The Big Chance

大好时机 Drink your tea

Ray Martin, the new boss of Small town Football Club, was very happy. It was almost half-time and his teamwere winning 1-0.

Ray raced down to the changing room to talk to the team. Eleven cups of tea were waiting for the players.The team jogged in, looking tired but happy. “Well done, lads ,”smiled Ray. “You must be thirsty. Drink your tea while it?s hot.”

“In a minute, boss.” said Steve the captain.

Then Ray noticed one player after another taking their cups of tea into the shower room. When they came backthe cups were empty.

“That?s funny,” thought Ray. “ Drinking tea in the shower.”

Steve the captain picked up his cup. Ray followed him. In the shower room Steve was pouring his tea down thesink.

“What?s going on?” said Ray.

Steve leaped in the air and dropped his cup. The sound of smashing cup brought the other players running.

“It was his fault,” sobbed Steve. “He made me jump.” “What shall we do?” moaned Nick the goalkeeper. “Maybe we can glue it.” said Steve.

“Will somebody tell me what?s going on?” said Ray. “Why are you all tripping your tea down the sink?”Nobody spoke.

“Well?”

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“Because it?s not very nice”

“Why all the fuss about a broken cup? ” “Hilda,” whispered somebody. “Who is Hilda?”

“She makes the tea,? hissed Nick.

?Then I shall go and tell her about that the tea is not very nice.? ?Ssh,?hissed the team. ?She?ll hear you.? ?She certainly will hear me.? Said Ray. ?Oh dear.? said Nick.

?Fancy,? said Ray. ?A bunch of men , scared of a little old tea lady.? ?Er,? said one player, ?She?s not little.? ?She?s not that old.? said another.

?And we are not scared of her,? said Steve. ?We are terrified.? ?That?s enough,? said Ray. ?Where will I find this Hilda?? ?At the tea stand,? said Nick. Ray strode towards the door. ?Good luck.? said someone. Ray meets Hilda

The tea stand was an old caravan. Ray joined a quiet queue of fans.

?I?d like one cup of tea please, with a dash of milk and no sugar,? said a big man. ?You?ll get it how I make it and you?ll like it,? boomed avoice from inside the caravan.

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The next man in the queue already had a cup of tea, ?Excuse me,? he said politely.

?Yes,? boomed the voice.

?I?m sorry to bother you,? continued the man. ?But this tea is not very nice.? 1?What did you say??

The caravan began to tremble. The caravan rocked and shook. There was a great bang and the door flew off itshinges.

There in the hole where the door had been stood Hilda. She wore a green skirt, an apron, red boots and ajumper that said, ?Smalltown F.C.?

?Hilda,? gaspedRay.

Hilda stepped down from the caravan, rolling up her sleeves. She strode over to the man.

?Do you know what I do with great moaning minnies who come complaining about my tea???I-I don?t know,? stammered the man.

?I do this,? said Hilda.

Hilda grabbed the man and threw him over her shoulder. She marched down towards the pitch.?Help!? cried the man.

Hilda strode into the goal area.

She lifted the man over her head and sat him on the cross bar. ?Get me down,? yelled the man. Hilda marched back to her tea stand.

?What are you looking at?? she said to one supporter. ?Nothing.?

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