Falling Star
Page 9
Mrs. Flood, smiling broadly, was hurrying from the school buildings with Coach Spear. She waved and called, “Coach Spear wants to talk to you.”
Edison looked at Mr. Field.
He said, “Go on.”
Coach Spear was holding a file. He opened it, leafed through some papers, and said, “We have a dossier on you. It’s very impressive.” With a glance at the faces of Edison’s friends peering from the van, he led Edison and Mrs. Flood further away, speaking quietly and earnestly. “We’d like to offer you a soccer scholarship to High Park Academy, starting as soon as you complete the transfer from Brunswick Valley.” He shook hands with Edison again. “We look forward to seeing you on the High Park team, which, on the evidence of your play here today, will surely lead to a place on both the provincial junior team and the national youth training squad. Congratulations!”
He nodded to Edison, shook hands with Mrs. Flood, and marched away.
Edison’s mother hugged him. “I’ll see Mr. Justason tomorrow and tell him you’re transferring to High Park. Then we’ll go shopping in Saint John and get your uniform and some new clothes. You’ll find that the students at High Park dress quite … er … differently from your friends at Brunswick Valley. And we’ll call your father tonight. He’ll be so proud. Then …”
Edison blurted out, “I don’t want to go to High Park.”
He couldn’t believe he had said it. When had he decided? Was it during the game? Or after it? His Brunswick Valley friends had surrounded him, the girls hugging him, the boys pummelling him, and Linh-Mai saying, “You were really great,” as she looked at him, then looked down quickly.
Mrs. Flood was looking at Edison as if he’d passed wind loudly. “But it’s what we planned for you — ever since you left Canterbury.”
“Sorry.”
She frowned. “You’re just nervous about the move. You’ll get over it.”
“I won’t change my mind.”
“You’ll feel differently in the morning. We’ll talk about it then.”
He felt torn in two. He wanted to please his mother, and he knew how proud she and his father would be if he played for High Park and attended school there. He could imagine his mother telling her friends at work about him. She would probably mention him on TV, in the bit at the end of the news when she chatted with the weather man. He was afraid she would be more than disappointed. She’d be hurt.
But he didn’t want to go to High Park any more. He still wanted to play soccer — serious soccer — at a high level, but he wanted to do it while playing for Brunswick Valley.
“You’re overtired,” Mrs. Flood went on. “There’s too much to think about, isn’t there?” She hugged him again and said, “Go on. That adorable van’s waiting for you.”
“Don’t you want me to come with you?”
“Of course I do — but you’d rather be with your friends, wouldn’t you?”
He grinned and nodded. He took a step toward the van. Mr. Field was standing by the door and Mr. Grease was already at the wheel. His teammates were watching.
He looked at his mother. Her eyes were shiny. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Call me when you’re ready to come home. Then we’ll talk some more.”
“Mom, I really don’t want to go to High Park.”
She patted his cheek gently. “We’ll see.”
When Edison climbed in the van, Steve burst out, “What did Coach Spear want?”
Edison took his usual seat between Steve and Linh-Mai. Shay and Julie hung over the back of the seat in front, while his teammates in the seats behind stood and leaned forward.
“He wants me to play for High Park. He offered me a soccer scholarship.”
Mr. Field whistled. “That’s worth several thousand dollars.”
“Think of all the famous players who started their careers at High Park,” said Shay.
“What else did he say?” Linh-Mai asked.
“He said I’d get in the provincial junior team and the national youth training squad.”
“You’d be one step away from playing for Canada,” said Julie.
“You’d be famous,” said Shay.
“We’d see you on TV,” said Toby.
Steve smiled ruefully. “I was looking forward to you and me getting lots of goals together.” He reached across Linh-Mai and shook Edison’s hand. “Congratulations, buddy. I’ll miss you.”
Linh-Mai said, “It was nice having you playing with us, even if it was for just a few games.”
“What do you mean?” said Edison.
“Well if you’re playing for High Park, you won’t be playing for Brunswick Valley.”
“Who said anything about playing for High Park?”
“You did — just now.”
“Coach Spear did,” Edison corrected her. “I didn’t.”
Linh-Mai smiled slowly. “Don’t tell me you turned him down.”
“I’m going to.”
“Your mother will go spare,” said Toby.
Edison nodded.
Steve grinned. “You’ve got nerve.”
