CHAPTER 4

The day of the soccer try-outs came up really fast. Mr McDool was going to be the coach. He set up the goals at the far end of the grass.


You might remember the name I made up for him …

We were all lined up, ready to show Mr McDool how well we could kick the ball into the net.

Henry was first.

‘You’re up!’ said Mr McDool.

Henry kicked the ball so high and so far that we all just stood there for ages, waiting for it to come back down again!

When it landed, it rolled right into the goal!

Bella kicked the ball so hard that it looked like it had been fired out of a cannon

and then it slammed into

the back of the net!

Toby Hogan was up next. His soccer shorts showed off even more of his bum than his school shorts. It was

very

distracting.

Surely he’s not going to be THAT good, I thought to myself.

‘Watch this, everyone,’ he said. ‘I’m going to kick this into the top left corner of the net.’

Toby ran up to the ball

and

booted

it.

HA! I thought, as it slammed right into the tuckshop door!

But then it rebounded onto the bubbler …


bounced on a bin

flung off the fence

and shot into the top left corner of the net!

Just

like

he

said!

Wow! They were all so good!

Then it was MY turn!

I made sure my boots were tied up extra tight

then I ran to the ball and kicked!

OH NO! It took off diagonally and headed straight for James Nott!


‘Sorry!’ I called out.

‘That’s okay,’ said James, ‘it knocked a

really

sticky booger

off my finger!’

Mr McDool collected the ball and dropped it at my feet. ‘Just try again, Weir,’ he said.

‘Okay,’ I said.

OH NO! This time the ball was bounding straight for a pair of squirrels!

Bella patted me on the shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, Weir,’ she said. ‘Just give it one more go.’

‘Okay,’ I said again, once more looking at the goals and lining up the ball. ‘Here goes …’

Uh-oh …

It flew straight up into a tree.


I REALLY wanted to make the team, but my kicking wasn’t going so well. Not well

at all!

I looked at the net again …

I know! I’ll try out for goalie!

I stood in the goal as Blake Green came running towards me, dribbling the ball. He looked like an angry bull that was about to trample me!

I ran on the spot, and bounced left and right, hoping I’d be able to stop the ball!

But how?!

Then suddenly, something flew in my face.

I swatted my hands around like crazy, trying to stop the attack … when all of a sudden I heard cheering!

Huh?

I couldn’t believe it!

I’d accidentally swatted the ball away …

I’d saved the goal!

Mr McDool came up to me and shook my hand.