Free Operation Baby-Sitter by Matt Christopher

Chapter 1

    B undy! Take it!”
    Halfback Bundy Neel, his dark hair sticking straight up, raced to the open spot. He stopped Dewey’s pass, then dribbled the
     ball toward the Panthers’ goal.
    It was the Soccer ’Cats’ second game of the summer. It was midway through the second half. The score was tied, 4–4.
    Bundy was team captain and wanted to help his squad to a victory. When he had been voted in as team captain, he’d been excited
     and a little surprised. He had been sure hispal Dewey London was going to be named captain. After all, Dewey had won the team’s logo-design contest. According to the
     rules of the contest, the winner was supposed to become team captain automatically.
    But Dewey didn’t want to be captain. He had stood in front of the whole team and nominated Bundy for that job. The whole team
     had seconded the nomination.
    After the vote, the coach had asked Bundy to stick around.“That was a nice move on Dewey’s part, don’t you think?”he had said
     to Bundy.
    Bundy nodded.
    “It’s that sort of behavior I want my team captain to have,”Coach Bradley continued.“In my book, the best kind of leader leads
     by example. When the other kids see you giving extra effort, or going for the assist instead of the goal, or just being a
     good sport even if the team’s having an off day, they’ll do the same things. Right?”
    “Right!”Bundy had agreed.
    So during the week’s practices, Bundy had run faster, worked harder, and shown even more enthusiasm for the game than he usually
     did. He hadn’t been sure, but he thought his teammates were starting to give more, too.
    Now Bundy dribbled the ball just across the center line. Two Panthers swept in on either side. A third charged him from the
     front.
    Stookie Norris, a striker, called to Bundy. If anybody could break the tie, it was Stookie.
    Bundy pulled his foot back to kick a pass. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the attacker on his right move in. He tried
     to protect the ball, but the Panther stole it anyway.
    Bundy raced after him. In a second, he was running beside him. He knew what he had to do — tackle from the side. It was a
     tricky move. He had to make sure he was a little ahead of his opponent so he wasn’t attacking from behind. Attacking from
     behind was a serious foul. He also had to be careful not tokick his opponent. That’s where Bundy usually messed up.
    And it’s where he messed up this time, too. He positioned his body perfectly. But when his foot snaked in to snare the ball,
     he whacked the Panther’s shin.
    Pheet!
The ref blew his whistle and pointed a finger at Bundy.
    “Direct kick!”he said, tossing the ball to the Panther.
    Bundy danced around, trying to guess who would receive the kick. A tall, thin Panther darted forward. Bundy lunged toward
     him, but he was too late. The kicked ball was stopped by the thin Panther’s foot.
    The Panther dribbled the ball a few feet toward the ’Cats’ goal. Then he booted it up-field. The kick looked strong, but the
     ball stopped before reaching a teammate.
    Bundy rushed to get it. He pulled up short when he saw Dewey, the center midfielder, intercept it.
Now
the ball was headed in the right direction!

    “Dewey! Over here!”Bundy yelled, racing toward the Panther goal.
    Dewey sent him the ball. Bundy gave it a solid boot toward the Panthers’ net. The ball soared high over the heads of Panthers
     and ’Cats alike. Then it soared over the goal and bounced behind the goal line.

Chapter 2

    B undy, why didn’t you pass to me?”an angry voice beside him said. It was Stookie.“I was in perfect position.”
    “You were?”Bundy groaned.“Man, I really blew it.”
    Stookie sighed heavily.“No, that’s okay. You would have passed it to me if you’d seen me. I know you’re not a ball hog.”He
     punched Bundy lightly in the shoulder.“If you were, do you think we would have let you be captain?”
    Bundy shot Stookie a grateful smile andhurried to his