Making the Team by Scott Prince Read Free Book Online Page A

handball for. Justice, some other boys andI stood motionless, ears pointed towards his window. This is how it went:
    Mr Woolly: I’m glad you could make it, Mr Knutz.
    Mr Knutz: This better be good Woolly, I’ve got five cars to fit tyres on. And you’re chewin’ into my smoko time.
    Mr Woolly: About two weeks ago, Jared went on a school excursion to the Brisbane Broncos training day.
    Mr Knutz: I know. He nicked a ball from there. It’s sitting next to our pool table, ha ha ha ha.
    Mr Woolly: It’s more serious than that. Jared was involved in a very serious incident of bullying. I’m afraid the police may have to be involved.
    Mr Knutz: What’s that boy done now?
    Mr Woolly: He has intentionally tripped a grade-six boy down the steps of the grandstand.
    Mr Knutz: Bulldust. Jared wouldn’t do that! Where’s your proof, Woolly?
    Mr Woolly: Right here, Mr Knutz. The Broncos have sent me a video of their security footage. Mr Knutz, the video does not lie. You will clearly see Jared sticking his foot out and tripping the other boy. Next, you can see thepoor boy somersaulting down the steps. Next you can see the same boy running away with blood on his face.
    Mr Knutz: Crikey! That boy of mine has really done it now! Did you say the cops have seen this?
    Mr Woolly: No, not yet. But before the Broncos send this to the police, they have requested to speak to you and Jared personally. I think they would rather settle the matter privately.
    Uh oh! Before we can find out what happens next, the playground duty teacher spots us, looking towards Mr Woolly’s window. Mrs Kellogg, the cranky old teacher from grade seven blows her whistle to get our attention. When we see her coming, we freeze. We look like a mob of garden gnomes.
    â€œAnd what might you boys be doing?” says Rice Bubble. Everyone calls her “Rice Bubble” ’cause of her last name. She has one hand on her hip and the other holding a green clipboard folder. We look at each other nervously. We’ve been caught eavesdropping. No one is saying anything. We wait for someone else to speak first. It seems like hours, but Justice is the first to reply.
    â€œUmm, we’re just researching for our project,” says Justice, shrugging his shoulders.
    â€œWhich project is that?” Rice Bubble growls. Justice already has an answer locked and loaded.
    â€œOur bird project. We’re listening for the call of the speckled bottomed, black-breasted booby bird,” explains Justice. “It’s closest relative is commonly known as the yellow belly, short-beaked nutcracker.”
    I want in on the action. I give my favourite line from the Crocodile Dundee movie. “No, Justice, it’s a Jabajaba Ardedah, which means, bird that walks like a man.” Justice has never seen Crocodile Dundee before, so he gives me a weird look, but it’s not half as bad as the look I get from Rice Bubble.
    She squints, looking at us even more suspiciously. It’s hard not to keep from laughing at the imaginary bird names.
    â€œWell you won’t hear any birds with your ears against that brick wall. I know what you stickybeaks are up to! Get down to the oval, all of you!” orders Rice Bubble.

Chapter 32
    Iron My Undies
    The Broncos are doing their weight sessions and it’s a seriously hot day. I am in the gym, training as Deadly D. My weights partner is Sam Thaiday.
    Coach Griffin has R ’n’ B music blaring from the gym’s speakers. The players’ muscles are shiny with sweat as they pump their weights up and down. You can hear them grunt with determination as they complete a set. The weights rattle noisily as they collide with the floor. Sammy spots me as I lift my last bench-press. The sweat stings as it drips into my eyes. I feel it trickle down my back and stop at the elastic of my maroon and yellow trainingshorts. With the whole team training, the gym is really damp and