Mark sighed to himself as he sat on the reserve bench watching the football game.  Everyone looked like they were having so much fun, everyone except Mark.  The mothers and fathers were all jumping up and down and shouting support to the team.  The boys on the field were trying very hard to win.  This was an important game for them, it would mean that their school would win the football league and they were all very aware of that.  Mark had been to every practise and tried really hard, but he had made a terrible mistake earlier in the season and no matter how hard he tried, no one would believe him that is was just a mistake.  It had been the most embarrassing moment of his life.  Mark had been playing defense when suddenly one of the boys on the other team had run straight for him, Mark had kicked but the ball instead of going where Mark had wanted, had scored a goal for the other team.  He still did not know quite how it happened, but it had and everyone had been really upset with him.  The boys had teased him and made him feel terrible.  He remembered how silly he had felt that day, he had wished that the earth would just swallow him up. 

After that Mark did not want to play football anymore, but his mother and father had encouraged him to keep on practising.  Mark had gone along to each practise session and it was very hard for him at first, but eventually the boys stopped teasing him and each time he went it became easier.  The boys no longer teased Mark, but it was too late in the season for them to make a silly mistake that would cost them the football league.

Mark jumped as he heard a voice from behind him.  He spun around and was very surprised to see two little dragons perched on the back of the bench.  Mark wiped his face, he could not believe what he was seeing.  He was not afraid the dragons did not look dangerous, in fact they looked quite friendly.  They blew bubbles each time they opened their mouths, which Mark found very amusing.  “Why aren’t you shouting for your team?” prodded the sleaker looking dragon who introduced himself as Breckin.  “You do want them to win, don’t you” asked the female bubble dragon named Kalena.  “Of course I do want our team to win,  but I just wish I could have a chance to show them that I have improved”, answered Mark.  “Why don’t you ask the coach” asked Breckin, “Perhaps they don’t realise how much you want to play” suggested Kalena.  “They know” said Mark,  “ they just can’t afford any silly mistakes, especially not today, this game is too important” grumbled Mark.

Marks team were ahead 1 –0 and the coach was beginning to relax when suddenly the crowd went crazy and Mark watched in horror as the other team scored a goal.  “Mark” called Breckin, but Mark was miles away lost in thought.  “Mark” prodded Kalena.  “Yes” what is it” he asked.  “Mark, if a bubble dragon blows a bubble at you, your wish could come true” said Breckin as he blew a stream of bubbles up at Mark.  The bubble dragons giggled to themselves as a bubble popped on Marks nose.  Mark watched as a very worried looking coach walked towards him and he could hardly believe his ears when the coach called his name.  “Mark, come on, you’re on shouted the coach.  Mark jumped up, he was so pleased, finally I will get the chance to show them all that I can play football he thought.

The bubble dragons darted around the reserve area as they called out to Mark “go on mark, you can do it” they cheered.  Mark wiped his face as he raced onto the field.  Some of the boys on the team did not look very happy with the coaches decision.  They did not have time to complain though, because as soon as Mark reached his position the whistle blew for the game to continue.  Mark felt very proud, all he needed to do was stay calm and remember everything he had learnt in practices. 

Mark was quickly jolted back down to earth as the ball came his way and he carefully tackled the boy who came to challenge him.  Mark passed the ball back to his team mates who looked at him happily.  “Good tackle Mark” shouted the coach.

The two teams were drawn one all and it was not going to be easy to stop the other team from scoring again.  There were only a few minutes left in the game and Mark desperately wanted to play well.  He knew that if he could just play well this one time, all the boys would stop looking at him as the weakest player and accept him into the team.

Mark played hard and tackled well  and his team and the coach were very pleased with him.  Suddenly one of his team mates passed the ball to him and Mark realised that he had a clear shot at the goal post.  He felt quite nervous, and first double checked to make sure that he was aiming at the correct goal post.  Of course he did not want to make the same mistake again.  Just as he was preparing the shoot he heard the voices of the bubble dragons “Come on Mark, you can do it”.  Mark calmly and carefully aimed and kicked the football as hard as he could.  Mark stood and watched as the football whizzed past the goalkeeper and into the back of the goalpost.  Mark’s team mates crowded around him to congratulate him.  “What a goal Mark” congratulated the coach.

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