13 years the playground, the director

call one by one the students: - C inqueme 2! Ajard Sylvie ..., Boyer
Charlotte ..., Crouse Thomas ...

It's me. I cross the courtyard. I have the heart

who beats hard! The day of the return, it is a special day. I am happy and at the same
time a little worried1. I have a lot of questions in my head: what teachers will I have?
who will be in my class? ... - Micquel Éva ..., N'Dyaye Kofi ..., Noujbel
Leila ... Kofi and Leila run to me. - Great, we're in the same class! she says. - Hush ...
listen to the rest. - Pradel Leo ... Renoir Remi ... Whew! Remi is in our class. Every
four,
we are friends since primary school. People call us "inseparable1 2"! - Leo Pradel, I
do not know him. It's a
new? Kofi asks. - Pradel ... Pradel ... it tells me some chosedit Leila. Our French
teacher is called sir
Gilot. He walks slowly from one side of the class to the other. With his deep voice, he
looks a bit stern.

He gives us our schedule first and then talks about the French program4. -Here's the
goal of this year, he says: learn
to express oneself well, both orally and in writing. You will present yourself in front
of your comrades. I look at Leïla with a worried look. I whisper: - Have, have, be! It
starts badly, speak in
public, I hate it! Monsieur Gilot continues: - Let's start right away. So, young
man, do you have anything to say to the class?

What's your name ? - Me?!? ... Well ... uh ... well ... My name is Thomas ... Thomas
Crouse ... uh ... - It's Tom Cruise's son, spear someone a. - Ah ah ah! All the students
burst out laughing. I become
all red. - Silence! So, Thomas, what are your hobbies
favorite? - Uh ... well ... I do not know me ... Well, uh ...
I like movies, and uh ... I like football, uh ... well ... only in video games. That's
what ... New general laughter. -Shut up ! Well ... Thank you Thomas, but without
the "uh ... well ... uh," it's even better. And now, to others to introduce themselves.
Leila then speaks of her passion for
sports journalism. Kofi, rap and football, and Rémi, photo ... and football, of course.
Then Mr. Gilot questions the new : My name is Léo Pradel, my parents live
the village for a month, because the big cities are too stressful9. My father works in
Lyon, it's ok, it's not far from here and then he has a very good car! he says very sure
of himself.
Leo speaks well, without "uh and ben" to every sentence. He wears branded clothes,
brand new. He is super fashionable. Everyone is impressed

- And what are your passions? request

Mr. Gilot. - I dance very well tecktonik13 and I love
football. - Thank you Leo, and congratulations for this very presentation
clear. The whole class seems to share the same passion: football! A finger stands up. -
Yes Leila, you have a question? - Yes, to Leo. Pradel, is that your name? The
telefoot presenter is called like you, is your father? The whole class laughs loudly. -
Hush! Let your friend answer, says
Mr. Gilot. - Yes, it's my father. After these words, a great silence is made in
the class.

Chap 2

End of September. The big holidays are

already a distant memory. Leo, the new, is the star of the class. And even college! He
has everything for himself. He is a good student, he is comfortable? with the girls, he
speaks well, without doing "uh" and "ben", he dresses super fashionable. And besides,
it's the son of Pradel, the famous TV presenter! The others want to do everything like
Leo! Dress like him, listen to the same music. Me, I do not like the others, I'm bad at
football and tecktonik, it's not my thing4. It's not my thing and that's it! During the
recesses, the boys and girls of the class play football. I do not play, I watch them. And
football, the best Leo is of course ... I'm not jealous5 but still it annoys me just a little!
Even Leila starts to be a fan of Leo. - Say Leo, she asks, your father, he knows
Zidane? - Of course, he knows it. I too know
Zidane, he sometimes comes to eat at home on Sundays. - Zidane, at your place? In
your house ? You want
to say in our village ?! - He may be talking about another Zidane! said Remi
The real Zidane, it's not possible! - Yes, if it is possible ... Leo responds very
calmly. I speak well Zinédine Zidane, the true, the unique, the former number 10 of
the team of France and Real Madrid. - Wow ! Too cool6! You're lucky, Leo. Me, I do
not say anything ... Leïla wants to become a journalist
sports, okay, but hey, Zidane, it's not the president of the Republic anyway! It's very
simple, when Leo speaks, it's great,
when Leo plays football, it's great ... and everything is like that. For example, for a
week now Leo wears a blue cap upside down on his head. Well this morning, in the
yard, I count one, two, three ... seven blue caps! No, eight! The eighth blue cap is on
the head of ... Kofi! A real copy-paste7 8 of Leo. Even pants, same shoes, same jacket
and now even cap. - You're new to Leo's fan club, you
also ? I tell him to laugh. Kofi looks at me furiously ': - Stay dressed like a kid, it's
yours
problem! Then he joins Leo's group. They are there, all
around their star and Leo dances his tecktonik.

