call from behind. Phoebe paused, unsure if s
he should pass it out or try for a goal.
‘Go for it!’ Maria said, standing ready under the goal ring for any rebounds.
That was all Phoebe needed. She swung the ball up and sent it flying towards the ring in one smooth action.
It made it! The Silver Ferns were on fire!
The Australian defenders were getting desperate. For the rest of the game, they crowded and blocked Phoebe and Maria, but it was as though they could read each other’s minds – both of them knew when to pass to a space just before the other reached it, or whether to go for a goal or pass it to the other.
Finally the whistle sounded and the game was over. The New Zealand supporters cheered as loudly as they could. Phoebe and Maria had both scored with over 95% accuracy, and had won the game for the Silver Ferns!
‘Phoebe!’
She could hear people in the crowd calling for her autograph.
‘Phoebe! Phoebe, are you listening?’
Phoebe reluctantly turned around and saw her mother looking at her quizzically. The whole stadium immediately vanished.
‘Phoebe, it’s almost time to head down to the fete. Best come in and get ready now.’
Phoebe nodded, wondering if her mum had noticed anything while she had been practising in the backyard.
‘Oh Phoebe – one more thing. Did you win for Australia?’ Mum asked, with a little smile.
‘Yeah, sure, Mum,’ said Phoebe, rolling her eyes, pretending her mum was way off.
Thank goodness she doesn’t know who I was really playing for!
Chapter Sixteen
The voices of the crowd, the tinny music of the rides and the flapping of the marquees drifted towards Phoebe and her family on the breeze. They were approaching the gates of the school grounds where the fete was being held. The fete was organised by the Marrang community and involved four of the local schools, including Phoebe’s.
Phoebe stood for a moment at the gates, absorbing the spectacle of colour and movement and working out where she should start first. But her family were already heading off in three different directions!
‘I’d better get going,’ said Mum. ‘I promised Marj I’d help at the second-hand-toy stall.’
‘Here’s some money for rides, kids,’ said Dad, as he handed them each a generous amount. ‘I’m supposed to be on the spinning wheel, so I’d better head off.’ Dad had volunteered to be in charge of working the large spinning wheel. It had numbers around the edges and people bought tickets to guess the number it would stop at. They won a prize if their guess was correct. The organisers obviously knew that Dad’s booming voice would be perfect for calling out the winning numbers!
‘See ya,’ Max said to Phoebe, with a wave. He had spotted Jordan and his other mates already getting soaked in a water fight. They were stalking each other from behind and between the marquees. Some of the adults nearby didn’t look too pleased – they were getting wet in the crossfire!
Phoebe was left looking awkwardly around. Suddenly she was on her own and the fete didn’t seem as much fun. She felt as if she was the only person there who wasn’t hanging out with friends or family. She didn’t want to look as if she didn’t have anyone to hang out with, though, so she walked purposefully towards one of the stalls, which had handmade jewellery and ornaments on display. She used some of the money her dad had given her to buy a hand-painted wooden bangle. She had really only bought it for something to do, but when she put it on, she admired it as it hung from her wrist. It was bright and colourful, and reminded her of the cheerful bangles that Prani wore.
She turned and spotted the rides on the oval. There was an inflatable jumping castle, the bungee tramps, and something called the Storm Twister. Phoebe bought some ride tickets from the ticket booth and then wandered over to get a closer look. People were being strapped into harnesses in a carriage that tipped and twisted and spun until everyone was screaming. It looked terrifying, but absolutely awesome!
‘Hey Phoebe!’
Phoebe turned around and saw Jade and Isabella waiting a long way down the queue that snaked away from the entry gate to the Storm Twister. They were waving for her to come over. Phoebe felt her whole body relax. For the first time since arriving, she felt like she was part of the crowd. She hurried over.
‘What’s happening?’ Jade asked her. ‘Have you seen Jordan yet?’
‘He’s with Max. I just got here,’ Phoebe replied.
‘I heard you lost against Waroona yesterday,’ said Jade.
‘Yeah, they were all really, really tall and really, really good,’ said Phoebe.
‘You needed me there to help with goaling,’ said Jade, smirking. ‘Pity I was at a birthday party.’
Phoebe looked away and didn’t answer.
‘Did you see Sienna doing SingStar on stage?’ said Isabella, kindly changing the subject. ‘It was hilarious!’
Phoebe laughed. She could just imagine Sienna being brave enough to do that. ‘There’s no way I could do that,’ Phoebe said quietly. ‘What are the rides like?’
