3. Wall-ball

Chapter 3 Wall-ball A plain concrete wall stood right in the middle of the playground. It wasn't attached to anything. Sometimes, Marvin wondered who built it, and why. But he didn't complain. Wall-ball was his favorite game. At recess, he got on line to play. "I can't believe I have to sit next to Joe!" Nick complained. "Duh, what's an elephant?" asked Stuart. Then he and Nick cracked up. "Joe was just nervous because he's new here," said Marvin. "Duh, how much does my brain weigh?" asked Nick. Stuart laughed.

"His brain doesn't weigh anything," said Warren, who was in line in front of Stuart. "Because he doesn't have one!" Marvin looked around to make sure Joe wasn't able to hear them. He saw Joe standing all by himself, on the edge of the blacktop. He looked lost. "Save my place," Marvin said. He walked over to Joe. "Hi. I'm Marvin." Joe smiled. "Hello, Marvin. I'm Joe. How do you do?" He held out his hand for Marvin to shake. "Uh, fine," said Marvin. He shook Joe's hand. Kids in Chicago were obviously more polite than they were here. "You want to play wall-ball?" Marvin asked. "I don't know how," said Joe. "It's easy," said Marvin. "C'mon." He led Joe to the wall. Kenny and Stuart were now playing, and Nick was first in line. Marvin and Joe got on line behind him, and in front of Travis. "Hey!" said Travis. "I was here," said Marvin. "Nick saved our places,

didn't you, Nick?" Nick looked at Marvin, then glared at Joe, then looked back at Marvin. "Yeah, I guess," he said. Marvin knew what he was thinking. He had saved Marvin's place, not Joe's. Stuart beat Kenny, and now it was Nick's turn. Nick rubbed his hands together as he stepped onto the court. "I'm going to kill you, Stuart!" he said. "Not if I kill you first," said Stuart. "They're good friends," Marvin assured Joe. Stuart served. He bounced the big red ball on the ground, then hit it hard with both hands. The ball hit the ground, then the wall, then the ground. Nick hit it. The ball hit the ground, the wall, then the ground. "You get how it's played?" Marvin asked. "I think so," said Joe. They watched each boy hit it several more times. Then Nick hit his "world-famous cross-court slam," and Stuart was finished. "Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the mighty Nick Tuffle has done it again," Nick proudly announced. "There is

nobody on this planet who can return Nick Tuffle's world-famous cross-court slam!" "Who's he talking to?" asked Joe. "The people watching on television at home," said Marvin. Nick beat Marvin, too, and then it was Joe's turn. "You can do it," Marvin encouraged. He patted Joe on the back as Joe stepped into the court. Nick served. Joe hit it back. Nick hit a long, high bouncer. Joe jumped up and hit it back. Nick hit a baby bouncer. Joe raced forward and got to it before it bounced twice. He was a very fast runner. Marvin found himself rooting for Joe, even though Nick was one of his best friends.

Nick smashed the return, but Joe ran backward and got to that one, too. He hit the ball off the wall and back to Nick. Nick was way over on one side of the court when the ball came to him. He was in perfect position. He smashed his world-famous cross-court slam. Joe raced to it and hit it back. Nick was still way over on one side of the court. He couldn't get back to the center in time. The ball bounced

past him. Joe won. When the bell rang, Marvin, Nick, and Stuart headed back to class together. "I hate Joe," Nick said. "You're just mad because he beat you at wall-ball," said Stuart. "I am not," said Nick. "Besides, I would have beaten him, but I wore out my hand beating you and Marvin." Joe caught up to them, out of breath and smiling. "That was fun!" he exclaimed. "You ever play wall-ball before?" asked Stuart. "No, that was my first time." "Well, no wonder!" Nick exclaimed. "Beginner's luck!"