Free Goal Line by Tiki Barber Page B

okay.” She probably wanted to do an interview with him for the school paper, he figured. Something about winning the prize and giving the speech.
    â€œWe’re always looking for a new angle, for something different,” she explained, motioning with both arms like she was showing him the shape of a newspaper. “And we’ve decided—‘we’ meaning me, Mrs. Flanagan, and the rest of the editors—that we’d like you to join the staff of the
Weekly Eagle
!”
    â€œWhat?
Me?
I don’t—”
    He was about to say that he didn’t get it, but she didn’t give him time.
    â€œWe’ve been looking to do an advice column. You know, answering letters from kids who have problems. And we thought, who better than you?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou were so great giving that speech—everyone thought so—and you obviously understand so much about everything.”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œAnd I hear kids have already started asking you for advice. So we figured you could be our new star columnist! Say yes, okay? Good. It’s a deal.”
    She grabbed his limp hand and shook it, like it meant they had a deal. Laura was persuasive, Tiki had to give her that. Pushy, some would have said.
    â€œI—”
    â€œGreat!” she chirped, giving him a big smile full of braces. “So we’ll print an announcement in this week’s paper, asking for letters to be sent to ‘Dear Tiki,’ and then you can start answering them in the next edition!”
    She clapped her hands together and squealed with joy, jumping up and down. “Fantastic!”
    â€œI, um…”
    â€œGreat. I’ve gotta go,” she said, trying to escape with her victory intact.
    But Tiki snapped out of it just in time. Grabbing her by the arm before she could get away, he said, “Hold up, Laura. Wait a second.”
    â€œI’ve gotta get to class,” she said, looking worried.
    â€œYeah. Me too. It’s just—I don’t know about this.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou know, this job. I don’t know if I’m cut out for it.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? You’re perfect for it! We all agreed!”
    â€œI didn’t agree.”
    â€œSure you did. You just did! I’m a witness!”
    â€œNo, no, no, no, no,” Tiki said, shaking his head. “I never said anything.”
    â€œSo you didn’t say no, either.”
    â€œNot yet,” he said.
    â€œGreat! So I’ve gotta go.”
    â€œJust a second,” he repeated, hanging on to her arm.
    Just then Suzie Shiobara came up to them. “Hi, Tiki,” she said. “Did you think about my question?”
    Tiki’s jaw dropped. He’d forgotten all about it. He’d kinda promised her an answer, but he hadn’t even thought about her problem!
    â€œUh, yeah, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought,” he said, stalling.
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œWell, it’s complicated, and I’ve got to get to class.”
    Suzie’s face fell. “This is so important to me,” she said. “And I was counting on your advice.”
    Laura’s eyes lit up. “Well, guess what? Tiki’s going to be doing the advice column for the
Weekly Eagle
! He can answer your question in this week’s edition, since he’s already got your question. The paper comes out day after tomorrow! Right, Tiki?”
    She turned to Tiki and cocked her head questioningly. Tiki looked from her to Suzie and back again, then swallowed hard. “Uh, I guess,” he said, flashing Suzie a big smile.
    â€œOf course, your privacy will be totally respected,”Laura told Suzie. “No names or anything—strictly anonymous.”
    Except for me
, thought Tiki miserably. How had he ever let himself get talked into this?
Man
, he thought, shaking his head as he headed for homeroom.
I wish I’d never won that essay