Priya’s Fair Play Award
Priya scores a goal that no one saw was wrong. What would you do?
It was the last minute of the semi-final. The score was 1-1. The Lime Leopards and the Purple Stars had both played brilliantly, and everyone on the sideline was holding their breath.
Sia sent a long, curling pass high into the air. Priya jumped as high as she could. The ball bounced off her arm, rolled onto her foot and flew into the net. GOAL!
Half the crowd cheered. The other half groaned. But the referee, Cara the pony, had been looking the other way. Cara pointed to the middle of the pitch. The goal counted!
The Lime Leopards ran to Priya, shouting with joy. But Priya wasn’t smiling. Her tummy felt like it was full of stones. She knew the ball had touched her arm.
If Priya stayed quiet, the Lime Leopards would reach the final. If she spoke up, the goal would be taken away. Priya looked at Flo, who looked so sad. Priya took a big breath.
‘Referee,’ said Priya, walking over. ‘It hit my arm. It wasn’t a fair goal.’ The whole pitch went silent. Cara blinked. ‘Thank you for telling me,’ Cara said. ‘No goal.’
The Lime Leopards lost that day, 1-1, and then the Purple Stars won the shoot-out. But as Priya walked off, the crowd rose to clap. Even the Purple Stars cheered. Flo hugged her.
At the end of the season, Priya was given the Honest Heart Trophy. ‘I didn’t win the match,’ she said, holding it up. ‘But I won something even better. I feel proud of myself.’
The little lesson
Telling the truth when it is hard shows real strength.
Let’s talk about it
- Why was it hard for Priya to tell the truth?
- How did the others feel about Priya afterwards?
Finish stories to collect Priya as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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