Boot Camp by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online Page B

us.
    â€œAnd the final person on this team,” Sergeant Push-up said, “…Kia.”
    Kia jumped into the air. I had to work hard not to squeal like a girl. I had to be cool about this. Cool was important.
    Kia came over and tapped my hand and the other guys’ hands, and then she spun around, ignoring Jamal.
    â€œGo over there,” Jerome said as he motioned to the corner of the gym. “Start getting to know your team while you’re waiting for the other teams to be chosen.”
    We walked over to the far corner. The first team that had been picked was already sitting in a circle underneath one of the rims. I could hear them joking around with each other. They sounded like they were getting along. With Jamal on our team I didn’t think we’d be getting along anytime soon.
    â€œThis isn’t fair,” Jamal said with a scowl.
    â€œThat’s right, it isn’t fair,” Kia agreed.
    Jamal looked as shocked as I felt.
    â€œIt’s not fair that we have to have
you
on our team,” Kia said, pointing at Jamal.
    â€œIt’s the other way around!” he snapped. “Only one girl in the whole place and they have to put her on my team.”
    â€œGirl?” Kia said, sounding confused. She looked down at her hands, and then she pulled some of her hair forward so she could examine that as well. “My goodness!” she shrieked. “I’m a girl! Thank you so much for pointing that out! I never knew!”
    Everybody started to laugh—everybody except Jamal, who had probably figured out we were laughing at him.
    â€œReal funny,” Jamal said. “But I guess it makes sense that you
are
on my team.”
    â€œHow do you figure that?” Kia asked.
    â€œThey probably put us on the same team, so I could make up for what you couldn’t do…like play ball.”
    â€œI can play ball,” Kia said. “I can play all parts of the game. Not like some people.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by that?” he demanded.
    â€œI watched you play yesterday.”
    â€œGirl, you probably couldn’t keep your eyes off me,” Jamal said with a smile.
    â€œYeah, must be nice to have a fantasy life,” Kia said, and everybody started to laugh. “I figure you don’t know what a pass is because I didn’t see you make one.”
    â€œShut up, you—”
    â€œWhat’s happening here?” Jerome asked as he walked over.
    Everybody shut up. Nobody wanted to answer.
    â€œWe were just talking,” Jamal said.
    â€œPretty loud talking,” Jerome said.
    â€œWe were just trying to figure out how we can work as a team,” Kia said.
    JYD shot us a big smile. “Aaahhh…now that’s the challenge. Do you want to know what the secret is?”
    We all nodded our heads.
    â€œCome closer,” he said as he lowered his voice and motioned for us to come closer.
    We all surrounded him, anxious to hear the secret.
    â€œIf I told you how to do it,” he whispered, “then it wouldn’t be a secret anymore. You gotta figure it out for yourselves.”

Chapter Seven
    â€œHurry up!” Kia screamed. “Run harder!”
    Jamal was the last relay runner—last for our team and the last period. Some of the other teams had already finished, but there were still six or seven others running. Jamal was running down the gym, threading the ball through his legs with each step—that was how everybody had to move for this drill. He was gaining on the three closest teams. He was actually pretty good. I probably wouldn’t say that to him, and I
definitely
wouldn’t say that to Kia.
    Kia and Jamal had started the camp not liking each other and it was going to affect our team. As the day progressed, we finished last, or close to last in every event. I think they both wantedto blame the other for our failures. I didn’t think either was responsible. Every team had a couple of weak