Elvis and the Underdogs by Jenny Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

hands pushing apart the two men, and standing between them was Taisy McDonald. Taisy McDonald, the tallest girl in the fourth grade. Taisy McDonald, who was the only daughter of Big Tate McDonald, a two-time Super Bowl champion and local celebrity in these parts. Taisy is the best female athlete in our entire town. When she was only six years old, she was one of the top gymnasts in the under-ten category in the entire country. Then I guess she hit a crazy growth spurt when she turned nine, and she grew too big to be an Olympic hopeful. But even though her gymnastics career was over, everyone knew all she had to do was pick out what other sport was lucky enough to get her. She’s kind of like the twins, meaning she plays every single sport well. Instead of playing just girls’ soccer or softball, she’s so good all the boys’ sports teams in town want her as well. She’s also a year older than the rest of us in fourth grade, but that’s because she missed so much school with all her training.
    I couldn’t believe I hadn’t known that Dino was Taisy McDonald’s uncle. I also couldn’t believe that Dino looked small compared to her father. Well, maybe not small, but he was now the second biggest guy in the room. Whenever I’m in the hospital, I never really talk about school much with Dino, and it’s not like Taisy and I are friends, though we’ve had a few enrichment classes together.
    â€œYou two, take it out into the hallway! You’re embarrassing me.” And with that, Taisy actually pushed both of them toward the door. It was a pretty funny sight to see a young girl bossing around two huge men.
    â€œTaisy, stop it. Why don’t you sit here while your uncle and I go to the cafeteria? Do you want something?”
    â€œMay I please have a soda?”
    â€œNo, you may not have a soda. I’ll get you some fruit and water.”
    â€œThen why did you even ask me what I wanted? What about some Vitaminwater? I like every color but orange.”
    â€œAnything else? A bendy straw, perhaps?” her dad said sarcastically.
    â€œStop being snarky, Daddy, or I’ll tell Mom on you. And yes, I’d love a bendy straw if possible. And you be nice to Uncle Dino.”
    Dino and Taisy’s father left. By then, pretty much all eyes were on her, and she knew it. She looked at the floor and walked over to the corner of the room, taking a seat right across from me. I quickly looked down at the picture open in front of me and found the last object I had been looking for, an owl. Then I heard her crying softly. Looking up, I saw her head hanging low. She was sniffling.
    My mom has always put a little Kleenex packet in the front zippered pocket of my backpack. I never ever use it, and I always tell her I don’t need it, but she always puts it in there. “Benji, honey,” she says, “you never know when you might run into a damsel in distress who needs a hankie.” And I always say back, “Yeah, Mom, because my life is exactly like a fairy tale.” Well, score one for my mom, because I guess this was the moment she was talking about.
    I took out the tissue packet and walked over and held it out for Taisy. She looked up at me and said in the saddest voice I’ve ever heard, “Thanks.” And then she said, “I’ve never seen a tissue with a duck on it before.”
    I looked at the packet, and sure enough, there was a yellow duck with a red bow tie printed right on every tissue. Oh great, why can’t my mom ever be normal? Who buys tissues with ducks on them?
    â€œOh, I, uh, well, my mom got them. I guess. They’re kinda lame, I guess.”
    â€œThey’re not lame. I like them. They’re supercute. Though I feel bad that I just blew my nose all over the duck.”
    I guess I was really nervous, but there was something about this that cracked me up, and I knew it wasn’t the right time or place to