Free Soccer Hero by Stephanie Peters Page B

specific spot on the coach's chest where he was supposed to apply steady beats of pressure with his overlapped
     hands. As he searched for it, he heard the wail of a siren in the distance.
    “That's the ambulance,” Benji said.
    “I have to begin CPR anyway,” Rob said. “Every minute counts.” He found the spot, laid one hand over the other, and laced
     his fingers together. Then, with his elbows locked and his full weight behind him, he began to push rhythmically on Coach
     Brennan's sternum. He counted out loud as he did.
    “
One
-and-
two
-and-
three
-and-
four
-and-
five
-and-
six
-and-
seven
…”
    He continued the rhythm until he'd reached fifteen. Then he delivered two more breaths into the coach's mouth before returning
     to his chest again.
    He was midway through the second cycle of beats when he heard a deep voice say, “We'll take it from here, son.”
    Rob had been concentrating so hard he hadn't heard the ambulance arrive or the emergency medical technicians approach. Now
     two strong hands covered Rob's smaller ones. Together, the paramedic and Rob finishedthe fifteen-pulse count. Then Rob stepped back to let the man do his job. Meanwhile, the other EMT was readying some frightening-looking
     equipment.
    It was like watching a scene from an emergency room drama show. But this wasn't any TV program — this was real life. The
coach's
life.
    Rob sat down hard as that realization struck him.
    The paramedics worked on Coach Brennan for a few minutes. Then, to everyone's relief, Coach Brennan gave a low moan that signaled
     his return to consciousness. The EMTs advised him to lie still while they lifted him onto a stretcher. Then, with Rob and
     the others following, they carefully carried the coach to the ambulance and loaded him in. Just before the back doors closed,
     one of the paramedics yelled out the name of the hospital where they were taking thecoach. Then the ambulance sped off with the siren screaming and the lights flashing.
    As Rob watched the vehicle disappear around a bend, he felt his last bit of energy drain out of him. He lay down on the nearest
     bench, scrubbed his hands over his face, and closed his eyes.
    A shadow fell over him. He opened his eyes again. To his surprise, he found himself surrounded by his teammates, all of whom
     were staring at him with open mouths. He sat up.
    “What?” he said.
    “What do you mean ‘what?’!” Kirk cried. “You just saved the coach's life!”
    “He's right,” Benji seconded. “Rob, you're a hero!”

3
    F or a moment Rob was too dumbfounded to say anything. Then he began to protest. “I'm not a hero! I —”
    But he didn't get a chance to finish what he wanted to say because, to his extreme mortification, Kirk started clapping. One
     by one, the others joined in until they were all applauding him like crazy.
    Rob wished the earth would open up and swallow him whole. When the clapping continued, he jumped up, pushed through the circle
     of players, and ran off the field.
    He didn't stop running until he was safeinside his house. He leaned back against the front door, trying to catch his breath. Then he pushed off and started for his
     room.
    “Whoa, Rob, take off those mud-packed cleats before you go another step!”
    The voice came from the living room. Rob turned to see his mother frowning at him from the computer.
    But for once, Rob didn't care if he made his mother upset. He just shook his head and ran upstairs to his room. He slammed
     his door, threw himself onto his bed, and covered his head with his pillow.
    Some hero
, he thought.
    He lay still for some time. Then he heard the sound of a telephone ringing. A few minutes later, his mother knocked on his
     door.
    “Rob? Can I come in, please?” Her voice was much softer than it had been earlier.
    He pulled the pillow from his head and rolled over. “Sure.”
    His mother sat next to him. “Oh, honey. Benji's mom just told me what happened.”
    Rob's face twisted. “It was