Secret Weapon (4 page)

The coach pulled her aside. “Don’t worry,” he said. “You’ll do the flip when it feels right.”

Bundy was less understanding. “Lisa, why didn’t you do it?” he demanded. “I feel like an idiot, telling everyone how great
you were going to be. Then you choked!”

Stookie overheard. “You
are
an idiot, if you really
thought she was going to pull off some great new move,” he scoffed.

Lisa was so humiliated, she couldn’t speak. But to her surprise, she didn’t have to. Ted spoke for her.

“She didn’t choke and she can do it!” he said angrily. “She just wasn’t ready, that’s all. She only learned how to do it yesterday,
for Pete’s sake! When she is ready, she’ll be great at it.” He took Lisa’s arm. “Come on, sis,” he said. “Let’s go home.”

Lisa followed him, amazed at how he’d stuck up for her. But when she tried to thank him, he brushed it off. “No one talks
to my twin that way,” he said gruffly. Then he smiled. “‘Cept me, of course.”

All through lunch, Lisa thought about how Ted had stuck up for her. He didn’t do that very often.

He believes I can do the flip
, she thought.
Well, I’m going to prove he’s right. And that means
practicing until I can do it in my sleep. I don’t want Ted to know what I’m doing, though, just in case
.

“Think I’ll go upstairs and read for a while,” she said, dumping her lunch plate into the sink. She hurried upstairs, careful
to leave her door open just a bit. When she heard Ted turn on the computer in their parents’ study, she sneaked downstairs,
grabbed a soccer ball, and headed for the door.

Then she paused. She couldn’t practice in their backyard because then Ted would know what she was doing. The playground? Too
many other kids might be there—including kids from another soccer team. Finally, she picked up the cordless phone and hid
in the closet. She dialed a number and waited impatiently for it to be answered.

“Hello?” a boy’s voice said.

“Bundy? It’s Lisa,” Lisa whispered.

“Boy, am I glad you called!” Bundy shouted. Lisa winced, sure that Bundy’s
booming voice had carried as far as the study. “Lisa, I’m really sorry for the way I blew up at you after the game. What Ted
said was right. You’ll do the flip throw-in when you’re ready.”

“That’s why I’m calling,” Lisa said, her voice still hushed. “Can I come over and practice the throw-in at your house?”

“Absolutely!” Bundy cried.

“Okay, okay, see you in a bit.” Lisa hung up hurriedly. She cracked open the closet door and listened closely. She could just
make out the sounds of Ted’s favorite computer game. With a sigh of relief, she carefully put the phone back in its cradle,
slipped out the back door, and hurried to Bundy’s house.

L
ater that week, the Soccer ’Cats had to cancel the game against the Scorpions because of rain. Lisa was disappointed. She
had spent as much time as she could secretly practicing the flip throw-in. Only Bundy and Mary knew what she was up to. Now
she’d have to wait two more days to show the ’Cats their secret weapon.

Finally, it was the day of the next game. Their opponents were the Panthers.

Before the game, Lisa quietly told the coach that she was ready. She held her breath while
the coach checked with the referee that it was okay for Lisa to do a flip throw-in. Only when the coach gave her the thumbs
up did she let her breath out. Then she pulled Bundy aside.

“I’m going to do it,” she whispered. “Be ready the first time I take a throw-in. And be quiet!” she added in a hiss as Bundy
started to cheer.

“Okay, team,” Coach Bradley called, clapping his hands. “Now we all remember that the Panthers beat us pretty badly last time
around. Well, this time it’s going to be a different story, right?”

“Right!” the team yelled in unison.

You better believe it
, Lisa added silently.
Panthers, you are about to be declawed. And Stookie Norris, get ready to eat your words
.

The Panthers had won the coin toss. The ref blew his whistle and the match began. The Panther center striker booted the ball
to one of his wings. The wing hot-footed it down the
sideline. Dewey and Bundy charged him simultaneously.

“Take him!” Bundy yelled to Dewey. Dewey did, performing a clean tackle from the side. But his pass to Bundy was wobbly. The
Panther center striker swooped in and stole it. Dribbling madly, the Panther headed straight into ’Cats territory.

