“I’m no good with words,” said Stevie. “I do my best talking with my feet. Shall I show you what I mean?”
“Yes, please!” said Miss Hooper.
“I need a 50p coin,” said Stevie. “And a pair of trainers, size 8.”
“Here’s the coin,” Miss Hooper said. “But can’t you use your Rainbow Boots?”
“Rainbow Boots are great fun,” Stevie said. “But you can’t play football in them. The soles are much too thick and the laces are much too thin. I just need a pair of old trainers. Can anybody here lend me a pair?”
“Nadeem’s wearing trainers!” Lorna called. “And he’s got huge feet!”
“May I try them out, Nadeem?” Stevie asked.
“OK…” said Nadeem.
Stevie took a good long look at Nadeem’s trainers. Nadeem’s face went bright red. His trainers looked more scruffy than ever.
But Stevie grinned as he put them on. “They’re perfect!” he said.
He span the 50p coin in the air. It landed flat on his forehead, slid down his nose and dropped onto his knee. Then he flicked it from one trainer to the other.
It was the best game of Keepsie-Upsie they’d ever seen. The coin flipped up and down his body from head to toe.
Stevie finished the show by lobbing the 50p into the top pocket of his England blazer.
“Anybody can do it,” he said. “All you need is practice and a pair of trainers just like these. Shall I sign my name on them, Nadeem?”
Nadeem nodded.
He could hardly speak, he felt so proud.
Quickly, he sneaked a look behind him. Denzil was sitting on stage cross-legged to hide what he had on his feet.
Rainbow Boots had suddenly lost their coolness – even if they had been customised. By tomorrow, every kid in the school would be playing Keepsie-Upsie with a 50p coin and a pair of old trainers.
Nadeem smiled as he slipped his own trainers back on – the ones with Stevie Glossop’s name on them.
He felt a bit sorry for Denzil.
But only a bit.
