“Sure it won’t. I’m the best kicker in the Home. Course we don’t play a regular game, but Dr. Wade said it would be good for my foot to exercise it, and kicking’s the best fun I know. I’ll show you!”
He placed the football on a little pile of dirt, and then, standing on his “good” foot, he swung the other, which was bent and twisted, straight at the blown-up ball.
“Plunk!” came the sound, and Trouble’s ball went sailing through the air.
“Say, that’s a fine kick!” cried Ted. “It’s great!”
“Ee, dat’s great,” echoed Trouble.
“And it went awful far!” added Jan, as the ball rolled and bounced away down the hill.
“Oh, I’ve done better than that with a regular-sized ball,” explained Hal Chester. “Wait, maybe I’ll be able to send it farther next time,” and he started down the slope with a half run and a half jump.
“I’ll get it!” cried Ted after him.
“Pooh! Don’t think I can’t run!” laughed the lame boy over his shoulder. “I have to wiggle like an eel while I’m doing it,” he went on, “but I can get there,” and he did, before Ted reached the ball.
Then Hal sent it flying back with another kick and Ted, in his turn, lifted it high in the air and started it rolling about the grass. Trouble, too, joined in the little game, laughing and shouting in glee.