“I can’t believe you did that! That speech after the game! Taking all the credit!” shouted Ellie.

“What was I supposed to say? You’re very kind, but it wasn’t me it was my sister magically controlling me with that video-game Controller?” Fred shouted back.

“No! But you didn’t have to be quite so pleased with yourself!”

“Well, I can’t believe you did what you did! Making me kick Barrington’s glasses all the way down the pitch! I could’ve got expelled!”

“What are you talking about?! That was Isla! I didn’t do anything!”

“Well, I’m not sure I believe you! I think you were trying to teach me a lesson!”

“Can you two keep it down in there?! I’m trying to watch—”

Ellie and Fred stopped arguing for a second to say together, loud enough for their mother to hear through the playroom wall: “Cash in the Attic!! Yes, we know!”

There was a short pause. Then Janine said: “Actually, I’m watching another programme, I’ll have you know.”

Ellie and Fred looked at each other.

“Really?” said Ellie.

“Yes.”

“What’s it called?”

“Money in the Loft. It’s a new show. Completely different.”

Fred and Ellie looked at each other again. Then they burst out laughing.

“OK, OK,” said Ellie. “Can we stop arguing with each other, please?”

“Yes. Please!” said Fred. “Look. I’ve been dying to show you something …”

“What?”

Fred took the card out from his pocket. He held it in two hands, between his thumbs and forefingers, and thrust it at his sister.

She squinted at it. “Sven Matthias. Junior Football Scout. Scout?”

“Not scout as in boy who wears a funny uniform and spends a lot of time in tents studying knots. Scout as in talent scout. It’s someone who works for a football club finding talented young players.”

“Oh! Wow! Which football club?”

Fred moved his finger away from the top corner of the card, revealing a blue badge: a lion holding a staff. Ellie’s eyes widened.

“Chelsea! Chelsea Football Club?!”

Fred grinned at her, nodding.

“This man wants you to come and try out for Chelsea Football Club?!”

“Well,” said Fred, putting the card back in his pocket, “no. He’s going to come back and watch me in the final. And then decide.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

“Yes. So … look, I’m sorry. About what I said after the game. But you will come to the final, won’t you? And … control me? And I promise never to make a speech about how talented I am at football again. Even in a post-match interview on Match of the Day.”

Ellie thought about this. “Will you change me back to Cinderellie?”

Fred frowned. Then his face cleared.

“Oh! I forgot! It’s Rashid’s party later!”

Ellie nodded shyly.

“Yes! Of course!” said Fred.

Ellie smiled and put her hand out. “It’s a deal,” she said.