2

SWEEPER X HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER INDUCTION

RICKY WELCH HAS ELEVATED AIR ACADEMY’S SOCCER TEAM TO #1 IN THE STATE. RICKY IS BACK PLAYING DEFENSE AS THE KADETS SWEEPER. NOTHING IS GETTING THROUGH THE NETS THIS YEAR. AIR ACADEMY’S OFFENSE IS DECENT, BUT THEIR DEFENSE IS AMAZING - WITH ONLY ONE GOAL SCORED UPON THE TEAM THIS YEAR. RICKY AND THE COACHES HAVE STRESSED SOCCER FUNDAMENTALS CONSTANTLY AND IT IS PAYING OFF. DRIBBLING, SHOOTING, CROSSES TO OPEN TEAM MATES, HEADERS, AND DEFENDING YOUR SPACE CONSTANTLY ARE EMPHASIZED. RICKY HAS UPPER CLASS GIRLS SWOONING OVER HIM. DEMI, HIS GIRLFRIEND THE PAST YEAR IS BEGGING HER PARENTS TO ALLOW HER TO AT LEAST TALK TO SWEEPER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. RICKY’S PARENTS ARE STILL A MYSTERY. HIS FATHER LEFT WHILE MOM WAS PREGNANT AND IS STILL BELIEVED TO BE IN COLORADO. MOM ABANDONED RICKY MYSTERIOUSLY A COUPLE YEARS BACK AT A USAFA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT. MOST FEEL MOM DID THIS TO PROTECT HER SON FROM AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE WHICH THE FBI AND CIA CANNOT RESOLVE. RICKY REMAINS UNDER THE GUARDIANSHIP OF THE ACADEMY GENERAL MITCHELL, BRIGADIER GENERAL MITCHELL AND HIS WIFE, SALLY. LIVING ON THE GROUNDS OF THE ACADEMY HOWEVER HAS PROVEN TO BE AN INTRUSION ON AN AIR ACADEMY FROSH’S EXISTENCE. GETTING OFF CAMPUS IS NO PROBLEM, BUT GETTING BACK AFTER HOURS PRESENTS A MAJOR OBSTACLE WITH THE TIGHT SECURITY IN EFFECT ON THE BASE. FOLLOW ALONG AS RICKY SEEKS TO FIND HIS PARENTS, HIDES HIS DESPAIR THROUGH THE SPORT OF SOCCER, AND TEARFULLY TURNS DOWN A MONSTER OFFER FROM CHELSEA.

SWEEPERHOW LONG MUST I WAIT AT THE SOUTH GATE TO GET CREDENTIALED BACK ONTO THE ACADEMY GROUNDS?

GENERAL MITCHELLTHE ANSWER IS TO GET BACK BEFORE 10 PM. NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS AFTER THAT TIME.

SWEEPERBUT I’M NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL. THERE ARE PARTIES, EVENTS, DATES, MOVIES, AND MUCH MORE.

GENERAL MITCHELLI COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.... HOWEVER THIS IS A MILITARY INSTITUTION. I CANNOT WAIVE THE RULES TO

3

ALLOW YOUR FROLICS SWEEPER. AS LONG AS YOU LIVE HERE, IT IS FOLLOW THE RULES AND AN A EVERYWHERE ON YOUR REPORT CARD.

SWEEPERI TRULY LOVE IT HERE. REALLY DO. BUT I DON’T LIKE BEING RESTRICTED SO MUCH. NONE OF THE OTHER KADETS ARE RESTRICTED LIKE THIS. THEY ARE ALL OUT HAVING FUN, AND HERE I SIT.

SALLYHAVE YOU SEEN DEMI RECENTLY?

SWEEPERYES, SHE WANTS TO GO TOGETHER WITH ME BUT CANNOT. HER PARENTS ARE RELENTLESS. THEY THINK I’M TROUBLE ALL THE WAY AND THAT MOM’S DISAPPEARANCE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH DRUGS AND THEY DON’T WANT DEMI IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRUG WAR.

SALLYI UNDERSTAND THAT AS A PARENT. I GUESS YOU NEVER KNOW.

GENERAL MITCHELLSEEMS AN EXTREME VIEW, BUT WE LIVE IN DIFFERENT TIMES. THERE ARE SUB CULTURES OF DRUGS AND VIOLENCE ONGOING EVERYWHERE. AS A PARENT YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT CONSTANTLY.

