Read T.J. and the Winning Goal for Free Online

making a save.’
    In another photograph Mr Wood and Mr Burrows were beaming at the camera and holding a copy of the inspectors’ report on the school. ‘It says our school is outstanding,’ TJ said, reading the report. ‘And it says how we’re going to represent the district in the Regional Championships.’
    ‘It’s us,’ said Leila. ‘We’re actually in the paper. Just about everyone. They’ve even put in a bit about Marshall Jones and Mr Wood.’
    ‘Hey, Tulsi,’ called Jamie. ‘Where are you going?’
    Tulsi didn’t reply. ‘It’s because of this,’ said Rob. ‘There are pictures of all of us in the team, right? All of us except Tulsi.’
    ‘She’s not having a very good day,’ TJ said, telling them about the old lady.
    ‘She’s not having a very good month, you mean,’ said Jamie. ‘We have to do something.’
    ‘I’ve been trying,’ said TJ. ‘But nothing seems to work.’
    Later that morning Mr Burrows came to the classroom to speak to Tulsi. ‘I’ve had a complaint, young lady,’ he said.
    ‘It was an accident,’ said Tulsi. ‘I said I was sorry. I—’
    Just for a moment TJ thought that Tulsi was going to make things even worse, but Mr Burrows held up a hand. ‘Quite right,’ he said. ‘I know you need to practise for the tournament, and I explained that to Mrs Barlow. I told her Mr Wood will take some of you round to weed her garden next week.’
    Tulsi sat down again, but she still didn’t look very happy. ‘Now then,’ Mr Burrows continued, ‘I expect you’ve all seen the paper. Jolly good picture of me, I thought!’
    Everyone laughed, but even that didn’t cheer Tulsi up for long, and at break time she wouldn’t even kick a ball around with her friends.
    That night TJ’s mum picked him up from school in the car. ‘You’re growing, TJ,’ she said. ‘Look at those trousers. We’re going into town to get you some new ones.’
    ‘Can we get new football boots as well?’ TJ asked. ‘Only I’ll need them for the tournament . My old ones are getting too small.’
    It was when they were coming out of the sports shop in the mall that TJ’s mum said,
    ‘Hey, look, TJ. Doesn’t that boy go to your school?’
    TJ peered over the balcony at the people milling around on the floor below. ‘It’s Danny,’ he said. ‘Hey, Danny! Up here!’
    Danny looked up. ‘Is that Danny’s mum?’ asked Mrs Wilson. ‘She has got her hands full, hasn’t she?’
    Danny’s mum was pushing a huge double buggy with a pair of screaming twins inside it. Danny was holding the hand of a toddler with a chocolate-covered face. TJ and his mum rode the escalator down to the next level and Mrs Wilson was soon busy admiring the twins. ‘I’m Stacy,’ said Danny’s mum. ‘Stacy Gray. This is Rosie, and these are the twins. They’re six weeks old today.’
    ‘And they never sleep,’ said Danny gloomily.
    ‘Really?’ said TJ.
    ‘Well, it seems like it,’ Danny said. ‘And when they wake up then Rosie wakes up too.’
    Rosie was staring up at TJ, then she suddenly laughed and hid her face against Danny’s legs. ‘Danny’s been great,’ Mrs Gray told TJ’s mum. ‘My husband’s away working abroad. Danny helps me feed the twins and he looks after Rosie. He’s even learned to change their nappies.’
    Danny’s face went bright red. ‘Mum!’ he said. ‘You don’t have to tell everyone.’
    ‘Is that why you don’t come to training?’ asked TJ.
    ‘I told him I could manage,’ said Mrs Gray. ‘But he just wouldn’t go.’
    ‘I can’t imagine TJ changing a baby’s nappy,’ said Mrs Wilson.
    ‘Me, neither,’ said TJ. And then he had an idea. ‘Mum?’ he said. ‘I don’t suppose . . .’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Maybe you could help Mrs Gray? We really need Danny in the team and—’
    ‘I couldn’t let you,’ interrupted Danny’s mum.
    ‘No, wait,’ said Mrs Wilson, who already seemed to have made friends with Mrs Gray. ‘I’d love to give you a hand,