Read Online Roller Hockey Radicals by Matt Christopher - Free Book Online

asked.
    Everyone shook their heads. “That’s the whole trouble with this town,” Nick said disgustedly. “They never do anything cool
     for kids.”
    “What about the May Fair?” Marty asked. “And the soccer league and the town pool? They do stuff. They just hate it when kids
     skate, that’s all.”
    “It’s discrimination!” Lainie shouted. “I say we talk to the mayor!”
    “And tell him what?” Trevor asked. “That we demand a skating rink? Yeah, he’ll really buy that because we said so.”
    “Wait a minute,” Kirby said. “The mayor should at least hear our side. Maybe we can convince him we’re right.”
    “Yeah, right,” Trevor said skeptically.
    “Hey, it’s worth a try,” Marty said. “Nobody’s got any other ideas, and it’s better than doing nothing.”
    “So what are our arguments?” Kirby asked.
    “Well, that we need a rink, and the parking lot’s perfect for it…,” Lainie began.
    “But he’ll say the pavement’s too messed up and that it’s dangerous for kids.” Marty held up his wounded arm to prove his
     point. “He’ll say we’d need insurance or something.”
    “So the lot would need to be paved,” Kirby reasoned.
    “Right. Which would cost like a zillion dollars,” Nick said, sighing. “And then you’d still have to get insurance. That costs
     money too.”
    “Well, maybe we could get the town to pay for it,” Kirby said.
    Trevor shook his head. “The mayor’s not going to listen when a bunch of kids come in to see him. It’ll be like, ’Oh, that’s
     nice, children. Go and play now. But not in the parking lot.’ “
    “Well, then, how about we make a petition?” Jamal said.
    “What’s a petition?” Nick asked.
    “Nick, everyone knows what a petition is!” Trevor said, rolling his eyes. “It’s when you get people’s signatures in favor
     of whatever, and hand it in.”
    “So, like, we get a hundred signatures, and then we give it to the mayor?” Nick asked, beginning to smile.
    “A hundred? Try a thousand!” Lainie said excitedly. “Come on, gang, let’s go back to my house and write up our statement!
     We’re not stopping until we get our rink!”

9
    We, the people of Valemont, hereby demand that the parking lot of the former cardboard box factory be repaved immediately
     and that the citizens of Valemont have free use of the lot for adult-supervised activities, such as roller hockey, until such
     time as the property is sold.
    The petition was ready for signing. Mr. Bledsoe had gone over it and approved it. He’d made copies of it for all the members
     of the team. They were just about to go back out into the street to start getting signatures, when Kirby suddenly realized
     something.
    “You know what, guys — we’re forgetting some people here.”
    “Who?” Nick asked. But Marty and Lainie were already nodding in agreement.
    “The Bates Avenue Bad Boys,” Marty said. “You’re right, Kirby. We may hate their guts, but we need their help for this. We’ve
     got to get them involved in the petition drive if we’re going to get a thousand signatures.”
    “Well, I’m not going over there,” Jamal said, crossing his arms.
    “Me neither,” Nick said. “Those guys will just beat us up.”
    “Fine, we’ll go without you,” Lainie said. “But they’re going to want the lot paved and opened, too.”
    “I can’t go right now,” Trevor said. “My cousins are over for Sunday dinner.”
    “And I’ve got to stay off my skates for now,” Marty said.
    “Well, I guess it’s just me and Kirby,” Lainie said. “No problem.”
    “Don’t do it, Lainie!” Jamal protested. “Those guys will eat you two for lunch.”
    “I’m not afraid of them, and neither is Kirby,” Lainie responded. “Are you, Kirby?”
    “Nope,” Kirby lied. He was terrified, but he wasn’t going to say so.
    “You’re sure?” Marty said. “Maybe I’ll walk over and meet you there.”
    “You wouldn’t be much good in a fight,”