Don't trust Sam!

Mambazo was a very sporty Chia. He played lots of sports and although he wasn't very good at most of them he was VERY determined. His favourite sport was football and he was on Neopia's official football team. His best friend was as well - Bill was a JibJib and his big feet and speedy movement made him an excellent footballer - the captain of the team. This was until Sam arrived. Sam, although a girl, was an incredible footballer! Every time the ball touched her slim feet it seemed to go exactly where she wanted it to go and she ran so fast over the pitch it was as if she were flying! Mambazo stared at Sam in astonishment and dismay. What if this footballer took his place? All the hard work he'd been doing would go to waste. Maybe he would take someone else's place. "I hope so," muttered Mambazo to himself.

To his horror he saw Sam go up and introduce herself to Bill. "That girl may take my position but she'll never have my best friend!" thought Mambazo. At the end of practise the coach, a Korbat, blew his whistle and flew to the centre of the pitch. "I like what I'm seeing here boys, " he noticed Sam looking at him, "and girls" he said hurriedly. Sam smiled. "God who does she think she is?" whispered Mambazo to Bill. "A really good player," replied Bill, almost fiercely. "So its now the start of the season once again. I have great hopes for this team. We COULD have won last year but some were not up to standard," he paused. Mambazo was sure he was talking about him. "But, we have new players to try out so this is our new first team line-up." He read out the list of names. Bill was on it of course and so was Sam. Mambazo listened eagerly. Where was his name? Surely he'd be on it! But then the coach folded up the list, put it in his pocket and flew to the sidelines.

"Bad luck man," said Bill, patting Mambazo on the back. "Maybe next time." Mambazo stared numbly into space. He knew why coach had left him off! It was Sam's fault! He was about to say this when Sam slid up to Bill. "Hey, I made it! You were right Bill! I hope you can stick around after practise and show me around town, it's so big and I'm not used to it yet!" "Sorry Sam, but Bill and I are going to the Pizza Parlour on George Road. Maybe another time." Mambazo smiled a very fake smile, but Sam ignored it. "But you can join us and we'll show you round after!" cried Bill. Mambazo tried to say that he would HATE to show Sam round, but Bill nudged him sharply. "Oh, I don't want to intrude," said Sam smiling in a very sickly way that made Mambazo want to laugh out loud. "We don't mind at all! We insist," said Bill very determined that Mambazo would not open his mouth and say something that would annoy Sam.

It ended up in Sam joining them both. She quickly dragged Bill to walk fast with her and Mambazo tried to keep up. How he hated Sam! Why did she want HIS best friend to be HER best friend. All three entered the noisy pizza place and found the rest of the team sitting at a table. They had saved them seats. Sam sat down right in the middle where Mambazo liked to sit. He reluctantly sat on the hard stool. "Guys you remember Sam? Sam this is Jon, Rick, Pip, Bradz, PJ and Hadge," he waved at each one as he said their name. They smiled and looked curiously at her. They were uncertain if they wanted her on their team. Then Bill sat up and told them what he had learnt about Sam on the way there. Mambazo listened amazed at Sams' past. Wow! How could he compare to that? It sounded as if Sam was some kind of footballing hero the way Bill said it. It just wasn't fair. But what could he do? He suddenly came back down to earth when the guys exclaimed in delight at Sam's supposed brilliant quality and shook her hand, one at a time. "Glad you could be here. There's a rule you must know Sam," said Jon, warmly. "All first team members have to come to each others house every Saturday afternoon to discuss football and tactics. It's our tradition. Then we go and practise those tactics."

Mambazo loved those Saturdays.He silently wondered if he'd ever do that again with Sam here. She'd settled in immediately and made firm friends with the team, mainly and worstly, Bill! Mambazo felt he couldn't hear about Sam any longer. He muttered an excuse about doing something for his mum and ran out. The cold wind turned his nose red and his ears stung. He rubbed them and sat on a nearby park bench. He put his hand in his pocket and grabbed some loose change. He counted it, 100NP. He decided to buy a sports magazine and some chocolate. He was in the store when he saw Sam, Bill and the others walk past. He waved and ran out of the shop grabbing his chocolate and magazine at the same time and slamming the money on the counter in front of the surprised shop assistant. He ran outside and looked for Bill and the team. They had turned the corner laughing and joking. "Probably about me," he thought, hurt that they did not even see him waving wildly.

He followed them, being careful not to get seen. Bill and Sam went up the road where Bill and Mambazo lived, Sam as well now. They went into Bill's house and Mambazo heard them round the back kicking the ball around and drinking soda's. Mambazo went home. Usually if Bill wanted to practise he would ask Mambazo. But now it was Mambazo who? He went home and lay on his bed and read his magazine, lost in thought about Bill and Sam. Next Saturday Mambazo went to Bill's house. "I'm sorry but Bill's gone to Sam's house. Why, I thought you'd be there too. It's their footballing meeting," said Bill's mother smiling. Mambazo knew where Sam's house was now. just across the road from his. He went straight there and knocked on the front door. Sam answered. "Oh, hey Mambazo, do you want something?" "Yes," said Mambazo straining his neck to see if he could see the others. "Is this where the meeting is? I thought I'd join you. Can I speak to Bill first please." "Sure," shrugged Sam. She turned around. "Billy! Mamboza is here! Wants to talk to you!" "Actually it's MambAzO,"he said, but Sam didn't hear him. Billy? So she'd got a nickname for him now. Very cosy. "Oh it's you. Hi. What do you want?" said Bill impatiently.

