The Birthday Party of No Return! Read Free Page B

forehead.
    I took a deep breath. I swung the racket from side to side. I wanted to make it feel like part of my arm.
    I leaned forward and waited for Cory’s serve.
    And suddenly, I realized my luck had changed. I was about to win the tennis match.
    Cory served. Too high. The ball bounced at least six inches past the line.
    Cory couldn’t see. He couldn’t see a thing.
    Because we had switched court sides. And now the sun was in his eyes!
    Wow. I couldn’t believe it. I felt like jumping up and down.
    I watched him squinting and straining. The sun was like a big spotlight focused on his face.
    He served again. Out!
    Love–fifteen in favor of guess who? Me.
    My heart pounded. This was too easy. Too easy!
    Sports Camp, here I come!
    He served the next one. I hit it easily and bounced it right past him. Ha!
    Love–thirty.
    I won the first game easily. Three games to go to win the match.
    Cory wiped sweat from his face. He shook his head angrily. His cheeks were red. He stared into the sun.
    I tried not to laugh out loud. But I felt so good. It felt so good to be the lucky one for a change.
    I tensed my muscles, preparing to serve.
    That’s when the shadows rolled over the court.
    The sky darkened. Big clouds covered the sun.
    Cory’s whole body instantly relaxed. He was smiling now. He was loose. He was in the shade.
    He won. He won everything. The sun stayed behind the clouds, and he won the match.
    Lucky Duck won again.
    As soon as the match was over, the sun came out again.
    I pictured it grinning down on us. Like it had played a big joke on me.
    Cory even controls the SUN! I thought.
    â€œAAAAAAAAGH!” An angry cry burst from my throat.
    I lost it. I totally lost it.
    I just couldn’t take all the good luck going Cory’s way.
    Without thinking, I swung my arm hard and let the tennis racket go sailing into the air.
    Oh, no.
    I saw what was about to happen.
    Oh, no.
    Nothing I could do. Too late. Too late. I couldn’t stop it.
    The racket flew into the back of Ms. Andersen’s head.
    CLONNNNK. It sounded like wood crashing into a wall as it smashed against her skull.
    She uttered a high scream — and dropped to the ground.

Kids along the side of the tennis court gasped and cried out. Then everyone went silent.
    I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.
    Did I really do that?
    Okay. I threw the tennis racket. But could I really be unlucky enough to bean Ms. Andersen in the head with it? And knock her out cold?
    Everyone hurried over to her. They formed a silent circle.
    Cory and Laura leaned over her. I stayed at the back of the circle, afraid to look.
    Forget Sports Camp , I told myself. You’re going to prison for this, Lee.
    Ms. Andersen groaned. She sat up and rubbed the back of her head. She blinked several times. Then she smoothed her dark hair.
    â€œI’m okay,” she said. “I guess I was mostly startled.”
    She’s not dead!
    Huddled behind some kids, I let out a long sigh of relief.
    Cory helped Ms. Andersen to her feet. She brushed off her jeans. Then she rubbed the back of her head again.
    She gazed around the circle of kids till she spotted me. “Uh … Lee, could you come over here?” she asked.
    Uh-oh. Doom time.
    I took a few trembling steps toward her. “I — I’m sorry,” I stammered.
    She frowned at me. “Lee, you’re going to have to work on your sportsmanship, aren’t you?” she said. “You know, sportsmanship is important in this contest.”
    â€œIt … was an accident,” I said. “The racket … it slipped from my hand.”
    Lame. I know.
    â€œI know it was an accident,” Ms. Andersen said in a soft voice. “But you were upset about losing the match, right? And you lost your temper.”
    I nodded. “Well … yes. But I didn’t mean —”
    She raised a hand to silence me. The sunlight flashed in her brown eyes. “Cory and