Tough to Tackle by Matt Christopher

Author:Matt Christopher [CHRISTOPHER, MATTHEW F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780316094542
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-12-19T05:00:00+00:00

9

The Starbirds accepted the penalty. Naturally. The ref spotted the ball half the distance to the goal line. Since it was originally on the eleven, this put the ball on the five-and-a-half-yard line.

In a quick huddle Bud said, “Blitz ’em again! Just watch it this time, will you, Boots?”

Boots nodded.

The blitz didn’t work. Jerry handed off to Charlie Haring, who broke around left end for the Starbirds’ fourth touchdown. They failed to score the point after, but they didn’t need it.

The Apollos carried the kickoff to their own thirty-nine and moved the pigskin like a machine across midfield to the Starbirds’ nineteen. Bud unleashed a long bomb that sailed in a beautiful arc directly into Pete Ellis’s waiting hands, and the little end went over for a touchdown.

Leo’s kick was good. But there were only two minutes left to play and they weren’t enough. The Starbirds won, 27 to 14.

“Well, Boots, old boy,” said Duck as they started off the field. “I guess you’re not so hot on the football field, are you?” He was carrying his helmet under his right arm. His hair was like a wet, matted rug.

Boots yanked off his helmet and brushed back his sweat-drenched hair. “I never said I was.”

Duck chuckled. “No, but you wish you could be.”

The remark stung and Boots glared at Duck. “Thanks a lot.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“That’s okay.”

They walked along in silence for a while, Boots mulling over Duck’s remark: No, but you wish you could be. He might as well have said that I want to show off, thought Boots.

He had heard Dad talk about “grandstand players,” athletes who try to impress the crowd. Is that what Duck thought he’d like to do? If so, a lot of the other players on the team probably did, too.

Just because he preferred to play quarterback rather than any other position. Just because playing quarter-back would put him in the middle of plays all the time.

He was no show-off, no matter what Duck or anybody else said. If he seemed to appear that way, he didn’t mean it. Thinking back, he realized that he must have seemed to appear that way quite a lot.

“See you later,” said Duck, and ran across the street in the direction of his home.

“Yeah,” said Boots. He saw several people standing on the next corner. Mom, Dad, Gail, and the Davises, Bud’s parents, were waiting for him.

“Tough game to lose, wasn’t it?” said Dad as Boots reached them and they started to walk homeward.

“Yes,” said Boots glumly.

Mr. Davis smiled. He was tall, even taller than Dad, with prematurely white hair.

“You played a good game, Boots,” Mrs. Davis said excitedly. “I think you boys would’ve won if the game had lasted a little longer.”

Mr. Davis chuckled. “That’s the way it usually is for the loser, isn’t it, Boots?”

Boots forced a grin. “I guess so,” he said.

“Do you like playing tackle?” asked Mr. Davis.

Boots shrugged. “I’m not crazy about it,” he replied honestly.

“Pretty tough, isn’t it?”

“Yes. But I suppose they’re all tough.

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