Fake Out by Rich Wallace

Author:Rich Wallace [Wallace, Rich]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-375-89633-0
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2010-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

“I know what you mean,” Jordan said. “Still thinking about Saturday’s game?”

“Yeah.”

“Me too.” Jordan stopped swinging and braked with both feet. “All weekend, I kept thinking about how we got burned. I was so sure we would beat those guys.”

“So was I.”

“It’s like we’re right on the edge of being good,” Jordan said. “You know what I mean? Just one or two steps forward and we’ll be as good as anyone in the league.”

“We seemed about a thousand steps behind on Saturday,” Ben said.

“Yeah, but we weren’t. Just a couple of plays could have made all the difference.”

“That’s what Erin said. But I played pretty badly.”

“No, you didn’t. Erin’s right.”

Ben stopped swinging, too. He looked around the playground. “Seen any soccer balls?”

“No, but I was thinking of bringing one tomorrow,” Jordan said. “Get in some extra passing. Sound good?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Ben replied. “Maybe we’ll spend half of recess kicking the ball around, then switch over to four square.”

Jordan jutted his chin toward Loop’s group. “Speaking of four square, they could use a few players.”

Ben stepped off the swing. “Let’s go.”

They walked across the playground and stood next to Mark, who was waiting to get back into the game. Loop and three others were smacking a pink rubber ball back and forth, trying to hold their positions in the square. After each round, one player had to leave the square and a new player would take his place.

“Look who’s back,” Loop said as the point ended, nodding toward Ben, then Jordan. “Ready to join the elite, huh?”

“Ready and able,” Jordan said.

Loop smiled broadly. “Just watch how the pros do it,” he said, serving the ball toward Mark. He kept his eyes on the game, shifting back and forth and skillfully returning the ball, but he kept chattering, too.

“See, the best players are always in motion,” Loop said, swatting at the ball. He kept his hands up and shifted from foot to foot. “Duking, juking … it’s all about speed and positioning.” He took his eye off the ball for a split second, glancing at Ben. “Leaving your opponent flat-footed.”

Ben blushed. But in that split second Mark lined the ball hard into Loop’s square. It took a sharp bounce and Loop had no chance to reach it.

Ben clapped his hands. “Great demonstration,” he said. “I see exactly what you mean. Flat-footed and burnt.”

Loop scowled. He put his hands in his pockets and stepped out of the square. The other players shifted to new spots and Ben stepped in to take Loop’s place.

Ben and Loop were friends, but they were rivals when it came to sports and games. Ben knew that Loop had the upper hand now, after his team had clobbered the Bobcats in soccer.

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