Ghost Most Foul by Patti Grayson

Author:Patti Grayson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ouija, Ghost, Basketball, Coach, High School, Team, Friends
ISBN: 9781550508215
Publisher: Coteau Books

Chapter Sixteen

Coach Rogers booked our first exhibition scrimmage game less than a week later. Despite all that had been going wrong, I was very excited. The sun was shining brightly that day, and the snow was melting off the school roof. Water dripping in the middle of January in Manitoba was enough to lift anyone’s spirits, but I had the extra bonus of anticipating the after-school game. Every time I thought about it during class that day, my stomach felt as agitated as Monday’s wash-load. It wasn’t long, however, before I found myself hung out to dry.

Coach Rogers chewed on his whistle and wrote things on his clipboard as we ran our warm-up drill that evening. He had rap music pumping from the gymnasium sound system, which Karmyn said was her idea. The heavy beat added to the adrenalin in our bodies and drowned out the sound of bouncing balls and squeaking shoes on the hardwood floor. The opposition from nearby Stoneville had a warm-up huddle cheer that was swallowed by the booming bass.

The music switched off as the two-minute warning buzzer sounded and we headed to our bench. My heart flip-flopped with excitement. We stripped off our warm-up shirts, tucked in our jerseys, gulped a few mouthfuls of water, and then Coach Rogers made circles in the air with his clipboard to gather us in a semi-circle around him.

“I based starting lineup on what I saw at the last practice,” he stated. “So it’s Karmyn at point guard. Roxx and CJ, you’re wings. Roxx, take the right side.” He looked up from his clipboard, and his eyes met mine but then moved on to settle on the twins. “Trish, right?” he said to one. Tracy pointed at her sister. Coach Rogers looked at the other. “Trish and Faith, I want you in post. Faith, right side, and you take the jump ball as well. Okay, girls, stay on your checks and let’s do this! One, two, three…”

“Invaders!” everyone shouted. The word stuck in my throat. I wasn’t starting the game! I’d always taken first jump ball in the past, if for no other reason than that I was the tallest on the team. My butt thudded onto the bench. I snuck a glance to where my parents were seated on the bleachers. They were both looking at me, their heads cocked to one side, so I quickly focused on retying my already-tied shoes.

Next to me, Dodie whispered, “Why aren’t you starting, Summer?”

I shrugged and tugged at my socks.

“He’s nuts,” Dodie whispered. “Totally.”

Not knowing how to respond, I said nothing and sat hunched over so my parents wouldn’t be able to catch my eye.

We were down 10–4 before Coach Rogers made his first substitution. Then he subbed all of us from the bench, Dodie, Val, Tracy and me, leaving Trish on the floor in post. All the strong players on the first line came off and Dodie, who hadn’t been allowed to play at any of Coach Rogers’ practices, was told to be point guard and dribble the ball up the court.

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