T.J. and the Hat-trick Read Online Free PDF Page B

Wood said. ‘I’ve coached a lot of teams and I’ve played in a lot of football matches. There’s nothing you can’t do if you work together. Just imagine how you’ll feel when you beat them!’
    TJ tried to imagine it, but he couldn’t. He remembered how the three kids in the park had played, rattling the ball around like a pinball machine. It was impossible to think Parkview could beat them. When they went outside at break time, TJ could see that the others agreed with him. They stood on the edge of the playground, looking at the pitch.
    ‘I can’t imagine anyone playing on that ever again,’ Tulsi said.
    ‘It’s just as well,’ agreed Rafi. ‘We’d never beat that lot in a million years.’
    ‘I don’t know why you’re saying that,’ Rob said.
    ‘What do
you
want?’ demanded Tulsi. ‘Why do you keep following us around?’
    ‘You’re just being mean to him because he told you you don’t run,’ Jamie said. ‘But he’s right about that. You can’t argue with the stats. What do you mean, Rob?’
    ‘Football is a simple game,’ Rob said. ‘With a coach as good as Mr Wood there’s no reason why you can’t beat them, as long as you do the simple things properly. You know – pass, control, move, shoot. And play like a team. Mr Wood goes on about it enough. But you don’t actually
know
if you’ll be good or not. Not yet. So you might as well try.’
    ‘Well, we still haven’t got a pitch,’ sniffed Tulsi.
    And when Mr Wood came back into the classroom after break, it looked as if Tulsi was right after all. Mr Burrows followed Mr Wood into the room.
    ‘Mr Wood has just been to see me,’ he said, ‘and I’ve come to give you the bad news myself. I’m afraid there’s not the slightest chance of getting the playing field mended. We simply don’t have the money. So we can’t go buying football kit either. I’m very sorry.’
    The door swung closed behind him. There was a long silence, then Mr Wood said, ‘I’m sorry too. I really thought . . . Yes, TJ, what is it?’
    ‘Mr Wood, couldn’t we fix the pitch ourselves? I could borrow some tools from home. We could come to school at the weekend. If we all worked all day, then maybe we could do it.’
    Nobody said anything for a moment and then, suddenly, everyone was talking at once.
    ‘My dad’s got a spade.’
    ‘I could bring my grandad’s garden roller.’
    ‘It can’t be that difficult.’
    ‘Stop!’ said Mr Wood, holding his hands in the air. ‘Some things would still cost money . We’d need turf to fill those holes and—’
    ‘My mum works in a garden centre,’ said a girl with red curly hair. ‘I could get her to ask if there’s any spare turf.’
    TJ looked around the classroom. Suddenly it wasn’t just the people who’d been playing football who were interested. It was everyone! All of them had ideas about how to help.
    ‘I bet we could mend the kit too,’ Cameron said. ‘My dad’s really good at putting patches on things.’
    Mr Wood laughed. ‘OK, then,’ he said.
    ‘You’ve persuaded me. But we’ll have to get Mr Burrows to agree. How about you and Jamie coming to see him with me, TJ?’
    When they entered the head teacher’s office at lunch time Mrs Logan was there too, and Miss Berry. ‘Well?’ said Mr Burrows. ‘What now?’
    ‘Perhaps TJ can explain,’ said Mr Wood.
    TJ’s hands were sweating, and his heart was pounding. He wasn’t sure why Mr Wood had chosen him, especially since Mrs Logan had been giving him filthy looks ever since he’d jumped over the garden wall. He took a deep breath and began.
    ‘We thought we could repair the football pitch ourselves,’ he said. ‘We’d all help. Everyone in Year Six. Maybe some of our mums and dads will help too. We thought we could do it on Saturday. Hayley’s mum works in a garden centre and she might be able to get some grass.’
    Mrs Logan gave a hollow laugh. ‘How many parents came to our last Open Day, Mr Burrows?’
    ‘Six,’