23 It’s the first football game of the season. Paul says that he should get Theresa Cruz to show him, because she knows the soccer players. Joey asks Paul if he can show him around. 22 Lat er Joey calls to tell Paul that he’s coming to Tangerine Middle School on Monday. He also says that once he’s on the team he needs to stick with the team. Back on the bus Victor tells him he played decently. Paul starts punching the other player on the ground. He gets knocked down by another player, who pulls off his glasses and puts mud in his eyes. He plays as hard as he can, but he’s ashamed. Victor passes Paul a perfect setup for a shot, but Paul kicks and misses the ball entirely. Paul can’t believe he’s playing center forward–he’s only used to playing in net. He gets sent off and Betty tells Paul to go in for him. Tino, the center forward, gets knocked down and starts punching the other player. It’s a brutal game and the referee is favoring Palmetto. He watches as the two teams attack each other as though it’s life and death. Paul doesn’t start, and he’s happy about that. They’re going to play Palmetto Middle School. Betty Bright, the coach, is also the bus driver. 22 Paul goes to play his first game with his new team. Erik and Arthur go inside and Paul tells Joey not to pay any attention. They tease Joey about taking off his brother’s shoes. As they’re in the backyard, Erik and Arthur come in and start to make jokes to Joey about Mohawk man-Joey’s brother. Paul tells Joey that he should come to Tangerine Middle School because then he might be able to get some game time. 20 Paul is at home with Joey and they’re outside comparing their different soccer uniforms.

The other players tell Paul it was a good save. Victor shoots on him and Paul saves it, but Victor runs up and pounds the ball out of his hands. Paul joins their practice and goes in the net. She introduces him to the soccer players. 19 Paul follows Theresa around school all day. She tells Paul that there’s a serious team. She doesn’t say much at all, until lunch time when he asks her if there’s a soccer team. A girl named Theresa Cruz gets assigned to show Paul around. As he walks through the halls people slam into him. The school building is old and rundown and he’s never seen anything like it in Tangerine.

On his way in, he passes boys karate-kicking each other. 18 It’s Paul’s first day at Tangerine Middle School.

Tangerine by edward bloor book