Pumpkin Run by Mary-Kate Thomas

Author:Mary-Kate Thomas [Thomas, Mary-Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mary-Kate Thomas
Published: 2020-06-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

I sank into the chair, letting my backpack slide to the floor between my feet. Coach Z took the other chair, perching on the edge of the seat. A long, whistling sigh escaped his nose as he stared at me for a few seconds.

“So,” he finally said, “that was either the smartest play I’ve ever seen or the dumbest one, Norwell.”

I shook my head, confused. “What do you mean?”

Coach Z tapped his toe and let out a little snort. “‘What do you mean?’” he repeated. “I mean that bonehead decision of yours to illegally exit school property and practically smile up at the trail cam as you row, row, rowed your way to the other side of the creek!” He shook his head, the scowl relaxing from his face. “Getting thrown in Saturday detention on purpose. You found the one way guaranteed to keep you off the cross-country team. I don’t know whether to congratulate you on your ingenuity or make you run laps.” Then he let out an abrupt laugh. “Course, you are stuck in Saturday detention for the next month with Wild-Eyed Walinski and his latest crew of troublemakers.”

“I wasn’t trying to get kicked off the team!” I said in a rush, feeling my temper rising. “I just needed to get home on time!”

Coach Z looked at me again, taking his ball cap off and rubbing his forehead with the back of his palm before putting it back on. “Yeah, well, that’s another thing you and I need to talk about. See, the AD and Vice Principal Adamson weren’t too happy to hear from your stepmother. They get scared every time someone even hints at lawyering up and suing the school district. And since I was the coach in charge of overseeing tryouts and making sure my athletes were healthy, they’re furious that I even let you touch your toes without a high school sports physical on file.”

He stared for a lengthy pause at me, and I simply stared back, biting my tongue. What could I say? That I didn’t have a mysterious health condition? That my stepmother was a raging liar? Who would believe me? All she had to do was cue the crocodile tears and start sniffling about not wanting to violate my healthcare privacy and the AD and Adamson would wave the white flag of surrender as fast as they could to keep her from finding some infomercial lawyer to make a few phone calls to the school board.

Finally, Coach Z shook his head one more time, clapped his hands together, and jumped up out of his chair. “Meeting expectations, as always, Norwell.” He stepped briskly toward the desk, calling back over his shoulder. “I didn’t call you here just to waste time gabbing. I’ve got a job for you to do.” He stopped and looked back to where I still sat and raised his eyebrows, tossing his hands in frustration. “Well? Unless you’d rather hang out with Walkinski and company until five?”

I sighed and stood up, grabbing my backpack.

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