Johnny Long Legs Read Online Free PDF

shoulders and gave him a hug. “I think I know why Johnny feels the way he does about Jim,” she said.
     “We both have seen boys like Jim in New York. I don't know this boy Jim. But if Johnny wants to help him I don't see anything
     wrong in that. Do you?” she asked her husband.
    “Not at all. Tell you what, son. Why don't you telephone Mr. Smith and ask him to give Jim another chance? He just might do
     it.”
    Johnny thought about the suggestion.
It's not that easy,
he wanted to say.
    “Can I wait till tomorrow?” he asked.
    “Sure,” said Dad, patting him on the shoulder. “Take time to think about it.”
    Johnny thought about it most of the next day. That evening he gathered all the courage he could and telephoned Mr. Smith.
    “Mr. Smith,” he began, “this is Johnny Reese. My brother and I were on the toboggan that spilled over after Jim Sain had…”
     He wet his lips. His heart was pounding. “…after he had scared those horses.”
    “Yes. I know who you are,” said Mr. Smith. “What do you want, Johnny?”
    “Well, I heard you took Jim off the team because of what he'd done. I just thought—well, when we lived in New York City I
     knew a lot of guys. Some of them were like Jim Sain. They did mean things but, really, the guys weren't bad. I mean they were
     unhappy because their mothers and fathers never looked after them. I hardly know Jim, but the way he comes to school and the
     way he acts… I don't know, Mr. Smith. I thinkhe's just unhappy and does things to… well… It's hard to explain, Mr. Smith.”
    “I think I know what you mean, Johnny,” said Mr. Smith.
    “Well, the reason I called is to ask if you'd give him another chance.” A lump rose in Johnny's throat.
    “I see,” said Mr. Smith. “Okay, Johnny. I appreciate your telling me this. I'll think about it and decide what to do. Okay?”
    “Okay. Thanks, Mr. Smith.”
    “You're very welcome, Johnny.”
    Johnny hung up. Sweat was rolling down his face.
    The White Cats played the Hornets in the Community Hall on Thursday. Johnny looked anxiously for Jim Sain as the Hornets trotted
     in from the locker room. There he was!
    “He's playing,” Toby said beside him.“Talking to Coach Smith did it, Johnny. I hope he knows it was you who helped put him back on the team.”
    Johnny didn't get in the game until the first quarter was half over. As before Coach Dates played him opposite Jim Sain. Jim
     was the first to put out his hand as Johnny came across the floor.
    “Johnny, thanks for talking to the coach,” he said.
    Johnny smiled. “Forget it.”
    Toby tossed the ball to Rick from out of bounds. Rick dribbled it a few steps and passed to Stitch. Stitch's guard almost
     took the ball from him. He stumbled backwards and rolled the ball across the floor to Johnny. Both Johnny and Jim Sain raced
     after it. They got it at the same time and struggled for its possession.
    Shreeek!
“Jump!” yelled the ref.
    Johnny and Jim faced each other. The ref stood before them.
    From the stands came a fan's yell. The voice of the man Johnny had heard too often already. “Don't let Leadfoot outjump you,
     Jim!”
    Up went the ball. And up went the boys, Johnny leaping as high as he could. But it wasn't high enough. Jim's fingers soared
     a couple of inches higher. It was close. Closer than ever before.

9
    A Hornet dribbled the ball cautiously across the center line then passed it to a teammate in the left corner. The player tried
     to take a shot but Toby leaped in front of him and forced him to toss the ball to another teammate.
    The ball passed from one Hornet to another. Then Jim had it, took a shot, and scored.
    Johnny shook his head disgustedly, turned, and ran upcourt. He had to keep Jim Sain from making baskets. At least keep him
     from making as many as he was accustomedto. It would be something if Jim was a star today and won the game for the Hornets.
I'd be the goat,
thought Johnny,
for I'm the one who pleaded with Coach Smith to