Full Court Press Read Free Page B

down the bench. Do you understand all that?”
    â€œWe understand,” I said and Kia mumbled agreement.
    â€œAnd you still want to come to the try-outs?” Mr. Roberts asked.
    â€œWe do,” Kia said.
    â€œThen I’ll see you two right after school.Don’t be late or you’ll have to run laps. And speaking of late, you both better get going or you’re going to be late for —”
    His words were cut off by the loud ringing of the bell.
    â€œTell Mrs. Orr that you were late because you were talking to me,” Mr. Roberts said.
    â€œWe’re not late yet,” I said. “We just have to get to class before the national anthem starts.”
    â€œSee you later, sir,” Kia said as we rushed out of the gym.
    We hurried along the hall toward our room.
    â€œThat wasn’t very encouraging,” Kia said as we walked.
    â€œThat’s an understatement. He basically said that he didn’t want us on the team, and he’d be really tough on us during the tryouts, and even if we do make the team, either the other team will be shoving us around, or we’ll be spending most of our time on the bench.” I paused. “Do you still think we should try?”
    â€œWhat do you think?”
    â€œI think we should —”
    Suddenly I was grabbed from the back, spun around and slammed against the wall.

Chapter 4

Welcome to my World

    â€œLeave him alone!” Kia yelled.
    â€œShut up!” Roy snapped at her, but he did let go of me. “I wanted to have a little conversation with you two.”
    â€œMaybe we don’t want to talk to you,” Kia said.
    â€œThat’s no problem, because I’m going to do all the talking and you two are going to do all the listening.”
    â€œWe don’t have time for either,” I said. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll be late for class.”
    â€œStay where you are or you’re going to be late in a whole different way. Like in dead, departed, the late,” Roy said.
    â€œPlease stand for the national anthem,” the P.A. crackled.
    Now it was official. We were late. I looked up and down the hall. There was nobody else in sight.
    â€œI don’t like you two,” Roy said, wagging a finger in my face.
    Now
there
was news.
    â€œAnd I’m liking you even less by the minute. What’s the big idea about coming out this morning?”
    â€œWe were just trying out for the team,” I said.
    â€œThat team is only for grade fives,” Roy snapped.
    â€œMr. Roberts said we were welcome to try out,” Kia said.
    â€œI don’t care what Mr. Roberts said. I’m telling you that I don’t want you two on my team!”
    â€œYour team?” Kia questioned. “What makes you think you’ll even make the team?”
    I had to hand it to Kia. She had more guts than me. Then again, it would be my guts on the floor if Roy was mad.
    â€œYou better hope I make the team,” Roy said ominously. “Because if you two make the team

    and I don’t… believe me, I won’t be happy. Understand?” he asked as he poked me hard in the chest with a finger.
    â€œI… I understand,” I stammered. There wasn’t a lot of room to not understand. “Maybe we could all be on the team together.”
    â€œForget it! I don’t want to be on the same team with you!”
    â€œYou can’t threaten us,” Kia said.
    â€œIt looks like I just did. Besides,” Roy said with a smirk, “this isn’t a threat… it’s a promise.”
    He stepped forward until he stood right over top of me. I stumbled back a few inches into the wall. At that instant the national anthem ended and I was now free to run — or at least try to run.
    â€œI’m going to —”
    â€œWhy aren’t you three in class?”
    Roy stepped back and we all turned around to see Mr. White, our music teacher, walking toward us. I