Charlie's Hero (#nanowrimo2015)

Chapter 16

"Now here he is when he got his first soccer ball. His dad started him very young."  Alice said, smiling at the photo. Charlie looked down at it and couldn't help but smile, seeing a four year old Cameron  holding a ball over his head with a bright smile on his cafe, his hair flopping over his face in the wind. "Oh, and here he is at his first team." she pointed to another, directing Charlie's attention more upward in the album. 

"How long do you think she's going to show her pictures for?" Cameron whisper to his dad from behind the couch.

"Could be for a few more minutes, but knowing your mother, she still has to show the baby albums." Came the reply and Cameron went wide eyed at the thought, turning to his dad, horrified.

"Okay! I think that's enough of the pictures for now mom."  He suddenly interrupted, reaching between them and shutting the album on her lap.

"Oh fine, but I still have so many." Alice pouts slightly, but chuckled.

     Cameron came around front and grabbed Charlie's hand, pulling her up off the couch, saying they were going in the backyard. Charlie smiled at the flushed look on Cam's face and followed him out, giving a brief look over her shoulder at Mrs. Hunt in thanks.

     When they got outside, Charlie saw two soccer nets set up and spray paint on the grass, making up a miniature field. She knew he was serious about Soccer, but to actually see pictures and the evidence made it all the more real to Charlie. She looked around, the small but decent sized backyard, liking how perfect it seemed. Cameron suddenly came trotting over, dribbling a soccer ball between his feet.

"I know Carson is a soccer player, but have you ever played before?" He asked, a smile on his face as he looked up at her through the setting sun's glare on his face. Charlie shook her head, a sheepish look on her face. "Great! That means I get to teach you." He sounded overjoyed at the thought, surprising Charlie. "Come stand over here."

     And so he taught her.

     He taught her the right way to dribble the ball, and even how to kick the ball into the net.  Cameron had gotten right up behind her and and showed her how to twist her hips just the right way, guiding her through the steps. She ended up making the goal a few times, each time earning an ecstatic look on her face, one that made Cameron smile so wide it showed his teeth.

     After he taught her the moves, they played a couple games till it was good and dark out, the porch light being their only way to see the ball. Charlie hadn't moved so much since her sister was alive. Usually she was sitting on the couch or the chair, maybe hold up on a bed somewhere and staring out the window. But now, she was ice skating, playing in a park, taking walks after school, and playing soccer. It was refreshing.

     Charlie could tell he was going way too easy on her, but the game was still fun, even when he stole the ball from her and shot a goal. He made it quite the show when he narrated the whole play and made over exaggerated moves. At one point he got so caught up in it that Charlie somehow slipped in kicked the ball the other direction, and miraculously made a shot that landed the ball in the net.

     Cameron was so shocked the he stood there for a second before narrating for her.

"And the crowd goes wild! Charlie made the goal! Charlie made the goal!" He picked her up in his arms and started spinning her around. "She won the team the game! Victory to the Baker's!"

     Charlie couldn't help but giggle as she spun in his arms, throwing her head back with glee. This was was something else entirely.

"Guys, Dinner's ready!" Greg Hunt, Cameron's dad said from the door. He threw them a cheesy grin and then shut the door behind him. Cameron let Charlie down carefully, holding onto her waist till her feet stood on the ground firmly. They stood face to face for a brief few seconds before Cameron took Charlie's hand and pulled her up the porch and inside the house.