Called for Cheating

After the game was over, we all headed toward the locker room, cheering loudly. Our team had just won the first game of the football season, with the final score being 21–17.

Suddenly, I felt a push from behind. I turned around and saw it was the quarterback from the other team. He was glaring at me. “I’ve got a bone to pick with you!” he said.

My teammates and I felt instantly uncomfortable. They started to hurry to the locker room, leaving me alone with the bully from the other team.

“Hey!” he said. “I saw you trip my teammate and hold him back when the referee wasn’t watching.”

I just stood there. I didn’t deny it. I had tripped the guy, but it really wasn’t on purpose.

“Look,” I said. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened. When I turned around, he was right there, and I bumped into him. We both tripped. Don’t you remember?”

“Yeah, right!”

“I’m serious. It was an accident.”

Just at that moment, Coach Bentley stepped out the door of the locker room. “Brain!” he yelled. “Get yourself in here and get out of that uniform. We have some tape to watch, and you have to see it.”

The quarterback sneered at me and said, “I guess you get off this time, but I’ll be back.” He turned and walked toward the bus where the rest of his team was waiting. As I turned back and headed to the locker room I muttered, “Saved by the coach!”