Hat Trick

To my great-grandson and namesake,
Matthew Christopher Howell

Copyright

Text copyright © 2000 by Catherine M. Christopher

Illustrations copyright © 2000 by Daniel Vasconcellos

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including
information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may
quote brief passages in a review.

First eBook Edition: December 2009

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental
and not intended by the author.

Matt Christopher
^™
is a trademark of Catherine M. Christopher.

Hachette Book Group

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New York, NY 10017

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ISBN: 978-0-316-09540-2

Subs:

Jason Shearer

Dale Tuget

Roy Boswick

Edith “Eddie” Sweeny

Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

S
tookie Norris sat across the dinner table from his older brother, Greg. Greg had pushed his plate aside and was reading the
sports column of the local newspaper.

“A color photo, not just black and white!” Greg gloated. “Here’s what the caption says: ‘Greg Norris, striker for the Blue
Waves soccer team, scored the league’s first and only hat trick this season on Tuesday.’” He put the paper down so Stookie
could see the photo, too. It showed a sweaty-faced Greg beaming for the camera.

“The guy who wrote the article says my playing was the best he’s ever seen for a twelve-year-old. That my fancy footwork and
speed left the other team in the dust.” Greg leaned back in his chair and locked his hands behind his head. “What do you think
of that, little bro?”

Stookie looked at the photo, then at his brother, and shook his head admiringly. “Wow. I wish I’d been there to see it.” He
handed the paper back to Greg. “But, um, what’s a hat trick, anyway?”

Greg snorted. “You don’t know what a hat trick is? Some soccer player you are! It’s only what every striker should try to
do, in every game. I can’t believe your coach hasn’t told you that.”

Stookie reddened. His mother came to his rescue.

“Well, I don’t know what a hat trick is, either. Perhaps you won’t mind telling me—before you tip over in your chair?”

Greg rocked his chair forward with a thump. “A hat trick is when one player scores three goals in one game,” he explained
impatiently. “It’s very hard to do.”

“But your coach told you that’s what strikers should try for, every time?” Mrs. Norris asked with surprise.

Greg groaned. “Well, he didn’t come right out and
say
that. But you should have seen how pumped he was when I scored that third goal! It’s pretty clear to me that that’s what
he wants me to do.”

Mr. Norris added, “It was pretty exciting. I almost busted with pride right there in the stands.” He chucked Greg playfully
under the chin. “Keep up the good work.”

Stookie looked at the newspaper article with envy. At that moment, he decided that he, too, would do what all strikers were
supposed to do. He would do all he could to make a hat trick at the next Soccer ’Cats game.

H
ey, did you guys see the sports column in the paper yesterday?”

That was the first thing Stookie asked his Soccer ’Cats teammates the next day at practice. The team was gathered in the stands,
waiting for the coach to arrive.

“Yeah, pretty cool picture of your brother,” said Amanda Caler, one of the team’s halfbacks.

“Did you read the article?” Stookie continued. “My brother is a star! He knows everything there is to know about soccer. His
coach
thinks he’s the best. You should have heard what he said when Greg made that hat trick!” He looked from one player to another.
“You
do
know what a hat trick is, don’t you?”

Jason Shearer popped his gum. “Yeah, isn’t that when a guy with a black cape makes a rabbit appear or turns a broken egg into
a dove?” The other kids snickered.

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Stookie grumbled. “Well, we’ll see who’s laughing when
I
get
my
name in the paper for scoring three goals next game. ’Cuz that’s just what I’m going to do!”

Lou Barnes arrived in time to hear what Stookie was saying. “You’re going to score three goals next game?” he echoed. “Guess
I might as well hand in my soccer shoes then, because you won’t need me in the front line with you.”

Stookie threw a mock punch at the big striker’s arm. “Well, someone has to assist me out there,” he joked. “If you’re lucky,
I might
just mention your name when the newspaper interviews me. Of course, that’s supposing I don’t bring the ball in all by myself
each time.” He locked his hands together behind his head and leaned back against the stands.

“Oh, brother,” he heard someone say. But before he could identify who had said it, the coach showed up and started practice.

“Hi, team,” Coach Bradley greeted them. “Let’s get going. Lou, Jerry, Stookie, and Roy, we’re going to practice shooting on
goal today. Bucky, you and Jason are our goalies.” Jason started to groan, but at a look from the coach he turned it into
a cough. “The rest of you will be doing tackling and dribbling drills.”

Stookie’s heart soared when he heard the coach’s plan. It was as if the coach had decided to help Stookie reach his goal of
making a hat trick.

I bet he saw the paper, too,
Stookie thought.
Greg must be right; coaches must want their
strikers to make hat tricks. Well I won’t let Coach Bradley down!

For that part of practice, Stookie worked harder than he ever had. Each time he faced Bucky or Jason, he sized them up carefully.
Then he kicked the ball with all his might to a spot he hoped the goalie wouldn’t reach in time. He faked Jason out more times
than not, but Bucky was much quicker. He only made half his kicks good against the ’Cats regular goalie.

Still, when it was time to switch to another drill, Stookie was sure he’d improved. Of course, kicking a goal during a practice
wasn’t quite the same as during a game, but Stookie wasn’t worried. Somehow, he’d make his three goals the next game. He was
sure of it.

T
he game against the Black Hawks started right on schedule the next day. Stookie Norris took his position at center field.
Jerry Dinh lined up on his right. Lou Barnes was on his left.

The Soccer ’Cats hadn’t played the Black Hawks before, but Stookie wasn’t nervous. He had his game plan in mind and was sure
he could make it work.

The ’Cats had won the toss. At the referee’s whistle, Stookie gave the ball a gentle kick to Jerry. Jerry prodded it forward
with his foot,
picking up speed as he dribbled downfield. Stookie and Lou kept pace with him, ready to help out if Jerry got in trouble.

Sure enough, a tackier charged Jerry. Jerry saw him coming and booted the ball cleanly toward Stookie.