Cool! (4 page)
Authors: Michael Morpurgo
FOOTBALL STAR GIANFRANCO ZOLA FULFILS HIS PROMISE
In a bid to wake accident victim, 10-year-old Robbie Ainsley, from his coma, Zola promised him a VIP seat in the Directors’ Box when Chelsea next played Manchester United at home. And on Saturday Robbie was there to watch his hero put Man U to the sword, and score the winning goal himself…
“It was great that Robbie was here to see us win,” said the Italian star. “It wouldn’t have been so good to wake up from his coma and come and see us lose, would it? I gave him a bit of a wave when I scored
my goal. I dedicated that goal specially to him. It’s a great day for me, for all of us at Chelsea because it’s like Robbie came back from the dead almost to be with us. That’s a whole lot more important than beating Manchester United, I think.”
Robbie’s family came along for the match as well, with the family dog, Lucky. He was knocked down in the same accident, but like Robbie he survived –
luckily.
And Robbie’s comment on his great day at Chelsea? “Gianfranco and me kicked a ball about afterwards. Just him and me – and Lucky. It was cool.”
But that wasn’t the end of Robbie’s great day out. He was back in Exeter in time for the evening performance of the Panto at the Northcott Theatre to see his dad play the part of one of the ugly sisters.
Said Robbie: “He was cool, really cool.”
The Dancing Bear
The Butterfly Lion
Farm Boy
Dear Olly
Billy the Kid
Toro! Toro!
Private Peaceful
For younger readers
Albertine, Goose Queen
And Pigs Might Fly
Jigger’s Day Off
Martians at Mudpuddle Farm
Mossop’s Last Chance
Mum’s the Word
Mr Skip
Picture books
Sam’s Duck
Wombat Goes Walkabout
Gentle Giant
Audio
Kensuke’s Kingdom (read by Derek Jacobi)
Dear Olly (read by Paul McGann)
Out of the Ashes (read by Sophie Aldred)
The Butterfly Lion (read by Virginia McKenna)
Billy the Kid (read by Richard Attenborough)
Farm Boy (read by Derek Jacobi)
Private Peaceful (read by Paul McGann)
First published in Great Britain by Collins 2002
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THIRD EDITION
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EPub Edition © APRIL 2010 ISBN: 978-0-007-38241-5
Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 2002
Illustrations copyright © Michael Foreman 2002
The author and illustrator assert the moral right to be identified as author and illustrator of the work.
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