Once upon a time...

... in a land not so far away, lived a free-spirited and kind little boy named Joshua.

Joshua loved many things. He loved pancakes and honeydew melons. He loved butterflies and pill bugs. He loved Dwight Yoakam and Lady GaGa. He loved cars and more cars. Some would even say, Joshua loved everything. He was easy to please. He smiled a lot and giggled even more.

One day, Joshua's parents signed him up to be part of a soccer team with his best friends. Joshua's Mommy and Daddy were so excited to watch Joshua smile as he kicked the ball and ran with joy after his friends.

Joshua was excited too. He got to wear new shoes with spikey things on the bottom that made him slide real fast on the hardwood floors. He got a new ball with a DINOSAUR face on it. He even got a special shirt with his name and favorite number "3" on the back. He was so happy.

Soon, after some not so successful practices, it was time for Josh's first soccer game. Everyone he loved was there. His Daddy was one of the coaches and got to be on the field with him to help him play. His Mommy, after much practice, prepared perfect orange slices for the team. Even his Aunt Pickles got to be there for his first soccer game ever!

*See Footnote #1.

Although Joshua was a little nervous at the start of the game, he started off strong and ran fast to catch the ball.

Joshua was having such a great time chasing his friends and running up and down the field. Finally, Joshua used his fast feet to catch the ball!!! This was it! It was Joshua's turn to play with the ball!

Kick! Run! Kick! Run!

"I think I got it! The goal is just right up ahead!!" thought Joshua.

Just then, a little boy in an orange shirt, came from out of nowhere and stole the ball away from Joshua. Shocked and heartbroken, Joshua stopped and stared as the other little boy ran away with the ball. Tears welled up in Joshua's eyes and he fell to the ground as the other team rushed by with "his" ball.

"But, it was my turn with the ball and that little boy took my turn away." Joshua said and ran off the field to his Mommy.

*See Footnote #2.

"Joshua, in soccer you have to steal the ball from the boys in the orange shirt. You don't want to share the ball with them. Sometimes you have to use your body and fast feet to take the ball and run away with it. You have to be aggressive and tough."

"But, Mommy, you and Daddy always tell me not to take things from others. You tell me to be gentle and kind. You tell me to ask nicely for my turn and use kind words and not grab."

Joshua was right. His parents had always taught him these things. Joshua's mommy didn't know what to say and was literally caught speechless right there on the soccer field.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh, yeah, right. I guess I do say that. Ok, you are supposed to do all those things everywhere EXCEPT right here on the soccer field! Now go out there and steal the ball from those cute little boys in the orange shirts!"

*See Footnote #3

Next thing you know, Joshua was hustling down the field and got the ball just as a orange-shirted boy tripped and fell.

Joshua saw his chance! He wasn't going to let it slip away this time!

"There's the goal... right there! I can do it!"

And he did!!! Joshua scored his FIRST soccer goal EVER! The crowd went wild! Joshua's Mommy and Daddy jumped up and down in excitement for their little soccer player.

* See Footnote #4.

Joshua was so happy that he gave the game another chance and didn't give up on chasing the ball and playing with his team. He learned that in life, there are exceptions to all the rules. And that even when you score for the wrong team, your family will cheer as if you won the game.

The End.

#1. "Not so successful practices" is putting it mildly.

#2: There was much more whining and crying taking place than depicted in the story.

#3. I was probably much meaner than this and I'm just trying desperately to appear like a good, nice mommy and not the clueless one I felt like at that moment.

#4: We did indeed scream like idiots, despite the fact Joshua actually scored a goal for the OTHER team.