Free The OK Team by Nick Place

ride home?’
    â€˜I’d love one,’ I say. ‘I need to talk to you anyway.’
    â€˜You do?’
    â€˜Yeah, about joining my team.’
    Cannonball stops and looks at me. ‘You mean it?’
    I had the idea as it came out of my mouth, but now I’ve said it, it feels right. ‘You bet I do. I want you in the team.
    You in?’
    I put out a silver-gloved hand, which is finally more or less physically there.
    Cannonball takes it and shakes. ‘You bet. I’d like that more than eating coal.’

CHAPTER 12
WANTED: HEROES
    Team members wanted.
    Focus and Cannonball are looking for partners in crimefighting.
    Entry-level preferred. Girls as well as guys.
    Nobody over 14 years old.
    No vomiting powers, please.
    (Must have own utility belt.)
    â€˜L ook, we’re sorry, but we don’t think there’s a place for you in the team.’ It isn’t getting any easier, no matter how many times I break the news to wannabes who have replied to our advertisement on herohints.com , or heard about the auditions from a friend of a Hero friend, or maybe just wandered past the disused scout hall we’re using. I don’t want to sound superior, but there’s no way half the kids we’ve seen have rated a visit from Leon or another Hero confirming they have powers, like I did.
    This particular kid looks absolutely crushed.
    â€˜Oh,’ he says.
    â€˜We think you’re great, really great,’ Cannonball says. ‘It’s just that we’re not sure your powers adequately complement our own.’
    â€˜But fashion is everything in today’s modern world.’
    â€˜Well yes, but we’re not sure how it would apply to day-to-day crime-fighting. You’d fit into our team like a marble in a feather pillow.’
    Bad Fashion Boy stands there, dressed only in his jocks, gumboots and rubber washing-up gloves, his eyes watering behind his snorkelling mask.
    â€˜So, anyway, sorry,’ I say, opening the door.
    â€˜Well, good luck with the team,’ Bad Fashion Boy mumbles. ‘Let me know if you change your mind or need help with uniforms.’
    â€˜Oh, we will. Yes sir,’ Cannonball lies.
    I close the door and sigh. ‘Jeez, this is horrible. He was even worse than Captain Snot.’
    â€˜And Unleaded Petrol Man.’
    â€˜We forgot to ask that guy how he actually discovered that his wee was unleaded petrol.’
    â€˜I hope nobody ever lights a match while he’s going to the toilet.’
    There is a sharp rapping on the door. I open it and there stands a girl about two years younger than us, wearing a light blue skirt with several layers of light blue T-shirts.
    A light blue bandana ties back her hair.
    â€˜Hi,’ I say. ‘And you are . . .?’
    â€˜Yesterday,’ says the girl dramatically. ‘The Girl Who Can See Into the Past!’
    â€˜That’s ridiculous,’ I snort. ‘You call yourself a Hero?’
    â€˜I knew you were going to say that,’ she says, fingers to her temples and a mysterious look on her face.
    â€˜Actually,’ Cannonball says apologetically, ‘that’s my little sister.’
    To the girl, he says, ‘Alexandra, I told you not to follow me here.’
    â€˜And I knew you were going to say that. By the way, don’t use my alter ego name in front of strangers, Nerdy .’
    â€˜Cannonball,’ he says through gritted teeth. ‘The name is Cannonball.’
    Yesterday and Cannonball are both standing, legs apart, hands on hips, glaring at one another. I can see the resemblance.
    â€˜So, um, Yesterday, why the blue costume?’ I ask.
    She shrugs. ‘I like blue. And I knew that was the colour I was going to wear, once I chose it, because of my power.’
    Cannonball says, as though in pain, ‘You do not have a power. Everybody in the world can see into the past.’
    â€˜And everybody in the world can jump sideways too,