Amelia and the Big Game

Chapter Thirteen: Spark Learns About Sports

It was Saturday morning, and the Stratton household was abuzz with excitement. Elias had his first soccer game of the season, and for once, everyone was actually on time.

“Let’s go!” Dad called, grabbing the water bottles and keys. “Game starts in 30 minutes, and we are not being late this time!”

“Who’s ‘we’?” Mom asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Me,” Dad admitted sheepishly.

Elias marched through the living room in his soccer cleats, looking unusually focused. “I’m scoring at least two goals today. Maybe three.”

“Let’s not jinx it,” Mom said, helping Iris into her jacket.

Amelia was lacing up her sneakers when Spark trotted into the room, her mane glittering more than usual.

“Amelia Jean,” Spark announced, “I’ve decided I’m joining the team.”

Amelia froze. “The soccer team?”

“Of course!” Spark said proudly. “With my cosmic skills, we’ll win the championship in no time.”

“Spark, you’re a unicorn,” Amelia said, exasperated. “You can’t play soccer.”

“Why not?” Spark asked, shrinking to the size of a soccer ball and hopping into Elias’s bag.

Elias groaned. “Spark, don’t mess this up for me.”

“Mess it up?” Spark gasped, feigning insult. “I’m here to ensure victory!”

Amelia sighed. “This is going to be a long day.”

The Game Begins

The soccer field was alive with the sound of whistles, cheering parents, and kids chasing after the ball. Elias’s team, the Green Gators, was warming up on the field while Spark peeked out of Amelia’s backpack.

“What’s the plan?” Spark whispered.

“The plan,” Amelia said, “is for you to stay out of sight and not interfere.”

Spark grinned mischievously. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“I’m serious, Spark,” Amelia said. “If Elias doesn’t get to play a normal game, he’s going to kill you. And then me.”

“Fine,” Spark said, retreating into the bag. “But if they’re losing, I’m stepping in.”

Amelia groaned. “Why do I feel like that’s going to happen anyway?”

The First Half

Elias started strong, weaving through defenders and passing like a pro. The Green Gators were up by one goal, and he was visibly enjoying himself.

“Go, Elias!” Dad shouted from the sidelines, clapping enthusiastically.

Mom nodded approvingly. “See? No chaos. This is nice.”

Amelia glanced at her backpack, where Spark was suspiciously quiet. “Too quiet,” she muttered.

Sure enough, Spark’s tiny voice piped up from inside. “Amelia Jean, this game needs more pizzazz.”

“No,” Amelia whispered harshly. “Stay in the bag.”

“But look at Elias!” Spark said. “He’s working so hard. He deserves a little… cosmic assistance.”

“Don’t you dare,” Amelia hissed.

The Second Half Chaos

The chaos began when Elias’s team was tied 2-2. The opposing team’s star player was dribbling toward the goal when Spark made her move.

From her hiding spot, Spark zapped the ball with her horn. It stopped mid-roll, spun in a perfect circle, and rolled back toward Elias.

The crowd gasped.

“What just happened?” the coach shouted.

“Magic?” one of the players whispered.

Amelia buried her face in her hands. “Spark…”

Elias, unaware of Spark’s interference, took the opportunity to score the go-ahead goal. The crowd erupted in cheers, and he pumped his fist in the air.

“Elias!” Dad yelled. “Great job!”

“Yeah!” Elias shouted back, grinning. “Totally nailed it!”

Amelia leaned toward her bag. “Spark, if anyone figures out what you just did—”

“No one will,” Spark whispered smugly. “I’m a pro.”

The Grand Finale

In the final minutes of the game, the opposing team had a corner kick. It was a perfect shot, heading straight for the top corner of the net.

Spark couldn’t resist.

Her horn glowed faintly, and a sudden gust of wind sent the ball soaring over the goalpost.

The Green Gators won 3-2.

The players cheered, the parents clapped, and Elias was hoisted onto someone’s shoulders.

Amelia, meanwhile, was glaring at Spark. “You cheated!”

“I enhanced,” Spark corrected.

“That’s cheating!”

“Semantics,” Spark said, trotting out of the bag and onto the field.

The Aftermath

As the family gathered their things, Elias was still riding high on his victory.

“Three goals,” he said, grinning at Amelia. “Told you I’d crush it.”

“You sure did,” Amelia muttered, shooting a look at Spark.

Mom and Dad exchanged glances as they loaded the car.

“Pretty smooth game,” Dad said.

Mom nodded. “Too smooth.”

They both glanced at Spark, who was now perched on Iris’s shoulder, humming innocently.

“Spark,” Mom said. “Did you have anything to do with today’s game?”

“Me?” Spark said, feigning shock. “I would never interfere with mortal sports!”

Amelia snorted. “Yeah, right.”

Dad grinned, pulling out his notebook. “Adding this to the book.”

Mom sighed. “Of course you are.”

As they drove home, Elias was still basking in his glory, and Spark was planning her next “enhancement.” Amelia, meanwhile, was already bracing for the inevitable chaos.

The End (or the start of Spark’s soccer career…)

Disclosure: These prose were written with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4o.