Free Double Fake by Rich Wallace Page A

teammates but take over the game.
    Zero kicked off and Orlando fielded it as Calvin ran full speed toward the Bauer Electric goal. He looped back toward the sideline, yelling for the ball and taking a long pass from Angel. He passed back to Zero and ran hard toward the goal again.
    Mary had the ball now, directly in front of the goal but thirty yards away. Calvin darted toward her. “Right here,” he shouted.
    The pass arrived. Calvin put his head down and charged forward. Jessie was in his path. Calvin stepped left, then took the ball to his right. He was too far from the goal but he shot anyway—a low, hard line drive that had a chance. The goalie dove for the ball and caught it, rolling to his feet and looking upfield.
    “That’s my move,” Jessie said as she and Calvin ran side by side toward the corner.
    Calvin was puffing hard. The pass came to Jessie. She shielded it from Calvin as she ran up the sideline, swerving left, then right, keeping him guessing.
    As they approached the center line, Calvin stepped in front of her, knowing that would force her toward the middle of the field. He’d seen Zero shifting over to help out.
    As he expected, Jessie moved to her right, then stopped the ball as she saw Zero approaching fast. Calvin had timed it perfectly, slipping his left foot to the ball, knocking it between Jessie’s legs, and leaving her flat-footed as he sprinted away with it.
    The field was wide open—forty yards of grass between him and the goalie. He booted it ahead and chased it down, eating up ground in a hurry, looking at the goalie who was the only thing standing between Calvin and a tied-up game.
    He could hear the cheers from the bleachers, and Coach Diaz shouting, “All the way, Calvin!” He could hear Jessie’s footsteps behind him.
    A few more strides and he was close enough to shoot. He could see the fear in the goalie’s eyes, sense the tension as he crouched, ready to spring toward the ball when Calvin finally shot.
    Now! Calvin was inside the goal box, the defense was closing in from behind. With all the power he had, Calvin booted the ball high and hard. The goalie leaped.
    Thunk! The ball bounded off the crossbar and back onto the field. Calvin’s momentum kept him stumbling toward the goal. By the time he’d caught himself, the ball was in Johnny’s possession, halfway up the field and moving quickly away.
    Calvin had nothing left but he raced straight toward the ball. The Little Italy defense slowed down the charge, but Danielle had the ball near the goal box by the time Calvin had run up.
    A quick pass to Jessie. A juke, a shot, another goal. Calvin sunk to his knees and put his hands on the grass. His arms were shaking and his chest was heaving. He stared at the ground.
    Orlando and Zero pulled him to his feet. The Bauer Electric players were locked in a huge embrace near midfield.
    “One minute left,” the official said.
    Calvin felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Victor Alvarez.
    “I’m in for you,” Victor said.
    Calvin nodded and trotted off the field. There was some clapping as he reached the sideline. Coach Diaz put his arm around him and squeezed. “Great job,” Coach said. “Great job all season.”
    Calvin dropped to his knees again and stared at the field for the final minute. He watched as the Bauer Electric players danced and leaped after the whistle. His teammates walked dejectedly off the field.
    “We got thrashed,” Calvin said as he caught up to Zero.
    “We were in it until the final minute,” Zero said.
    “That’s no thrashing. We could have won it.”
    The teams met at midfield to shake hands. Jessie gave Calvin the warmest smile she’d ever managed. “You were awesome,” she said.
    “You, too.”
    “Tough break hitting that crossbar.”
    Calvin shook his head gently. “Got too far under the ball,” he said. “Gotta learn how to shoot.”
    “I’ll help you,” she said. “It’s not so hard if you practice.”
    Calvin smiled for