Page 17 (1/2)

I could do without school on Monday I think about giving it a miss - wouldn’t be the first ti around the streets by myself If I’d ed for a few of theanize that now, so I decide to struggle through and maybe take to about the museum, the way I rescued the baby Suze and La Lips shiver when they aska tale of blood, treachery and heroisuys weren’t that big"

"Rubbish," Kray says "I saw the one you tackled outside the shop He ell over six foot That knee put hih"

Kray’s not the only one living in awe of ht knee I reckon soave theoes to my head a bit but my mood doesn’t lift No matter how et about Dad, the contempt in his expression, the way he hit Mum and me If ever there was a time to stand up to him and tell him I’ht all babies were equal Attacked hi so heartless, so inhu nothing As always

It’s alet to class I can escape froy first I’ and dance about what I did at the museum, but he’s not in today, must be sick Mrs Reed takes our class instead

The e fro anyone who tries to talk withlittle or no attention to the teachers

Ithe break and I’hted when Elephant draws their attention away fro soccer at lunch," he beaave me the all-clear Said it’ll probably hurt for a few days, and not to tackle too hard, but I’ve got the green light"

Elephant’s so excited, you’d swear he was about to play in a cup final, not in a poxy five-a-side tourna to score a hat trick and coer?" La Lips says, batting her eyelids innocently

We all laugh, even the normally jealous Copper

Elephant makes us promise to come and cheer him on I normally wouldn’t bother with footie at lunch, but to keep Elephant happy, I agree to watch him make a fool of himself

"Just don’t elbow anybody," Suze warns hio for you"

Elephant looks blank He must be the only person not to have heard about the incident on Friday Luckily, before I’s and it’s back to class

More pointless lessons, teachers droning on, trying to a up with nicknames for the few of my friends who don’t have any Then lunch

I head to the gyer Lee Weup Meths is on his tea tactics What a pair of clowns!

Stuttering Stan is the ref He blows his whistle and the teams take to the pitch Other kidsthe sides to watch or go find soaht in If anyone expected hiaoes into a tackle feetfirst and barges one of the other players over

Stuttering Stan blows for a free kick and gives Elephant a warning Elephant rubs his leg and looks worried As soon as Stuttering Stan’s back is turned, he winks at Meths I see nohat they were cooking up - play the wounded soldier angle, use Stuttering Stan’s syet aith as many dirty tackles as they can

"Go on, Elephant!" I roar as he chases the action "Do hioalie pulls off a save and launches the ball up the field to Elephant He turns, shoots and aloal of his life, but it flies just a few inches over

We’re having a great tiets next, if he can cap his co Stan will stand for before he brandishes a yellow card

Then Tyler Bayor spoils it all He colance at him suspiciously He’s never approached ure I e for someone

"What do you want?" I snap

Tyler grins shakily "I just wanted to say well done for the other day"

I stare at him incredulously The others are amazed too HeIt’slike we can be friends, like a coht between us Who the hell does he reckon he is, Nelson bloody Mandela?

"Do you think I give a damn what you think of ulps "No, B, of course not I just wanted to - "