Adventure Awaits by Kingsbury Karen & Russell Tyler

Author:Kingsbury, Karen & Russell, Tyler [Kingsbury, Karen & Russell, Tyler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Childrens
ISBN: 9781665908023
Amazon: 1665908025
Goodreads: 58438122
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Published: 2022-02-22T08:00:00+00:00

* * *

The sound of bouncing basketballs matched the pounding in Kari’s heart.

I’ve played in the driveway lots of times, Kari kept reminding herself. But in a real gym, in front of her friends and teacher, Kari thought she’d rather do anything else.

Her mind went back to the conversation she’d had with her dad last night. God was with her wherever she went. Yes, that’s it, she thought. I’m not alone.

Kari laced up her shoes. She watched some of the kids shooting hoops even before PE class began. They didn’t need help or coaching, they already looked like pros after just a few days. She exhaled and turned her attention to the other shoe.

“Don’t be nervous, Kari.” Mandy sat down on the gym floor. “It’s not even a big deal.”

“Easy for you to say.” Kari looked at her hands. They were shaking. “The ball might as well be square for as good as I dribble. You’ve seen me.”

Mandy laughed. “You aren’t that bad. Besides, even NBA players have to start somewhere.”

“True.” Kari pictured her dad the first time he went to the hospital as a doctor. Waiting in his car. Not wanting to do something embarrassing. Kari gathered up her courage. If her dad could be brave, so could she.

“Basketball!” Liza dribbled over to Kari. She bounced the ball in perfect rhythm without looking at it once. Then she dribbled between her legs and switched to the other hand. Kari’s happy thoughts melted away.

Do not be afraid… God is with you.

There. Those words calmed Kari down.

“All right everybody.” Their PE teacher, Mr. Stone, blew his whistle. “Grab a basketball from the cart and line up on the baseline.” His gruff voice got the students’ attention right away. Kari wasn’t sure where the baseline was. But she followed everyone else. It must have been the line under the hoop because that’s where everyone gathered.

“We’ll start with dribbling, then we’ll play a game.” The coach demonstrated like he’d done since last Thursday. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. “It’s a rhythm. Keep the ball under your palm. Give it a try.” He blew the whistle again and the students all began to dribble their basketballs.

Before she began, Kari watched her classmates around her. Some got it right away. Others struggled to keep the ball under their hands. Kari dribbled it a few times, but then the ball moved ahead of her and away from her hand. Kari ran after it and returned to the line.

Her heart was beating even harder than before.

“Just focus on feeling the ball under your hand, Kari.” Liza’s words were encouraging and helpful. “Think of it like dancing. Just keep the beat.”

Like dancing. Kari hadn’t thought of it like that before. “Keep the beat. I can try that.”

She tried again and a third time, and always the ball got away from her. But on the fourth time she actually could feel the beat. But then the ball hit her foot and spun out toward the middle of the court.

Mr. Stone picked up Kari’s ball and bounced it back to her.

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