Free The OK Team by Nick Place Page B

design, although it looks a little faded and frayed around the edges.
    â€˜Wow, nice threads!’ says Cannonball.
    â€˜Thanks,’ mumbles the kid. ‘I, umm, inherited them.’
    â€˜What’s your name, mate?’ I ask.
    â€˜The Torch.’
    â€˜I knew that,’ whispers Yesterday.
    â€˜Of course you did,’ I say. ‘So Torch, do you mean like THE Torch? The Flaming Torch? Is that what you do?’
    â€˜Sort of.’ The kid looks at the ground and shuffles his feet, his face going red with embarrassment. ‘Look, it’s nothing much. I probably shouldn’t have come. Sorry to waste your time.’
    Cannonball raises his eyebrows at me. I shrug.
    â€˜You’re here now,’ I say, as the Torch turns towards the door. ‘You might as well show us what you can do. It’s OK.
    We’re all new to this.’
    The Torch manages to raise his eyes to look at us for a moment and then mumbles, ‘Well, OK, but like I said, it’s not much. All I have to show you is this . . .’
    And he clicks his fingers – in the process creating a spark of fire that glows off the bare skin on the index finger of his right hand with a steady glowing flame.
    â€˜Whoa!’ says Cannonball, impressed.
    â€˜You ARE the Torch,’ I gasp. ‘Awesome! I’ve always loved Heroes who can burst into flame. You are SO in the team!
    Congratulations!’
    The Torch blinks and blows out the flame so he can shake my silver glove. I can feel the heat from his finger.
    â€˜Wow! Really? I’m in? Are you sure?’
    â€˜Definitely.’
    â€˜You bet,’ agrees Cannonball.
    â€˜I just knew you were going to be in the team,’ says Yesterday.
    â€˜You know, the Flaming Torch has always been one of my favourite heroes,’ I grin.
    â€˜He’s my grandfather, but that’s kind of a secret,’ says the kid. ‘He gave me the costume. My dad wore it for a while too.’
    I’m peering at where the flame had been on the Torch’s finger.
    â€˜Hey Torch, can I ask you one thing? I’ve always wondered – what happens to your clothes when you complete flame up your body?’
    â€˜Huh?’ says the Torch.
    â€˜Come on, don’t be shy! You know, when you yell “Flame on!” or “Fire!” or whatever you yell and your entire body bursts into flames. What happens to your clothes? Is your costume made of some special material?’
    The Torch stares at me, gulps and then clicks his fingers again, so the tip of his index finger burns with its steady flame.
    â€˜Um, this is all I can do. I didn’t say I got all of Grandad’s powers. This is all that’s left.’
    We stare at his finger.
    â€˜You mean, the rest of your body doesn’t catch fire?’
    â€˜Not even my other fingers. Just the index fingers on both hands.’
    Cannonball snorts. ‘Fantastic. We just let a human cigarette lighter join the team! Great work, Focus.’
    The Torch looks crushed. ‘I told you I was crap. Look, it’s OK. I’ll go. You don’t want me in the team.’
    I step between him and the door. ‘Yes, we do,’ I say, even though my visibility is fluctuating wildly as Cannonball gapes at me. ‘All of us are starting out. None of us has the right to tell you that lighting flames, even if only off your fingers, isn’t cool. I say you’re still in.’
    The Torch looks grateful. ‘I can help in other ways.
    I know a lot about Heroes.’
    â€˜I’ll bet you do. Cannonball?’
    Cannonball sighs from under his big black helmet and says, ‘I suppose he has got a good costume. What do you think, Yesterday? Am I going to want him in the team or not?’
    Yesterday puts both fingers to her temples and scrunches up her eyes. ‘You want him out!’
    â€˜Wrong again,’ Cannonball says. ‘Congratulations, candle boy. You’re