The World Cup Begins (New Zealand vs. Norway, July 20, 2023)
help me please the Captains are both starting what do I do
AT blinked twice at the text message. She knew it was from Milly, the teens had exchanged numbers soon after becoming friends. But here they were a couple weeks later, it was July 20, and the lineup for New Zealand vs. Norway had just been announced.
okay, so you're starting on the bench, right? AT sent back, frowning slightly and trying to think.
yeah, but Riley said
Captain Tia said? AT prompted, frown deepening.
oh no, not her, the other Riley, she's Captain Ali's cousin I think, maybe. Or something. Milly sent a 'thinking' emoji. anyway, she said I'm not gonna come off the bench because I was bad.
AT scowled at the wall, kicking at the desk chair and earning a raised eyebrow from Alex. The two were in their hotel room after dinner, getting ready to head to the match at Eden Park and support their friends. AT had been waiting for Alex to finish getting ready when she got the first text.
"What's going on, mijita?"
"Milly's got a problem and her name is Riley," AT said. "And she might be Captain Tia's cousin but Milly isn't sure. Anyway she said bad things to Milly about starting on the bench."
"Oh, did she. Does your Captain Tia know that?" Alex asked disapprovingly, and AT shook her head in denial after checking with Milly.
"Uh uh. Milly didn't say to her, because what if it's true and Milly's too bad to start." AT scowled. "That's not a real thing. She can't be too bad to start, even if she was naughty again."
"She might have been removed from the starting eleven if she was naughty," Alex conceded, "but it doesn't make her a bad girl. So we'll make sure she knows that. Has she been naughty lately?"
"I don't think so," AT frowned. "I mean, there was the ice cream incident, but that was last week. And it was an accident, mostly."
Alex rolled her eyes. "Ay Dios mio," she muttered. "God help me, I've got three children."
"I thought you had three already, because Kell and Emmy," AT giggled.
"Five, then. No, six," Alex sighed. "I had better count my sister-in-law. Servo certainly does." She rolled her eyes in exasperation at the thought of Vivian.
“What’s she like?” AT asked, perking up, and Alex sighed, shaking her head.
“Sorry, mijita, just a little stressed. Vivian’s all right, if a little prone to acting before she thinks. Reminds me of someone else I know,” Alex managed a smile for AT. “Never mind, I can introduce you when we get home. Do you think Milly will come into the match today?”
AT worked her tongue between her teeth anxiously. “I hope so. And I hope Captain Tia does something about the other girl. Her cousin. Whoever.”
Alex nodded, dashing off a text to Ali Riley.
Riley - you might want to take your mini off for a chat. Kid’s been upsetting Milly.
Ali was quick to respond. You mean Indiah-Paige? She’s not my mini, we barely know each other. But if she’s been upsetting Milly, I’ll handle it.
Milly told AT so, and I don’t think she’s a dishonest kid, Alex responded.
No, she’s not, Ali agreed. I’ll talk to the girls, thanks.
You’re welcome. Good luck on the pitch today. Alex pocketed her phone. “Don’t worry, it’s handled, mijita.”
AT nodded. “Good,” she said. “Is it time to go now?”
“It is,” Alex confirmed, and together, they headed to Eden Park to watch New Zealand square off against Norway.
Naturally, they cheered for the Football Ferns - especially when Hannah Wilkinson opened the scoring for New Zealand, near the beginning of the second half. The fact that New Zealand had not only held off Norway for so long, but now pulled into the lead, amazed Alyssa. She had been thinking of Norway like Sweden, perhaps because they were so close to each other. It was clear Norway had been the favorites in this group, too - but with the way the opener was going, that was thrown immediately into doubt.
The final whistle blew on a still 1-0 score, and Eden Park practically erupted with screams and cheers from the home crowd. The noise was unbelievable, the Ferns ecstatic.
They had won it here at home.
As it happened, Milly hadn’t left the bench, but she did now, running to Betsy Hassett, who swung her around, then to Ria, and letting the vice-captain hug her in pure joy.
She texted AT a photo of herself with Betsy, Ria and Ali, and AT texted back a selfie with Alex from the stands.
This, both teens thought, was how you wanted to start a World Cup, with a win on home soil, David toppling Goliath. Things could only get better for the Ferns from there, it was to be hoped.
After the celebrations, AT joined the other teens and younger players for ice cream. She noticed that Indiah-Paige Riley was sitting at the far end of the table, avoiding Milly’s gaze.
AT took a bowl of strawberry sorbet from the buffet table over to Indiah-Paige, and slid in next to her. “Hi,” she said, putting the bowl in front of the older girl.
The Kiwi looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Hi,” she replied, accepting the bowl and spoon. “Thanks. You’re Clegg’s new friend, aren’t you? Cap’s American kid?”
“Uh huh.” Alyssa nodded, studying Indiah-Paige intently. “She’s Riley and you’re Riley.”
“Yeah,” Indiah-Paige nodded, taking a bite of the sorbet. “What about it?”
“Milly said you might be Tia Ali’s cousin or something.”
“Or something. I couldn’t tell you exactly how, her dad moved away from the family way before I was born.” Indiah-Paige gestured dismissively. “We’re two strangers who share a name, basically.”
“But family means ohana. And ohana means you don’t get left behind or forgotten,” AT explained patiently.
Indiah-Paige snorted. “Okay Lilo.” She rolled her eyes. “So did you need to ask me something about Cap, or are you just curious about me for some reason?”
“Why’d you tell Milly she got benched cause she was naughty? She hasn’t been! The ice cream incident was an accident.”
Indiah-Paige rolled her eyes. “You expect me to believe she accidentally got a seagull to tip her ice cream down my back?”
“You expect me to believe she trained a seagull to do it on purpose?” AT looked skeptical.
“She said I needed to cool off,” Indiah-Paige grumbled. “Then the seagull grabbed her cone and dropped it down my back.”
“I know, I saw,” AT said patiently. “But I still think it’s the seagull’s fault then.”
“And what, you think the seagull needs smacks?”
“Yes.” AT crossed her arms. “And so do you, for making Milly cry and be worried that she was too naughty to play.” She glared. “Team is family, and family are ohana. And should be good to each other. Not bad to each other.”
“Fine, fine, you sound like Cap,” Indiah-Paige grumbled. “I apologised to her after Cap had a word with me at halftime.”
“What kind of word?” AT demanded.
“I really don’t see how that’s any of your business, little one.”
AT’s scowl deepened. “I can just ask Captain Tia.”
Indiah-Paige sighed. “She smacked me, alright? She put me over her knee and smacked me with the slipper. Are you happy now?”
Alyssa gave Indiah-Paige a sidelong look. “And were you really sorry when you said sorry?”
“Yes,” Indiah-Paige sighed. “I won’t tease Milly any more.”
“Then I’m happy,” AT agreed with a nod.
A short distance away, Captain Ali Riley listened to this exchange with stifled amusement. Trust AT to want to come to Milly’s rescue. She got up and tapped AT lightly on the shoulder. “I think that’s enough, pet. I told Indiah-Paige we wouldn’t have to discuss it anymore.”
“Okay, Captain Tia,” AT sighed. “But I was just making sure cause it’s Milly.”
“I know, pet. It’s alright now,” Ali promised. “Thank you for bringing the situation to our attention. Good girl.”
AT smiled, getting up and hugging Ali. “I’m glad you won.”
“Me too, pet. Me too.” Ali returned her hug, stroking AT’s hair. “Let’s hope that continues, hm?”
“Uh huh.”
Perhaps, AT reflected, she and Ali might end up playing each other. That would be something.