The Mystery of the Soccer Snitch Read Online Free Page B

really good coach.”
    â€œI’ll ask him,” Jessie said, “but I’m sure he can.”
    Jessie removed her shin guards and changed from her cleats to her sneakers. She was walking home when she saw Kayla, by herself, sitting on a bench by the playground, tying her shoe laces.
    Jessie approached her. With a friendly smile, she said, “Hello.”
    Kayla glanced at Jessie. “Hello,” she responded. Her eyebrows went into a high arch, and there was a surprised lilt to her voice. Obviously she wasn’t used to people being friendly to her.

    Jessie decided it was best just to come right out and say what nobody wanted to say. “I saw that letter in the paper. I thought it was terrible, and very unfair.”
    Kayla grimaced. It was almost as if a dark cloud passed over her face. Instantly Jessie regretted her words. She should have realized the whole subject would be painful for Kayla. She hadn’t intended to cause Kayla more pain. She just wanted to be friendly.
    â€œThanks,” Kayla said. She stood up and picked up her soccer bag. “I think I’ll go now.”
    Just before leaving, Kayla said, “Thanks for nominating me. And congratulations on being elected team captain.”
    â€œIt should have been you,” Jessie said.
    Kayla gave a sad, wistful smile, then waved and walked away.
    At the dinner table that evening, Jessie told Henry that the coach wanted to know if he’d help coach her team. “Of course,” said Henry. “Helping Mia will be fun.”
    â€œDid anything interesting happen at your practice?” Benny asked.
    â€œWell, the team elected me captain,” Jessie said.
    â€œCongratulations!” Grandfather said. “That’s an honor! It means your teammates respect you and look to you as a leader.”
    â€œI think Kayla should have been captain,” Jessie said.
    â€œThe captain isn’t always the best player,” Henry said. “The captain is the best team player, the one who looks out for everyone else and chooses which plays the team should do.”
    â€œI will tell you this,” Jessie said. “If Danielle or Ashley wrote the letter, they’re clever about pretending they didn’t. Danielle and Ashley talked about the letter as if they didn’t write it, and didn’t know who did.”
    â€œYou’d think whoever wrote the letter would have known about the automatic save function at the library,” Henry said.
    â€œThe what?” Benny asked.
    â€œKids were always losing their homework when they forgot to save their work,” Henry said. “So now there is an automatic save. Don’t you remember? That’s how the reporter found the copy.”
    â€œSo whoever wrote the letter doesn’t know about the autosave?” Jessie asked. “I wonder if there are any clues in that.”
    â€œI think all the older kids know about autosave,” Henry said. “And the teachers know.”
    â€œMaybe it wasn’t one of the kids or teachers,” Benny said. “Maybe it was a grown-up in town who doesn’t like the Thompsons.”
    â€œWell, Benny,” Henry said. “How about if tomorrow before Jessie’s practice you and I visit the library and see if we can find out if anyone other than teachers or students were using the computers.”
    â€œGood idea!” Benny said.
    The next day, at school, Jessie was in the school library during her study period when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned. There was Coach Olson, smiling.
    â€œMay I speak to you for a few minutes,” he asked.
    â€œOf course!” Jessie said.
    Jessie and Coach Olson sat at the table in the library conference room. Coach Olson had an open friendly face and an easy smile.
    â€œYou probably know why I want to talk to you,” he said. “I am investigating the accusations in the letter. The mascot committee wants to know whether