Once upon a time there was a green bean named Joe. He loved football. He longed to play on the Legume football team. When he was old enough to play he went to the team and asked if he could play with them. They would not let him play because he did not look like Black-eyes, Limas, or Garbanzo's. Joe was thin and dark green. He looked a lot different than the other players. The next day he went to the head coach and asked him if he could play on this team. The coach laughed and said no. Joe Bean wanted to know why he couldn't play. The coach said, "You are too thin and green. You could get hurt. It takes a strong legume to play on our team."

Joe Bean said, "I am very high in protein, vitamins A and C, and iron. I am very strong. If you give me a chance I will show you that I am a great football player." "I will think about it", said the coach.

Joe Bean was sad. He went home to the garden and waited for the head coach to call. Two days went by. Finally the coach called and told Joe that there were tryouts that weekend. He would let Joe tryout, and if he did well he would let Joe play on the Legumes Football Team.

Joe could hardly wait for tryouts. When the weekend came he suited up in his football gear. The Legumes laughed at him but Joe was not afraid. He was determined. He said, "I will do a lot better than you think. Then you will not laugh at me."

When tryouts began Joe Bean did what he said. He was great. He threw the ball farther than any other player. He ran faster and hit harder than any other player. After tryouts the coach called all the players over to announce who had made the team. Joe waited for his name to be called. Finally the coach said, "And our final position will go to Joe Bean. He will start in our first game."

The first game was the Legumes versus the Carrots. The coach put Joe in the first quarter. He did so well that the coach let him play the rest of the game. Joe wasn't good at one position; he was good at all of them. With Joe's help the Legumes won that game. The Legumes went on to have a winning season. They went to the playoffs and won that game.

At the next practice the coach said that they would be playing in the Vegetable Bowl. They would be playing the first team they had played that season, the Carrots.

It was an exciting game. The Carrots were three points ahead. The Legumes needed a touchdown to win. The Legumes got closer and closer to their goal line but time was running out. Then Joe Bean threw the football to the receiver. Everyone held his and her breath. It was caught. Touchdown Legumes! They won. At the end of the gamed the coach said to Joe, "You are mean and green and you helped us win. I am going to call you Mean Joe Green Bean." Joe's green cheeks turned red. Joe played many more seasons with the Legumes and became very famous. All of the little green beans wanted to be like Joe. He was drafted into the Can of Beans. He truly was the best bean of all.

The End.