The cold English wind whipped around the two groups group of boys, the grassy field around them seeming to sway in the breeze. They ignored the sharp bite of the air as it blew around their huddle; they had more pressing matters at hand.
"Who's going to be keeper?" Stevie Dunham asked his group, rolling the football between his hands and watching expectantly around. When there were no immediate volunteers, he glanced over at a smaller boy next to him. "Bov, I think it's your turn."
"Nah, mate! I was just it last week!"
"Petey, you up for it?" Stevie's younger brother gave a half hearted shrug.
"Let's give a vote, yeah?" He said diplomatically, wise beyond his eleven years. "All in favor of Bov, say 'Aye'."
Not a single response.
"All in favor of me?" Silence. "And what about Jack?"
A chorus of "ayes" rang out among the group, and the short, heavy set boy standing on the outskirts of the circle groaned.
"I think it's settled than," Stevie said. "Suit up Jack. Get in your box."
The boys began to spread out on their half of the field, but a small voice carried out on the wind got their attention.
"Bovvy!...Bovvy!"
"Bov, is that your sister?" Luke Evans, the opposing team's designated captain asked, smirking. Bover turned red and yelled out at the small girl running across the field.
"Jules, go home!" The girl ignored him and continued to sprint toward the boys, light brown hair falling in tresses around her eager face. Finally reaching her brother and his mates, she smiled through her panting. "Can I play with you lads?" Her face was red from her exertion and windburn, but the sparkle in her green eyes showed excitement.
There was a round of groans from the group, mostly from Luke's team. "Can't you get your kids sister to play with dolls, Bov?"
"Jules," Bover said quietly, leaning down to her so only she could hear. "Just go back home, yeah? You're too little..." There was some sympathy in his voice, but as the sparkle in her eyes flickered and the pout began to form, he became firm. Raising his voice so all the lads would hear, he said with all the authority he could muster, "Get home, Julianne. Girls don't play football."
Jules could feel the tears pricking her eyes, but she bit her lip and refused to cry in front of her brother and his friends.
"Now, just wait a tick," a voice said, and Jules felt a presence beside her. Looking up at the blonde boy with the blue eyes, she saw her rescuer. Pete Dunham glanced down at her and then back up to the lads, focusing on Luke. "Evans, why are you so afraid to play against a girl?"
"I'm not afraid," Luke snapped back. "I just don't want to stop every five minutes because she's crying or gets dirt in her hair or something."
"I won't cry!" Jules piped up. "I never cry, ask Bover!"
"The girl can play," Pete said, ignoring her. "Unless you think it's unfair and puts us at an advantage."
Luke scoffed. "Fine then, have her. You going to get your butts kicked anyway." Luke's team when back to their side of the pitch, while Steve grabbed a hold of Pete's arm.
"You better have a plan, little bro. I'll never live it down if we lose and take a girl on the team."
"Did you see how fast she ran over here?" Pete asked. "The bird can run. And running is essential in footie. Put her up front with me and we'll be fine." Steve, putting his middle school reputation in the hands of his rash brother and an eight-year old, nervously went to his position at center-back.
"You ever play before?" Pete asked Jules, standing at the center circle, foot resting on the ball.
She raised her eyebrow. "Duh..." Pete grinned.
"All right then, let's see what you've got," he said, tapping off.
"I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air! They fly so high, they nearly reach the sky, and like my dreams they fade and die!
Fortunes always hiding, I've looked everywhere. I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air!"
"I think you've got it," Pete said proudly, roughing Jules' hair as he walked back with her, Bov and Steve. Their team had one the match thanks two superb goals by Pete and another by Jules. Needless to say, Luke was raving by the end of it. But they didn't care, least of all Jules, who was on Cloud 9. "You forgot the last part though," he added, before clapping hands together above his head. "UNITED! UNITED!"
Stevie and Bov repeated the chant, leaving Jules in a fit of giggles. They stopped outside her house and waved to the Dunham brothers as they continued on down the street.
"You gonna come play with us again tomorrow, Bubbles?" Jules smiled at her new nickname and nodded eagerly. Pete grinned and waved goodbye, before turning a corner and going out of sight. Bov looked over at his sister, who he had not seen that happy in a long while.
"You did good, Jules," he said, opening the front door. The bright smile on her face, however, disappeared at the sound from within. Bover sighed and took her hand in his. "Come on," he said, putting on a brave face and stepping into the foyer. Dad had been drinking, and when he drank, which was more often than naught, he got very, very angry. If they weren't careful, they would feel the brunt of his rage, just like their mother was in the kitchen.