up as bananas to promote them Our principal’s evilness knows no bounds Oh so Mrs Blunt made you a council member then asked Jake No I volunteered But I didn’t know I’d have to wear a stupid fruit costume said the angry banana Alexis couldn’t keep a straight face any longer Ha ha Oh Barnaby that’s such bad luck I’d never be seen dead in a banana costume A mean laugh from behind Jake made him turn around Amelia Trotter-Hogg ponytailed pest of Class 5A was standing there a look of evil happiness on her face For once I agree with Alexis Amelia said smirking She turned to Barnaby I thought this was a soccer tournament not a fruit and veggie competition What are you doing here said Barnaby coldly I thought you had Prissypants Pony Club on Saturdays Barnaby shook his banana-head as if flipping a ponytail Amelia glared It’s Priscilla’s Pony Club actually She turned to go then looked back And you’ll find out why I’m here soon enough She marched off Barnaby glared after her It’s her fault I’m dressed like this I’d have been on the team with you guys if she hadn’t told on me You can’t blame Amelia Alexis said You’re the one who put slugs in her lunch box You should have known it would get you a day’s work on the Rockery it was just bad luck that was the day they picked the team A day’s work on the Rockery was the punishment for any student getting three Sad Faces A Sad Face was given for breaking a school rule There were a hundred and forty-one or maybe two school rules so it was quite easy to break one without even knowing you had and Barnaby found it easier than most Jake Alexis Woodstock was walking toward them with a little old man dressed from head to toe in soccer gear The old man’s face was painted in blue and white stripes their team
colors and he was wearing a ball-tipped hat to match He held a megaphone to his mouth WE’RE ON OUR WAY TO BEMBLEY WE’RE GONNA MISS ASSEMBLY DA DAAA DAAA DA DA DAAA DAAA DA Woodstock rolled his eyes Stop it Granddad He turned to the others My granddad’s crazy about soccer In fact he’s just plain crazy Granddad these are my friends SPEAK UP BOY Granddad bellowed into the megaphone Jake’s eardrums shook in pain I said these are my friends Jake and Alexis Woodstock yelled in his ear No need to shout Granddad said I’m not deaf
Granddad shook Jake’s and Alexis’s hands then turned to Barnaby And who’s this Oh hi Barnaby Woodstock said recognizing Barnaby for the first time Sorry I didn’t recognize you in that costume Granddad this is Barnaby Hello Bananaby Granddad said Alexis almost giggled Barnaby’s face turned more cherry than banana-colored BAR-NA-BY shouted Woodstock Oh never mind Barnaby can you help my granddad find a seat We have to go and get changed now Barnaby sighed as Granddad took his arm chatting away merrily Thank you Bananaby Unusual name Is it Scandinavian He dragged Barnaby off into the crowd Jake shook his head Poor Bananaby I mean Barnaby Woodstock chuckled Leave it to Granddad to come up with that one Yeah Barnaby really wanted to be on the team didn’t he Look never mind him Alexis said What’s important is that we win the Golden Ball trophy We did well in the first rounds and have been practicing extra hard As Mr Hyde always says what are we Winners Jake and Woodstock cheered but a sudden pang of worry hit Jake at the mention of their teacher Everyone knew that Mr Hyde was the best teacher in the universe Not everyone knew that Mr Hyde had an unfortunate habit of turning into a very naughty and chaos-creating creature when he got stressed or over-excited Let’s hope Mr Hyde doesn’t turn into Creature today he said We won’t be winners then we’ll just be in trouble We’ll help keep him as calm as possible said Alexis He said he’d sort out our jerseys and take them to the locker room Let’s go then Woodstock said The first game starts in about twenty minutes On their way Jake had a nagging feeling that something was wrong Then he
remembered what Amelia had said You’ll find out why I’m here in a bit What had she meant by that Uh oh What’s this Woodstock pointed as they approached the locker room Jake saw a small crowd of people Their two classmates Nora and Karl were there Facing them was the ponytailed pest Amelia Trotter-Hogg Even worse luck next to Amelia stood Mrs Blunt Mrs Blunt was dressed in a very sharp suit and huge sunglasses She was leaning toward Nora and Karl like a praying mantis about to strike
