JOEY SMITH By Nick Obrien
Prologue Joey Smith is an average kid with wavy brownish, blond hair. He is 11 and has a great sense of humor. He is kind of fast and athletic, but not amazing. He was considered a regular person until this one day at his school in West Loonville. * * * One day Joey was was at a big school assembly chatting with his group of friends. The speaker was getting ready while Principal Terry Jones was telling us to be very quiet and droning on about the rest of the stupid rules that we had already memorized from the thousands of assemblies that we had already had. Then, he did the special clap that we had to respond back to. “Clap, clap, clap,” he clapped. “Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap,” we clapped back. “Ok everyone. Coach Crash is here to make an important
announcement about the new football team,” he announced. “Here is coach.” “We are starting up a new league with all the schools of Loonville soon. If you want to be on it then go to the tryout tomorrow night,”announced Coach. * * * As we all rushed out of the school we were talking about the football tryout. “I wonder if Randy is going to try for the team?” asked Jack. “No, I doubt it,” everyone said, laughing sarcastically. You see Randy is easily the biggest and strongest kid in the grade and the best at football as well. Then Randy came over to our group of friends and said, “Hey Smith I’m am going to pound your face into a pancake tomorrow night!” “Let me see you try, Randy!” I replied. “OK see you then,” he retorted. As we both broke away from the group, he tripped me. I ran away. As I am sprinting away, I get really mad
*
*
*
When I got home it was very quiet, just the way I like it. There was nothing between me and the TV and some yummy pringles. “Ahh,” I said as the chair swallowed me up into the comfy cushions. Then my mom came home. “Hi honey!” she said. “Hi Mom,” I replied. “Do you think I can play on the school football team?” “I don't know. I will have to talk to Dad about it. All of the driving might be challenging.” “OK.” “So how did school go?” “It was fine,” I responded. “Did anything fun happen other than the football team thing?” Mom asked. “We played a fun game in gym class which was kind of a makeshift dodgeball game.” I answered. “Oh well that sounds like fun,” she responded back. Then Dad came home. “Dad can I play on the school football team?” “Fine by me.” he answered. “Ok, so I guess you can play on the team Joey” Mom said. “YES!!! Thanks so much! I can't wait to go to the try out for the team!” I scream as I jump up and down. I cannot wait to play. * * * It was the night of the tryout. The coach was just about to make the announcement that tryouts were about to begin. The pressure was at extreme levels. “Ok boys I want to see the best football that you can play!” the Coach barked. “Yeah!” we all cheered. “The first tryout is receiving,” Coach yelled. “Great,” Joey thought. “I am good at receiving.” Bill barked a play and we all set up for it. “Hike!” he yelled. I went
long just like Bill told me. “Yes!” I make an excellent grab for a touchdown. Suddenly, Randy crashes into me and takes me to the ground. Coach marked something on his clipboard about Randy not handling defeat well. Then the next group went. We do a few more drills, and I do average except in the blocking position. There I did amazing. I made blocks all over the place. Then it was over. As I was checking my email that night, I noticed an email from a unfamiliar person. The subject was titled “Football Tryout,” and then my heart just about stopped. I knew the stakes, if I makes it, the glory is all mine. If not, I am going to be made fun of for the rest of the year by Randy and the rest of the team. I am excited and scared at the same time. Very slowly I move the
mouse to the email and... “YES!” I shriek as I see my name as starting wide receiver. “MOM,
MOM!!! I made it, I made it!!! I’m going to be the starting wide receiver for the football team!!!” “Oh great honey!” she exclaims! “Good job, when is the first game?” “It is on the 31st.” I answer excitedly. “Oh good I can make it to that game!” “Great!” said Joey. * * * Bill tells me to go long. “I got this” I think. Its the last play of the game. I reach out for the ball. I hook it in and... “Yes!” the team mobs me! I just won the game for the Loonville Panthers! Then we all went to the pizza place down the road. “Great game, Joey!” Danny said. “Thanks!” I replied. “You got lucky kid,” Randy says, making a mean face. “Great game to the whole team,” Coach yells! “Beverages on me!” “YAY!” yelled the whole team.
I feel amazing I think to myself. I feel like I just won tickets to the Superbowl. Best of all, I got to be on the team and Randy ended up being kicked off for being mean to the other players. THE END