Lucy Zeezou's Goal (4 page)

‘Let's see, are you a footballer or a pretender? Take me on. What are you afraid of?' I taunted.

Next thing I knew he'd shrugged and kicked the ball back onto the pitch. There was just enough light for us to see what we were doing, thanks to the parade of street
lights alongside the park and the adjoining tennis courts.

‘Game on, Signorina Zoffi. Let's see what you're made of!' he shouted.

We chased the ball, nearly tripping over each other. He got there first and made a run for the goal but I managed to tackle him from the side and win the ball.

He paused momentarily. A look of utter disbelief crossed his face.

‘What's up Signor Spitz?' I teased.

‘It's getting too dark. I lost sight of the ball but you won't have it for long.' He chased me to the other end of the pitch.

He caught up with me, but not before I took a shot from thirty yards … it headed straight for the goal. Roy dived to stop me, catching my ankles and bringing me down, but it was too late.

‘Referee, did you see that? An illegal tackle … a red card!' I yelled.

Out of nowhere a little dog ran onto the pitch and stopped the ball centimetres from the goal line.

‘No, that was about to be a goal!' I bellowed.

We broke into laughter as the cute dog played with the ball. He reminded me of Gigi – he had the same funny run. I missed my little treasure.

I jumped to my feet and made a run for the ball. The dog had managed to dribble it back to the halfway line. I chased it down like my life depended on it and regained
possession. The dog wasn't happy and gave chase, biting at my feet, but I managed to keep the ball, although I was giggling so hard I was barely in control.

I kicked the ball up into the air and volleyed it into the back of the net. Whoosh! Oh, that felt so good.

I celebrated in typical goal-scoring fashion without thinking. I lifted my top up and ran around the pitch as if I'd just won the World Cup. Of course the boys at home were used to my antics, but I'd kind of got swept up in the moment.

Just then I could hear Mama yelling, ‘Lucia? Lucia, where are you?'

I came to a very quick halt – I couldn't let her see me on the pitch. I pulled down my top. Thankfully I had my singlet on underneath.

‘I'm coming, Mama, I'm coming.' I turned to Roy and said, ‘Um … I've got to go. Ciao, Signor Spitz.'

‘That was a lucky goal, Signorina Zoffi. Ciao!' He looked stunned.

‘Maybe next time the ball will roll your way, if you're lucky like me. See ya!'

‘Yeah, Zeezou … see you at the next session.' He gave me a little smirk and walked off.

Wow – the next session? Cool. I didn't know what to say, but then Mama appeared. I sprinted up to her with a smile etched across my face and a tingling tummy.

‘Lucia, what were you doing?' Mama asked.

I looked around, but luckily Roy wasn't anywhere to be seen. ‘I was just exploring the neighbourhood,' I replied innocently. ‘And Mama, can you please call me Lucy?'

‘What's this Lucy business? Your name is Lucia and you should be proud of it.' Mama put her hands on her hips dramatically.

‘Yes, but in Australia the translation is Lucy and that's what I want to be called. I just want to fit in. It's hard enough being Paolo Zoffi's daughter. I want my own identity and my own life. So please, Mama, just call me Lucy,' I stressed.

‘Lucia, you silly thing. How can Paolo Zoffi's daughter blend in? You should be proud to be a Zoffi and proud to be Italian. And you know you're named after your father's late mother. Lucia is a beautiful name and very sophisticated.' She sounded quite huffy now.

‘I know that. I'm proud of all those things but I want my
own
identity. I want you to call me Lucy. Why is it so hard for you to support me?' I howled.

Parents just
had
to take control. I always had to fight for what I truly wanted. I wasn't giving up. I'd give anything to get back onto that pristine pitch with Roy and fight for the ball. At least there I could be Lucy Zeezou and nobody else – just me. Even Roy called me Zeezou! I wondered when I'd see him again.

‘Hey, Lucy, would you mind helping me out a little bit in the shop today?' Grandpa asked. ‘I could do with an extra hand.'

‘I'd love to but I was just about to –'

‘My helpers are always given extra servings of gelato,' he added.

‘Now you're talking. Sure, Grandpa, I'm all yours.'