The fullbacks were ready. Brant and Alan hung back near the goal, keeping an eye on the wing strikers, while Ted and Lisa
attacked. Their attack succeeded. With a strong kick, Ted sent the ball soaring to Jerry.

Back and forth the struggle went. First the ’Cats had control, then the Panthers. Just when it looked as if the Panthers would
score, one of the fullbacks would manage to get the ball away. Or Bucky Pinter would make a terrific save and put the ball
back into the ’Cats control.

Throughout the action, Lisa watched for a
chance to unleash her secret weapon. Finally, it came.

Deep in ’Cats territory, the Panther center striker got in trouble. He booted the ball to the sideline, looking for his teammate
to capture it. The teammate missed and Lisa charged after it. Both she and the other Panther were too late, though. The ball
bounced over the touchline. It was the ‘Cats’ ball and Lisa’s throw-in.

“Hey, the little fullback’s going to take her first throw-in,” the center Panther called. “Get in as close as you can, team!”

Heart pounding, Lisa took the ball in both hands. She stepped a few paces back and looked for Bundy. There he was about thirty
feet away, dancing from foot to foot—and totally unguarded.

Trying not to grin, Lisa rushed forward. The ball met the ground. Her feet flew up and over, and landed in perfect position
just next to the touchline. As they did, Lisa launched
the ball. It soared in an arc high over the Panthers’ heads and landed precisely at Bundy’s feet. With a yelp of triumph,
Bundy took off like a shot toward the Panthers’ goal.

Stunned, neither the Panthers nor the ’Cats moved for a split second. Then Stookie took up Bundy’s cry and charged downfield
to help his teammate. The rest of the ‘Cats’ offense did too, followed closely by the bewildered Panthers.

“What was that?” Lisa heard one Panther ask another.

“That,” Ted replied, barging in between them, “was the Soccer ‘Cats’ secret weapon! And that,” he added, pointing downfield
where a cheer rang out, “is called a goal!”

S
ure enough, there was Bundy, beaming with happiness at having made the first goal of the game. Moments later, the halftime
buzzer sounded and the two teams left the field.

“Way to go, ’Cats!” Ted and Lisa yelled together.

“Way to go, Lisa! That was incredible!” There was Stookie, shaking his head and grinning.

Lisa grinned back. “I warned you I was going to make you eat your words,” she said.

“I’d eat them again in a second!” Stookie replied. “Did you see the looks on their faces? Did you?”

“I was too busy seeing the look on your face.” Lisa snorted with laughter. “Wish I’d had a camera!”

“What I want to know,” said Ted, joining them, “is why could you do it this game and not in the game against the Tadpoles?”

Lisa threw an arm over her brother’s shoulders. “I needed more time to get ready. You know all those days I said I was going
to the library, or to the gym to do gymnastics, or wouldn’t let you go to the pool with me?”

Bundy cut in. “She was really at my house, practicing! I’m the only one who knew she was doing it! And am I glad she did—that
was the first goal I ever made!”

“Ahem.”

Lisa, Ted, Stookie, and Bundy looked around in surprise. Coach Bradley was tapping his clipboard with his pen. With a raised
eyebrow but a gleam of merriment in his eyes, he said, “If you four are done slapping each other on the back, perhaps you’d
like to join the rest of the team for our usual halftime chat. We haven’t won this game yet, you know.”

“Maybe not,” said Stookie as he took his seat. “But with Lisa in there taking throw-ins for us, we’re sure to show those Panthers
who the top ’Cats really are!”

#1 The Captain Contest

#2 Operation Baby-Sitter

#3 Secret Weapon

#4 Hat Trick

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#3

Secret Weapon

by Matt Christopher

Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos

Lisa Gaddy is a starting fullback for the ’Cats and she plays her position well—except for one thing. She’s small for her
age, so her throw-ins from the sidelines don’t go very far. Sometimes the ball winds up landing in front of an opponent instead
of a teammate. She can’t stop taking throw-ins (though one of her teammates thinks she should), but unless she grows three
inches before the season ends, there doesn’t seem to be any way she can improve. Or is there? The coach has an idea to turn
Lisa’s throw-in into the ‘Cats’ secret weapon.