Top Wing by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online Page B

than their determination, he knew. The rest of the team had to pitch in.
    A few seconds later, Dana got another chance to help out the Anchors with a score. A midfield snarl had produced a drop ball.
     Jack was on the spot for the Anchors.
    The ball squiggled over to Lance, who passed it on to Steve. The Anchors’ captain dribbled the ball toward the goal as best
     he could. A swarm of Grizzlies bore down on him from all sides.
    Steve glanced to his left, then to his right. Then hekicked the ball with the instep of his left foot in Dana’s direction.
    Running after it with all the speed he could muster, Dana got to the ball a split second before a hungry Grizzlies defenseman.
    Over on the far side of the field, Lance and Abe made a big show of calling for the pass from Dana. But the Anchors’ right
     wing booted the ball swiftly back to Steve.
    Steve trapped it with his left foot. For a moment, it looked like he would go for a goal kick even though the path was blocked.
     He drew back his foot — then surprised everyone by flicking the ball over to Dana.
    All alone and in the clear, Dana trapped the ball. He then quickly sent it flying toward the goal.
    It was a perfect shot.
    Goal!
    The score now read: Grizzlies 4, Anchors 2.
    “All right!” Dana shouted, waving his fist in the air. See, guys, the coach was right, he wanted to add. Teamwork pays off.
    “Nice work, Dana!” Steve called over to him.
    “Thanks, Steve,” he replied. “Thanks for the pass.”
    As play started up again, Dana caught Benton’s eye. There was no joy beaming in his direction from that corner of the field.
    There was no time to worry about Benton and his deep freeze act now. He would take care of that later.
    The Anchors seemed to be coming alive. That’s what mattered. Now if they could only hold off the Grizzlies — and keep that
     ball moving among themselves. It was their only hope. But everyone had to do his part. Everyone had to play one hundred percent
     for the team.
    As he ran upfield to get in position for a pass from the defense, Dana could see Benton lagging behind. At one point, he saw
     him lean over, hands on knees, panting for breath.
    No one else seemed to notice.
    “Benton, are you okay?” he called.
    But Benton straightened up, shot him a look, and rejoined the action.
    Two Grizzlies were passing the ball back and forth in the Anchors’ penalty area. Jack was ping-ponging back and forth between
     them when Pete worked his way in and stole the ball.
    Jack broke loose and trapped Pete’s pass. Hebooted the ball back downfield, toward the Grizzlies’ goal. It almost went out of bounds near the midfield stripe when Benton
     stopped it.
    He twisted around to start moving it toward the goal. But two Grizzlies were in his way, so instead, he booted it over to
     Abe. Then he rushed off toward the goal.
    Before Benton could get there, a coughing fit overtook him. Again, he doubled over hacking and wheezing.
    Abe searched frantically for someone in the clear.
    There was no one in front of him, but Dana was only ten feet to his right, all by himself.
    “Abe!” Dana shouted. “Over here!” Frantically, he waved and shouted.
    Abe ignored him. Instead, he tried to dribble the ball forward. He managed to squeeze by a few Grizzlies tacklers and gain
     a few more yards. He glanced in Dana’s direction, then toward the goal. Then, seconds before a Grizzlies fullback reached
     him, Abe gave the ball a hard, solid boot. It went zooming toward the goal.
    But it never made it. The Grizzlies defender blocked the ball right in front of the goal line.
    “Abe!” Dana yelled. “I was clear. Why didn’t you pass the ball?”
    “Didn’t see you,” Abe muttered.
    Dana stared at him. It’s like he’s taking Benton’s side, he thought angrily. I can’t believe Abe would turn against me just
     because he thinks I didn’t tell my parents about a wedding! But what else could it be?
    For a moment, Dana felt like quitting. What good