2022
Speaking Up at Soccer Camp
October 2022

“Speaking Up at Soccer Camp,” Friend, October 2022, 22–23

Speaking Up at Soccer Camp

By Elise Ellsworth Horman

(Based on a true story)

Coach blowing a whistle while kids play soccer

Time for lunch! We’ll start practice again in 30 minutes.

Kids eating lunch and looking at a phone
One boy showing another boy something on a phone

Hey, look at this!

Boy looking embarrassed

We shouldn’t be looking at that kind of stuff.

Two boys laughing at another boy

You’re such a baby.

Boy wearing pajamas getting into bed

Later that night …

Hey, buddy. We wanted to talk about what happened at soccer camp.

Boy in bed with his hands over his face being comforted by his parents

One of the boys’ mom called and said some boys were looking at pictures of people without clothes on.

Yeah. I tried not to look.

Boy being comforted by his smiling parents

We know. The mom said you walked away.

Boy talking to his parents in bed

How did you know to leave?

We’ve talked about how those pictures were bad. And I felt bad when I saw them.

Dad kissing son’s head in bed

That was the Holy Ghost telling you it was wrong.

We’re proud of you.

Mom talking to son in bed

You can always come talk to us when something like this happens, OK?

OK. Thanks for talking with me.

Illustrations by Katie Kath