PrettyTOUGH by Nicole Leigh Shepherd

Author:Nicole Leigh Shepherd [Shepherd, Nicole Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101651223
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2007-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

As soon as Krista plunked down next to Brooks, she knew something was up. It was the Monday after the first game, and Brooks, Buffi, and Julie were on the lawn, huddled together reading something. As Krista took out her lunch, they quickly tried to put it away.

“What’s going on?” Krista asked suspiciously. “What were you reading?”

“Nothing.” Buffi shrugged.

“So… uh, you and Cam are going to homecoming together, right?” Julie jumped in.

“Yeah…” Krista said.

Homecoming, still three weeks away, wasn’t exactly on her mind. Julie’s attempt to change the subject was entirely too transparent.

“Seriously, what were you guys reading?” Krista asked.

The girls exchanged a look between them.

“Give it to her.” Brooks sighed.

Buffi handed it over—the latest edition of Beachwood’s newspaper, the Sand Dollar. Krista flipped Buffi’s copy to the back. She came face-to-face with a half-page picture of herself and Charlie in Friday’s game against Curtis.

In the picture, Charlie was getting slide tackled as Krista stood watching in the background. Krista scanned the article in disbelief:

B-DUB WOMEN PROVING THEY’RE PRETTY TOUGH

Thanks to the efforts of two sisters, Beachwood women’s soccer might have finally found its place on the SoCal athletic map. And despite their loss to perennial rival Curtis, this team, coached by alumna Martie Reese, has a bright future, and the Brown sisters are among the stars that shine brightest.

Although senior Krista Brown is strategic head of this team, it’s her younger sister, Charlie, who provides the emotion and heart. Krista plays communicatively but cautiously, whereas her younger sister takes every hit, bodycheck, and slide tackle. Their approach is best indicated in their appearance at the end of the game—for Krista, every hair is still in place, while Charlie would fit in better on the boys’ squad. Caked in mud and even bleeding, Charlie Brown looks like she’s been in battle.

“Krista is a smart, skilled, experienced athlete. Charlie is a fighter,” commented Coach Reese. “She’s the one out there who doesn’t care what people think—she just wants to get the job done.”

This was evident Friday when Charlie was red carded for a violent run-in with an opposing team’s player. Volunteer coach Noah Riley didn’t condone the sophomore’s actions but said, “She proved one thing. She’s fearless and won’t be beaten down. You can’t teach that. Charlie plays like she has nothing to lose.”

Other standouts include Jamie Bonter, the team captain, Carla Hernandez, and Julie Theiser, who together anchor the Wildcats’ solid defense, and junior forward Jen Schwartzott. See the Wildcats’ next home game next Tuesday.

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