Fiddlesticks Read Free

His chopsticks were starting to rattle.
    Ronny leaned over Shawn. “So . . . how was your chat with Miss Hershey?” he mocked.
    Now Jason spoke up. “Get lost, Ronny Kitch!”
    â€œYeah,” Abby said. “Or I’m telling!”
    Ronny copied her in a pinched-up voice. “Or I’m telling!”
    â€œI mean it!” Abby said. She got up and headed for the lunchroom teacher.
    Shawn wished Abby would hurry back. He wanted her right here. With him.
    Ronny stuck out his tongue at Shawn. “How do you like having your sister babysit you?”
    Then he left.
    Shawn put his chopsticks down.
    â€œRonny’s rotten,” Jason said.
    Eric agreed. “No kidding.”
    Shawn looked up to see Abby coming back to their table. Good, he thought.
    â€œThank goodness, Ronny’s gone,” Abby said. She looked at Shawn. “And I think I know who started the nickname.”
    Shawn said nothing.
    â€œIt was Ronny,” Abby said. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
    Shawn felt hot.
    He pressed his lips tight.

SIX
    The lunchroom was almost empty.
    The Cul-de-sac Kids were still talking.
    Abby said, “We can help you, Shawn.”
    Eric and Jason nodded.
    â€œAbby’s right,” Jason said.
    Dunkum and Stacy looked worried.
    â€œPlease tell us,” Stacy said.
    Finally, Shawn said, “I not want trouble.”
    â€œWho does?” Jason said. “But Ronny Kitch is already trouble.”
    â€œBig trouble,” Eric said. “He pushedme around during recess. I had the ball. I was dribbling, close to making a goal.”
    Shawn listened. Anything about soccer, and he was all ears.
    â€œI was ready for a kick to the goal,” Eric continued. “But the ball got jerked away. By guess who?”
    Jason was wide-eyed. “Ronnie is NOT a team player!”
    Eric nodded. “That’s the truth.”
    â€œAnd he was on your team,” Jason said.
    â€œThat’s the weirdest thing,” Eric said.
    Shawn listened.
    â€œWhat happened next?” Abby asked.
    Eric’s eyes rolled. “Ronny booted the ball. He made the goal.”
    â€œIt should’ve been yours,” Jason said.
    â€œThat’s how Ronny is,” Eric said. “Rotten.”
    Shawn’s jaw twitched. “That not how things be,” he said. “Must change!”
    Abby’s eyes were on him now. “Weneed to have a long talk,” she said. “How about after school?”
    â€œI play violin then,” he said.
    â€œHow about when you get home?” Abby asked.
    Jason smiled. “Good idea. Talk to Abby. She’s a good listener.”
    â€œGood friend, too,” said Stacy. “Chingu.” She smiled at Shawn.
    But Shawn was silent.

    The Cul-de-sac Kids went out for recess.
    Abby and Stacy scurried off to the swings.
    Dunkum and Eric went to shoot hoops.
    â€œWanna play soccer?” Jason asked Shawn.
    â€œThank you, but no,” he answered.
    â€œAw, come on,” Jason said. He looked at the soccer field. “Ronny’s not playing.”
    Shawn checked things out. Jason wasright. Ronny was way on the other side of the playground.
    It was safe.
    â€œCome on,” Jason insisted. “I’ll teach you.”
    Shawn didn’t need to be taught. But Jason didn’t know that.
    Jason begged him to play. “Come on, you’ll love it,” he said. “I know you will.”
    Shawn really wanted to play. This would be his first chance to play on the field. The long, beautiful soccer field.
    He glanced at the far end of the playground. Ronny was still there.
    At last, Shawn agreed. “OK, I play.”
    Jason started by showing how to dribble. A little at a time.
    Shawn dribbled, too. But he kept watch for Ronny.
    Jason showed how to rocket the ball to the goal.
    Shawn tried. Three times he made it.
    Jason shouted, “Goal!” each time.

    Shawn was having a great time.
    He forgot