Alice was a bright, linguistic girl of about eleven and had light brown hair. She loved writing and would print out all her own stories and keep them on her walls. She liked reading too and would pin up newspaper clippings. But most of all, she adored Jesse Arthars and was a fan of the Warriors. Alice would get her hands on any Jesse Arthars posters up for sale.
One weekend she heard that the Warriors were going to play at Mt Smart Stadium, and of course, Jesse Arthars would be playing, after half time. She could hardly believe it. After so many times watching Jesse on TV, she could finally see him in person.
There was only one thing concerning her. Would her mum allow her to go? When she explained about the upcoming game to her mum, her mum declined.
“I don’t want you to watch the Warriors game!” Mum snapped, wagging her finger in a ‘no, no,’ position.
“But Mum,” Alice pleaded, “we could all go together! You, Dad and I. Besides, Jesse Arthars could sign my journal . . . .”
“No, young lady!” her mum yelled at her angrily. “I forbid you to go to the Warriors game!”
At this Alice became absolutely annoyed and she debated with her mum for hours.
Finally Mum gave up. She let Alice buy three tickets and Alice’s dad, being a huge Warriors fan, drove them all to Mt Smart Stadium.
When they got there, they hurried to get into the large stadium before the game started. There was a long queue pushing and jostling each other. Alice, her mum and dad, waited outside for what seemed ages, nearly dying with excitement. The guy who got the tickets off people queueing nabbed the three big tickets off them and replied, “Three seats in the middle row, seats 17, 18, and 19.”
Inside the stadium, there were thousands of people waiting tensely for the Warriors to enter.
At last, the Warriors went for a lap around the field and Alice screamed happily when she spotted Jesse Arthars. She waved her flag, cheering for him.
Her mum told her to sit down because they had been standing up the entire time.
Dad’s eyes were bright as he saw Rocco Berry on the team. “OMG! Look! It’s Rocco Berry! Wow!!”
Mum muttered something like “brainwashing idols” and ignored the game.
The game was very exciting and left Alice very tense. The Warriors were in the lead, but the other team was catching up.
Alice took out her journal and began scribbling down notes. “Jack Murchie scores by a powerful drop kick on the other side of the field! Rocco Berry is ready to pass the ball . . .” she wrote.
Half-time was signaled by the referee’s whistle. Jesse Arthars jogged onto the field, followed by encouraging shouts from the cheering crowd. Alice squealed and her face went as red as a tomato.
The other half of the game was not so smooth. The Warriors were actually losing for once!
The team was getting disheartened and anxious as the game rolled on. Would the Warriors lose their winning streak?
Jesse managed to stop being tackled. He rushed towards the white line underneath the white goalpost on their opponents’ side of the field.
He slammed the ball down on the line. The Warriors won!
They went for a victory lap and Alice and her dad cheered and cheered. The crowd went WILD!
Alice went to where the Warriors had parked their van outside Mt Smart Stadium.
She opened her pink journal to the last page and was just about to go to Jesse Arthars when her mother spoke.
“I’m so sorry for not allowing you to go to this game. I apologise because I realised that you really like the Warriors and you deserved to watch it.”
“It’s okay, Mum. I know you were only trying to stop me from liking Jesse Arthars and the Warriors, but I forgive you,” Alice laughed. She wrapped her Mum in an embrace. After a while, Alice let go and bravely stepped to where Jesse was standing. He was signing posters with a blue pen.
“Hi,” said Jesse, holding up his pen. “What can I do for you?”
“C-could you please s-sign my journal?” Alice stuttered, holding out her opened journal.
He scribbled his signature with his pen on the blank page.
Alice, upon seeing the autograph, blushed. “Thanks a lot, Jesse!” She went to tell her parents.
When she went home she wrote everything down on paper. She smiled. She’d finally met her idol.
Melanie’s writing journey 