Ghosts of Belle Isle by Steven K Smith

Author:Steven K Smith [Smith, Steven K]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Action & Adventure, Boys, Brothers, Family, Friendship, History, Mystery & Detective Stories, Siblings, Young Adult
ISBN: 9780989341486
Publisher: MyBoys3 Press
Published: 2014-10-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“Ah, this is the life,” sighed Sam from his lounge chair, his head propped on a folded towel. After dropping Derek off at soccer practice, they’d picked Caitlin up at her house and headed to the pool.

“I like helping at the bookstore, but I have to admit, this is better right now,” said Caitlin, flipping through a book she’d brought along. She was always reading something. Sam guessed that was how she always knew so much. He was getting there, but he was still way behind her.

“Is this the pool you come to for swim team?” asked Sam.

“No, that’s the one in Julie Mercer’s neighborhood. We’re the Silver Minnows. I came in third place for the backstroke in our last meet. I was hoping for first, but Julie and this really fast girl from the other team beat me. Mom says third place is still good, but I was disappointed.”

Sam had never been on the swim team. He’d played plenty of baseball and basketball, but his teams never seemed to win much. Last year, Derek’s baseball team went all the way to the county pennant game. Derek even hit a home run, but they ended up losing in the last inning. “Third place is good. I’m not the best player on my baseball team either. I really want to start at shortstop, but I keep getting stuck in left field.”

“Is left field bad?”

“Not necessarily—one of my favorite players on the Yankees plays left field—but in Little League, it doesn’t get a lot of action. Not that many kids can hit the ball to the outfield yet, so it’s kind of boring. I’d rather play shortstop.”

“Well, I’ll bet you’re working at it and getting better,” said Caitlin, encouragingly. “Just like in school. You don’t give up—you’re always trying to study harder if you get a bad grade on a math test.”

Sam considered what Caitlin said. He’d never really thought about whether he was persistent like that; but now that she said it, he realized it was true. His mom had always said that girls are very observant.

“Hey, look who it is! Little Jackson!” a voice screeched over at them. Sam closed his eyes, hoping that it wasn’t who he thought it was.

“How’s your bike, Little Jackson?” another voice asked, coming closer.

Sam opened his eyes and saw Cameron and one of his buddies from Belle Isle walking up.

“Look, Sean, he has a girlfriend. What’s your name, sweetheart?” asked Cameron.

The other boy, Sean, erupted in an obnoxious high-pitched laugh that sounded like a hyena.

Sam waved his hand weakly. “Hi, guys, I’m fine, thanks.”

“Where’s your chicken brother? Staying home for the rest of the summer with his mommy?” Sean nudged Cameron in the side, bending over with his hyena laugh again like he’d said something really hilarious.

Caitlin stood up, setting her book on her towel “I’m getting hot. Let’s go down the waterslide, Sam.”

Sam hopped up from his chair. The waterslide sounded good to him. Anything would be better than talking to Cameron and Sean.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.