The Kick Off Read Free

irrelevant, Jamie. It’s gone. What you need to do is keep your mind positive and stick at it. If everyone got what they wanted just by clicking their fingers, nothing would be worth wanting, would it?”
    â€œWell, I don’t know. . .”
    â€œJamie, are you good enough to get into the A’s?”
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œYou think so?”
    â€œOK, yeah. I am good enough. I’m as good as any of them.”
    â€œRight, and you’ve got the whole of the holidays ahead of you now. So if you want to get in this team, then make it happen.”
    â€œHow do I do that, then?”
    â€œI suggest you go back to the beginning. Let’s go outside.”
    They went out to the small garden at the back of the house.
    â€œWait here for a sec,” said Mike, walking to the shed at the bottom of the garden. He moved slowly. He’d walked with a limp ever since the operations he’d had on his knee when he was younger.
    The shadows were starting to lengthen now. Jamie looked at how massive his was on the garden fence. He wondered how tall he would be when he grew up.
    When he came back, Mike was carrying something behind his back.
    â€œWhat’s this?” he said, presenting a football to Jamie.
    â€œDon’t you start,” Jamie snapped. “I had a bad game but I still know what a football is.”
    Jamie reached to grab the ball.
    But Mike held on tightly.
    â€œAh, but if you want to be a real player, JJ, this has to be more than a football. It has to be your friend. From what you’re telling me, it’s not your friend at the moment.”
    â€œWhat? My friend?” Jamie laughed. “How can a ball be my friend?”
    â€œHow do you make friends with anyone, Jamie? Spend some time together.”
    Mike handed the ball over.
    â€œAnd make sure you use both feet, JJ. That right foot’s not just for standing on!” he said, giving Jamie a wink as he went inside.
    Jamie stood there.
    All he had for company was a ball and a brick wall.
    It was all he needed.

 
    Â 
    Â 
    â€œJamie, where have you been?” demanded Karen Johnson, as soon as he got in.
    â€œNowhere – what’s the problem?”
    Jamie pushed his way past his mum to get a drink from the fridge. He didn’t need any hassle from her. She wouldn’t understand anyway. She didn’t know anything about football.
    â€œThe problem is, it’s nine o’clock and school finished at three and I haven’t heard a word from you – that’s the problem! I cook you dinner and you don’t even bother to turn up. Why didn’t you call me to tell me where you were?”
    Jamie looked at his watch. It was 8.50. He hadn’t even realized. He must have been kicking the ball against the wall for more than three hours. Not that he was in the mood to apologize for being late. Even now, he was still fuming about the match.
    â€œI’ve eaten,” he barked. “And why do you have to know where I am the whole time, anyway? I’m thirteen years old. I can do what I want.”
    â€œWho do you think you are?” his mum shouted back, tipping his cold dinner into the bin. “How dare you speak to me like that? The reason I bought you a phone is so that you can let me know where you are. If you aren’t going to do that, then I’ll take it—”
    â€œAll right! For God’s sake!” said Jamie. “If you must know, I had the worst day at school ever and then I went to see Mike. Satisfied now?”
    Jamie pounded up the stairs to his room. All he wanted was to be left alone and not to be bothered the whole time. Was that too much to ask?
    He flicked on the radio. It was nearly time for the sports bulletin and he wanted to see if there had been any big-money transfers. He loved transfers. He could remember exactly how much all the Hawks players had cost when they’d been bought and which club they had