Soccer Hero by Stephanie Peters Read Free Book Online

Joey in the charge, because it left a hole
     in the defense.
    The risk paid off, however. Joey dodgedthrough all but one defender and planted himself near the front of the goal. Then he turned toward Raul, who at the same time
     was lofting the ball high in the air.
    Rob held his breath. Was Raul's kick accurate?
    It was! Joey, the best header they had on the team, leaped. The ball met his forehead and ricocheted toward the net.
    The goalkeeper jumped, his arms outstretched.
    Clang
!
    Rob and the rest of the Pirates groaned.
    The ball had struck the crossbar.
    Then suddenly — “YES!”
    Dmitri was there fielding the rebound! The goalkeeper couldn't recover in time! The ball bounced off Dmitri's chest and, amazingly,
     dribbled into the goal just as the goalie made a desperate dive to try to keep it out.
    “Whoo-hoo!” Benji cried. “It worked!” He pumped his fist and jabbed the air with a single finger.
    Dmitri, Joey, and Raul hugged one another and then, still smiling, hurried back to their positions.
    “We're going to win this one, big time,” Benji predicted.
    That prediction came true. By the end of the game, the Pirates had chalked up four goals. The Hawks had put in only one. Coach
     Stan was bubbling with the excitement, saying over and over how pleased he was to be part of such a terrific team.
    “And to think, I only volunteered for this position to drum up business for my shop! Who knew being a coach could be so rewarding?”
    After the game, Rob found Coach Brennan. “It sure was good of you to come,” he said.
    “I hope to make a few more,” the coach said. “Oh, by the way, my wife wondered if you'd sign something for her?” He reached
     into a bag at his side and pulled out a clipping of Rob's newspaper article. “She wants to put it in her scrapbook. Do you
     mind?”
    “Heck, no,” Rob responded. He took the pen Coach Brennan offered and signed his name in a corner. “That okay?”
    “Just right.” The coach tucked the article away and then said, “So, what did you think of Ms. Enid Carmichael? She's something,
     isn't she?”
    “You know her?”
    The coach chuckled. “She's family. My wife's sister, actually. When Mrs. Brennan told her what you had done —”
    “Hold on!” Rob interrupted, his eyes wide. “You mean the reporter heard about me through your wife? It all makes sense now!”
    Then Rob started laughing and added, “Iguess I could have just called you to get her number instead of looking in the phone book.”
    “Her number? Why'd you need it?”
    Rob scanned the crowd and then pointed. “I thought she might like to have a follow-up story to the one she wrote about me!”
    The coach squinted. “Is that Enid? Who's that she talking to?”
    Rob grinned. “She's interviewing the real hero of the Pirates — Benji!”
    Coach Brennan gave a whistle. “I don't envy him. That woman can dig deeper than a treasure seeker after a golden statue!”
    “You don't have to tell me that, coach,” Rob said. “I've been there, remember?” He gazed at Benji and grinned again. “And
     if I have my way, I'll never be there again!”
    The coach tapped his chest and smiled, too. “Yeah, there's one thing I'd rather not do again either.” Then he gave Rob a gentle
     punch in the arm. “But if I ever do, I surehope you or someone like you will be there to help. And in case I haven't said it before, Rob…”
    Rob looked at the coach then.
    “… thank you for being a hero that day.”
    The two looked at each other for a long moment. Then Rob gave a half shrug.
    “You're welcome, sir,” he said simply.

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