Ch5-High in the Sky

FIVE High in the Sky When the doors opened, Roberto led Jack and Annie off the tram. They walked down a ramp from the station and headed into the huge parking area. "Aztec Stadium is named for the people who built an empire in this part of Mexico many

hundreds of years ago," said Roberto. "Really?" said Jack. He'd read about the Aztec Empire. He could imagine the enormous stadium being similar to an Aztec pyramid. Thousands of spectators flooded the parking lot. They wore bright summer clothes and widebrimmed hats. Vendors walked among the big cars, selling Brazilian, Italian, and Mexican flags. Kids were waving souvenir programs, soccer shirts, and caps for sale. Jack and Annie followed Roberto to the nearest entrance, and Annie held out their two tickets. "That way, gate G!" a stadium official said. He pointed toward one of the other entrances.

When Roberto showed his ticket, the man pointed in the same direction. "Hurray! I hope I'm sitting near you," said Roberto. "Me too!" said Jack. Jack, Annie, and Roberto followed a crowd through gate G and into the giant stadium. They all looked up at the stands. Dozens of tiers of seats rose above the green soccer field. The rows were so steep, it looked as if spectators in the highest rows might fall straight down onto the field. "This place is huge!" said Jack. "Where do we go now?" said Annie. "My father said I should ask an official," said Roberto, looking around. "Over there!" He led Jack and Annie to an usher in uniform standing at the bottom of an aisle. "Can you please tell us where our seats are?" Annie asked, showing her ticket to the woman. When the woman looked at the ticket, her eyes grew wide. "You have some of the best seats in the stadium!" she said. She pointed to the section closest to the field. "Over there—second row, right on the aisle!"

"Yay!" said Jack. The guard at the embassy had been right. They did have incredible seats—seats that would help them get close enough to Pelé to learn a secret of greatness from him. Jack turned excitedly to Roberto. "Where's your seat?" he asked. Roberto showed his ticket to the usher. "Where do I go?" he asked. "Well… you are in the same line as your friends…," the woman told Roberto. "Fantastic!" he said with a big grin. "But I'm afraid your seat is in a different section," said the usher. She pointed all the way up. "It's near the very top, high up in the sky." The smile left Roberto's face, but then it returned. "I'd better go," he said. "It was great to meet you." "You too," said Jack. "Good-bye, Jack and Annie," said Roberto, and he started up the steep steps to the top of the stadium. "Roberto, wait!" Annie called, and she hurried up the steps after him. Jack followed her. "Listen

—I want to trade seats with you," she said. She held out her ticket. Really? thought Jack. What about our mission? "Oh, no! I cannot!" said Roberto. "Yes, you can!" said Annie. "Please! We have to trade seats." "But why?" asked Roberto. "Because it's your birthday," said Annie. "And if you have a good seat, you can tell your eight brothers and sisters and your parents all about the game. So it will be like eleven people are getting a good seat. Not just one." That actually makes sense, thought Jack. Still, he was amazed by Annie's generosity. "But no, I cannot—" said Roberto. "But yes, you can," said Annie. She grabbed Roberto's ticket and put her own ticket in his hand. "You guys have fun!" She started up the stairs. Jack felt a wave of guilt. "Wait, stop. That's not fair," he said to Annie. "Maybe I should give up my seat." "No, it's okay. I'll give up mine," said Annie.

Roberto laughed. "You are both too kind," he said. "I cannot take either of your seats." Roberto handed Annie her ticket and took his back. "No, please, I want—" Annie protested. "Wait, I have another idea," Jack said to Annie. "We can take turns. I'll switch with Roberto for the first half. And you switch with him for the second half." "Perfect!" said Annie. "That way, Roberto can get a great view of the whole game. And you and I will each get a great view for half the time." "Right." Jack pulled the Ring of Truth off his finger. He slipped it into Annie's hand and spoke softly to her. "The person who's sitting close to the field should wear this. Be sure to check it if you think you've discovered Pelé's secret." "Got it," Annie said, putting the ring on her finger. "I'll give it back to you at halftime." "Right," said Jack. "How long is halftime, Roberto?" "Fifteen minutes." "Plenty of time," said Jack. He looked at his seat number. "A-26. Okay, I'll find you at seat A-