9 Proof at Last

Nine proof. At last IT WAS ALREADY FRIDAY, and Harris was worried. Zeke would be coming to hang out at Harris's house the next day unless he was able to prove Zeke was an alien. At recess, several grades were out on the playground together. "I've got the soccer ball, Harris," said Roxy. "Ready?"

Roxy kicked the ball to him. Then she noticed Zeke standing all by himself. "Hey, Zeke, do you want to play soccer with us?" she called out. Zeke trotted over to Roxy. "I don't know how to play soccer," he said. "It's easy," Roxy said. "You kick the ball to another player or into the goal. And you can't touch the ball with your hands. Try it." Zeke ran toward Harris.

"Harris, kick the ball to Zeke!" she shouted. Harris kicked the ball right at Zeke. Zeke stopped and got ready to kick it back. But when the ball reached him, it skipped over his foot. To his amazement, Harris watched as Zeke just stood still and lifted one hand into the air. Zeke wiggled his hand. The soccer ball slowed down, stopped, then started rolling back toward Zeke.

Harris immediately turned to Roxy. Did she just see that? Harris wondered. That's proof that Zeke is an alien! But Roxy's back was to both boys just then. She had turned to talk to her friend, Samantha.

I can't believe that Roxy didn't see that, thought Harris. I'm never going to prove this before tomorrow. Harris looked down and saw the ball speeding toward him. He kicked it to Zeke. Again, Zeke missed the ball. It rolled toward the far corner of the playground. This time, Zeke chased after it. When Zeke reached the ball, he saw a kindergartener crying under a basketball hoop.

"What's the matter?" asked Zeke, walking over to him. The little boy pointed up at the hoop. "My balloon slipped out of my hand and now it's stuck up there!" sobbed the boy.