Chapter 1
S tookie Norris sat across the dinner table from his older brother, Greg. Greg had pushed his plate aside and was reading the
sports column of the local newspaper.
“A color photo, not just black and white!” Greg gloated. “Here’s what the caption says: ‘Greg Norris, striker for the Blue
Waves soccer team, scored the league’s first and only hat trick this season on Tuesday.’” He put the paper down so Stookie
could see the photo, too. It showed a sweaty-faced Greg beaming for the camera.
“The guy who wrote the article says my playing was the best he’s ever seen for a twelve-year-old. That my fancy footwork and
speed left the other team in the dust.” Greg leaned back in his chair and locked his hands behind his head. “What do you think
of that, little bro?”
Stookie looked at the photo, then at his brother, and shook his head admiringly. “Wow. I wish I’d been there to see it.” He
handed the paper back to Greg. “But, um, what’s a hat trick, anyway?”
Greg snorted. “You don’t know what a hat trick is? Some soccer player you are! It’s only what every striker should try to
do, in every game. I can’t believe your coach hasn’t told you that.”
Stookie reddened. His mother came to his rescue.
“Well, I don’t know what a hat trick is, either. Perhaps you won’t mind telling me—before you tip over in your chair?”
Greg rocked his chair forward with a thump. “A hat trick is when one player scores three goals in one game,” he explained
impatiently. “It’s very hard to do.”
“But your coach told you that’s what strikers should try for, every time?” Mrs. Norris asked with surprise.
Greg groaned. “Well, he didn’t come right out and
say
that. But you should have seen how pumped he was when I scored that third goal! It’s pretty clear to me that that’s what
he wants me to do.”
Mr. Norris added, “It was pretty exciting. I almost busted with pride right there in the stands.” He chucked Greg playfully
under the chin. “Keep up the good work.”
Stookie looked at the newspaper article with envy. At that moment, he decided that he, too, would do what all strikers were
supposed to do. He would do all he could to make a hat trick at the next Soccer ’Cats game.
Chapter 2
H ey, did you guys see the sports column in the paper yesterday?”
That was the first thing Stookie asked his Soccer ’Cats teammates the next day at practice. The team was gathered in the stands,
waiting for the coach to arrive.
“Yeah, pretty cool picture of your brother,” said Amanda Caler, one of the team’s halfbacks.
“Did you read the article?” Stookie continued. “My brother is a star! He knows everything there is to know about soccer. His
coachthinks he’s the best. You should have heard what he said when Greg made that hat trick!” He looked from one player to another.
“You
do
know what a hat trick is, don’t you?”
Jason Shearer popped his gum. “Yeah, isn’t that when a guy with a black cape makes a rabbit appear or turns a broken egg into
a dove?” The other kids snickered.
“Ha, ha, very funny,” Stookie grumbled. “Well, we’ll see who’s laughing when
I
get
my
name in the paper for scoring three goals next game. ’Cuz that’s just what I’m going to do!”
Lou Barnes arrived in time to hear what Stookie was saying. “You’re going to score three goals next game?” he echoed. “Guess
I might as well hand in my soccer shoes then, because you won’t need me in the front line with you.”
Stookie threw a mock punch at the big striker’s arm. “Well, someone has to assist me out there,” he joked. “If you’re lucky,
I mightjust mention your name when the newspaper interviews me. Of course, that’s supposing I don’t bring the ball in all by myself
each time.” He locked his hands together behind his head and leaned back against the stands.
“Oh, brother,” he heard someone say. But
S tookie Norris sat across the dinner table from his older brother, Greg. Greg had pushed his plate aside and was reading the
sports column of the local newspaper.
“A color photo, not just black and white!” Greg gloated. “Here’s what the caption says: ‘Greg Norris, striker for the Blue
Waves soccer team, scored the league’s first and only hat trick this season on Tuesday.’” He put the paper down so Stookie
could see the photo, too. It showed a sweaty-faced Greg beaming for the camera.
“The guy who wrote the article says my playing was the best he’s ever seen for a twelve-year-old. That my fancy footwork and
speed left the other team in the dust.” Greg leaned back in his chair and locked his hands behind his head. “What do you think
of that, little bro?”
Stookie looked at the photo, then at his brother, and shook his head admiringly. “Wow. I wish I’d been there to see it.” He
handed the paper back to Greg. “But, um, what’s a hat trick, anyway?”
Greg snorted. “You don’t know what a hat trick is? Some soccer player you are! It’s only what every striker should try to
do, in every game. I can’t believe your coach hasn’t told you that.”
Stookie reddened. His mother came to his rescue.
“Well, I don’t know what a hat trick is, either. Perhaps you won’t mind telling me—before you tip over in your chair?”
Greg rocked his chair forward with a thump. “A hat trick is when one player scores three goals in one game,” he explained
impatiently. “It’s very hard to do.”
“But your coach told you that’s what strikers should try for, every time?” Mrs. Norris asked with surprise.
Greg groaned. “Well, he didn’t come right out and
say
that. But you should have seen how pumped he was when I scored that third goal! It’s pretty clear to me that that’s what
he wants me to do.”
Mr. Norris added, “It was pretty exciting. I almost busted with pride right there in the stands.” He chucked Greg playfully
under the chin. “Keep up the good work.”
Stookie looked at the newspaper article with envy. At that moment, he decided that he, too, would do what all strikers were
supposed to do. He would do all he could to make a hat trick at the next Soccer ’Cats game.
Chapter 2
H ey, did you guys see the sports column in the paper yesterday?”
That was the first thing Stookie asked his Soccer ’Cats teammates the next day at practice. The team was gathered in the stands,
waiting for the coach to arrive.
“Yeah, pretty cool picture of your brother,” said Amanda Caler, one of the team’s halfbacks.
“Did you read the article?” Stookie continued. “My brother is a star! He knows everything there is to know about soccer. His
coachthinks he’s the best. You should have heard what he said when Greg made that hat trick!” He looked from one player to another.
“You
do
know what a hat trick is, don’t you?”
Jason Shearer popped his gum. “Yeah, isn’t that when a guy with a black cape makes a rabbit appear or turns a broken egg into
a dove?” The other kids snickered.
“Ha, ha, very funny,” Stookie grumbled. “Well, we’ll see who’s laughing when
I
get
my
name in the paper for scoring three goals next game. ’Cuz that’s just what I’m going to do!”
Lou Barnes arrived in time to hear what Stookie was saying. “You’re going to score three goals next game?” he echoed. “Guess
I might as well hand in my soccer shoes then, because you won’t need me in the front line with you.”
Stookie threw a mock punch at the big striker’s arm. “Well, someone has to assist me out there,” he joked. “If you’re lucky,
I mightjust mention your name when the newspaper interviews me. Of course, that’s supposing I don’t bring the ball in all by myself
each time.” He locked his hands together behind his head and leaned back against the stands.
“Oh, brother,” he heard someone say. But
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