The Campaign by Laurie Friedman

Author:Laurie Friedman [Friedman, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2020-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

ASK NOT WHAT YOUR TEAM CAN DO FOR YOU; ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR TEAM

Coach Newton blows her whistle and everyone on my team sprints to huddle around her.

It’s time for our post-practice, pregame pep talk. Coach Newton spends a few minutes doing a final review of some of our key plays, then says, “Girls, I know I don’t have to tell you how important the game is tomorrow. This year we’re going to beat Brookside!”

When Coach Newton says the name of Liberty’s archrival, twenty-three fists are raised high into the air, and there’s a long, loud chorus of boos and hisses.

“Brookside is the enemy,” grunts Julie Jacobs, left midfielder and eighth-grade captain of our team. “They might have beaten us for the past three years, but we’re not letting it happen again. Not us. Not this team. Let’s send ’em back on their team bus crying like the whiny little babies that they are. GO LIBERTY!” she shouts, and the rest of the team starts chanting.

“GO LIBERTY! GO LIBERTY! GO LIBERTY!” Our words rise up like a battle cry.

Coach Newton motions for everyone to settle down. It takes a few minutes for the boos and hisses to stop, but when they finally do, she gives us all a serious look. “Girls, I want to share something I think is important and fitting for where we are as a team.”

I zone out and think about the last talk I had with my teammates. When I brought up my campaign, none of them wanted to be my running mate.

Even worse, they didn’t even want me to run. But if I’m going to win this election, I need their support. My soccer girls might not think I can block goals and run a campaign, but the time has come to convince them that that is NOT true. I refocus my attention on Coach Newton.

“Girls, President John F. Kennedy once said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.’” She gives us a hard look. “Tomorrow at the game, I want you to ask yourselves not what your team can do for you, but what you can do for your team.”

Funny how presidential wisdom is showing up in places other than my notebook.

Coach Newton lets her words sink in before continuing. “All I ask is that each one of you gives it your all in the game against Brookside tomorrow. Help each other. Work together. Can you do that?”

Our loud clapping and cheering is all the answer Coach needs. As my team starts to disperse, I fall into place beside Callie, Emily, Blake, and Zoey. The time has come for my talk.

“What’s up?” Blake asks, like she can tell there’s something on my mind.

Best to get straight to the point. “So, the last time I brought up the whole election thing, none of you were really that into it.” All four of my teammates stop walking and look at me, so I continue.

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