Howzat!. Brenda Munitich

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      Oh no – look at this. Only one home game!” David shouted to the others, pointing to the notice board. “Against Blackridge.”

      Most of the team crowded around the board.

      “I suppose the big guys are using the oval. They seem to get first choice in everything!” Jaco grumbled, looking up from a cell phone that he was fingering.

      “Well, there’s the pitch for mini-cricket if you want to play on that,” David joked. “Or maybe you should stick to those games on your cell phone.”

      “Yeah, right.” Jaco was unimpressed. “At least I’ve got one to play on!”

      “Even if it is a brick,” said David. “It’s ancient history!”

      Jaco lifted the phone as though to throw it at David, who ducked.

      “Oaklands,” Brian ran his finger down the list and turned to Fizz. “What are they like?”

      “Dunno, just a church school at Seven Oaks,” Fizz shrugged. “I know a guy who goes there – Lucky Kunene – he played in the league with us.” He turned to JP. “Isn’t that where he said he went?”

      JP grunted what Brian guessed was a ‘yes’.

      This guy never talks, thought Brian. He never jokes around like the others. I wonder what his problem is?

      “Hey guys,” Harry came running up. “Brian has this great little dog called Spike that plays cricket with him. He fields and all. What about if we use him for a mascot? He can come on the bus with us!”

      “Great idea,” said Fizz. “He can be our 13th man!” He roared with laughter. “Imagine if we sent him onto field! I wonder what the umpire would say?”

      “How will everyone know he’s our mascot?” asked David.

      “He’ll have to wear our school cap,” Jaco chipped in.

      “Oh man, you guys are ridiculous. He’ll never keep a cap on! Let’s rather make him a jacket to wear,” Wimpy suggested. “You know, with straps and things to keep it on.”

      “Yeah – and we can write ‘st Barnabas’ on it,” said Harry.

      “No – just ‘SAINTS’,” said Wimpy. “Everyone calls us that.”

      “What about sewing it on?” Brian asked Robyn who had strolled up to join them. “You know, with that embroidery stuff?”

      Robyn laughed. “Me? Are you asking me to sew? I hate sewing. Tell me something – do I have a label sewn on my back that says ‘I AM A GIRL. I SEW AND COOK’? Labels are dangerous things, my mother always tells me.” She stared thoughtfully at Brian. “Why don’t you sew it on?”

      Really, she can be annoying! Brian thought.

      Wimpy shrugged and gave him a sympathetic smile.

      The twins are so different, Brian thought, Wimpy is laid- back, even easy going … while Robyn enjoys mocking everyone, especially the guys.

      “I’ll ask my mom to do it then,” Brian said huffily.

      Later Scottie made them sit for a team photograph.

      “I hate having my photo taken!” Jaco grumbled.

      “Scared your nose’ll look too big, are you?” David taunted him.

      “Enough!” said Scottie firmly. “Just do it.”

      Afterwards Cassie showed Scottie a drawing Charl had done of the team. Scottie looked at it for a long time.

      “This is really very good, Charl,” he said. “I didn’t realise we had such a talent in our class.”

      “Oh, he’s always been good at art, sir,” Cassie said. “He won an art prize when he was only five.”

      Scottie pinned it on the board for everyone to see.

      “It’s much better than a photograph, sir,” Pauline said.

      Charl beamed with pleasure.