SALLYSO HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OTHER GIRLS?

SWEEPERYES. HER NAME IS MINDY - A JUNIOR. AND DEMI IS VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS.

SALLYIS DEMI STILL ON THE CHEERLEADING SQUAD?

SWEEPERYES, JV CAPTAIN.

GENERAL MITCHELLTHINGS WILL WORK OUT. I HAVE FAITH THAT WE WILL FIND BOTH OF YOUR PARENTS, NOT JUST MOM.

SALLYWE CERTAINLY HOPE SO. ALL THE LEADS HAVE GONE NOWHERE UNFORTUNATELY.

4

SWEEPERBACK TO THE GATE. IS THERE ANYWAY I CAN GET IN AT 1130 OR SO? EVERYONE ELSE COMES IN EVEN LATER THAN THAT.

SALLYI THINK THE COMMANDANT WILL BEND A BIT ON THIS ONE. HE WAS A FROSH AT ONE TIME.

GENERAL MITCHELLOK SWEEPER. HERE’S THE DEAL. YOU ARE NOW IN CHARGE OF THE GROUNDS AT OUR HOUSE. IF ONE OF OUR BLADES OF GRASS IS OUT OF PLACE, YOU ARE GOING FROM MIDNIGHT BACK TO 10 PM STARTING NEXT WEEK.

SWEEPERMIDNIGHT?

GENERAL MITCHELLI CAN MAKE IT 1015 IF YOU WANT.

SALLYBACK TO THE BASICS. I’M CERTAIN THE COMMANDANT IMPLIED THAT YOUR GRADES WILL ALL BE A’S ALSO.

GENERAL MITCHELLYES I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT. A PLUS IN FACT IS WHAT I EXPECT IF YOU ARE TRICKLING IN ON A WEEKEND AT MIDNIGHT THROUGH THE SOUTH GATE. AND NO SLIPPING THE BACK WAY THROUGH PEREGRINE OR ICE LAKE.

SALLYTHINGS WILL WORK OUT WITH DEMI. GENERAL MITCHELL WILL FIND YOUR PARENTS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. IT BOTHERS HIM AS MUCH AS YOU.

SWEEPERTHE ONLY REAL THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS THIS PROFESSIONAL OFFER FROM CHELSEA. FIVE MILLION DOLLARS SIGNING BONUS. I’LL NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS COME CLOSE TO THAT KIND OF MONEY.

GENERAL MITCHELLYES I KNOW SWEEPER THAT MONEY IS HARD TO TURN DOWN, BUT WE ARE YOUR GUARDIANS; AND YOUR MOTHER ALSO SAID...

5

SWEEPERSCHOOL, SCHOOL, SCHOOL!

SALLYSO YOU ARE GOING TO SCHOOL. THAT CHELSEA OFFER WILL ALWAYS BE THERE; AND IT MAY BE MORE NEXT TIME AROUND. RIGHT NOW WE CANNOT BE GUARDIANS IN ENGLAND - UNLESS OF COURSE WE WERE TRANSFERRED.

GENERAL MITCHELLTHAT WON’T BE FOR A WHILE I’M CERTAIN. AND I MAY GO THE WAY OF MOTH BALLS SOON.

SALLYTIME FOR HOMEWORK AND THEN BED. WE WILL HAVE A BIG BREAKFAST AT 0615 TOMORROW. REMEMBER THE BELL RINGS AT 0700 AT AIR ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL.

SWEEPERGOOD NIGHT.

SALLYGOOD NIGHT AND TONS OF LOVE. SEE YOU TOMORROW.

DEMISO I HEAR YOU ARE GOING TO HOMECOMING WITH MINDY?

SWEEPERYES, KIND OF.

DEMIKIND OF. WHAT KINDA’ANSWER IS THAT? YOU ARE OR ARE NOT. SO YES OR NO.

SWEEPERYES.

DEMIIT IS NICE TO SEE ONE OF US GOING. I DON’T GET YOU SWEEPER. YES YOU ARE THE BIG STAR, AND YOUR GRADES I HEAR ARE NOT BAD EITHER, BUT MINDY? AN UPPERCLASSMAN AND YOU ARE A FROSH?

SWEEPERSHE ASKED ME...AND SINCE I CANNOT...........