Copyright © 2010 by Robert Rayner
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
James Lorimer and Company Ltd., Publishers acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council. We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. We acknowledge the assistance of the OMDC Book Fund, and initiative of Ontario Media Development Corporation.
Cataloguing data available from Library and Archives Canada.
James Lorimer & Company Ltd.,
Publishers
317 Adelaide Street West
Suite 1002
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1P9
www.lorimer.ca
About the author
ROBERT RAYNER is a former elementary school principal in St. George, New Brunswick. He worked as a journalist in Cambridge, England before turning to education. His books featuring the kids of Brunswick Valley include Walker’s Runners, nominated for the Ann Connor Brimer Award, Just for Kicks and Falling Star both Hackmatack Award nominees, and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice selections Suspended and Miss Little’s Losers.
website: personal.nbnet.nb.ca/raynernr/
Learn more!
Other books you’ll enjoy in the Sports Stories series
Basketball
o Fast Break by Michael Coldwell
Moving from Toronto to small-town Nova Scotia was rough, but when Jeff makes the school basketball team he thinks things are looking up.
o Camp All-Star by Michael Coldwell
In this insider’s view of a basketball camp, Jeff Lang encounters some unexpected challenges.
o Nothing but Net by Michael Coldwell
The Cape Breton Grizzly Bears prepare for an out-of-town basketball tournament they’re sure to lose.
o Slam Dunk by Steven Barwin and Gabriel David Tick
In this sequel to Roller Hockey Blues, Mason Ashbury’s basketball team adjusts to the arrival of some new players: girls.
o Courage on the Line by Cynthia Bates
After Amelie changes schools, she must confront difficult former teammates in an extramural match.
o Free Throw by Jacqueline Guest
Matthew Eagletail must adjust to a new school, a new team and a new father along with five pesky sisters.
o Triple Threat by Jacqueline Gu
est
Matthew’s cyber-pal Free Throw comes to visit, and together they face a bully on the court.
o Queen of the Court by Michele Martin Bossley
What happens when the school’s fashion queen winds up on the basketball court?
o Shooting Star by Cynthia Bates
Quyen is dealing with a troublesome teammate on her new basketball team, as well as trouble at home. Her parents seem haunted by something that happened in Vietnam.
o Home Court Advantage by Sandra Diersch
Debbie had given up hope of being adopted, until the Lowells came along. Things were looking up, until Debbie is accused of stealing from the team.
o Rebound by Adrienne Mercer
C.J.’s dream in life is to play on the national basketball team. But one day she wakes up in pain and can barely move her joints, much less be a star player.
o Out of Bounds by Sylvia Gunnery
Jay must switch schools after a house fire. He must either give up the basketball season or play alongside his rival at his new school.
o Personal Best by Sylvia Gunnery
Jay is struggling with his running skills at basketball camp but luckily for Jay, a new teammate and friend has figured out how to bring out how to bring out the best in people.
Figure Skating
o A Stroke of Luck by Kathryn Ellis
Strange accidents are stalking one of the skaters at the Millwood Arena.
o The Winning Edge by Michele Martin Bossley
Jennie wants more than anything to win a gruelling series of competitions, but is success worth losing her friends?
o Leap of Faith by Michele Martin Bossley
Amy wants to win at any cost, until an injury makes skating almost impossible. Will she go on?
o Ice Dreams by Beverly Scudamore
Twelve-year-old Maya is a talented figure skater, just as her mother was before she died four years ago. Despite pressure from her family to keep skating, Maya tries to pursue her passion for goaltending.
Gymnastics
o The Perfect Gymnast by Michele Martin Bossley
Abby’s new friend has all the confidence she needs, but she also has a serious problem that nobody but Abby seems to know about.
Riding
o A Way with Horses by Peter McPhee
A young Alberta rider, invited to study show jumping at a posh local riding school, uncovers a secret.
o Riding Scared by Marion Crook
A reluctant new rider struggles to overcome her fear of horses.
o Katie’s Midnight Ride by C. A. Forsyth
An ambitious barrel racer finds herself without a horse weeks before her biggest rodeo.
o Glory Ride by Tamara L. Williams
Chloe Anderson fights memories of a tragic fall for a place on the Ontario Young Riders Team.
o Cutting It Close by Marion Crook
In this novel about barrel racing, a young rider finds her horse is in trouble just as she’s about to compete in an important event.
o Shadow Ride by Tamara L. Williams
Bronwen has to choose between competing aggressively for herself or helping out a teammate.
