Free Hot-Shot Harry by Rob Childs

Chapter One

Five-a-Side
    â€œHot-shot!” yelled Harry.
    Harry always shouted ‘Hot Shot’ when he scored a goal. That was why people called him Hot-Shot Harry.
    Harry had just scored his second goal. It gave Gateway School a 2–0 lead in the final of the local Five-a-Side Festival.

    Brad was the team’s main defender. He ran towards Harry, and they slapped hands.
    â€œGreat goal, Hot-Shot!” cried Brad. “I bet we win the match now.”
    Just then the other side took a shot at goal. But Gateway’s goalie Charlotte dived and grabbed the ball.
    â€œGood save, Charlie!” cried Harry, giving her a thumbs-up sign.

    At half-time, their teacher told the players not to relax.
    â€œRemember, anything can happen in five-a-side soccer,” Mrs Phillips said. “The game isn’t over until the final whistle.”
    The second half of the match had only just started when the opposition scored.
    The striker for the other team sent the ball flashing past Charlotte. She didn’t stand a chance.

    Harry was furious.
    â€œYou’re rubbish, guys!” he shouted. “Where was the marking?”
    â€œCool it, cousin,” said Leela. She was the other striker. “It wasn’t anybody’s fault.”
    â€œDon’t tell me to cool it!” snapped Harry. “I’m captain.”
    Leela gave a little shrug and turned away. She knew there was no point in trying to argue with Harry.

    They didn’t speak to each other for the rest of the game. Not even when Harry scored a third goal.

    â€œHot-shot!” he cried. “That’s my hat trick.”
    The three goals made Harry the team’s top scorer in the tournament. He had beaten Leela’s total. She knew he wouldn’t let her forget it.
    The six members of the squad got their medals and Harry held up the silver trophy for the cameras.
    â€œWell done, everyone,” Mrs Phillips said. “Gateway School will now be in the County Finals next month.”

    â€œWe seem to do better at five-a-side,” said Brad. He was sitting on a bench in the boys’ changing room and gazing at the medal in his hand. “We’ve lost too many matches this season playing eleven-a-side on a big pitch.”
    â€œYeah,” Harry agreed. “That’s because we get rid of some of the dummies when we play with just five players.”
    Brad shrugged. “So which dummies are left in the five-a-side team?”
    â€œMy cousin, for a start,” said Harry.
    â€œLeela? She’s good. I mean, she’s dead fast,” said Brad.
    â€œYeah, but it’s not just speed you need, is it?” argued Harry. “You need a bit of strength and skill on the ball.”
    â€œI suppose so – but she can still score goals…”
    Brad saw the look on Harry’s face, and shut up. He didn’t want to be put in the captain’s list of dummies.

    In the girls’ room, Leela and Charlotte were also talking.
    â€œHe’s cute, your cousin,” said Charlotte with a grin as Leela came out of the showers, drying her long black hair.
    â€œHarry?” Leela asked in surprise.
    â€œWho else? How many other cousins you got?” asked Charlotte.
    â€œI’ve got hundreds. And none of them are cute.”

    â€œWell, Harry can be – sometimes,” Charlotte said.
    â€œReally?” replied Leela. “Maybe you won’t think he’s so cute, Charlie, when I tell you he reckons all girls are dummies.”

Chapter Two

In Goal
    The boys were having a lunchtime kick-about on the playing field.
    â€œWatch this!” cried Oliver.
    He was always looking for new ways of celebrating a goal, but he was better at football than gym.
    He did a clumsy cartwheel across the grass, followed by a bumpy forward roll.
    â€œGround’s too hard,” he muttered, rubbing his shoulder.
    Brad laughed. “That needs a bit more practice,