Free Hit for Six by David Warner Page B

sixes, maybe I’ll win a merit award,’ Davey whispered to Kevin.
    The crowd clapped wearily as Sunil accepted his piece of paper.
    â€˜Anything’s possible,’ Kevin whispered back.
    â€˜P-lease,’ hissed a voice from behind Davey. Davey didn’t need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to. Bella Ferosi.She knew a lot about winning merit awards and was easily the best student in the class.
    â€˜You need A s, not D s, to win a merit award.’ Bella always spoke slowly when speaking to Davey, as if she were speaking to a toddler. It was more than a little annoying.
    â€˜You know what, Bella?’ whispered Davey.
    Bella leaned in closer to hear what he had to say.
    â€˜I bet you that I win a merit award by the end of term.’
    Kevin’s eyes grew wide.
    Bella waited for the punchline, but it didn’t come. ‘Oh, you’re not joking?’ She narrowed her eyes at Davey. ‘That’s a bet you’re sure to lose.’
    â€˜Then you have nothing to lose by accepting the bet,’ Davey smiled.
    â€˜And if by some freak chance you do win an award?’ Bella asked.
    â€˜Then you have to dress up as the Sandhill Sluggers’ mascot for our final game.’
    A small worry line formed on Bella’s perfect brow.
    â€˜Not the . . . slug ?’ Bella could hardly bring herself to say the word.
    Nobody in their right minds ever wanted to wear the Sluggers’ mascot costume. And for very good reason.
    It was a dark grey–green slug colour with two brown slug antennae sticking dismally out the top. The slug dance waslike the moon walk – no arms, just legs shuffling, dragging the slug’s tail.
    To make things worse, your face could be seen while wearing the costume. There was nowhere to hide.
    â€˜You’re serious?’ Bella seemed to warm to Davey’s idea thinking, perhaps, that there was no way she could lose, because Mr Mudge would never give Davey an award.
    â€˜And if – make that when – you don’t win an award, you’ll join the All Stars cheer squad for our netball final,’ Bella said with an evil grin.
    â€˜You mean, in a girl’s netball uniform?’ Davey asked.
    â€˜Uh huh,’ Bella nodded, ‘pink skirt, pink singlet, pink socks and pink shoes, and youhave to cheer the girls with the pompoms doing all the cheers.’
    The cheers were ridiculous pop songs sung in soprano with lots of shrieking, giggling and girly hysteria. Something in Davey just snapped. If he was going to bring Mo down, he might as well do the same with Bella. Her opinion of herself was way too high.
    â€˜This is not a good idea, Davey,’ Kevin warned.
    â€˜It’s a bet,’ said Davey and he shook Bella’s outstretched hand.
    She smiled politely before withdrawing her hand and wiping the palm on her tunic.

    About a century later, assembly ended and they made their way to the classroom.
    Mudge called for everyone to settle.
    â€˜Just a reminder that tomorrow is our exciting PE excursion to Penguin Palace RSL and Bowling Club and I expect you to be on your best behaviour,’ their teacher explained, with something close to enthusiasm.
    Mudge even looked less exhausted than usual as he spoke at length about his favourite sport, lawn bowls.
    â€˜It will be a long day out in the sun and it’s a physically demanding sport . . .’
    Davey caught George’s eye. Mudge didn’t know the meaning of physically demanding and rolling a ball down a small flat green certainly didn’t cut it.
    â€˜You’ll need sunscreen, a hat, sports kit and don’t be late for the bus. We leave at 8 a.m. sharp.’ The bright vermilion of Mudge’s ears highlighted the importance of his words.
    Despite the fact that they were in for the world’s most boring class excursion, Davey was looking forward to a day out of the classroom.
    Surely it couldn’t be all