I hit the gas, as does every other Shark and Bull Ant player on the field – me thinking this could be the greatest mass collision in the history of the Seaport Junior Sharks Football Club. But we have to score, and if all of us get injured then that’s the price we have to pay. And with one second left … there are too many kids in the square, no one can kick the ball, and the siren goes.
HONNNNNK …
It’s a muddy draw!
And that spells curtains for the Sharks.
Chapter Fifteen
President Percy walks over. He holds up a big hand.
‘On the one hand,’ he says, ‘you Sharks didn’t win.’ He holds up his other hand. ‘But on the other hand, you didn’t lose. So on the other hand –’
‘You can’t go back to the other hand,’ says Mozzie. ‘You’d have to have three hands.’
‘Shhh, Mozzie,’ says Mitch. ‘Listen to the President.’
‘On the other hand,’ says the President. ‘Before I was rudely interrupted.’
‘That’s four.’ Mozzie shakes his head. ‘It can’t be done.’
The President waits for Moz to shut up.
‘Forget the hands.’ Percy Peacock nods. ‘All I will say is that you Sharks did the club proud today and over the last three weeks. You rose to every challenge and you showed us what team spirit is all about. You can keep playing. You can play on. Well done every one of you.’
Mitch steps forward. He’s smiling. We’re all smiling. We can’t stop smiling. We look like a plateful of Smiley Face biscuits. The mighty Sharks are not an extinct species after all!
‘And now,’ Mitch says, ‘to celebrate, Eddie will sing the new Sharks song that he wrote especially for the team in its time of deepest trouble.’
Me? Sing in public? I don’t think so.
‘Can’t, Mitch,’ I say. ‘I’ve forgotten the words.’
Mitch gives me a little shove. ‘Just do your best, Eddie.’
So in the middle of Shark Park, in front of absolutely everyone, I simply shout –
‘Long live the Seaport Smiley Biscuit Junior Sharks!’
And to my amazement everyone, including the Bull Ant players, their supporters, and the umpire, cheers. It definitely looks like it’s a done deal. We are here to stay and here to play.
Go, Sharks, go!
From David Metzenthen
I wrote this story because I’d heard about an adult coach of a junior seaside football team asking one of his young players for advice. In Save Our Sharks! I wanted to show that anyone, including players, coaches, parents and umpires, can have problems on and off the field. And how, if everyone helps, solutions can be found, and everyone gets to play another day. Go Sharks!
From Craig Smith
Childhood memories helped me to illustrate this story. By the time I’d finished high school, I’d played 216 games of football (or thereabouts) and loved every single one of them.
My favourite coach, Mick Hughes, didn’t mind if I read during his pre-match talks. He agreed that I’d learn more from reading than I would from whatever he had to say. His instructions, most weeks, were variations on ‘Kick it down the guts’.
It’s good to win every now and then, but I remember those games mainly as a time of having fun.
Marty has a secret and amazing talent …
Why has Happy Harry stopped laying eggs?
What must Jack do to find McHool’s stash of gold?
It’s not easy being a Viking warrior. And it’s even harder when you don’t look like one!
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First published by Penguin Group (Australia), a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd, 2012
Text copyright © David Metzenthen, 2012
Illustrations copyright © Craig Smith, 2012
The moral right of the author and illustrator has been asserted.
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Text and cover design by Elissa Webb © Penguin Group (Australia)
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ISBN: 978-1-74253-492-3
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