May and David are at home on a rainy day. They are brother and sister. It's summer vacation. They are happy because they don't have to go to school, but they are sad because they can't go outside. It is wet and rainy. They look out the window at the gray clouds and the heavy rain. They are very bored. They wish the rain would go away. (p.2)
May and David are sitting on the sofa in the living room. "I hope it stops raining," says May. "Why?" asked David. "I have an important soccer game this afternoon," she says. "Why is it so important?" 'We're playing against Northcliff in the Cup Final," May answers. The Cup Final is the most important game of the year. The winner is the best team and gets the cup. (p.4)
May goes to her bedroom and brings back a soccer ball. "I need your help," says May. David looks at his sister. "Will you pay me to help you?" he asks. May shakes her head. "No, silly! We need an extra player on our team. One of our players hurt her leg and cannot run," May answers. "You want me to play with a bunch of girls! No way!" David does not want to play soccer with girls. (p.6)
May stands up and looks out the window. She asks her brother again. "Oh, please, David." David just smiles and shakes his head to say no. "There is no chance of me playing soccer for a girls' soccer team. Soccer is a girls' sport." "Boys play soccer, too. Please David!" David is holding his baseball. "I'm sorry, but I like to play baseball. That's a boys' sport." (p.8)
May sits next to her brother on the sofa. She's holding her soccer ball. "I think you are afraid to play soccer with girls," says May. David looks at May and says, "Me, afraid! I'm not afraid. I just don't like to play soccer. It's a girls' sport." "OK, David," says May. "We'll play with ten players then. Just wait and see, you'll be sorry." (p.10)
May is excited. It is not raining now, and she has an important soccer game to play. She starts to get ready for the soccer game. She puts the soccer ball in her bag and finds her soccer uniform. She has a yellow soccer shirt, blue shorts, and yellow socks. She just needs her soccer shoes. She has a new pair of shoes, but where are they? She finds them near the front door. Now she's ready to go. (p.12)
David doesn't want to stay inside. He wants to go out. David wants to play baseball with his neighbor, Alan. He's looking for his baseball bat, but he cannot find it. David never puts things away, so he often can't find his things. "Mom! Where's my bat?" he asks. "I don't know," she answers. David's mother doesn't play baseball, and she doesn't have his bat. (p.14)
David starts to look all over the house. He cannot remember where he put it. David looks behind the sofa in the living room, but it's not there. He looks under his bed in his bedroom, but it's not there. He looks in the cupboard in the basement, but it's not there. He looks, and looks, and looks. Finally, he finds it behind the kitchen door. Who put it there? But he's happy to find his bat. Now he is ready to go. Just then, the doorbell rings. (p.16)
David opens the door. There's a boy wearing a baseball cap and a baseball glove. It's Alan. He's David's neighbor, and the two boys are good friends. "Are you ready to go?" asked Alan. "Yes, let's play ball," says David. Alan looks at David. "Is your sister coming to play with us?" David shakes his head, "No, she is a girl. She's going to play soccer with her friends. Soccer is a girls' sport. Let's go!" The two boys walk to the park. (p. 18)
The rain has stopped and the sun is shining. It's time for May to go to the game. She puts on her soccer uniform and calls her mother. "It's time to go, Mom!" She looks great in her yellow shirt, blue shorts, and yellow socks. "OK, dear," says Mom, "I just need my keys." May gets her shoes and walks to the car. "She is feeling a little nervous. (p. 20)
May and her Mom drive to the park. When May gets to the soccer field, she sees her best friend, Jade. They are both wearing their beautiful team uniforms. They put on their soccer shoes, and carefully tie their laces. "I'm nervous, Jade. How about you?" asks May. "A little," says Jade. This is an important game, and the girls want to do well. The girls are now ready for the game. They run onto the field and take their places. (p.22)
All the players are ready. Peep! The whistle blows and the Cup Final begins. The players kick the ball, pass the ball, and head the ball to each other. Everybody wants the ball. "Don't touch the ball with your hands!" shouts the coach. It is a hard game. Both teams play well, but May's team only has ten players. (p.24)
At half time the score is 1-1. May's team has one goal, and Northcliff has one goal. It is a very exciting game. The players take a rest and drink some water. In the second half the players play well again. Both teams have good chances to score a goal. Two minutes from the end, Jade passes the ball to May and May kicks it past the goalkeeper into the goal. May and her teammates jump into the air. Well done May! (p.26)
Peep! The whistle blows! The final score is 2-1. May's team has won, and May scored the winning goal. "Hooray! We won the cup." May and Jade hold up the cup for everyone to see. The coach is happy. May's mother is happy. The players are all happy, too. They are the champions. "Just wait until David sees this cup," says May. She wants to show her brother that soccer is not a boring girls' sport. (p.28)
After the game, the coach gives the cup to May. The players all say goodbye to their teammates and to the Northcliff team. When May gets home she runs into the house. "Look, David! We won the cup." David looks at his sister. She's holding a beautiful, shiny cup. "Wow! That's great, May." "Thanks. I scored the winning goal." "Really! My sister is a soccer star. Next time I will play with you. Soccer is not a girls' sport. It's a cool sport. Well done." (p.30)
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