DEMIOK I GET IT. DON’T GO INTO MY PARENTS. I LOVE THEM TO DEATH, BUT THEY ARE DESTROYING MY HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL LIFE.

6

SWEEPERNO THEY ARE NOT. YOU ARE CAPTAIN OF THE JV CHEER SQUAD. YOU GET TONS OF EXPOSURE.

DEMII HAVE NO DATE FOR HOMECOMING....AND IN FACT MY DAD SAID I COULD GO IF HE KNEW THE GUY. AS IF HE KNOWS ALL THE GUYS AT AIR ACADEMY.

SWEEPERTHAT IS REASONABLE. I THINK HE’S CONCERNED.

DEMIRIGHT NOW I’VE BEEN ASKED BY A COUPLE SENIORS, AND I HAD TO TELL THEM N0 BECAUSE DAD DOESN’T KNOW THEM. ONE OFFERED TO COME TO THE HOUSE AND MEET DAD. DAD REFUSED BECAUSE HE FELT THAT ANY GUY WILL FAKE ANYTHING FOR A GIRL.

SWEEPERI DON’T KNOW. PARENTS GET A FEEL FOR STUFF LIKE THAT. THEY’LL KNOW IF THE GUY IS DECENT.

DEMISO I’M DEEPLY DEPRESSED AND ALL I DEAL WITH IS WATCHING YOU ON THE SIDELINES THINKING OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN BETWEEN CHEERLEADER CAT FIGHTS.

SWEEPERI’M SORRY. WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP HOPING THAT MY MOM WILL BE FOUND SOMEHOW.

DEMIYES, I’LL TAKE THAT. TELL ME ABOUT THE CHELSEA OFFER EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT. IS IT FOR 5 MILLION DOLLARS?

SWEEPERYES, BUT WE TURNED IT DOWN FOR NOW. GENERAL MITCHELL AND SALLY WANT WHAT MY MOM WANTED FOR ME - SCHOOL.

DEMITHE LAST GAME VERSUS CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN YOU WERE AWESOME. AIR ACADEMY ONLY HAD A ONE GOAL LEAD AND YOU FLAT OUT SHUT THEIR ATTACK DOWN.

SWEEPERTHE FREE KICK SEALED THE WIN.

7

DEMITHAT TRAILER FEED WAS UNBELIEVABLE. NO ONE WAS EXPECTING THAT. IN FACT NO ONE KNEW WHO WAS TO KICK THE BALL AS THE DANCE AROUND THE BALL OCCURRED WITH THE TRAILER GETTING THAT LITTLE CHIP AWAY FROM THE WALL. IT WAS AMAZING.

SWEEPERYES OUR TEAM HAS REALLY WORKED ON TONS OF DRILLS, CONDITIONING, AND SPEED WITH BURSTS OF ACCELERATION WHEN WE NEED IT.

DEMISO WHO IS NEXT ON YOUR LIST OF VICTIMS FOR THE AIR ACADEMY KADETS MEN’S SOCCER SQUAD?

SWEEPERCHERRY CREEK. THEY WILL BE VERY TOUGH AND IT MAY BE A PRELIMINARY TO THE STATE FINALS.

DEMITHAT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD BEAT THESE GUYS AT THE KDOME. A CONTINUING BATAN DEATH MARCH TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

SWEEPERTHAT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE GAME STAYS HERE. WITH TERROR ALERTS AT THE ACADEMY THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE GAME TO DENVER.

DEMIYOU WON’T HAVE THE HOME CROWD WHICH YOU NEED. BUT I’M GUESSING THERE WILL BE BUSES TO THE GAME FROM AIR ACADEMY.

SWEEPERI SURE HOPE SO. ARE YOU GOING?

DEMINOT IF MINDY GOES.

SWEEPERWHY WOULD THAT MATTER?

DEMII DON’T LIKE TO COMPETE.

SWEEPERI’VE GOT TO GO SOON SO WE’LL SEE YOU....

8

DEMISAY SWEEP I HAVE A DEAL FOR YOU.

SWEEPERI CANNOT WAIT.

DEMIOK, I HAVE A PLAN HOW WE CAN BE TOGETHER DURING HOMECOMING.

SWEEPERHOW DOES THAT WORK?

DEMIEASY. I TELL MINDY THAT YOU CANNOT GO WITH HER BECAUSE SHE IS AN UPPER CLASS WOMAN.

SWEEPERSHE’LL TELL YOU TO TAKE A HIKE.

