"We're playing this game as a team, Roger," chimed in Tom heatedly. "You're kicking the ball all over the lot!"
"Yeah," added Astro. "In every direction except the goal!"
"I was never clear," defended Roger. "I didn't want to lose possession of the ball!"
"You sure didn't," said Tom. "You acted as if it was your best friend and you never wanted to be separated from it!"
"We said we didn't want to freeze this game, Roger, and we meant it!" Astro glowered at his unit-mate. "Next period you show us some action! If you don't want to score, feed it to us and we'll save you the trouble!"
But the third period was the same. While Tom and Astro dashed up and down the field, blocking out the members of the Arcturus crew to give Roger a clear shot, he simply nudged the ball back and forth between the side lines, ignoring his teammates' pleas to drive forward. As the whistle sounded for the end of the period, boos and catcalls from the grandstand filled the air.
Tom's face was an angry red as he faced Roger again on the side lines during the rest period.
"You hear that, Roger?" he growled, nodding his head toward the stands. "That's what they think of your smart playing!"
"What do I care?" replied the blond cadet arrogantly. "They're not playing this game! I am!"