‘I guess we’re about to find out,’ said Jade, smartly, ‘but don’t think you’re going to cut into the line. You have go to the end and wait like the rest of us.’
Phoebe looked at her in shock. She turned to Isabella to check with her but Isabella clearly wasn’t going to speak up against Jade.
‘Sorry,’ Isabella mouthed to Phoebe.
Phoebe turned away. Embarrassed, she headed with eyes down towards the end of the line. It was so long that it had begun to curve and turn back on itself. Phoebe stepped in behind a group of three young boys at the end.
Is the ride even going to be worth it? she thought. I look so stupid standing here by myself. Maybe I should just help Mum at the toy stall …
Chapter Seventeen
‘Phoebe! Phoebe!’
Phoebe turned at the sound of her name. Lily was calling to her from near the front of the line to the Storm Twister. Prani and Sienna were just ahead of her. Prani was waving her arms, her bangles clinking musically together.
It was nice to hear Lily’s friendly voice. Phoebe stood and waved to Lily, Prani and Sienna but didn’t move towards them. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
‘Come over here!’ Lily called to her. ‘You can jump in with us!’
Sienna gave Phoebe a broad smile and stepped back, making room for her. ‘You’re just in time. We’re about to go on.’
Should I go over to them? wondered Phoebe. I want to … And they all seem a lot nicer than Jade.
Hesitating for a moment longer, Phoebe took a deep, shaky breath, then started to move towards her teammates. When she got there, Prani started jumping around on the spot, swinging her head at weird angles.
‘Prani, what are you doing?’ Sienna asked.
‘I’m getting ready for the ride, but it’s making me feel a little dizzy!’ she said, giggling and stumbling slightly.
‘We’re on!’ Lily announced, and the four of them leapt through the gates and raced to claim a four-seat booth.
Phoebe fastened her harness, her heart thumping. The ride started and as the spinning got faster and faster, she felt the skin tighten on her face. She held on tightly. There was no space for talk. Phoebe felt as if she had to use all her concentration just to hold on! When the carriage began to jerk and change direction, she opened her mouth and, along with the other girls, screamed continuously in both fear and exhilaration.
When the ride finally came to a stop, Phoebe’s legs were trembling. She stumbled along with the others out onto the oval.
Prani looked a little stunned. ‘Well, my head-swinging didn’t get me ready for that!’ she said.
The others looked at her and burst out laughing.
‘Hot chips?’ she suggested, and they headed off to the hot-chips stand.
As they walked past the marquees, Phoebe heard Lily squeal in surprise. At the very same time, she felt a blast of cold hit her right in the middle of her back.
‘Ahhh!’
&
nbsp; She turned to see what was happening and spotted Max, Jordan and two of their mates peering around a marquee holding water pistols. All four girls stood still, the backs of their clothes dripping.
Sienna gathered herself first. ‘Quick. Run!’
She sprinted towards the safety of the school hall, followed by Lily, Prani and Phoebe. The boys were in hot pursuit but the girls made it, landing, gasping, inside the doors just in time.
‘Nuuumber eighty-six! Eighty-six! Does anyone have lucky number eighty-six?’ Phoebe’s dad’s voice boomed through the microphone. He was standing right next to the girls, calling out the winning numbers on the spinning wheel.
‘Phoebe!’ said Dad. ‘Just the girl I need! Can you help me collect money for the tickets? There are more people here than I thought there would be.’
‘But Dad!’ said Phoebe. She had only just started having fun with the other girls!
Dad raised his eyebrows. ‘Phoebe. This is for a good cause.’
Phoebe was conscious of the girls watching. Her face flushed red. ‘Okay.’ She sighed and dutifully took the money tin from her dad, then turned to watch the girls moving away. With a quick wave, they bounced off through the hall.
Phoebe attempted a smile at her dad. He didn’t mean to stop her making friends … But this was the first time she had hung out with Sienna, Prani and Lily. Would she get another chance? Would they even bother to include her next time?
Chapter Eighteen
Phoebe grabbed the mail from the letterbox as she came in through the front gate. She didn’t look at the bundle of letters. She was too caught up in thoughts about training that night. She had seen dark clouds looming overhead on her walk home from the bus stop. It wasn’t raining at the moment and she didn’t know if she wanted it to start or not. She wanted to see her teammates again, but she didn’t think she could bear going to training and listening to the others talk about the fete. She didn’t want to feel left out again.
Chase Your Goal Page 4