DEMIHANG ON. I’M NOT DONE. I DO KNOW THIS. I’VE DONE MY RESEARCH. MINDY WAS ASKED BEFORE SHE ASKED YOU BY THE SENIOR FOOTBALL QB. SHE ORIGINALLY SAID YES, BUT THEN FOUND OUT HE WAS SEEN WITH A CORONADO GIRL THE OTHER DAY, AND SHE TOLD HIM TO GET LOST. BUT SHE REALLY WANTED HIM TO CHASE HER.

SWEEPERI DON’T GET IT.

DEMIOK, THE SENIOR QB WITH A CAR ASKED ME. HE IS CUTE, BUT HE IS ALSO A SKUNK. MY DAD KNOWS HIM, AND THINKS HE’S NOT ONLY A BAD QB, BUT A BAD PERSON AS WELL. BUT I CAN WORK ON MY MOM BECAUSE SHE LIKES QUARTERBACKS. DAD WAS ONE.

SWEEPERNOW I GET IT. WE ARRANGE TO GO WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE - EVEN THE PHOTO DEAL AT SOMEONE’S HOME, AND THEN FLIP FLOP AT THE DINNER OR DANCE.

DEMIRIGHT. IT WILL WORK.

SWEEPERWHAT IF YOUR PARENTS FIND OUT?

9

DEMII’LL LET THEM KNOW WE WERE DANCING WITH EVERYONE, THAT’S ALL. I’M FORMERLY GOING WITH THE SENIOR QB.

SWEEPERSO WHO ARRANGES ALL THIS? WILL MINDY GO FOR IT?

DEMIYES, I’VE HEARD HER SAY SHE’D KILL TO HAVE THE SENIOR QB TAKE HER TO HOMECOMING. NOW SHE WILL.

SWEEPERYOU ARE SMART, BUT IF YOU CAN PULL IT OFF, I’M GAME.

DEMII’LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO. IT’S JUST A SIMPLE FLIP FLOP.

SWEEPEROK TEXT ME WHEN YOU GET IT DONE.

DEMISEE YOU TOMORROW.

SALLYOK COACH, HOW LONG WILL PRACTICE BE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CHERRY CREEK GAME?

COACHNOT LONG. WE’LL GO BACK TO THE BASICS OF DRIBBLING, SHOOTING, CORNER AND FREE KICKS, DEFENSIVE SETS, AND ATTACK PLAYS.

SALLYSO AN HOUR AND A HALF OR SO?

COACHYES, THAT IS ABOUT WHAT WE’LL NEED. AIR ACADEMY WILL WORK ON DRIBBLING TECHNIQUES - SPECIFICALLY THE STOP AND GO, SWEEP, CUT BACK, FAKE SHOT, CROSS, STEP OVER, REVERSE STEP OVER, INSIDE OUTSIDE, SHOULDER DROP, FOOT TURN, SCOOP, LEAN, SUCKER THEM, NUTMEG - BALL BETWEEN THE OPPONENT’S FEET, TOUCHING THE BALL AROUND THE DEFENDER, SWINGING THE BALL SIDE TO SIDE, SOMBRERO - FLIPPING THE BALL OVER THE DEFENDER’S HEAD, AND FINALLY THE SEAL.

SALLYI GET MOST OF THIS TALKING TO SWEEPER EVERY NIGHT, BUT WHAT ON EARTH IS THE SEAL?

10

COACHIT IS A HIGH LEVEL DRIBBLE WHEN YOU HAVE NO WHERE TO GO AGAINST A GOOD DEFENDER. THE OFFENSIVE PLAYER FLIPS THE BALL ONTO HIS HEAD AND DIRECTS IT AWAY FROM THE DEFENDER. IT DOES WORK BUT REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF PRACTICE.

SALLYCAN YOU DO THIS SEAL DRIBBLE?

COACHYES - HERE GOES! WATCH THE BALL.

SALLYAMAZING. AND AIR ACADEMY DOES THE SEAL IN ACTUAL GAMES?

COACHYES LAST YEAR IN THE STATE PLAYOFFS ONE OF OUR PLAYERS PERFORMED THE SEAL DRIBBLE, AND IT LED TO A GOAL.

SALLYSO HOW FAR DO YOU THINK THIS TEAM CAN GO THIS YEAR?

