Read The Heartbeat of Halftime Online
Authors: Stephen Wunderli
The Heartbeat of Halftime (13 page)
F
or years, my father was up early on autumn Saturdays to watch two of his sons play football. And sometimes, to coach them. Freddy, my older brother, was gifted in every aspect of the game. He blocked. He tackled. He kicked. And he ranâscrambling for touchdowns while defenses grappled at his shifty body, often separating him from shoes, helmet, and fragments of his jersey ⦠but rarely knocking him off his feet. I, on the other hand, was perfectly mediocre. So, to assuage my father of any guilt he may be feeling in his golden years for slightly favoring his older, more athletic son, I am dedicating this book to him: Thanks, Pop, for those times you stood shivering at my games, wishing you were at Freddy's. I harbor no bitter feelings of resentment borne of the sibling rivalry
you encouraged. Nope, I'm just fine with the fact that you saw only three of my games and hundreds of his, that he always got to sit in the front seat of the car on game days, that he got to wear your favorite number on his jersey; and I'm not upset in the least that he carried on the family nickname, got hot dogs after the game, was always first to get a haircut, new shoes, and the pick of the lunch boxes (I really did want the Jetsons lunch box, even though I said I didn't after he'd already picked it. You didn't know that did you?) ⦠. On second thought, I think I'll just dedicate this book to Mom.
or years, my father was up early on autumn Saturdays to watch two of his sons play football. And sometimes, to coach them. Freddy, my older brother, was gifted in every aspect of the game. He blocked. He tackled. He kicked. And he ranâscrambling for touchdowns while defenses grappled at his shifty body, often separating him from shoes, helmet, and fragments of his jersey ⦠but rarely knocking him off his feet. I, on the other hand, was perfectly mediocre. So, to assuage my father of any guilt he may be feeling in his golden years for slightly favoring his older, more athletic son, I am dedicating this book to him: Thanks, Pop, for those times you stood shivering at my games, wishing you were at Freddy's. I harbor no bitter feelings of resentment borne of the sibling rivalry
you encouraged. Nope, I'm just fine with the fact that you saw only three of my games and hundreds of his, that he always got to sit in the front seat of the car on game days, that he got to wear your favorite number on his jersey; and I'm not upset in the least that he carried on the family nickname, got hot dogs after the game, was always first to get a haircut, new shoes, and the pick of the lunch boxes (I really did want the Jetsons lunch box, even though I said I didn't after he'd already picked it. You didn't know that did you?) ⦠. On second thought, I think I'll just dedicate this book to Mom.
Â
Â
In 1993 I helped coach my son's Olympus Titan team of eight- and nine-year-olds. They were by far the smallest bunch of kids in the league, yet by some miracle, and lots of guts and determination, they won the championship. This book is also for them:
| Tyler Beisel | Casey Evans |
| Taylor Bohling | Junior Fonua |
| Tyson Bohling | Justin Green |
| Valan Campbell | Cooper Johnston |
| Daniel Coya | Nicholas Jones |
| Kevin Dahle | Joey King |
| Richard Edman | Parker Lindsay |
| Richard Lindsay | Jeff Robinson |
| Anthony Morris | Nicholas Sorensen |
| Joseph Mortenson | Matt Springer |
| Chase Nelson | Robbie Swenson |
| Dustin Porter | Nate Taylor |
| Richard Prescott | Jonathan Thorne |
| Michael Rice | Kade Walton |
| Tyler Rice | Matthew Wunderli |
Also by Stephen Wunderli
The Blue Between the Clouds
Copyright © 1996 by Stephen Wunderli
All rights reserved.
Published in Canada by Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd.,
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario L3R 4T8.
Published in Canada by Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd.,
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario L3R 4T8.
Â
Â
Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
Publishers since 1866
115 West 18th Street
New York, New York 10011
Publishers since 1866
115 West 18th Street
New York, New York 10011
Henry Holt is a registered
trademark of Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
trademark of Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
Â
Â
eISBN 9781466813632
First eBook Edition : May 2012
Â
Â
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wunderli, Stephen.
The heartbeat of halftime/ Stephen Wunderli.
p. cm.
Wunderli, Stephen.
The heartbeat of halftime/ Stephen Wunderli.
p. cm.
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Wing clings to the dream that his perpetually losing football team can ride an unexpected winning streak to the championship game before his father dies of cancer.
[1. FootballâFiction. 2. Fathers and sonsâFiction. 3. DeathâFiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.W96375He 1996 [Fic]âdc20 95-26695
ISBN 0-8050- 4713-1
First Editionâ1996
Other books
The Princess Who Tamed Demons by J. Kirsch
His Prize (The Cleaners Book 1) by Doris O'Connor
Cecilian Vespers by Anne Emery
Exile's Return by Alison Stuart
Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash by Wendelin Van Draanen
A Hidden Truth by Judith Miller
Arcadia by Lauren Groff
Beautiful Innocence by Kelly Mooney
Hired Help - Working Stiffs Book One by Sahara Kelly
El caballero de la Rosa Negra by James Lowder