morning.
“The winning team gets a cup,” he told Charlie, “and the other guys gotta clap you off the field; and they have to wait for you to eat breakfast. It’s totally awesome. And last year I snagged the flag for the win and the guys carried me on their shoulders. It was a total riot.”
He had laughed about that for what seemed like forever. But he didn’t look too happy now as he came out of the bathroom and tossed his phone onto his bed. Hismood changed instantly when he saw Charlie’s friends. “I’m totally stoked for capture the flag,” he said to them. “Did I tell you I found the flag last year to win it?” he asked Charlie.
Charlie nodded.
“I did not know that,” Scott said. “Please, tell us all about it.”
The last thing Charlie wanted was another play-by-play of how Corey had nabbed the flag.
“We’ll be late if we don’t get going,” Charlie interjected. “I don’t need Jen busting me for a punctuality infringement again.”
“Those are big words, Charlie,” Nick said. “Have you been taking your smart pills?”
“You can get smart pills?” Scott exclaimed.
“You can,” Nick said, in a sad voice. “But unfortunately, you need to have a brain first or the pills don’t work.”
Scott’s shoulders sagged. “I should’ve gone to the Wizard of Oz for some brains when I had the chance.”
“Why didn’t you?” Nick asked.
“It’s a long story. There were these flying monkeys, and a tin guy, and a dog, and this nice girl with an awesome voice …”
They all headed to the front doors.
Corey tugged on Charlie’s shoulder to hang back. “Your friends are good guys, but they’re kinda weird, aren’t they?” Corey whispered to Charlie.
“You have no idea,” Charlie said.
It was still early and there was a chill in the air. Charlie was a touch cold and he bounced lightly on his toes to stay warm.
“Didn’t your mommy tell you to go to the washroom before you left the house?”
Jake exchanged a high-five with Zane.
“Good timing, dude,” Markus chimed.
Charlie stopped bouncing.
“What’s going to be your excuse for cheating at capture the flag — a weak bladder?” Jake continued.
The guys around Jake laughed loudly. Charlie rolled his eyes.
Jake kept going. “Heard about your lost equipment. Maybe you should tie a string from your bag to your finger so you don’t lose it again.”
Charlie bit his lip to help control his temper. Jake would love for him to say something. Then he’d diss him back and all the guys would laugh some more.
“You must be all happy and giggly ’cause you scored a goal in scrimmage yesterday. Mommy would be so very proud of her little Charlie-Warlie.”
Charlie caught Slogger’s eye. Then he noticed that Simon and Gabriel were watching him too. Nick and Scott were also staring at him intently, and Savard, Burnett, and Cameron were quietly looking on. Were they waiting for him to respond? He took a deep breath. All camp he’d ignored Jake as best he could, figuring he shouldn’t lower himself to his level. His instincts told him maybe he’d let things go too far without standing up for himself. He ignored the growing knot in his stomach.
“You’re not too chatty today, Charles,” Jake continued. “Run out of lame things to say?” Zane snickered behind him. Jake snapped his fingers. “I have an idea. Why don’t you regale us with the tale of how I pounded you out this season?” He turned to Zane. “Unfortunately, my good buddy got so scared after our tussle he didn’t play for a month. Ain’t that right, Char?”
The fight was a low point in the season for Charlie. He’d just been cross-checked by Jake and was totally out of it. After the fight, Jake had acted like he was the heavyweight champion of the world.
“Why don’t you tell the guys who won the championship this year,” Charlie said quietly.
He snorted. “Worst team in the league gets totally lucky, and you act like you won the
“The winning team gets a cup,” he told Charlie, “and the other guys gotta clap you off the field; and they have to wait for you to eat breakfast. It’s totally awesome. And last year I snagged the flag for the win and the guys carried me on their shoulders. It was a total riot.”
He had laughed about that for what seemed like forever. But he didn’t look too happy now as he came out of the bathroom and tossed his phone onto his bed. Hismood changed instantly when he saw Charlie’s friends. “I’m totally stoked for capture the flag,” he said to them. “Did I tell you I found the flag last year to win it?” he asked Charlie.
Charlie nodded.
“I did not know that,” Scott said. “Please, tell us all about it.”
The last thing Charlie wanted was another play-by-play of how Corey had nabbed the flag.
“We’ll be late if we don’t get going,” Charlie interjected. “I don’t need Jen busting me for a punctuality infringement again.”
“Those are big words, Charlie,” Nick said. “Have you been taking your smart pills?”
“You can get smart pills?” Scott exclaimed.
“You can,” Nick said, in a sad voice. “But unfortunately, you need to have a brain first or the pills don’t work.”
Scott’s shoulders sagged. “I should’ve gone to the Wizard of Oz for some brains when I had the chance.”
“Why didn’t you?” Nick asked.
“It’s a long story. There were these flying monkeys, and a tin guy, and a dog, and this nice girl with an awesome voice …”
They all headed to the front doors.
Corey tugged on Charlie’s shoulder to hang back. “Your friends are good guys, but they’re kinda weird, aren’t they?” Corey whispered to Charlie.
“You have no idea,” Charlie said.
It was still early and there was a chill in the air. Charlie was a touch cold and he bounced lightly on his toes to stay warm.
“Didn’t your mommy tell you to go to the washroom before you left the house?”
Jake exchanged a high-five with Zane.
“Good timing, dude,” Markus chimed.
Charlie stopped bouncing.
“What’s going to be your excuse for cheating at capture the flag — a weak bladder?” Jake continued.
The guys around Jake laughed loudly. Charlie rolled his eyes.
Jake kept going. “Heard about your lost equipment. Maybe you should tie a string from your bag to your finger so you don’t lose it again.”
Charlie bit his lip to help control his temper. Jake would love for him to say something. Then he’d diss him back and all the guys would laugh some more.
“You must be all happy and giggly ’cause you scored a goal in scrimmage yesterday. Mommy would be so very proud of her little Charlie-Warlie.”
Charlie caught Slogger’s eye. Then he noticed that Simon and Gabriel were watching him too. Nick and Scott were also staring at him intently, and Savard, Burnett, and Cameron were quietly looking on. Were they waiting for him to respond? He took a deep breath. All camp he’d ignored Jake as best he could, figuring he shouldn’t lower himself to his level. His instincts told him maybe he’d let things go too far without standing up for himself. He ignored the growing knot in his stomach.
“You’re not too chatty today, Charles,” Jake continued. “Run out of lame things to say?” Zane snickered behind him. Jake snapped his fingers. “I have an idea. Why don’t you regale us with the tale of how I pounded you out this season?” He turned to Zane. “Unfortunately, my good buddy got so scared after our tussle he didn’t play for a month. Ain’t that right, Char?”
The fight was a low point in the season for Charlie. He’d just been cross-checked by Jake and was totally out of it. After the fight, Jake had acted like he was the heavyweight champion of the world.
“Why don’t you tell the guys who won the championship this year,” Charlie said quietly.
He snorted. “Worst team in the league gets totally lucky, and you act like you won the
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