At the team bus, Coach Brown was counting the Caleytown players back on. Calum tapped Jordan on the shoulder.
“Hey Jordan, thanks for letting me take the penalty.”
“Whatever. Just as well you scored,” Jordan said, before turning round to Lewis who was limping up the stairs. “You’d better not barf on me, Hop-along!”
“Don’t worry Jordi,” Sally sang from behind Calum. “You can always wash it off in your bubble bath tonight!”
The girls’ team all burst out laughing. Coach Brown turned away but you could see her shoulders shaking with giggles. Jordan could have heated the water for his bubble bath with his bright red face.
Back in their seats, Leo grinned. “That. Was. Ace. Sorry about your boots though.”
“Yeah, I know,” Calum sighed. “My dad’s going to go mental. I’m so sure—”
The bus driver woke the engine up and Leo started yawning right away.
“Unbelievable,” Calum laughed. Leo just winked. Calum leaned forwards towards Erika’s seat, squeezing his face between the gap. “Hey Erika, could I borrow that book you were talking about? Sleeping Beauty is already drifting off.” He pointed at Leo, who was mid-yawn again.
Calum didn’t hear Erika’s answer. He was distracted by the noise of what sounded like a dog running along the bus’s roof as the driver rolled out of the car park. He followed the noise with his eyes as it made its way along the roof until… two flashes of yellow dropped past the bus’s window!
“MY BOOTS!” Calum shouted. “STOP THE BUS!”
Mr McKlop had heard the noise too and was already asking the driver to stop. Calum bounded down the aisle.
“You won’t need your trophy to fetch them, Calum,” Mr McKlop said, smiling. Calum looked at his hand and laughed. He was still clutching his player-of-the-tournament award. Mr McKlop offered to hold it.
Curious eyes watched Calum from the bus as he ran around it. Sure enough, there on the ground lay his brand new yellow astros. The laces had been tied together. Someone must have lobbed them on the bus’s roof.
At that moment, Calum didn’t care if Brandon had done it or not, he was just relieved to have his boots back.
“Maybe leopards like to play with yellow astros, Mr Ferguson?” Mr McKlop said from behind Calum. “Come on, let’s take our trophies back to Caleytown.”
Calum smiled and followed his teacher to the bus door. He took one last look at Arthur’s Seat. He knew he would never forget playing in his first proper tournament, under the gaze of the ancient lion’s rocky eyes.