Thursday, it goes wrong with Remi! In the evening, we

go back together and play ping-pong at home. But today he walks in front of me, the
headphones on his ears. - Remi!
He does not hear me. I run towards him.

Hey Rémi, are you coming back with me? - Yeah yeah, if you want .... And he puts
the headphones back on his MP3. I him
asks: - What's your music? No answer. He does not hear. I repeat more
I almost shout: - What is your music? - It's teakno! In front of the door of his house,
Rémi tends me
the hand to say goodbye.

And our ping-pong? I ask. - Oh no tonight, I do not want to. Remi closes the door. I
stay for a moment
in front of the closed door and I go home, a little sad. Why Leila, Kofi, Remi and the
others
Changen they? Why is everything different today? That evening, during dinner, Mom
said to me, "What is Thomas? You do not eat
nothing, are not you hungry? - No. - Do you have any problems11 in college? You
look
sad. - No, no, I'm fine, I'm a little tired, it's
nothing, do not worry!

Chap 3

The next morning during recess,

I stay in my corner. Leila comes to me. - What is Thomas? - Look Kofi and Remi, I
do not recognize them
more ! When I think of the "inseparable", you talk - Do not worry, it'll be over ... Go
play
with them, instead of staying alone. - At football? I am good at video games,
that's all ! - Become a real guardian. You are tall, you have
Reflexes! You'll get there, that's for sure. - You think ? Well, if Leïla says it ... She is
always good
advice2 3. At noon recess, I arrive at the moment when they
do the teams. When I approach, they all turn to me. - I can play ? - Too late ! Teams
are made, says
Remi. - Let him play! said Leo. Take it in your
team, that's one more for you ... We do not care4, we are the best! - Uh ... I want to be
a guardian. - Watch out for Leo, he scores a lot of goals!
said Leila. - And you Kofi, are you in my team? - No, I'm with the winners! he said,
moqueur6. Indeed, it starts badly. After ten minutes
Leo and Kofi's team wins with two goals to none! Leo's two goals of course. Our team
reacts, but we miss a good opportunity, the ball hits the post! The match continues:
Leo runs towards me, I put myself in front, to catch the ball, he shoots and ... PAF !!!

When I open my eyes, I lie on the floor,

I can not see anymore. There are people around me, everything is vague8. I hear
Leila's voice in the midst of the hubbub: "Thomas! Thomas! It's okay ? - Uh, not very
good ... - Hold your glasses. They are broken. - Thank you for your advice ! I tell him,
a little
edgy. - Are you laughing10 1? Super, the goalkeeper stop!
In the evening, at home, my parents are worried.
Without glasses, I can not attend classes. - Saturday, we will buy you new
glasses, said my father. In the meantime, take the old ones, those of the primary
school. - Huh? Oh no ! Impossible ! It's shame ! - Thomas, it's just for a day! said
mom.
Papa insists: - Stay yourself my Thomas. And if others laugh at you, ignorant!

The next morning, before leaving for college,

I look at myself one last time in the mirror. AIE Aie Aie ! What a look! I think back
to my father's words, "ignore them".
When I come to college, everyone is already
in class. 8 hours ! Damn, I'm late! I knock softly at the door, I enter and there is the
general laughter.
In my head, I repeat myself: "Ignore them, ignore them, ignore them". Mr. Gilot
intervenes: - Silence. I do not see anything funny! General silence. All day long I
repeat to myself: "Ignore them,
ignore them Friday night, finally on weekends. Phew! Thousand
times whew! I am happy to have two days of rest after this difficult day! "Then my
Thomas, this day? request
my dad at dinner. - Horrible! But thanks for the magic sentence:
"Ignore them, ignore them," I feel stronger. This weekend, my parents are great
nice. Saturday morning, we go to the optician12. My mother said to me, "Choose the
most beautiful glasses, darling. I try lots of pairs. I ask the optician unbreakable13, for
football. - Wait young man, I show you our
new glasses "special sport". I try them ... Great! On Sunday, we will pick up
raspberries with family in the woods and we prepare jams all together. It's really a
great weekend with the family. I feel stronger. After all, I'm like I am ... I stay myself,
that's all!