I started working, stacking the shelves with big, colourful oranges, shiny apples, mandarins and mangoes. The smell of the fresh fruit made me hungry.

I'd taken a big bite on a juicy apple when my first customer walked in, a scruffy-looking boy around my age in a school uniform.

‘Hi, can I help you?' I asked.

‘Yep. Just the chips and drink, thanks,' he replied, smiling at me.

‘Hi, Harry,' Grandpa called out.

‘Oh! Hi, Mr Dib. How's Mrs Dib getting along?'

‘She's getting better every day, thanks. How are the Lions going?' Grandpa asked.

That pricked up my interest in my customer. The Lions? Sounded like a football team. Probably one of those dodgy Australian codes of football, I told myself. But just then I glanced down at Harry's bag, sitting on the ground. Guess what was peeping out of it?

Now I was jumping out of my skin. This was my big chance to get a kick around and maybe even find a team.

‘We're doing really well, sitting at second spot on the league table. But we've just lost Gadi, our top goal-scorer. He tore his hamstring after a massive tackle last weekend. He'll probably be out for the rest of the season.' Harry made a face.

‘That's no good. Don't you have someone to replace him?'

‘Nah, we're trialling for a new striker on Friday after school. If you know anyone who can score lots of goals, please tell them to come to the Reg at four o'clock. But they've gotta be fourteen, turning fifteen next year to qualify for our age group.' Harry picked up his bag and put it over his shoulder.

No – don't go! This was my big chance. The right age group and everything. I would have loved to trial but he was probably looking for a guy. So what, I had to try. I had to think of something before he left.

‘Um, maybe I can help you,' I bumbled, without knowing what I was going to say next.

‘Oh, silly me, I haven't introduced you. Harry this is
my granddaughter, Lucy. She's over here from Italy with her mum, helping me out while Mrs Dib recovers.'

‘Hi, Lucy. You're lucky to have such nice grand parents. You reckon you can help me find a striker? Who do you have in mind?'

Think quickly, Lucy. I couldn't tell him it was me. I was always putting my foot in it. ‘Um, a friend of mine called L … Lucas,' I lied.

‘Is he a local?'

‘Well, kind of. I think he lives around here,' I said tentatively. Keep it together, Lucy.

‘Funny, I don't know a Lucas and I've lived here all my life. Anyway it doesn't matter, we're desperate. Bring him down to the Reg on Friday for a trial and we'll see how he goes. If he makes it, he'll need a photo and a guardian to sign the registration form.'

‘Yes, I'm … um … he's the right age and I'm sure he can sort out the rest,' I stumbled.

I was desperate to join a team and play competitively again. At least here, away from the usual scrutiny, I was more likely to get away with it. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. But now I was in a little bit of a pickle. I'd have to involve Grandpa … there was no other way.

‘Harry, I expect you to look after my one and only granddaughter. She's very precious to me,' Grandpa said, smiling.

Grandpa was being sweet, but how embarrassing! I didn't need to be looked after; I could take care of my self. This guy would think I was a prissy, helpless girl. I wondered if they had any girls in his team. I couldn't ask in case it raised suspicion.

‘Ah, sure, Mr Dib, no worries. But she might get a bit bored, since we mostly play football and we don't play with girls. But Lucy can hang out with us as long as she doesn't mind watching a game.' Harry looked over at me quizzically.

Well, that answered my question. Lucas it was.

Now my time in Sydney was looking up – a football pitch down the road from the shop and a new friend who shared my passion for the game. I had to play it cool.

‘Oh, that's okay, Harry. It'll be nice to just hang out. I'll see you Friday.' I tried to sound casual.

‘Yeah, great! I can't wait to meet Lucas and check out his moves.'

‘I'm sure you'll like him. I'm, I mean, he's a natural up front. I've got a feeling he's just what you're looking for.'

‘Cool, see you Friday then. Bye, Mr Dib.' Harry made his way out.

Grandpa looked at me. ‘Great to see you're making friends, Lucy. I'm so proud of you.'

‘Thanks Grandpa, but please don't tell Mama that I'm going to hang out with footballers. She'll go nuts. Please, please don't tell her.'

