Read Online Just for Kicks by Robert Rayner - Free Book Online Page A

like us kids.
    â€œWho’s going to win today, Bri?” he asked as we prepared to move on.
    â€œWe are,” said Brian.
    â€œWho’s going to win today?” Mr. Price repeated, louder, punching him lightly on the shoulder.
    â€œWe are,” said Brian, rushing at his dad.
    â€œWho’s going to win today?” Mr. Price said louder still, holding up his hands, palms open.
    Brian punched at them like a boxer. “We are! We are! We are!” he shouted.
    Mr. Price lowered his hands. “Right,” he said.
    Our team bus was parked on the north side of the Fleet Auto yard. Although it was newly painted — bright orange, like our soccer shirts — you could tell it was an old school bus. THE BRUNSWICK VALLEY MECHANICS was painted on the side in big black letters, and under it, in smaller letters, Fleet Auto — Transporting Brunswick Valley’s Soccer Stars of the Future.
    The twins and Linh-Mai were at the door. Julie and Brian ran across and followed them onto the bus. I hurried over, Shay following. Julie was already inside. She waved through the window to Shay, pointing to the seat beside her. I climbed in and sat behind Julie.
    She looked around and said, “Where’s Shay?”
    â€œRight behind me,” I said.
    But he wasn’t. He was still outside, talking to Mr. Fleet, who was pointing to the bus. Shay was shaking his head. Julie tapped on the window and waved at Shay to get on board.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I asked.
    â€œShay wants to walk to Pleasant Harbour over the Mountain Road,” said Julie.
    â€œHow do you know?” said Brian.
    â€œI know Shay,” said Julie, smiling. She added, “But he should come on the bus. It’s our team bus, after all.”
    Mr. Fleet climbed aboard and said to the driver, “Let’s go.”
    I looked out of the window. Shay was standing beside the bus. I wished he would do the easy thing and join us on the bus. That’s what I would have done, but I knew Shay wouldn’t.
    I stood and hurried between the seats.
    Mr. Fleet said, “Now what?” as I passed him.
    I jumped off. The door closed behind me. Brian and Julie watched us as the bus pulled away. Julie, biting her lip, wiggled her fingers in a little wave at us. I watched the bus disappear in the direction of Pleasant Harbour.
    â€œWhat are we going to do now?” I asked.
    â€œWe’re going to walk to Pleasant Harbour to play soccer.”
    We hurried down Portage Street. When we reached the start of the Mountain Road, I said, “Let me catch my breath.”
    We rested a few minutes, then Shay led the way, walking slowly, past the lake and over First Hill. We stopped at the old farm and sat on the crumbling wall so I could rest again. We hadn’t spoken since we started on the Mountain Road.
    I closed my eyes and breathed in the smell of meadow grass and woods. The only sounds were the friendly chattering of the chickadees, the raucous clamour of a few crows in the trees across the meadow, and the breeze rustling the leaves. I opened my eyes and gazed around at the familiar scene, the scrubby meadow, the remains of the farmhouse, the woods — mostly spruce and fir in the ravine, with a few scattered pine and tamarack, and a stand of birch where the trail wound up the slope of Second Hill.
    â€œI’m glad we came over the Mountain Road,” I said. “It’s one of the things I like about playing soccer.”
    Shay, gazing across the meadow, said, “Do you remember Coach Fleet asking us why we played soccer — and you said, ‘For fun’?”
    I nodded. “I said we played just for kicks. Funny — eh? Soccer — just for kicks?”
    â€œIs that why you play soccer — just for fun?” Shay persisted.
    â€œI’m mad at Meredith for making me miss the penalty kick, and at the parents for laughing, and that makes me want to beat Pleasant Harbour