Dear Jamie Johnson,

You will probably never read this because you are one of the best players in the world.

My friend Dexter said that first goal you scored against Mallorca was one was so powerful it would have broken two sets of goal nets! And the overhead kick — that was insane!

Anyway, I don’t care whether you read this or never reply to me because I just wanted to write down how amazing you are at football. When I watch you play, it makes me so happy. Your skills are so wicked. You are my football hero. So, I wanted to know, who is your football hero?

Please write back even if it’s only in ten years’ time (after you have read all the other thousands of letters that you must get every day).

From your number one fan (I know everyone says that but I really mean it. I am your biggest fan).

Alex Riley (aged 13)

P.S. Do you think that they will ever make a film of your life? And if they do, who would you like to play you?

 

 

Jamie smiled. If he ever got down or depressed, reading a letter like this was all he needed to get him back on top form. And with Stonefish now able to help weed out the weird letters (one woman in Norwich had started sending him pictures of her cat) Jamie only got to see the nice ones. Like the letter from Alex.

Immediately, Jamie picked up a pen. It was his special yellow FIFA pen that they had sent to him all the way from Switzerland after he had played at the World Cup.

He made sure that he wrote in his neatest handwriting, as he had a feeling Alex would be showing this letter to all his mates, especially Dexter!

 

Dear Alex,

Thank you so much for your letter, which made me very happy.

It actually reminded me a bit of myself. I used to write letters all the time to the Hawkstone players and when I got a letter back from them it was a brilliant feeling, so I hope you like this letter from me…

To answer your question, my football hero is someone who you won’t have heard of, but that doesn’t stop him being a hero. It’s a man called Mike Johnson, who was my granddad. He was a brilliant footballer and would have been a top professional if he hadn’t got a really bad knee injury. He’s the one who introduced me to football and got me to love it. I often think about him when I play.

As for who would play me in a film of my life, that’s a great question! I think that

 

 

But before Jamie could write down his answer, he suddenly became aware that Stonefish was standing over him holding another letter in his hand.

“I think you need to look at this one, mate,” he said solemnly. It was the most serious Stonefish had ever looked in his life. “It came a few days ago.”

He slowly placed the letter down on the table in front of Jamie.

 

Jamie,

I don't know any other way to say this. I need your help.

I've got myself into some problems here in England. And it's not looking good. I owe some money to the wrong kind of people, and if I don't pay them back soon … well, it ain't gonna end pretty. Can you send me some money? Just a couple of thousand. I'll pay you back, I promise. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't desperate.

I know there's no reason for you to help me. I guess I'm just hoping that you might want to help out your old man.

Please, Jamie?

Your,

Dad

P.S. Here's my new number: 07212 456 982

 

“He’s lying,” said Jamie, angrily crunching up the letter and chucking it in the bin. “He’s not in trouble, he just can’t be bothered to work. Seen it a thousand times before.”

“How do you know that, bud?” asked Allie, attempting to rescue the letter from the bin. “Maybe he’s telling the truth. He sent this letter ten days ago, you know? Sometimes it’s good to sort this stuff out before it’s … too late.”

“He’s the one who’s too late,” stormed Jamie. “He left me and my mum with nothing but a load of debt that he ran up on credit cards. Trust me, Stonefish. The only time he’s ever been interested in me was when he wanted something. Leopards don’t change their spots.”