Long Shot by Cindy Jefferies Page A

flashed him another smile. “I’ve got to find my room and dump my bags, but I wouldn’t miss tea for
anything.”
    Roddy, Geno and Jimmy headed outsideand made their way along a path towards the boarding house. They passed a bunch of boys heading a ball to each other in the autumn sunshine.
    â€œWhat number is your room?” asked Roddy.
    â€œFour,” said Geno.
    Roddy stopped in his tracks.
“Four?”
    Jimmy gave him an odd look. “What’s wrong with that?” he asked.
    â€œNothing’s
wrong
with it,” said Roddy. “Only … that’s
my
room as well.”
    â€œAwesome,” said Geno. “Looks like we’ll be sharing!”
    Roddy laughed. “I can’t believe it … I wonder who the fourth person will be?”
    â€œLet’s just hope they don’t snore,” said Jimmy.
    Roddy laughed again. “Do you play table football?” he asked Jimmy, as they arrived at the boarding house.
    â€œOf course,” said Jimmy. “And I bet I could beat you, too.”
    â€œBet you couldn’t,” said Roddy.
    â€œGame on!” said Geno.
    There were a few other boys in the common room, and more new people were arriving all the time. The three roommates went over to the table football, but as Jimmy was about to pick up the ball, another boy barged in and grabbed it.
    â€œOi!” said Jimmy. “We were just going to play.”
    â€œToo late,” said the boy unpleasantly. “I got here first.”
    Roddy’s heart sank. He was almost certain that the boy was a midfielder called Jack. At the trial, Roddy had overheard someone describe him as a thug. He hoped it wasn’t true, but this wasn’t a very good start.
    â€œWho were you going to play with?”he asked.
    Jack looked at Roddy. “I’ll take
you
on,” he said aggressively.
    Jimmy rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t even have anyone to
play
with,” he muttered. “What a sad act!”
    Jack gave Jimmy a murderous look and Roddy butted in to stop the bad atmosphere turning into a fight.
    â€œI’ll play you next, if you like,” he said to Jack. “As soon as Jimmy and I have had our go.”
    Jack glared at Roddy, and Roddy shrugged.
    â€œYou
then,” Jack said, turning to Geno.
    Geno shook his head. “No, thanks,” he said. “I’m just watching.”
    Jack shoved the ball into his jeans pocket and started to walk away. “OK, losers,” he sneered. “No one plays.”
    Roddy and Jimmy were furious. “Give us the ball back,” they demanded.
    â€œLeave it!” Geno advised. “He’s not worth it.”
    But Jimmy wasn’t listening. He was about to make a grab for Jack, when a member of staff arrived.
    â€œJack! What are you doing?” It was the boarding-house master, Mr Clutterbuck.
    Jack shrugged. “Nothing. Just having a bit of a laugh.”
    â€œWe were trying to play table football and he nicked the ball,” protested Jimmy.
    Jack looked daggers at Jimmy. “Can’t you take a joke?” he sneered.
    Mr Clutterbuck looked at each of the boys in turn. “Let’s see if you can get on, shall we?” he suggested. He looked at Jack again, who reached reluctantly into his pocket and produced the ball.
    â€œThere you go,” he said, and tossed it vaguely in Jimmy’s direction. It fell somedistance from Jimmy’s outstretched hand, and rolled under the pool table.
    Geno retrieved it and put it back.
    â€œNow listen,” said Mr Clutterbuck, giving Jack a hard look. “You’re all new to Stadium School, and you’re here because you’re talented, determined and very competitive on the football field. Don’t let that competitive spirit turn into unfriendliness or bullying off the pitch now, please.”
    The three friends waited until Jack had wandered over to the TV and switched it on.
    â€œI