Gary smiled. He wished he knew what Joe meant by that.
There was an odd number of players, and after much discussion it was decided, “in order to be fair,” that Gary would be the designated center for both teams.
“Just until someone else comes,” said Joe. “You understand?”
“Sure,” Gary said. “But I can catch, too. I caught that touchdown—”
“Everyone already knows the trick play,” said Zack. “It won’t work twice.”
“Zack and I have been playing together a long time,” Joe explained. “I know his moves.”
“Besides, what’s wrong with playing center?” asked Paul. “You get to handle the ball on every play.”
“That’s right,” agreed Brian. “I sometimes go half a game without even getting to touch the ball.”
“It’s the most important position on the team,” said Matt. “It starts every play.”
Gary shrugged. He really didn’t mind playing center so much. But if it was such a great position, how come nobody else wanted to do it?
“What do they think I am—stupid?”
“You know the most important rule about playing center?” Ryan asked him.
“What?” asked Gary.
“Don’t let your butt get in the way of the ball!” said Ryan, then he cracked up.
Gary laughed too. He didn’t want Ryan to think he didn’t get the joke—even though he didn’t.
It was tackle, and everyone played a lot rougher than in gym class. Every time Gary hiked the ball, somebody knocked him backward.
“Hey, Goon!” said Matt. “What do you call a snake that’s about a foot long and has scaly green skin and two sharp fangs?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either,” said Matt, “but it just crawled down your pants!”
Gary had heard it before, but he laughed
anyway. Actually, he’d expected Matt to say, “It’s crawling on your neck.” He had to admit that “down your pants” was funnier than “on your neck.”
But Gary had also thought of two other punch lines.
What do you call a snake that’s about a foot
long and has scaly green skin and two sharp
fangs?
Sir.
What do you call a snake that’s about a foot
long and has scaly green skin and two sharp
fangs?
Cecil.