The penalty
by Rita Foelker
Being a soccer referee is not a joke.
What he says in the field is serious.
He must keep his eyes on every move, not to be unfair.
End of Championship.
The Tigers team was the visiting team, and Billy blew a penalty against it.
The small group of fans formed by the players' parents, protested.
Billy from the Eagles team set the ball and hiked the penalty - scoring a goal.
- Ahead, Eagles. We want to see You playing, play to win!
It was the group of Cheerers.
So the game ended 1 x 0 = Victory of the home team, but with hot dogs to all participants: In the lunch line, Billy heard complaints and bad words.
The players of Tigers were devastated.
If there was a tie, the game could be decided in another game, and this time in their field.
But now the luck of Tigers was sealed.
Billy went home quiet and his parents noticed. He felt responsible because he was the oldest, and it was hard to make an important decision.
Sir Arthur, his father looked for him, and found him sitting in the backyard.
He said:
- Then, Billy tough game, huh?
- Oh, yes!
- Why are you so quiet?
- Well, I was thinking if there was really a penalty. At first I was sure, but then, everybody was complaining, and I felt confused. If there wasn't, I took the chance of Tigers being the champion.
- Do you feel it was a mistake?
- I don't know. I never felt like that.
- Know, son, every game needs a referee. He's there to keep the rules of the game. Without him the game would be a mess.
He has to decide, who plays right, and who makes mistakes. He is a very important person in the game.
The boy was still thoughtful.
- Inside of us there is a kind of referee for everything we do, it is our conscience. Our conscience talks to us about words and acts, and tells us if we play correctly, or when we fail. The only thing is that our conscience doesn't give us red cards or blow penalties. It only asks us not to do it again, and try our best to correct our failures. But are you sure you blew at the wrong time?
-No!
-Then you did what was correct for that time!
- Then?
- That's ok, son. You made the right decision; it was what you could do at that time.
- But I still don't feel good.
- Think that you understood yourself today. And that is going to help you to be a better person in the future. Let's keep going!
Billy agreed and went out for a walk. He met the people from the two different teams sitting and talking in the square. He was going to walk through, but Billy asked him to be with them.
- We are planning the next championship for two months, do you and to be our referee?
- Me? After everything and all the complaints?
- That was at that moment, said Mike from Tigers. The problem is that we don't know anyone better than you, can you take it?
- Ok, I will.
And they had a very happy conversation until the end of the day.
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