He put his arm around my shoulder. ‘I know your dilemma, but I still think it's crazy that you have to secretly play the game that's your dad's profession. Football is a big part of your life. And besides, there's no harm in you spending time with Harry. He's a good kid.'

I rolled my eyes. ‘You don't understand. She doesn't even want me hanging out with footballers! We really have to keep it quiet. But when I make the team will you please sign my form for me?'

His jaw dropped. ‘
Oh
. Of course, I'll take care of the registration but what about Lucas? How on earth are you going to pull it off? Surely they'll recognise that you aren't one of them.' He laughed.

‘Don't worry, Grandpa, I have it all figured out.'

He gave me a cuddle. ‘I'm sure you have, princess. Life is much more fun with you around. You have my full support and your secret is safe with me. Anything for my Lucy.'

 

‘Lucia, where are you?' yelled Mama.

‘
Luuucy
is in the shop with Grandpa. Mama, can you please remember that it's Lucy?'

She came running down the stairs like a tornado. ‘Nanna's doctor says she's out of danger but it's going to take her a long while to get back on her feet and regain her strength. She's going to need a lot of help.' She put her arms around me.

‘That's great, I can't wait to see her home.'

‘Well, we'll be seeing a lot more of her, honey, because we're going to stay here for an extended period to help. I've spoken at length to Papa about this and he agrees. Unfortunately he won't be able to join us for a while because of his football commitments. But don't worry, we'll go over soon to spend some time with him and collect Gigi and some of our things.'

Hang on –
collect Gigi
? I was in shock. ‘Mama, what do you mean? How long do you think we're going to stay for? I miss Papa and Gigi and my friends, I want to be with them. Italy's our home.' I was on the verge of crying.

I was so confused. Yesterday, I felt on top of the world. I made my first friend in Australia, someone who also happened to be into football. I was even closer to my grandparents and just starting to feel good about this place. But staying here indefinitely – that's something I wasn't expecting.

I was certain about one thing: I was trialling for that football team this Friday and I was going to make sure they selected me. No matter what it took.

‘Since we're going to be staying here for a little while longer, you're going to attend school here,' Mama continued. ‘You've already missed half this term, but it'll be a good experience for you to go to school in Sydney for a little while. I've enrolled you in a school that's only fifteen minutes up the road. Your papa's club president
recommended the school through a good friend whose daughter Bella is a student there. We'll meet her on Monday when you start.'

‘Okay, fine Mama.' Monday!

‘And there's a studio in the church hall at the top of this street that has dance classes you could go to.'

‘Great, I can't wait.' What else could I say? Mama was right. We had to stay and help out, but we also needed to get on with our lives. And for now it looked as though our lives were going to be here. I was a little nervous at the thought of such a big change, but a little excited at the same time.

I excused myself. I needed to call Pino. He'd help me make sense of this.

‘Ciao Pino, it's Zeezou.'

‘Hey, how are you?'

‘I'm okay but I just found out that I'm staying in Australia indefinitely. I have to start school here on Monday.'

‘What? That's crazy.'

‘I know. I'm confused. On one hand I want to stay to be with my grandparents but on the other … I'm going to miss my friends and Milano. Mama says that we're needed here, and I guess she's sacrificing her dream life for a while too. I respect her for that; it's a very big move, especially for her. But I do have some exciting news.'

‘More news! What could be bigger than that?'

‘I'm trialling for a team here. It's towards the end of
their season but it's better than no football. And no one here knows who I am, so I can play competitively. The only thing is that I have to pretend to be a boy to get on the team.'

‘What? Are you nuts? You're too, um, well, you know, too, um, girly-looking.'

‘Me? Oh Pino, I'm just like one of the boys – they'll never guess. Anyway don't worry, it'll work out.'

‘I hope you know what you're doing. It sounds like a mess! Anyway you can't just stay there. You're Milanese through and through. How will you cope? How about your papa? What does he think?'

‘Papa thinks we should stay and help until Nanna is back on her feet, at least for the next few months. What else can I do?'

‘Well, I suppose he's right but well … we'll miss you, Zeezou.'

‘I'll miss you guys too.'

‘I'd better go. Call again soon, okay?'

‘Okay. Speak soon. Ciao.'