Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 When I was finished, I sat down in the bleachers and watched the rest of the kids try out. The next two kids were very impressive. Ryan Shimozato sunk his first basket. It didn't even touch the rim, just went straight in. When it was Luke Whitman's turn, he managed to make a basket while picking his nose. That's not easy to do. Katie Sperling went next. She demanded that they wash the ball with soap and water before she'd touch it. That must have worked, because she made a basket, too. Samir Patel tried a fancy dribble, but it backfired and hit him in the nose. Kim Paulson tried out in her ballet tutu because she had a dance rehearsal right after tryouts. Every time she dribbled the ball, she did a ballet leap

across the floor. We thought she was showing off, but Ms. Adolf lapped it up. Once everyone had his or her turn, Ms. Adolf told us all to line up on the court. As I watched her looking down at her clipboard, I got really nervous. She was taking her time, and every second that went by made me even more jumpy. It's a good thing I was standing in between Frankie and Ashley, or I would have bounced out of my skin.

I didn't even notice when Principal Love walked into the gym. "Well, what kind of gathering do we have here? Something sports-related, I presume," he said. "It's basketball tryouts," Ashley answered. "Ah, yes! That would explain why Ms. Adolf is wearing shorts." Ms. Adolf gave him a nasty stare.

"Excuse me, Principal Love," she said. "I was just about to announce who made the second-grade team that will compete against PS 91." "Go right ahead," he said. "I'd love to meet the team. There is nothing more thrilling than watching a team be a team, participating in teamwork." Don't get upset if you didn't understand that sentence. No one understands Principal Love when he talks. We just watch his lips move until he's done. "Will the following students please step forward," Ms. Adolf said. "Frankie, Ashley, Nick, Heather, and Katie. These are the children who will make up our first-string team." I was glad for them. Well, to be honest, I wasn't that glad for Nick McKelty, but I was truly happy for the others. I knew I wasn't a starter. But I crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping that I could at

least be a substitute. All I wanted was to be a member of the team. "I'd like the following students to step forward now," I heard Ms. Adolf say. "You will be our substitute players, a very important part of the team. Kim Paulson, Ryan Shimozato, and Luke Whitman. Luke, please keep your fingers out of your nose when you're playing." The three kids stepped forward. There was only one place left. I crossed my fingers so hard, I couldn't feel the tips. Please! Let her pick me! "The last person," Ms. Adolf said, "is Samir Patel." Samir stepped forward to join the other three. That left me, only me, standing by myself in the back row. I could feel the tears wanting to shoot down my cheeks. I was barely able to hold them back.

"Excuse me, Ms. Adolf," Principal Love said, walking up right next to her. "You can't leave one child out." "That child is completely unskilled in basketball," she answered, pointing at me. "I'm sure you will find some appropriate role for him on the team," Principal Love said. "Even the smallest ant can carry one hundred times its own body weight." Actually, my sister, Emily, who loves reptiles and insects, says that some ants can carry five thousand times their body weight. I didn't think this was a good time to correct