The Mystery of the Soccer Snitch Read Online Free PDF Page A

they are true.”
    â€œYou should have seen how nice Kayla was at the practice yesterday!” Jessie said. “She passed the ball to other girls so they could score, too. She was friendly, and a team player.”
    â€œBut she generally isn’t a team player, right? Ordinarily, she does not show team spirit. Do you agree with that?”
    Jessie looked down into her lap. She understood why Mrs. Thompson was not happy with the coach, since it was clear he didn’t like Kayla, and didn’t think she should be mascot.
    â€œKayla is the best player on the team,” Jessie said. “By far. I think she can learn to be a team player, if someone helps her.”
    The coach smiled at her and said, “You are very supportive of your teammates. All of them. Mia said that’s why you were elected team captain.”
    Jessie felt confused, wondering why he was suddenly talking about her.
    â€œThank you,” she said.
    The downtown library was crowded after school. “I’ll bet everyone wants to be in here where it’s nice and cool,” Benny whispered to Henry.
    Henry agreed. All the comfortable reading chairs were taken. The carpet in the picture book room was also filled with children sprawled out, reading. Henry and Benny walked to the back of the library where the row of computers were lined up on a table against the back wall. A few kids were doing homework. Several of the computers were empty. Benny and Henry sat down and looked around.
    One of the librarians came to them and said, “Can I help you boys with anything?”
    â€œWe were curious about that letter the reporter found,” Henry said.
    â€œVery clever of that reporter,” said the librarian. “She came in and asked if the computers had automatic save functions. I said they did, and she said she wanted to look for something. She spent about twenty minutes looking through one homework assignment after another. Then she found the letter.”
    â€œI only see students using the computers,” Henry said. “And sometimes teachers.”
    â€œMostly students,” said the librarian. “But occasionally we get adults, too, who are not connected to the school.”
    â€œDo you need a library card to use the computers?” Benny asked.
    â€œNope, anyone can use them. We charge for printing, but anyone can print.”
    A boy sitting at a computer nearby raised his hand for help. The librarian excused herself and went to help him.
    Benny and Henry looked at each other.
    â€œThe letter was typed, so there are no clues in the handwriting,” Benny said.
    â€œAnd the postmark probably shows that it was mailed from the Greenfield post office. No clues there.”
    â€œI don’t think we learned anything helpful,” Benny said.
    â€œI don’t think so, either,” Henry said with a sigh.

CHAPTER 5
    Danielle Does Something Mean
    Wednesday was the hottest day yet. The air was so humid that simply walking across the street was enough to make a person feel groggy, hot, and tired. Some of the teams cancelled their practice, but the red team decided to practice anyway, even though it seemed to Jessie that the heat was making everyone feel a little cross.
    When Jessie and Henry approached the field, Mia called out, “I’m so glad you could come help, Henry!”
    The field was freshly mowed, so the air smelled of cut grass. Ordinarily the smell of cut grass was one of Jessie’s favorite smells because it reminded her of summer. But today, the smell seemed too heavy and sweet. She was so hot she felt wet all over.
    It was Jessie’s turn to be the goalie. She stood waiting in front of the goal while Danielle dribbled the ball toward her. Just when it looked as if Danielle would easily kick the ball into the goal, Kayla darted in front of her, as if from nowhere, and with a single kick, took the ball away from her. In a flash, Kayla was dribbling in the other