Off the Crossbar Read Free Page B

bunch of them play at that pickup game.” He pointed at the four boys at the other side of the room. “Those guys over there will definitely make the team. They’re probably the best grade nine players at the school, especially Jake. Our senior team should be really strong this year too. We’ve got this awesome guy, Karl Schneider — he’ll definitely be captain — so our senior team has a chance to win.” Pudge paused and looked out the window, and then added suddenly, “You looked good at the pickup game, so you should give it a shot.”
    Charlie had assumed Pudge was part of Jake’s gang, but now he wasn’t sure. He seemed genuine and friendly. Charlie wondered if he should try out for a team that would be dominated by those four guys. He knew bullies when he saw them, and he also knew that Jake had taken a dislike to him.
    “I’m going to think about it,” Charlie answered. “The thing is that we just moved to Terrence Falls, into a new house and all, and with school and everything I don’t think I’ll have much free time. Thanks for the info, though, all the same.”
    “What info?” a voice asked harshly.
    Charlie and Pudge turned in unison to see Jake sitting on his desk glaring at them indignantly. Pudge’s face became bright red, and when he tried to speak, nothing came out. Finally, he said nervously, “I was just filling him in on the tournament team, like how it’s organized, and Chelsea winning every year, and Karl Schneider. I don’t know if you remember, but Charlie played yesterday at the Ice Palace.”
    Jake smirked. “I can remember all the way back to yesterday, Pudge,” he said. “From what I saw, he shouldn’t waste his energy.” He looked over at Charlie. “Why don’t you try out for something else.”
    “We need a towel boy,” Thomas quipped. “Maybe he could do that.”
    Liam burst out laughing and added, “Or maybe he could fill the water bottles before practice, and serve us snacks afterwards to keep our energy up.”
    “I could use a skate tightener,” Jake said dryly.
    The rest of the class roared — Thomas, Liam and Matt the loudest. Charlie felt that familiar flush rise in his face. He hated when that happened. He knew he couldn’t flinch now, or he’d be a target for abuse for the rest of high school. He fought to keep his cool, turned towards them as nonchalantly as he could manage, and started tolaugh. It was not a loud laugh — it was more dismissive — and it sent the message that Charlie Joyce was the kind of guy who didn’t care in the least what anyone thought of him.
    That quieted the students down. Charlie gathered himself and said, “The coach said the team hasn’t been picked. Let’s talk after the tryouts — and by the way, I’m number eight.”
    Charlie’s response prompted a nervous tittering from the class. Jake and his friends seemed too surprised to say anything at first. They hadn’t expected Charlie to stand up to them.
    Jake was the first to speak. “It looks like the water boy’s a tough guy,” he fired back.
    “I think he has a death wish too,” Thomas added.
    “Hey guys, take it easy,” Pudge intervened, his face blushing furiously. “I mean, we’ll probably all be on the same team, and like I said, I was just telling him about the tournament.”
    “Shut up, Pudge,” Jake ordered. “When I need your opinion, I’ll send you an e-mail.”
    Pudge made his way back to his seat and sat down without a word.
    “As for you,” Jake said, pointing his finger at Charlie, “I’d advise you to watch your big mouth, or go back where you came from. The tournament team’s for hockey players, and you’re not qualified.”
    Matt called out, “You could always join the needlepoint club or the chess team. Maybe they have tournaments coming up.”
    “If it’s hockey players the coach wants, then why would
you
be trying out?” Charlie said.
    “He really does have a death wish, doesn’t he?” Jake said, turning to