Chap 4

Monday morning, I arrive at college, sure of me.

Leila smiled at me: - Beautiful your new glasses! - Thanks Leïla! And I add, with a
wink: - Unbreakable!

The following days, I feel better. I do

progress1 to football in goals. With my new glasses, I see life differently! But Leo is
different, he looks sad. When his friends ask him: - Are you playing football, Leo? He
answers: - No thanks, not today, and he listens to the
music in his corner. And every day, it's the same answer: "No
thank you, not today. "
I'm at home when the phone rings. - Hello, hello it's Leila! - Hi Leila, what's up? - I
have a scoop3, I've got Foot magazine under them
eyes. Listening: "Mr. Pradel, the famous tele-football presenter is fired4. The reasons
for this blabble event ... "- Incredible! So that's it, the change
Leo? - We have to do something, we have to help him. - To help? I! does not need me,
he has a lot
friends.

- Come on, Thomas, I'm serious. Leo is sad

and he needs us. In all the newspapers, one can read at wholesale
title: "licensee". And below, there is the photo of Leo's dad. The news5 goes around
the school, everyone is talking about it. Little by little, Leo's friends let him down.6 7.
Leo becomes more and more isolated: he is no longer the star of the college, Leila is
right, he must be helped, but how?
It is four o'clock. It's the end of class. Everyone rushes to put his stuff in his bag.

In one minute, there is no one left in the class. No one except Leo and me. I hesitate a
little, I do not know what to say to him ...
And as Leo walks out the door, I
decides: - Leo? He turns around, looking astonished. - Leo, just a question: you like
jam
homemade raspberry and hot chocolate? - Are you making fun of me or what? - No,
not at all, I invite you to taste at home. Win! Leo smiles!
In front of sandwiches and good chocolate, Léo
begins to speak: - You know, since the story of my father, the
others let me down. It's hard ! - They are not used to seeing you sad. - The problem is
celebrity. They are not
buddies with me because it's me, it's just because my father is famous.

- So, you're lucky! Now, you're going

have real friends! We laugh. Then Leo becomes serious. -You, Thomas, you are
different. You stay yourself,
you do not do like everyone else. In truth, the others respect you'1 ... In addition, your
raspberry jam is super good!
In the courtyard, students in our class are
in small groups. When we pass, all eyes are on Leo and me. Nobody moves. Leïla
joins us: - We must do something! For Leo, for
the class: the atmosphere10 is horrible. We must act ! And it's up to you, Thomas.
-Me ? - Speak to them, please. - It's amazing, that! Nobody is interested
to me since the beginning of the year and now I have to "save" the class?

ChAP 5

At the beginning of the course, Mr. Gilot takes

the floor: - I am very happy with your work, you do
some progress. But since a few weeks there is a bad atmosphere in the classroom ... Is
there a problem? Does one of you want to speak? General silence. Everyone looks
down.
Leila looks at me. My heart beats hard, I hesitate ... and, suddenly, without thinking, 1
I raise my finger: - Yes, Thomas? We hear you.
I get up and I take the floor: - Mr. Gilot is right, there is a bad
atmosphere in the class. When a student has problems, we must all help him. Do not
let it fall! I have an idea for our class: let's organize a big football game. Our class
against the big ones of third. They are taller, that's right. But we can beat them! All
together we are stronger!

- Hooray, great, great! All the students are very happy. - Bravo Thomas, very nice
initiative2. Then I
you nominate captain of the team and I propose to Leïla to write the article of the
match. And who wants to take the photos? Fingers are rising in the classroom. -
Hooray, great, great ... What a mood!
The third train3 on the stage of
middle School. With Kofi, Remi, Leila and Leo we watch them play.
- Wow, what a team! - Look at number 10, it's super technical. "- Yes technical and ...
physical too!
a little his legs, real hams! - Aie, aie, aie, it'll hurt! - Come on, come on, courage4 5.
We are David,
it's Goliath. The little one eats the big one! - Yeah yeah, that's it! - Let's study their
game well to beat them. - You're right, it's good to believe it! said Remi
joking. At the end of the training, the number 10 passes
next to us, he throws us: - So the small fifths, you learn
the art of football? - That's right, you play very well. - And we want to make a match
against you! said Leo. - A match ? Ah, ah ah! It's a joke or
what? - No, it's very serious. -Alright then. Wednesday, in two weeks, at
return from vacation, 13 hours here, are you ok? - Okay. - And prepare your
handkerchiefs! The guardian of
Above all, it'll hurt! Ah, ah, ah!

