Ruby’s Great Muddy Match
Rain pours on match day, but Ruby has an idea that makes the game the muddiest, happiest ever.
On Saturday morning, the sky was grey, and the rain came down, down, DOWN. It was the day of the big match against the Midnight Owls. Ruby pressed her nose against the window and sighed.
‘We can’t play in this!’ said Pearl the panda at the pitch. The grass was one big puddle. The ball looked like a soggy, sleepy sponge. Even the goalposts looked cross.
Then Ruby had an idea. ‘Why not play anyway? Rain is just wet sunshine!’ Jess the rabbit from the Midnight Owls grinned. ‘I’m in!’
The whistle blew, and off they went. SPLOOSH! Ruby slid across the grass on her tummy. SPLOOSH! Pearl ran straight into a puddle. SPLOOSH! The ball sprayed water like a fountain.
Nobody could run in a straight line. Everyone was slipping and sliding and laughing. Even the grumpy goalposts seemed to be smiling now.
When the final whistle went, no one cared who had won. Ruby and Jess were covered in mud from nose to toes. ‘Best game ever!’ they shouted.
Afterwards, both teams squelched to the clubhouse for hot chocolate. Ruby wrapped her hands around the warm cup and smiled. The best days aren’t always sunny ones.
The little lesson
You can find fun in almost any weather if you play together.
Let’s talk about it
- What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?
- How did Ruby turn a gloomy day into a happy one?
Finish stories to collect Ruby as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Football stories
Referee Jack
Jack is too small to play with the big kids, but has the loudest whistle in town.
Rory’s Goal That Wasn’t
Rory scores a goal that no one saw was wrong. What would you do?
Pippa’s Old Boots in the Attic
In the attic, Pippa finds a pair of dusty old boots with a name inside.
You might also like
The Lost Crown of Oscar
The royal crown has vanished! Oscar follows the clues round the castle.
Gia and the Very Polite Dragon
A dragon knocks at the castle door. Gia decides to be kind and invite it in for tea.
Beth’s New Burrow
Beth has to move to a new meadow and isn’t sure about it, until the neighbours come knocking.