The Ball Hogs by Rich Wallace

Author:Rich Wallace [Wallace, Rich]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ages 7 & Up
ISBN: 9780375896323
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2010-06-08T07:00:00+00:00

Ben clenched his fists and glared at Tyler. But Loop stepped between them. “It’s a better game than yours,” he said.

“It is not.”

Mr. Kane, who taught one of the other fourth-grade classes, was coming toward them quickly. “Is there a problem here?” he asked sternly.

Ben stared at Tyler. “No problem,” he said.

“It looked like a problem,” Mr. Kane said.

“It wasn’t,” Loop replied, but he was giving Ben an angry look. “We were just talking about four square.”

“Then get back to class,” Mr. Kane said. They were the last ones on the walkway between the playground and the school. Mr. Kane held the door open and the three boys walked in. Then the teacher went one way and Ben and the others went the other toward their classroom.

So Ben and Tyler and Loop were alone in the hall.

“You already had your chance to join us,” Tyler said to Ben.

“Who says I want to?”

“You did.”

“No, I didn’t,” Ben said. “I said I didn’t because of Loop.”

“So you would have joined us.”

“Would have. Won’t now.”

“We don’t want you.”

“Big deal.” Ben walked faster to get away from Loop and Tyler. How did he end up like this when he’d just been trying to stick up for Loop? This had totally backfired. He entered the classroom and took his seat.

The three of them glared back and forth at each other for the rest of the morning.

At lunch, Ben found a table in the corner and ate quietly. Erin walked by and asked him what was wrong.

“Nothing.”

“Oh, sure,” she said. “You’re sitting by yourself and you think you can tell me nothing’s wrong?”

“I’m fine,” Ben said. “I just feel like being alone.”

Erin shrugged and joined a group at another table.

Ben wasn’t alone for long. Loop walked over and took the seat across from him. “What’s the idea of getting mad at me?” Loop asked. “You could have played if you wanted. I’ll fight my own battles with Tyler. I don’t need your help.”

Ben stared at his sandwich. He’d only eaten half of it. “I belong with the best players.”

“You mean Tyler’s group?”

“Whichever group is best. Definitely not with that kid Mark.”

“He seems okay to me,” Loop said. “Listen, you can sit on the swings and feel sorry for yourself or you can join our group on Monday. I’m playing.”

Ben took a bite of his sandwich and looked away. “I’ll think about it,” he said.

“Don’t strain your brain,” Loop said. “Recess is supposed to mean we can stop thinking for a little while between classes.”

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