Football Double Threat by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online

flea-flicker alone could start with a Jeff-Lars-Jeff or Jeff-Rasheed-Jeff combo. After that, the pass could go to either Rocky or Isaac — or even their tight end, Rocky realized, when Jeff chose to fire the ball to him after seeing that both Rocky and Isaac were covered.
    Yes, Rocky was sure the trick plays would help them to victory over the Rangers. Of course, they hadn’t been tested in a real game situation yet. That would happen on Saturday morning.

14
    R ocky was beat after Wednesday’s practice. All he wanted to do was head home, have a shower and some dinner, get his homework done, and go to bed. But when he came in the door, the phone was ringing. He hurried to answer it.
    “Rocky, glad I caught you!” It was Bobby. “You’re off the hook for helping me with student council.”
    Rocky sank down in a chair in relief. “That’s gre —”
    “Off the hook for thinking up a slogan, I mean,” Bobby interrupted. “I already thought of one. Listen to this.”
    He cleared his throat and in a politician-type voice said, “
Vote for Bobby Richards. He may have only one good leg, but he’ll stand firm and fight for what you want!
What do you think?” he added in his normal voice.
    “Um, it’s fine, I guess.”
    “Glad you like it because I’ve already printed it up on a stack of handbills. I need you to help me put them up in the hallways after school tomorrow, okay?”
    Rocky closed his eyes. “Yeah, okay. But Bobby, I cannot be late for practice again. No matter what, I am leaving by two forty-five! Got it?”
    “No sweat. I only have a hundred papers, it shouldn’t take that long. By the way, how are the candy sales going?”
    Rocky almost groaned aloud. He’d totally forgotten about the football fund-raiser! There was only a little more than two weeks remaining; if he didn’t sell those chocolate bars soon, he’d wind up paying for them all himself. And with all he had to do these days, how was he supposed to earn thirty dollars?
    “I’ll get to it, Bobby, I promise,” he said.
    “Great. Because now that I’ve got this whole campaign thing, there’s no way I could do that too. See you tomorrow, Rocky!”
    Rocky called his grandparents right after he hung up and told them of his plight. They promised to buy some of the bars and to ask their friends to buy some too. They lived in the local retirement community, so Rocky arranged to come over later to deliver the candy. Then he went downstairs for dinner.
    It was eight thirty before Rocky returned home from his grandparents’ place. He’d sold eleven bars, but it had been slow going; everyone who bought the chocolate, including his grandparents, had a story to tell about when they were in school, or when they played football, or when they had to raise money for something. He’d listened as politely as possible but had been very happy to leave.
    As he carried the remaining thirty-seven chocolate bars to his room, he tried not to think about the fact that, if he hadn’t agreed to sell Bobby’s candy as well as his own, he’d almost be done with the fund-raiser now. Instead, he turned his attention to his homework.
    By nine o’clock, he’d finished his spelling and arithmetic. He opened his science textbook to the assigned chapter on geology. As he read, his eyelids grew heavy. His chin slowly sank to his chest. He jerked awake and shook his head to clear it.
    But it was no use. He was so tired the words seemed to be swimming on the page. He closed the book and crawled into bed, telling himself he’d get up early and read before school. Then he clicked off his light, rolled onto his side, and fell fast asleep.
    The alarm clock jangled before dawn the next morning. Rocky slammed his fist on the button to shut off the noise. Then he burrowed under the covers and fell back asleep. The next sound he heard was his mother’s voice calling frantically for him to get up so he wouldn’t be late for school.
    So much for reading!
he thought as he