Mambazo dragged him outside closing the door behind him. "What's going on here. Why wasn't I invited?" he asked annoyed. "Well, sorry, it's team members only," replied Bill shortly. "Oh SORRY Mr Big Shot. Afraid I'll ruin your image in front of your new best mate?" "What? I'm not Sam's best mate. We're good friends but you are my best friend." "Really? Well how come I'm not inside acting as if I am you best friend then?" "Because you aren't on the team. Look you should go I've got to go inside now. Sam's waiting." Mambazo stared at him. What had happened to who he thought was his best friend? Bill looked at him, almost in disgust. "Look, Mambazo I can have other friends, not just you. And I can hang out with whoever I want, not just YOU! Leave me alone. Get a life of your own instead of trying to get into mine all the time." Bill turned and went inside slamming the door behind him.

Mambazo sat on the step. "Has he gone?"asked a muffled voice. Sam, thought Mambazo. "Yes, finally! When will he give up?" "Never he's a loser. Be MY best friend - we'll have way more fun!" "Sure, I think he should find someone more his type anyway. We've been mates for too long. He's so uncool now!" They both laughed and Mambazo heard no more. He ran home and upstairs onto his bed. Soon his pillow was soaked with tears and he turned over in his mind what he had overheard. He would show them who's cool and who's uncool! At the next practise Sam did just as well as the first, never faltering to amaze. Mambazo was taken off at half time. This was what he wanted! He sneaked into the changing rooms, knowing that no-one cared where he was. He found Sam's bag, all neat and tidy. Perfect - just like her he thought sneering. He opened it and searched. It was pretty normal. But wait! What was that in the side pocket? He opened it quickly. It was a bottle of some kind of liquid. He'd seen Sam drink it before she went out onto the pitch. It was half empty. He read the label. 'Magic potion - guarenteed to make you run so fast you'll never be caught and give you all the skills at everything you need.'

"So THAT explains why Sam's so good. What a cheat, she's a fake. How can I make everyone realise this though?" He thought desperately. "Aha! If Sam needs this for every game then she'll definitly need it for the final in a few weeks time! I'll steal it from her then before she gets a chance to drink it!" Pleased with his plan he left the changing rooms quietly. The final soon came and the coach gave the team they're usual team talk before they went out. After that Sam would need to have her potion, calculated Mambazo, as he'd watched her carefully the whole time. He creeped out of the room and into the changing rooms. Yes, Sam's bag was there and a full bottle of potion inside! Mambazo grabbed just as the team entered the room. "Where did you get that?" asked PJ. "Sam's bag!" said Mambazo triumphantly. "You thief! Give me that back now!" cried Sam, wildly grabbing for the bottle, but Mambazo was taller and held it out of her reach. "Mambazo I can't believe you are so underhanded, sneaking around in peoples bags, taking things that don't belong to you," yelled Bill, disgusted.

"Poor, gullible, Bill. So fast yet so slow," said Mambazo smoothly. "I'm sure you'd all LOVE to know what this is though." Everyone was silent, Sam was fuming. "THIS is a magic potion and the label clearly says that it can give you the skills you need for anything, which would include football and also makes you run like the wind." Mambazo smiled, pleased with what he had said. "Sam? Is this true?"mumbled Rick, utterly taken aback. Sam stood there her pretty face red with anger and then she broke out into a smile, but no ordinary smile, an evil smile that made her look dangerous. She threw open her arms and cackled. She sounded like a witch. "S-s-s-she's a d-d-d-dark f-f-f-f-faerie!" stammered Jon. A dark cloud circled them and Sam cried out a lot of words that sounded like a foreign language.

There was a crash of thunder and the whole team ducked under benches, yelling for help. None came. "Now you will all pay for your intrusion into my secret life, for disturbing the peaceful life I lived for so long," she cried in a booming voice that made the walls shake. She pointed her finger at the floor and zapped a powerful beam that made a dark, deep hole. "You will all go to a place where no-one even knows about. Where you will be forced to do every single thing you hate forever!" She laughed evilly. She didn't see Mambazo crawling and reaching for the wooden stick the coach used to point out tactics on the big blackboard. He ran quietly behind Sam, who didn't see him, so engrossed in contacting this hidden world. He stabbed her with the stick with all his strength before falling backwards to the floor. He looked up to see Sam staggering around wailing. She then shrivelled up into dust on the floor, the hole had now closed up. There was silence before the team breathed a sigh of relief. Then they cheered and clapped as Mambazo stood back up, still shaking. "Well done! Brilliant work mate! You're a hero!" Admiring voices came out with praise and pride for Mambazo who smiled shyly and muttered quietly "Thank you. It was nothing." "Well Mambazo I'll see that you get a reward for this. What do you want? Money? Anything!"cried the coach amazed at what he'd seen.

"Well,"said Mambazo, hesitating. "There is ONE thing..." "What is it? I'll grant it for you now!" "Could I please have my old place back on the team?" said Mambazo hopefully. The coach laughed. "Of course you can! You're a true hero my boy and I'll see you're a permanent member of this team for as long as you want!" Now Bill stepped forward, ashamed at his treatment of Mambazo who risked his life to save the others, who had stuck with him from the very beginning. "Er, I'm not very good at this," he said holding out his hand."I'm really sorry mate, you're way cooler then anyone I've ever known. I never meant to act the way I did. Will you be my best mate again?" "I don't think so MATE,"cried Mambazo. "You meant it alright. You dropped me for someone who you'd known for like two weeks. You said I was uncool, a loser! I think you meant it and I won't take it! Not now, NOT EVER!"

Jon stood up and patted Mambazo on the back. "Well said! Now come on. We've got a game to win!" The whole changing room echoed in cheers of excitement and joy. They trooped out onto the field - Mambazo standing tall and proud with a subdued Bill trailing. For the first time in ages Mambazo felt great about himself and meant to stay that way for the rest of his life.

story by Bethan Jones (username b_cwl)