Chapter 1: Football Tryouts
By Siman Nuurali
On Sunday afternoon, Sadiq went to the park near his house. Leaves crunched under his feet as he walked. He spotted Zaza and Manny tossing a football back and forth on the field.
“Sadiq!” called Zaza. “Come join us! We’re practicing for football tryouts tomorrow.”
Manny tossed the football to Sadiq as he walked closer.
“Are you guys both going to try out?” asked Sadiq.
“I am,” replied Zaza. “Both of my older brothers play football. It looks like so much fun.”
“Me too!” said Manny. “I hope I get on the team. The uniforms are so cool!”
“Are you trying out, Sadiq?” asked Zaza.
“I would like to, but I’ll have to ask my parents first,” said Sadiq.
The boys continued to pass the football to each other. They practiced snapping the football. They practiced short throws and long throws. And finally, they practiced catching the ball while running.
Zaza and Manny are really good! Sadiq thought. Maybe if I practice enough I’ll be just as good.
When it started to get dark outside, Sadiq headed home. Right away he went to look for his mom. He wanted to talk to her about joining the football team. Zaza and Manny had made it sound so exciting!
“Salaam, Hooyo!” Sadiq called as he pushed through the front door. It smelled of cambuulo, a bean dish made with butter and sugar. It was one of Sadiq’s favorite meals, and he was hungry!
“Salaam, Sadiq,” Hooyo said. She looked up from a magazine she was reading while dinner cooked on the stovetop beside her. “How was the park?”
“Good! Zaza, Manny, and I played football,” Sadiq explained. “Tryouts for the team are tomorrow. Is Baba home? I wanted to ask you both if I could join.”
“Aren’t you all too young to play football?” said Hooyo. She looked a little worried.
“What’s this about football?” Baba asked as he walked into the kitchen.
“Pull up a chair for your baba and set the table, please,” Hooyo said as she passed some plates and utensils to Sadiq.
“I want to try out for the school team,” Sadiq said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re only eight, wiilkeyga,” Baba said, sitting down. “Your brother didn’t start playing until he was twelve.”
“I agree,” said Hooyo.
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Adapted from Sadiq and the Fun Run, by Siman Nuurali, ©️ by Capstone. Reprinted with permission.
Baba thinks Sadiq is too young to join the football team. What does the narrator think
The narrator does not share their opinion.
The narrator agrees that Sadiq is too young.
The narrator is unsure if they want Sadiq to join the team.