Kevin the Star Striker Page 9

  “Congratulations!” he said.

  “What for?” I barked up at him.

  “For not just being Kevin, the master dribbler and star striker, but also for pulling off the most stubborn assist in the whole wide world.”

  He grinned at me and I grinned back. Then I took his hand. He pulled me up, and together we joined the others. Roger and I embraced each other, and shoulder to shoulder we continued our victory round.

  “Great goal!” I said. “Thanks for not listening to me!”

  “Great pass!” said Roger. “A Cristiano Ronaldo classic.”

  “Anyway, if you had not warned me of Mickey, then …” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “Then what?” hissed Mickey the bulldozer.

  He stood directly in front of us, and behind him stood his beaten Unbeatables. They were fuming with anger, and they were ready for anything. In a heartbeat it was dead quiet. And in that quiet all you could hear was the bicycle chain the Grim Reaper had taken off his chest. He gave it to the Bulldozer who swung it, menacingly.

  “The game was a joke,” he said, showing his darkest grin. “You know that, don’t you? I mean, I don’t have to make myself any clearer?”

  We looked at him. His beady eyes burnt holes into us. His breath rattled and the bicycle chain hit upon his hand rhythmically, like a ticking time bomb set to go off.

  “I mean, you don’t really think that the soccer field is yours now, do you?” he threatened.

  Helpless, we retreated slowly. We had won, and lost anyway. That’s when we heard a growl behind us. We turned around and saw Josh and Sox, who lifted his chops and showed his impressive teeth.

  The Bulldozer’s face twitched nervously.

  “Who are you?” he barked, not so cool anymore.

  “We’re the superheroes,” Josh laughed amused. That’s when Sox charged ahead.

  Mickey the bulldozer tightened the bicycle chain between his hands, but just to be safe, he took two steps back.

  “I’m warning you!” he threatened us. “Get your dog. You know what I’ll do with him, if you don’t.”

  But Sox charged at him with a growl. He looked like a wolf. Actually, Sox’s ears are so big that he looks more like a bat. But when he’s angry and bares his teeth, the bat ears are not so noticeable any more.

  “I’m warning you!” Mickey the bulldozer yelled again.

  Then he thought it best to run.

  “Go, Sox! Tear his ears off!” we called after him.

  “You’ll pay for this!” Mickey called back at us as he retreated over the wooden fence. The other nitwits ran and jumped after him. They vanished exactly the way they had appeared: The way cockroaches do when you turn on the light.

  We had a fantastic time in store for us. Sox was proudly wagging his tail and Roger and I were friends again. The sun broke through the dark clouds, opening the sky far and wide, all the way to the horizon.

  JOACHIM MASANNEK

  Born in 1960. Studied German and Philosophy in college. He also studied at the University of Film and Television; worked as a camera operator, set designer, and screenwriter in films and TV.

  His children’s book series The Wild Soccer Bunch has been published in 28 countries. As the screenwriter and director of the five The Wild Soccer Bunch movies, Joachim has managed to bring about nine million viewers into the theatres. He was the coach of the real Wild Bunch soccer team, coaching his sons Marlon and Leon.

  JAN BIRCK

  Born in 1963. Illustrator, animation artist, art director (advertising, animation, CD-ROM’s), cartoonist, and CD-ROM designer. Jan designs The Wild Soccer Bunch merchandising with Joachim. Jan lives in Munich with his wife Mumi and his soccer playing sons Timo and Finn.

  COMING SOON!

  THE WILD SOCCER BUNCH BOOK 2

  DIEGO the Tornado

  Fabio, the son of a famous Brazilian soccer player for the Chicago Fire, joins Diego’s class. Diego envies the new kid when the rest of the Wild Bunch welcomes him with open arms. But Fabio’s father has other plans. He thinks his son should play for a real club team, not for some street urchins, and signs him up to play with the Chicago Fire Youth Club.

  Diego and the rest of the Wild Soccer Bunch are devastated, but instead of taking it lying down, they decide to become a real club team! They draft rules and create a team jersey, complete with Wild Soccer Bunch logo, and practice as a real club team.

  Now the real test: challenge none other than the Chicago Fire Youth Team!

  Can their friendship survive the challenge?

  And can the Wild Soccer Bunch survive the game?

  MORE TO COME!

  THE WILD SOCCER BUNCH BOOK 3

  ZOE the Fearless

  Zoe is ten and soccer-crazy. She spends each day dreaming of becoming the first woman to play for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team. Her dad believes in her dream, and encourages her to join the Wild Soccer Bunch. Even though Zoe would be the only girl on the team, she knows she could be their best player. But the Wild Bunch is not open-minded when it comes to welcoming new teammates, especially when they are girls …

  Zoe’s dad has a plan. He organizes a birthday tournament and invites the Wild Bunch. They present Zoe with a pair of red high heels, expecting her to make a fool of herself during the tournament. Zoe gladly accepts her gift. She wears the heels during the biggest game of her life, and proves that she’s got what it takes to be a wild, winning member of the Wild Soccer Bunch.

  www.wildsoccer.com