Missing! by Bali Rai Read Free Book Online

around on Tuesday too, for anyone who wants to do extra. Hope youhad a good time and bring on the next game!’
    â€˜YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ we all shouted.
    My mum walked over to me and gave me a hug.
    â€˜Mum!’ I complained, trying to get away.
    â€˜Oh – don’t be like that, Jason! Give your mummy a hug . . .’she said.
    â€˜Yeah, Jason,’ Parvy said to me, with a huge grin. ‘Give Mummy a huggy-wuggy!’
    My face went red as Parvy, Lily, Chris and Abs started laughing at me. Dal didn’t laugh. Instead he gave me a shrug.
    â€˜Parents . . .’ he said, just as his dad walked over and complained about losing.
    â€˜That was all a set-up!’ Mr Singh said.
    Dad!’
    â€˜Well – it was!’ he continued. ‘There was no way I was shot three times . . . !’
    â€˜It’s only a game, Dad!’ Dal reminded him.
    â€˜Don’t care!’ replied Mr Singh like a spoiled little kid. ‘Your team cheated!’
    I grinned at Dal. ‘You reckon it’s easy to swap your parents for some less annoying?’ I asked.
    â€˜Hope so,’ joked Dal.
    â€˜Come on!’ said my mum. ‘Let’s go home.’

Saturday
    BY THE TIME I got to the match against Rockwell Rangers, everyone else had already arrived. My mum had made me late, waiting for a plumber to turn up and sort out our washing machine.
    â€˜I’m ever so sorry,’ she said to Wendy as we walked in.
    â€˜It’s no problem,’ Wendy replied. ‘Just let us know if possible.’ She turned to me. ‘Go and get changed, Jason,’ she told me. ‘Therest of the team are out there already, so be quick.’
    I nodded.
    â€˜Sorry, son,’ my mum said for about the hundredth time that morning.
    â€˜â€™S OK,’ I reassured her. ‘We had to get the machine fixed.’
    I ran into the boys’ changing room and got ready, just before the Rangers players turned up. I was pulling on my boots when they walked in. They were talking about a television crew they’d seen arrive in a TV-company van.
    â€˜Wonder why
they’re
here?’ asked one of the lads.
    â€˜Dunno,’ said his mate. ‘But they look like they’re going to film the game.’
    â€˜It’s because our team is different,’ I told them as I finished tying my laces.
    They both looked at me.
    â€˜Why?’ asked the first boy.
    â€˜Haven’t you heard?’ I replied with a smile.‘We’ve got girls playing for us and they’re brilliant!’
    I might as well have told them we had elephants playing for us – they both looked so shocked.
    â€˜You’re joking with us, aren’t you?’ asked the first one.
    I shook my head. ‘See you on the pitch,’ I said as I walked out past the rest of the Rangers team.
    â€˜They’ve got girls in their side!’ I heard one of the lads say to the rest.
    â€˜We’ll definitely beat them now!’ said another. ‘And we’ll be on the telly when we do it-brilliant!’
    â€˜You wish,’ I said under my breath.
    We may have had a bad start to the season but I had a funny feeling that things were about to get better. I don’t know why, but something inside me told me that we were going to beat Rockwell Rangers.
    Our squad was getting together for the team talk when I got outside. And Abs and Chris were arguing with each other.
    â€˜Potato head!’ Abs said to Chris.
    â€˜Doughnut!’ replied Chris.
    You’re the doughnut,’ answered Abs.
    â€˜And you kick the ball like a girl!’
    â€˜Abs!’ said Parvy, Gem, Lily and Emma at the same time.
    Sorry,’ he replied sheepishly. I meant rubbish girls – not you lot, honest.’
    â€˜Ahhh,’ said Chris. ‘Look at Abs and the Barbies . . . they love you!’
    â€˜No!’
    Yeah!’
    No!’
    Yeah!’
    â€˜Oh,