COACHWE CAN BEAT ALL THE DENVER TEAMS AND WIN IT ALL. IT DEPENDS ON OUR TEAM ATTITUDE AND KEEPING SWEEPER HEALTHY. IF THE OTHER TEAM CANNOT SCORE, THEN IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BEAT AIR ACADEMY.

SALLYWHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CHELSEA CONTRACT?

COACHIT’S HARD TO SAY. AIR ACADEMY HAS NEVER HAD A REAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER COME FROM ITS RANKS. MANY COLLEGE SOCCER STARS HAVE COME FROM THIS SCHOOL - MEN AND WOMEN.

SALLYWHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A 14 YEAR OLD PLAYING ALL OVER ENGLAND AND EUROPE UNSUPERVISED?

COACHIT IS A TOUGH DECISION. I’M A SOCCER FAN, COACH, AND ZEALOT. IF IT WERE MY KID I’D PROBABLY DROP EVERYTHING HERE AND GO WITH HIM, HOME SCHOOL, AND LET HIM HAVE HIS CHANCE. IT’S COMMON IN EUROPE TO

11

RECRUIT AND PAY THESE KIDS BIG BUCKS FOR SOCCER. WE DON’T UNDERSTAND IT HERE. WHO KNOWS IT MAY BE A GOOD THING FOR SWEEPER. HE CERTAINLY WOULD BE CHALLENGED.

SALLYWE ARE IN A QUANDARY BECAUSE NEITHER OF US AS GUARDIANS CAN GO WITH OUR USAFA MISSION. GENERAL MITCHELL WANTS SWEEPER TO ATTEND AND PLAY FOR THE ACADEMY.

COACHYES I UNDERSTAND. WE’RE HAPPY TO HAVE SWEEPER ON OUR TEAM; AND HE IS OBTAINING GREAT INSTRUCTION FROM THE COACHES HERE. IT IS NOT AS IF WE ARE SLOWING HIM DOWN. THE STATE OF COLORADO IS HIGHLY RANKED FOR SOCCER AND THIS TEAM WILL WIN CLUB MEETS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AFTER THE SEASON IS OVER IF THEY STAY TOGETHER.

SALLYDON’T YOU ENCOURAGE THESE KIDS TO DO MULTIPLE SPORTS? MOST PRO ATHLETES ENCOURAGE THIS.

COACHYES I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM. MANY SAY THAT, BUT NEVER DID THAT - THEY DID TENNIS OR HOOPS ALL YEAR ROUND AFTER GETTING IN HIGH SCHOOL TO PERFECT THEIR SKILLS FOR THE NEXT LEVEL.

SALLYISN’T THIS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL, HOMECOMING, PROM, SOCIALIZATION, AND ADAPTING OTHER SPORTS WITH SCHOOL TO MAKE ONE WELL ROUNDED?

COACHI GET ALL THAT TOO, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WITH A COLLEGE SOCCER TRYOUT, OR A PRO CAREER ON THE LINE - THESE DRIBBLING TECHNIQUES WHICH WE ARE PRACTICING RIGHT HERE WILL DECIDE IF THE PLAYER MAKES THE TEAM OR GOES TO THE NEXT LEVEL. IF HE IS SHOOTING HOOPS OR GOLFING, THE OTHER PLAYERS ARE PRACTICING THESE DRIBBLING TECHNIQUES AND MAY BE FAR AHEAD.

SALLYSAD.

COACHYES I KNOW IT IS SAD, BUT THAT IS HOW IT IS THESE DAYS. I KNOW WE DIDN’T GROW UP THAT WAY. WE DID ALL SPORTS.

12

SALLYWHO IS THAT WOMAN OVER THERE? THE ONE WALKING TO HER CAR.

COACHINTERESTING QUESTION. SHE COMES AND GOES AND NO ONE KNOWS WHO SHE IS. MYSTERIOUS.

SALLYAND MINGLES IN THE CROWD AT GAMES?

COACHOUR GAMES ARE STANDING ROOM ONLY, AND I CAN’T KEEP TRACK OF MYSELF AND TEAM LET ALONE A FAN. I’M SURE SHE IS THERE.

SALLYI THINK THAT IS SWEEPER’S MOM. I’M OFF TO FOLLOW HER. CAN YOU DROP SWEEPER OFF AT OUR HOUSE?

COACHYES I’LL DROP HIM OFF, BUT DON’T SPEED.

THE END - SWEEPER X