Atomic recess

Soccor boy

"Yeah, if we all go by the game plan." Vince said putting his arms around TJs and Spinelli's shoulders and turning them to face Dede and Paloma. "Now, here's how I see it. Teej, you and I will be the forwards. You feed me the ball, then I score. Dede and Paloma will be our defence, you always work well on that during gym class. Spinelli, you'll be the goalie. Nothing gets past you."

"Pray tell, Vincent, what would will my position be?" Mikey asked from behind Vince, putting his hand on Vinces shoulder.

"Uh, actually, Mikey, I have a feeling this tournament is going to be a big deal."

"Oh yes, the biggest of deals."

"And it would be really cool to win that primo foxfire trophy."

"Indeed."

"So I think maybe it would be best if you were, you know, our man on the sidelines."

"Huh?"

"Vince, what are you saying?" Asked TJ.

"Yeah, Mikey's our friend." Said Spinelli.

"It wouldn't be right to just leave him out of the team." Agreed Dede.

"Surely one of us could switch with him every other match, so he can have a chance to play." Said Paloma.

"Look, guys, this is a serious sporting event. you don't want him out there daydreaming about, you know, frolicking and junk." Vince said, defending his choice. "And it's only five people per team, I don't think they'd allow a sub in every other game, besides he could mess everything up."

"I hadn't thought of that." Said Spinelli.

"And if Lawson wins instead of us, we'll look like dummies."

"Oof, don't wanna look like no dummy." Said TJ.

"Yeah, especially in front of Lawson." Dede sighed.

"You're not going to let me be on the team, are you?" Mikey asked, walking back over to the five.

"Sure we are, Mikey. You can serve us rehydrating sports drinks. That's a big job. And, of course, the trophy will be part yours, too." Vince said, trying to cheer Mikey up.

"No, thank you. I don't care about trophies. I just wanted to have fun playing soccer with my friends." Mikey then walked away from the five.

"It's OK. he'll go and write a poem and feel better before we know it." Vince reassured the other four, before they got to practice.

"Wey, Mikey, want to help us build our sandcastle?  18th century Bavarian architecture. Your favourite." Said a third grader as Mikey sat down next to them in the sandbox.

"Thank you, but today my heart was set on play of a more athletic nature." Mikey declined, sighing, as behind him Lawson ran over to his team with another football in his hands.

"Hey, why are you guys kicking balls at me?" Gelman asked with his back to a wired fence as he kept dodging footballs that were being kicked at him.

"You're the goalie." Explained Lawson as they stopped kicking footballs at Gelman. "Come on. This is soccer."

"Soccer? Hey, I thought we was playing dodgeball. I'm out of here." Gelman walked off, leaving Lawson team one man short.

"Hey!  Gellman!" Lawson shouted, hoping to get Gelman back. "Oh, this is just great. Where are we going to get a goalie now?" Lawson dropped the football he was holding and kicked it out of frustration. The ball started to head towards the two third graders that Mikey was sitting next to, but Mikey saw it coming and quickly jumped over to stop the ball from hitting them. "What the..." Lawson then proceeded to kick another football over to the third's graders, making them scream  and Mikey once again stopped it.