Long Shot by Cindy Jefferies

soon as he was dressed, Roddy went through to see who was there. A lot of people had gone to get their tea first, but Keira was slumped at the table looking happy but exhausted. Roddy grabbed a cup of water and went over to join her.
    â€œThat’s the hardest we’ve had to work so far,” he said. “But it was a great result. Don’t you think, Jimmy?” he added to his friend, who had just appeared.
    Jimmy didn’t reply. Instead he sat down with his head bowed.
    â€œYou were great today,” Roddy went on. “You won the match for us. I still can’t believe we did it… Jimmy?”
    There was no reply. Instead, Jimmy just sat there. Roddy felt a horrible sense of misgiving. He’d been fine during the match, and afterwards. What could possibly be wrong now?
    Roddy touched Jimmy’s arm. “Are you OK?”
    Jimmy didn’t look at Roddy, he just handed him a crumpled piece of paper.
    IF YOU WANT YOUR LUCK BACK, YOU’LL FIND IT AT THE STADIUM SEATS. MAKE SURE YOU COME DOWN THE TUNNEL ALONE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT OR IT WILL BE DESTROYED. TELL NO ONE.
    Roddy groaned. “Oh no!”
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Keira.
    Jimmy tried to snatch the paper back, but Roddy pushed his hand away.
    â€œAnything that affects you, affects the team,” he said. He passed the note to Keira, who read it quickly and then bit her lip.
    â€œI realised you were a bit superstitious from when we took Marek to the tree tunnel,” she mused. “But this is blackmail. What’s going on?”
    Jimmy explained about the lucky sock. He sounded both angry and embarrassed. “I didn’t want anyone else to know,” he said. “I feel such an idiot.”
    â€œBut Roddy’s right,” said Keira. “We’re team-mates aren’t we? We have to stick together and decide what to do for the best. Who do you think wrote the note?”
    â€œIt’s Jack,” said Roddy flatly. “It has to be. Stiles didn’t have a match today. He must havesneaked in and left it here while we were playing. Has the sock gone?” he asked, knowing what the answer would be.
    Jimmy nodded. “I went to check,” he said mournfully.
    â€œHe’s just trying to wind you up, Jimmy,” said Keira. “Don’t let it get to you. Why don’t you take the note to Mr Clutterbuck? He’ll sort it out.”
    â€œI can’t, can I?” said Jimmy miserably. “If I do, the sock will be destroyed.” He shivered. “I shouldn’t have told any of you.”
    â€œFor goodness’ sake. Get a grip,” said Roddy. “Jack’s not all-powerful. He can’t tell what’s going on everywhere.” But Jimmy glanced fearfully at the door and Roddy couldn’t help doing so, too.
    He shook his head angrily. “You’ve got me at it now,” he complained.
    As soon as the rest of the team arrived,they could see that something was wrong, but it took a while before Roddy could persuade Jimmy he needed to take them into his confidence, too.
“I’ll
tell them, and then you won’t need to,” he coaxed. “The note is just for you. It doesn’t say
nobody
must tell
anyone
.”
    â€œAll right,” said Jimmy, anxiously biting his lip.
    They all sat as far away from the door as they could to reassure Jimmy that nobody could overhear, and held a council of war. But no matter what they said, Jimmy was determined to carry out the instructions in the note.
    â€œBut you were too scared to walk down the tunnel with us in the
daytime,”
Geno reminded him bluntly. “How are you going to manage it in the dark, at midnight, on your own?”
    Jimmy looked at Geno with frightened eyes. “It’s a
test.”
he said. “It’s about how much it matters to me, isn’t it? I’ve
got
to do it.”
    â€œWhat about when you’re caught and given a yellow card?” said