And he goes away. I'm a little scared when

even. And to say that it is my idea! We will be massacred6 ... Leila, she is very
motivated: - We have fifteen days to prepare.
I'm doing a training program! With passes, shots, crosses and kicks on goal in case of
a draw. And also jogging for endurance8! - Hey, oh ... it's fine, gently! It's the
holidays ! said Remi. - Come on boys! We will win this match!

Chap 6

Today is the big day. Lei'la us

recalls the tactics to beat them: - Defend and play against!
Above all, do not leave the number 10 alone. Kofi, it's for you. Leo, you are our
scorer, so if you pass the ball, you shoot! Remi, you have to make some nice passes
ahead to Leo. And you, my great Thomas, I just tell you ... uh ... good luck! There, we
all burst out laughing. It's good to laugh
before entering the field. One hour to five, we leave the locker room. Applause from
the public, the whole college is here: students, teachers and even parents. It's crazy !
My heart beats at an incredible speed. I
I can not put my gloves on, I'm crazy! 2. I hear the whistle. The match begins. Damn,
Damn!
And I see number 10 running towards me as
an arrow, I throw my gloves on the ground, he shoots! A cannonball goes between my
legs ... and goal. First action of the match and already a goal. The bad luck3! - I'm
sorry friends, it's my fault. - It does not matter, he stays eighty-five
minutes to equalize, says Leila. The match resembles our predictions4: big
domination of the third, and we, all in defense. I can not stop shouting at my
defenders: - Watch out, on the left ... danger on the right.
Phew, it's half-time. 1-0. In the locker room,
Leïla encourages the team: -Go, a goal of difference, it's nothing. Go ahead Leo, you
can equalize, continue the boys, that's good. The second half begins as the
first. The third team is in our camp. There are many dangerous actions, two shots on
the posts, and even a crossbar5. A real nightmare! The minutes pass, still no goals,
always 1 to 0 for them. In my goals, I cry to Leila: - How much time is left? "Five
minutes," she replies without hope. I scream loudly: - Come on guys! It's now or
never !
All on the attack! I keep the goals. The last five minutes are beautiful.
Kofi, Leo, Remi and the others are fighting like lions. And here is a superb tackle of 7
Kofi, the ball goes in the feet of Remi. Remi runs with the ball, dribbles a defender,
he passes the ball to Leo …

- Leo! Leo! Leo! The public shouts its name. Oh it's hard to be here
and to do nothing, only to shout: - Come on, come on guys! Leo is now alone in front
of their guardian he
shoot and ... BuuuuuuuuTTT !!! Final whistle: one everywhere! It's the penalty
shoot-out. The nightmare
guards. What suspense8! Kofi places the ball, shoots and ... goal. To them now. I
concentrate, whistle, their number 7, a big one with a wicked head, pulls and ... ah!
Damn! Aim for them. The series ends. We have five, they have four. If they do not
score that goal, the victory is ours. I put myself in the center, I put on my glasses and
my gloves. I look at their best player, number 10, right in the eye. He goes back to
take his swing10 1 and I see him running, run towards me at 100 km / h and ...
- Thomas? Thomas? I recognize Leila's voice. I open my eyes and
I see the friends above me. They all smile.
- Huh? What? How? Where are my
glasses? I see nothing. - Here they are your glasses, not even
broken. - Ah? And the match? What is the result? - It's us, it's us the winners, thanks
at your stop ... painful, but exceptional! - It's nice that ! I answer, one more
little sounded

The next day in the classroom, Mr. Gilot

looks at us with a big smile: - I congratulate you12, what a beautiful team you
do! And what a beautiful class! Thank you Leila for your very good article. Do you
want to read it to us?
Leila takes the sheet, gives me a little wink
and begins: - Title: "The match of Thomas ..."