The League by Thatcher Heldring Read Free Book Online

chess.”
    “Trust me, Aaron only knows two things, football and … actually, he only knows one thing.” I tilted my neck back and stared up at the sky. “Argh, I have to know what it is!”
    “Why do you care so much?” Evan asked.
    “I care because … why should Aaron get to play football this summer while I have to play golf? It’s not fair.”
    Evan narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. “Wait, you want to play football?” She said it like she hadn’t heard me right.
    “Don’t act so surprised,” I said. “I’ve played football before.”
    “Tell me one time you played football.”
    “Okay, maybe I can’t think of a time right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m never allowed to play. Isn’t there a first time for everything?”
    “You really want to play football?” Evan said again, the disbelief in her voice fading. “Like with pads and helmets?”
    “I haven’t thought that much about it,” I said. “I just want to try it.”
    Evan’s eyes sparkled. “Go, Wyatt! That’s so cool. You should definitely try it. I saw the sign-up sheet for the flag football league at the rec center. Did you ask your parents yet?”
    “They’re thinking it over,” I explained, reluctant to admit they had already said no. Not when I had finally found someone who was on my side. “My mom is afraid I might get hurt. I mean, I’m not the biggest guy in the world.”
    “So what? There was this girl on my lacrosse team last year who was short, but she was a total star because nobody could check her.”
    “Why not?”
    “She was too quick.”
    “You really think I could play football?”
    “Yes, I do,” Evan said. “I bet you could even be on the freshman team next year.”
    “No way.”
    “Way. All you need is practice.” Evan poked me in the ribs. “And a few meals. Oh, and you have to let me watch a game.” She shook her head. “I never thought I would get to see Wyatt Parker playing football,” she added, hopping off the swing. “Gotta run.”
    I slapped her hand as she passed by. “Toodle-oo, kangaroo.”
    “Keep it real, harbor seal.”
    Not long after Evan left, the screen door flew open and Aaron appeared on the porch. “Are you any good at geometry?” he asked.
    “Geometry?”
    “Yeah, geometry. You know, like shapes. I have to do all these calculations and I think my teacher might have explained it all on a day I was out. So, can you help me?”
    “Fine,” I said. I stood halfway up, then sat backdown. “Hold on. If you want my help, you need to tell me where you’re playing football this summer.”
    Aaron’s face went tense. He closed the door behind him and made a slashing motion across his throat. “What are you doing?” he hissed. “I told you not to say anything about that.”
    “Do you want my help or not?”
    Aaron rolled his eyes upward and bit down on his lip. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll tell you …”
    I pumped my fist. “Yes!”
    “… after you help me.”
    “Deal,” I said, jumping to my feet.
    It took me about an hour to teach Aaron how to calculate the angle of a triangle using the lengths of the sides. I could have taught him to do it the other way around too, but I was afraid his brain would overheat.
    “Thanks,” he said, closing his book. “You really saved me.”
    “Yeah, yeah. Talk to me about football.”
    Aaron was about to answer when there was a knock on the door. “What?” he barked.
    “Mom wants you to take out the garbage,” said Kate, sticking her head into Aaron’s room.
    “Got it.”
    Kate didn’t move.
    “Why are you still here?” Aaron asked.
    A smile crept across Kate’s face. “What were you guys talking about? Will you tell me?”
    “It was nothing,” I said. “I was just helping him with his math.”
    Kate didn’t buy it. “I can keep a secret,” she promised. “Please tell me.”
    “Man!” Aaron cried. “Why does everyone in this house have to know everything?”
    Kate stepped farther