End of the Race by Laurie Halse Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

away with it, especially not Darla. It could rain down hail, sleet, and basketballs, and I’d never pass to her. I pivot-turn, trying to decide my next move, as Miss Amazon’s arms wrap around me. Before I can decide, the ref blows his whistle. He calls a time violation of the three-second rule—on me? I’m confused. No—it’s on Darla, who’s been camped in the key area for way too long. She turns red as a beet and stomps over as if to question the call.
    After that, Fort Washington takes possession of theball and they hold on to it like leeches, shooting basket after basket. The Ambler fans groan. The Fort Washington crowd cheers, razzes, and generally goes haywire. Up in the bleachers Gran and Taryn look depressed. They’ve stopped munching popcorn and are leaning forward, elbows propped on knees. I’m embarrassed to have them witness our humbling. Mercifully, the halftime whistle blows. We spill onto the benches.
    “Darla, you must give other players a chance to shoot in the key area.” Coach Williams sighs. “That means you’ve got to get out of it and let other players circulate in. Understand?” Darla nods. He reminds her, again, to pass to her teammates. Then he lectures me about hesitating on my pass. “Whatever feud you two girls have going, leave it outside the game. We’re a team, remember?” He studies his clipboard. “Alicia, center. Katie, power forward.”
    Hey, those are our positions.
    Katie and Alicia run off. Coach Williams turns to us. “You two sit this one out and cool off.” I’m mortified. How am I going to explain this to Gran? What will Taryn think of me now? Not thatI care. I sneak a peek at Darla. She’s frowning into her towel, wiping off sweat.
    “Now who’s not passing to who, Shorty?” Darla snaps.
    I slide farther away from her on the bench. “I’m giving you a taste of your own medicine is all.”
    “You need a taste of reality,” Darla snaps back. “It was you who barged into basketball, even though you’re too short, and weaseled your way into my center spot.”
    “YOUR center spot? It was MY center spot before you ever came to this school.” My hands clench into fists.
    “Maggie.” Coach Williams motions me over. I throw my towel on the bench.
    “Maggie, you’re on center. Darla on power forward. Hustle!” Coach yells, waving his hands again.
    Yes! I’ve held on to the choice spot!
    The ball is mine off the inbound pass. I dribble it up-court, leaving Fort Washington’s defense in the dust. My legs feel like they’re powered by jet fuel. I know it’s all that spit and fire from my run-in with Darla. Whatever it is, I’m going to useit to my full advantage! Pivot-turn, BASKET! Ambler onlookers cheer wildly.
    I catch the ball off the inbound pass. The ball burns in my hands. Lucy and I work together: pass, catch, pass, catch. I leap as high as Miss Bull, grazing her hair as I sink the ball for basket number two!
    Ambler stomps the bleachers with a hundred sneakered feet—
boom, boom, boom!
There’s no better sound in the world. The score is even now: Fort Washington 38, Ambler 38.
    “Way to go, girl!” shouts Chelsea, my point guard.
    “Dunk another, just like the other!” Lucy yells as I sail up the court, dribbling the ball with adrenaline-powered fury.
    My thoughts flit to my canine mascot.
C’mon, MacKenzie, all the way to victory, just like Gingerbread!
    Just before I shoot, I glance at Gran and Taryn. They’re jumping up and down with excitement. My own personal fans! Two cheerleaders are better than one.
    “Yaahhh!” I give a warrior’s cry, leap, and shoot. BASKET! In slow-mo, the scoreboard clicksto Ambler 40. It’s magic, pure magic—and it’s my magic! Ambler fans go berserk.
    There are a few more charges, up and down the court, but before I know it, the game’s over and people are charging the court, dancing, singing, shouting, and slapping hands. My teammates raise me up and carry me on their shoulders. “Maa—gie,