Chapter going-places: Going Places | Short Questions

Sophie wriggled uncomfortably because she knew her father was a practical, short-tempered man who deeply despised her wild, unrealistic stories. She had shared the fantasy of meeting the football prodigy Danny Casey only with Geoff, hoping to impress him and win his attention. When Geoff suddenly revealed this secret to their father, Sophie felt exposed and anxious. She anticipated her father's harsh reprimand and disbelief, knowing perfectly well that he would see right through her lie and aggressively scold her for talking herself into trouble.

No, Geoff does not truly believe Sophie’s story about meeting Danny Casey. When she first tells him, he immediately calls it the unlikeliest thing he has ever heard. As an older brother, he is fully aware of Sophie's habit of daydreaming and creating wild fantasies. Although he listens to her patiently and asks her questions about Casey's appearance, his tone remains sceptical and mocking. He points out that a famous sports star like Casey would never randomly talk to a schoolgirl or promise her a date.

Sophie liked her elder brother Geoff the most because his quiet and reserved nature fascinated her. He was an apprentice mechanic who travelled across the city, and his silence allowed Sophie to project her own wild fantasies onto his life. To her, Geoff symbolised a mysterious, glamorous world far beyond their cramped house. She felt a deep jealousy for his unseen life and desperately wanted to be admitted into his affections, hoping he would one day take her along on his exciting, unknown adventures.

Sophie desperately wanted to keep her imaginary encounter with Danny Casey a secret from Jansie because she considered Jansie to be extremely 'nosey' and untrustworthy with secrets. Sophie knew that if she told the gawky and practical Jansie, the news would quickly spread, and the entire neighbourhood would come to know about it. This would lead to a crowd of curious people outside her house, which would infuriate her strict father. For Sophie, the Casey story was a sacred, special secret meant only for Geoff.

The weekly pilgrimage to watch the United football team highlights the shared passion and sole source of entertainment for Sophie's working-class family. It brings the family together, bridging the gap between their daily struggles and their love for the sport. For Sophie, watching Danny Casey play brilliantly on the field deeply fuels her obsessive hero-worship. It bridges her imaginative world with a tangible event, allowing her to feel a personal connection to the young Irish prodigy amidst the thunderous cheering of the massive stadium crowd.