Tough to Tackle Read Online Free PDF Page B

the TV room, watching a show. Gail, her bare feet cocked up on a hassock, was nibbling on a cracker and reading
     a book. He couldn’t understand how she could concentrate on reading with the TV blatting away.
    He remembered what Mrs. Davis said about Bud after the game today and thought about calling him up and asking him to come
     over and watch television with him. Bud had never been here. They weren’t such close friends that he could pick up the phone
     and say, “Hey, Bud, this is Boots. Come on over.”
    He dropped the thought.
    After school on Monday the Apollos had scrimmage practice. Boots played defense. He burst through the line like a small truck
     and tackled Leo, Jackie, Duck — whoever took the handoff from Bud. Twice he brokefrom blockers and hit Bud before he could make a play.
    Pete Ellis, coming from right end, took a handoff from Bud on an end-around play but never made it to the scrimmage line.
     Boots pulled him down for a five-yard loss.
    “Playing good ball, Boots!” cried Coach Dekay elatedly. “Why don’t you play like that in a game?”
    Boots pretended he didn’t hear. But the remark made him feel pretty good.

10
    D ear Tom,
    I had a lot of fun at football practice today. The coach put me on offense and defense and I busted through the line and tackled
     whoever carried the ball without any trouble. Mr. Dekay, the assistant coach, said that I played good and wondered why I don’t
     play like that in a game. I’ll see what I can do this Saturday against the Argonauts.
    Thanks for your letter, Tom. And for telling me not to give up. You sure made me see things about the tackle position I had
     not seen before.I was thinking about quitting, but I don’t think I will now. I think I’ll stick it out.
    I wish you were here now. Gail is okay, but I think it’s more fun to have a brother in the house. There are some things you
     can’t talk about with a sister. Like sports. She likes football, but she would rather talk about clothes. Or the latest book.
    Well, take care of yourself. Mom and Dad are fine. We all send you our love.
    Boots
    He took the letter downstairs and left it on the hutch.
    “You can read it if you want to,” he said. “I haven’t sealed it yet.”
    “We received a letter from Tom today,” said Mom. “Did you see it?”
    He frowned. “No.”
    “It’s on my desk,” she said. He got it and read it:
    Dear Mom, Dad, Gail, and Boots,
    I used to think I’d want to travel all over the world, but, believe me, once I get home I’m going to stay there. Of course,
     being here isn’t the kind of traveling I had in mind. We see a lot of sights. Some are interesting, some aren’t. I think you
     know what I mean. But there isn’t the freedom here I would want as a traveler. Well, we’re here on business. We’re not tourists.
    Don’t worry about my eating. We always have a lot of chow.
    In fact, don’t worry about me at all. I’m okay. I just miss you. Is it my fault that you’re the greatest family a guy could
     be blessed with?
    Write soon. All of you. And you, too, Boots. I’m anxious to hear about the Apollos.
    Love,
    Tom
    He refolded the letter. “You think he’s homesick, Mom?”
    She smiled and shrugged. “What boy inhis situation isn’t? I’m glad you answered his letter, son. Gail or I — one of us writes to him almost every week. He’d get
     a kick out of hearing more often from you, too.”
    “Yeah. I guess he would. Well —” He glanced from his mother to his dad sitting across the room, reading a paper. “I’ve got
     homework to do. Then I’m going to sack out. Good night.”
    “Good night, son.” They said it almost together.
    He finished his homework in half an hour and went to bed. Man, he was bushed. That scrimmage practice had taken more out of
     him than any had ever done before.
    His performance in the drills on Tuesday was almost as good as it was on Monday. Then it gradually changed. On Wednesday it
     wasn’t quite as good