Free Fake ID by Hazel Edwards Page A

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    That evening, we had a late hockey match against Street High B who were a pretty strong team. Ours is a mixed team, so Luke and I sometimes play together, like now. Jessica used to play mid-field, but now she’s got an afternoon shift at Macca’s. Luke plays centre-half and I am usually mid-field in Jessica’s old spot, which means we both have to run a lot. Somehow I feel that I have to make sure I do as well if not better than Jessica. I didn’t see her play, so I’m not sure how I measure up.
    It was still light when we started, but as dusk came, they switched on the overheads. Shadows stretched across the pitch. Astro turf is OK for running on, and I can move fast if I have to. I’ve never been captain, or even vice captain, because Mum moves around so much and it takes a while for the others in the team to get to know you. Even when I played for a whole season, once before, and the coach asked if I’d like to captain, Mum told me we were moving again and that was the end of that. If I ever have kids, I’ll stay in the one house for at least two hockey seasons.
    Luke’s dad used to coach him and even now he checks his gear. How lucky was that. His mum is the fan club whenever Just Couriers is in the area, or she’s dropping us off for training. This team has a few players coming and going as they try out. Others can only play at certain times, because of their part-time jobs, so we don’t always have a balanced team. But we play hard and I like that. Often there are substitutions to let others have a turn, so we don’t always get a full run, but I think subbing is fairer. Otherwise I wouldn’t have got into the team at all, because I only moved to this school after the season started last year.
    â€˜Give Zoe a run now,’ the coach instructed. ‘Ready, Zoe?’
    â€˜Yes.’ I grabbed my stick and checked my shin pads. My mouth guard tasted awful, but Luke’s mum insisted on it. Then I ran onto the field feeling that familiar fizz of excitement.
    Pa taught me to use a hockey stick when I was a really little kid. He made me a special cut-down one so it fitted my height when I was about six. He used to throw balls at me in the park. That’s when I learned how to judge the distance. Luke’s dad helped him when he was little, too. Relatives sort of point you in the direction of their hobbies, but I didn’t mind about this one.
    Hockey is straightforward. You just go after the ball, tackle if you need to and run. I like the feel of the wind in my hair and the full-on freedom of ‘running flat out. I can stop and swerve and turn and keep going. Not like belly dancing which may or may not be linked with your Gran’s secret life, but I did like the dance music and the drums. They were the best part. And I felt guilty about leaving Fortuna in such a hurry. I know I’m not brave.
    â€˜Is there any music especially for hockey?’ I panted as I ran near Luke.
    â€˜What? Music? You mean the crowd yelling?’ Luke laughed and panted. ‘That’s sports music.’
    He lunged for the ball, cracked sticks with the opposition, and we lost it.
    â€˜Lifting,’ called the umpire.
    Luke turned, his neck reddening and kept his mouth shut with an effort.
    We were both trying out for the team, and being picked up by the umpire wouldn’t help.
    Not many clubs play mixed teams, which was why Mum insisted on this one for me.
    She was keen on sport for girls and said about ninety-nine times, ‘If you play against guys you improve your skills.’
    Mum played most sports because Pa had taught her when she was a kid, too. He loved any games and had a cupboard full of bats, sticks, balls and golf clubs and always gave us sporty things for birthday presents. When Mum told Pa they play golf in the Antarctic, he was thrilled. In Antarctica she’d played golf once, on Australia Day. The ball shot across the ice