happen. He knew that if he was going to make a hat
trick, he had to get his foot on the ball no matter what. He charged downfield to join his teammates in the fight against
the Black Hawks.
Dewey London and Bundy Neel were working hard to get the ball back into Black Hawks territory. Finally Dewey stole it and
sent it flying toward the sideline. Stookie took off after it like a shot.
So did Lou. The right striker reached the ball first. But instead of backing off and letting Lou handle it, Stookie stuck
his foot in and tried to snake the ball away.
“What are you
doing
?” growled Lou. “Get back in your position, you numbskull!”
Numbskull am I?
Stookie thought angrily.
Who’s the one who forgot today’s game plan? Sheesh!
Chapter 4
F or the rest of the first half of the game, Stookie was a whirlwind on the field. He did everything he could to get and keep
control of the ball. In fact, he shadowed the ball everywhere, straying out of his position time and again—and getting in
the way of his fellow ’Cats. More than once, he found himself battling his own teammate for the ball. A few times, someone
else had to rush to his spot to cover his position for him.
Then, just before the halftime buzzer sounded, he finally made another goal. TheBlack Hawk goalie stumbled over the ball. All Stookie had to do was nudge it with his foot to send it over the line and into
the net.
Stookie barely had enough energy to leap in the air. All that ball-chasing had pooped him out. Still, he hustled to the sideline
at halftime. He was sure the coach was going to praise him for his efforts.
Just the opposite happened.
“I didn’t think I needed to remind everyone of the importance of staying within your positions,” Coach Bradley said. His eye
fell on Stookie for a long moment, then moved on. “But maybe I was wrong. So let me say it again: Stay in your own lanes.
Help out when needed, but trust your teammates to know what they’re doing out there. They’re trusting you, after all.”
Stookie caught Lou frowning at him. He shrugged and looked away. His gaze fell on the stands. There, to his surprise, sat
his brother!
Greg was busy talking with his best friend, Roger Charlton. As Stookie watched, Greg took a tattered newspaper from his back
pocket and showed it to Roger. Roger rolled his eyes and said something to Greg. Greg made a face and shoved the paper back
in his pocket.
Stookie’s heart pounded. His brother had never come to one of his games before. When Greg saw Stookie looking at him, he gave
him the thumbs-up sign. Then he nodded, as if to say, “I like what I see out there, little bro.”
Stookie felt a warm glow pass through him. But moments later, that warmth turned stone cold.
“Stookie, you look like you need a rest,” Coach Bradley said. “Roy, take Stookie’s place when the second half starts.”
“But Coach—” Stookie started to protest. A withering look from the coach silenced him. So when the second half started a moment
later, Stookie sat on the bench. He had towatch as Roy Boswick took position at center midfield. A substitute striker!
When the action started, Stookie sneaked a peek up at the stands. He hoped his brother was watching the game and not looking
at him. He needn’t have worried.
Roger was still in the bleachers, but Greg was nowhere in sight.
Chapter 5
T he Soccer ’Cats wound up winning the game against the Black Hawks, 3-0. Roy had scored the third goal on an assist from Lou.
“That goal should have been mine,” Stookie grumbled to Lou after the game. “Can you believe the coach took me out?”
Lou was taking off his soccer shoes and putting on his regular sneakers. He shot Stookie a look of disbelief.
“What?” said Stookie.
Lou just shook his head, gathered up hissoccer shoes, and walked away. Stookie walked home by himself.
At dinner that night, Stookie waited for Greg to say something about the game. But Greg was
trick, he had to get his foot on the ball no matter what. He charged downfield to join his teammates in the fight against
the Black Hawks.
Dewey London and Bundy Neel were working hard to get the ball back into Black Hawks territory. Finally Dewey stole it and
sent it flying toward the sideline. Stookie took off after it like a shot.
So did Lou. The right striker reached the ball first. But instead of backing off and letting Lou handle it, Stookie stuck
his foot in and tried to snake the ball away.
“What are you
doing
?” growled Lou. “Get back in your position, you numbskull!”
Numbskull am I?
Stookie thought angrily.
Who’s the one who forgot today’s game plan? Sheesh!
Chapter 4
F or the rest of the first half of the game, Stookie was a whirlwind on the field. He did everything he could to get and keep
control of the ball. In fact, he shadowed the ball everywhere, straying out of his position time and again—and getting in
the way of his fellow ’Cats. More than once, he found himself battling his own teammate for the ball. A few times, someone
else had to rush to his spot to cover his position for him.
Then, just before the halftime buzzer sounded, he finally made another goal. TheBlack Hawk goalie stumbled over the ball. All Stookie had to do was nudge it with his foot to send it over the line and into
the net.
Stookie barely had enough energy to leap in the air. All that ball-chasing had pooped him out. Still, he hustled to the sideline
at halftime. He was sure the coach was going to praise him for his efforts.
Just the opposite happened.
“I didn’t think I needed to remind everyone of the importance of staying within your positions,” Coach Bradley said. His eye
fell on Stookie for a long moment, then moved on. “But maybe I was wrong. So let me say it again: Stay in your own lanes.
Help out when needed, but trust your teammates to know what they’re doing out there. They’re trusting you, after all.”
Stookie caught Lou frowning at him. He shrugged and looked away. His gaze fell on the stands. There, to his surprise, sat
his brother!
Greg was busy talking with his best friend, Roger Charlton. As Stookie watched, Greg took a tattered newspaper from his back
pocket and showed it to Roger. Roger rolled his eyes and said something to Greg. Greg made a face and shoved the paper back
in his pocket.
Stookie’s heart pounded. His brother had never come to one of his games before. When Greg saw Stookie looking at him, he gave
him the thumbs-up sign. Then he nodded, as if to say, “I like what I see out there, little bro.”
Stookie felt a warm glow pass through him. But moments later, that warmth turned stone cold.
“Stookie, you look like you need a rest,” Coach Bradley said. “Roy, take Stookie’s place when the second half starts.”
“But Coach—” Stookie started to protest. A withering look from the coach silenced him. So when the second half started a moment
later, Stookie sat on the bench. He had towatch as Roy Boswick took position at center midfield. A substitute striker!
When the action started, Stookie sneaked a peek up at the stands. He hoped his brother was watching the game and not looking
at him. He needn’t have worried.
Roger was still in the bleachers, but Greg was nowhere in sight.
Chapter 5
T he Soccer ’Cats wound up winning the game against the Black Hawks, 3-0. Roy had scored the third goal on an assist from Lou.
“That goal should have been mine,” Stookie grumbled to Lou after the game. “Can you believe the coach took me out?”
Lou was taking off his soccer shoes and putting on his regular sneakers. He shot Stookie a look of disbelief.
“What?” said Stookie.
Lou just shook his head, gathered up hissoccer shoes, and walked away. Stookie walked home by himself.
At dinner that night, Stookie waited for Greg to say something about the game. But Greg was
Similar Books
