Free Suspended by Robert Rayner Page B

your hair today.”
    â€œI had it done at Dar’s Cuts ’N Styles last night,” said Michelle, patting her hair.
    James and Josh drifted away.
    Miss Little was in the cafeteria at lunch time. She leaned down beside me and whispered, “I went to see Ms. Dugalici last night.”
    â€œWhat did she say?” I asked hopefully.
    â€œShe listened. Then I bumped into a teacher who mentioned a phantom team from Brunswick Valley whom St. Croix had to beat today in order to win the league championship. She said the result didn’t really matter because the team was going to get suspended on the grounds that it didn’t represent a real school.”
    â€œHmm. Lots of strange rumours going around,” I said.
    â€œI know,” said Miss Little. “I just thought I’d mention it, in case the phantom team needed any support.”
    Ice came to the fence at noon recess.
    Grease was leaning against the van in the school parking lot. Brandon wandered over to him.
    â€œCharlie Finch, from the league, called me this morning,” Ice announced.
    â€œWere you in French class again?”
    â€œIn gym class,” Ice corrected me. “It was noisy, so it didn’t matter. Now listen. I think we may have problems in the game this afternoon. Charlie told me he’d had a call from the St. Croix coach saying he had concerns about the legitimacy of the Wanderers. He started to ask me exactly where Cemetery Road School was.”
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œI said he’d have to excuse me because I was teaching — he thinks I’m on the staff at Cemetery Road School, remember — and I’d call him back as soon as possible. He called me twice more after that — I saw his name on call display — so I got one of the girls in my class to answer and pretend she was the school secretary.”
    â€œWhat did she tell him?”
    â€œThat Mr. Field was still in class and then had a meeting.”
    â€œMr. Field?” I said. “Who’s he?”
    â€œField — that’s my name,” said Ice.
    Julie started, “So you’re called Ice to make a joke with your name — Ice Field — and not because you’re ...”
    â€œNot because I’m so cool I’m ice — right?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Ice. “Although I am.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œCool as ice.”
    Julie shook her head.
    Ice concluded, “Anyway just thought I’d warn you Charlie Finch is on the trail.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “Stay cool. I’ll see you at the Cemetery Road before the game.”
    Julie and I walked across to the van with him. Grease and Brandon were looking at the engine. Grease closed the hood.
    â€œReady, Grease?” said Ice.
    Grease grunted.
    Brandon looked at Grease.
    â€œHi, Brandon,” said Ice. “Are you ready for the big game? We’ll need some goals from you.”
    â€œHe’s worried about the way St. Croix plays,” I said.
    Brandon had confided to me earlier that he couldn’t get Floyd’s brutal tackle in the game against Bethel Station out of his mind, and he was afraid the St. Croix defenders would be like Floyd, and set out to hurt him.
    â€œTheir defenders like to intimidate the other team’s strikers,” I explained.
    â€œIs that right?” said Ice. “Don’t worry, Brandon. Grease will be there. He’ll keep an eye out for you.”
    Grease grunted again.
    â€œLet’s go,” said Ice. “See you later, boys and girls.”
    Brandon looked at Grease, his lips working furiously, making little popping sounds. “B— … B— … Bye, G … Grease,” he said at last.
    Grease turned back to face Brandon and a hissing sound started from his lips. “S-s-s-s … See you, Brandon.”
    Ice, who’d been looking from one to the other, smiled. “It’s