Out of Bounds Read Free Page B

for that little girl,” Isabel whispered to Katani. “I would totally die if my mother acted like that.”
    â€œI know what you mean,” Katani whispered back. “This is one of those things that every kid lives in fear of…beingembarrassed by your mother in front of hundreds of people. It’s like every kid’s worst nightmare!”
    â€œThat ball was clearly out of bounds,” Megan’s mother screeched. “You need to have your eyes checked. I think you need glasses!”
    Uh-oh! The girls could see that Avery was really under some serious pressure here.
    â€œYou can’t be old enough to be a referee. How old are you?” Megan’s mom continued.
    â€œMa’am,” the Twisters’ coach said, raising his voice, “You need to calm down and take your seat right now. No parents are allowed on the field during a game.”
    Megan’s mom opened her mouth to say something, but the Tornadoes’ coach interrupted her. “Ma’am, the goal was good. You know the rules. The ref calls the play. Please go back to your seat or leave the field,” the coach said firmly.
    The next thing they knew, Megan’s mom turned on him. She apparently couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Well,” she sputtered angrily, “the soccer board will be hearing from me.” She grabbed Megan’s hand and dragged her humiliated daughter off the field.
    â€œWhat just happened?” Avery asked in a bewildered little voice. “I didn’t mean…”
    â€œIt’s okay, Avery,” the Twisters’ coach said before she could finish. “Some of these parents get really carried away sometimes. It’s totally inappropriate behavior…way out of bounds,” he added as he winked at Avery. “Although I wish it were different and we’d won the game, that ball was in. But even if you were wrong, the ref calls the play. That’s the way the game goes.”
    Both coaches shook hands. Then they shook Avery’s. “Don’t let this discourage you, Avery,” the Tornadoes’ coachsaid. “You’re a terrific referee, and I will talk to the soccer board about what a great job you did today. If you’re worried, have your mother call me, and I’ll be glad to talk to her about all of this.”
    Avery beamed. “That’s okay, Coach. I knew that reffing wasn’t going to be easy. But I didn’t think it would get this crazy.”
    â€œSometimes it takes people a long time to learn how to be a good sport,” the Tornadoes’ coach said.
    Marty didn’t stop barking until Megan’s mom had driven away.
    â€œYou tell her, Mr. Marté,” said Maeve as she shook his little furry paw after Megan’s mom.
    N O D OGS A LLOWED
    After the game, Avery wanted to treat her friends to hot chocolates at Montoya’s, but first they had to stop at Charlotte’s house to drop Marty off and so Charlotte could change her pants. They all felt bad about leaving him. “If we were in Paris,” Charlotte said, “Marty could come.”
    â€œThat’s so cool,” enthused Avery, who had tucked Marty under her arm. “Let’s start a petition here. After all, dogs have rights, too!”
    â€œYou’ve gotta run for office someday, Avery,” cheered Maeve.
    Avery grinned. “Maybe I will. Somebody’s got to save the planet from unfair rules…it might as well be me!” Then she smushed her face into Marty’s face, whereupon he gave her a big slurpy kiss right on her mouth.
    â€œThat’s so gross, Avery,” said Katani as she made a face. Katani was not a fan of slurpy dog kisses. Too undignified.
    â€œDid you hear that, Marty? You have just been insulted,”Avery said to Marty as she scratched his tummy.
    â€œHe’ll get over it,” added Katani sarcastically.
    Charlotte laughed. “Katani, you have to come to