Eyes on the Goal by John Coy

Author:John Coy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: 2010-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

I wipe sweat from my face with my blue shirt. There’s not a cloud in the sky and the sun beats down. It must be in the high nineties. I’m glad Dad got me these new shirts.

Coach splits the Cosmos into two teams and Isaac’s playing forward on the other one while I’m stuck on defense.

The whistle blows and the opponents rush toward us. The ball’s kicked to the center and I stick my foot out to break up the pass. I control the ball and pass back to Brady, the goalie, who comes forward.

“Nice play,” he says.

I run downfield as we advance the ball. A steal on the other end results in a high kick. I position myself under it like I’m catching a pop fly in baseball. Instead of my hands, I bump the ball with my forehead like we worked on in skills practice this morning.

“That’s the way, Kennedy,” Coach calls. “Now you’re using your head.”

Isaac breaks free on a rush and I run over to cut him off. He reverses directions and I slide past. I hop up and chase after him. He passes the ball and sprints to the middle. I stay with him and stick my foot out to break up the pass coming back to him. He bumps into me and I fall to the ground. I look up, expecting a penalty call from Coach, but there’s nothing. I don’t understand what’s a penalty in this game and what isn’t.

I jump up and chase after the play. The ball skids wide and I race Isaac to it. We arrive at the same time and swing our legs to kick. I get all ball, but Isaac kicks my knee. I fall backward and grab it.

Again, no whistle.

I get up and take my position. I’m sure Isaac didn’t mean to kick me, but it hurts all the same.

I fall back on defense, and Isaac and Bowl Cut race toward me. Isaac passes and rushes to the center. Bowl Cut passes a ball that’s above my head. Without thinking, I raise my hand to stop it.

“HAND BALL! HAND BALL!” everybody shouts.

I kick the ground. My second hand ball in two days. I want to hide. I can’t help myself. Every sport I play, I use my hands. It’s impossible to keep them by my side.

Bowl Cut takes control on the free kick and blasts a goal. Brady looks over at me with disgust, and I bend over with my hands on my knees so I don’t have to look at any of my teammates.

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