Soccer
o Lizzie’s Soccer Showdown by John Danakas
When Lizzie asks why the boys and girls can’t play together, she finds herself the new captain of the soccer team.
o Alecia’s Challenge by Sandra Diersch
Thirteen-year-old Alecia has to cope with a new school, a new step-father, and friends who have suddenly discovered the opposite sex.
o Shut-Out! by Camilla Reghelini Rivers
David wants to play soccer more than anything, but will the new coach let him?
o Offside! by Sandra Diersch
Alecia has to confront a new girl who drives her teammates crazy.
o Heads Up! by Dawn Hunter and Karen Hunter
Do the Warriors really need a new, hot-shot player who skips practice?
o Off the Wall by Camilla Reghelini Rivers
Lizzie loves indoor soccer, and she’s thrilled when her little sister gets into the sport. But when their teams are pitted against each other, Lizzie can only warn her sister to watch out.
o Trapped! by Michele Martin Bossley
There’s a thief on Jane’s soccer team, and everyone thinks it’s her best friend, Ashley. Jane must find the true culprit to save both Ashley and the team’s morale.
o Miss Little’s Losers by Robert Rayner
The Brunswick Valley School soccer team haven’t won a game all season long. When their coach resigns, the only person who will coach them is Miss Little … their former kindergarten teacher!
o Corner Kick by Bill Swan
A fierce rivalry erupts between Michael Strike, captain of both the school soccer and chess teams, and Zahir, a talented newcomer from the Middle East.
o Just for Kicks by Robert Rayner
When their parents begin taking their games too seriously, it’s up to the soccer-mad gang from Brunswick Valley School to reclaim the spirit of their sport.
o Play On by Sandra Diersch
Alecia’s soccer team is preparing for the championship game but their game is suffering as the players get distracted by other interests. Can they renew their commitment to their sport in order to make it to the finals?
o Suspended by Robert Rayner
The Brunswick Valley soccer form their own unofficial team after falling foul to the Principal’s Code of Conduct. But will they be allowed to play in the championship game before they get discovered?
o Foul Play by Beverly Scudamore
Remy and Alison play on rival soccer teams. When Remy finds out Alison has a special plan to beat Remy’s team in the tournament, she becomes convinced that Alison will sabotage her team’s players
Swimming
o Breathing Not Required by Michele Martin Bossley
Gracie works so hard to be chosen for the solo at synchronized swimming that she almost loses her best friend in the process.
o Water Fight! by Michele Martin Bossley
Josie’s perfect sister is driving her crazy, but when she takes up swimming — Josie’s sport — it’s too much to take.
o Taking a Dive by Michele Martin Bossley
Josie holds the provincial record for the butterfly, but in this sequel to Water Fight! she can’t seem to match her own time and might not go on to the nationals.
o Great Lengths by Sandra Diersch
Fourteen-year-old Jessie decides to find out whether the rumours about a new swimmer at her Vancouver club are true.
o Pool Princess by Michele Martin Bossley
In this sequel to Breathing Not Required, Gracie must deal with a bully on the new synchro team in Calgary.
o Flip Turn by Monique Polak
When the family situation takes a grim turn, swimmer Victoria finds help — in and out of the pool — from the person she least expects.
o False Start by Sandra Diersch
Caitlynn makes a deal with her grandfather to join a swim team if he’ll stay and watch all of her practices. But after Grandpa has a stroke, Caitlynn doesn’t want to keep up her end of the deal.
Track and Field
o Mikayla’s Victory by Cynthia Bates
Mikayla must compete against her friend if she wants to represent her school at an important track event.
o Fast Finish by Bill Swan
Noah is fast, so fast he can outrun anyone he knows, even the two tough kids who wait for him every day after school.
o Walker’s Runners by Robert Rayner
Toby Morton hates gym. In fact, he doesn’t run for anything — except the classroom door. Then Mr. Walker arrives and persuades Toby to join t
he running team.
o Mud Run by Bill Swan
No one in the S.T. Lovey Cross-Country Club is running with the pack, until the new coach demonstrates the value of teamwork.
o Off Track by Bill Swan
Twelve-year-old Tyler is stuck in summer school and banned from watching TV and playing computer games. His only diversion is training for a triathlon race … except when it comes to the swimming requirement.
o Mud Happens by Bill Swan
Matt wants to change schools so he can be coached by the head of a team of elite runners. But is there such a thing as too much, too soon?