Saving the Team by Alex Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

cream stripes. They would have looked just as adorable with askirt for school as they did with her soccer uniform. Frida came running over. “Fun!” she said. She had white socks with colorful polka dots all over them.
    The seventh graders gathered around to see what was going on. A couple of the eighth graders smiled when they saw what was happening and came running over, socks in hand to join in.
    â€œStop.” Mirabelle held her hand up. “This is so juvenile,” she said, and sniffed.
    The eighth-grade girls, shoulders slumped, walked away disappointed. I saw Grace shaking her head, but she didn’t say anything. It didn’t look like even the other eighth graders had the nerve to stand up to Mirabelle. I felt that maybe, as the co-captain, I should say something. But Mirabelle’s fierce, angry eyes made me keep my mouth shut.
    Jessi wasn’t afraid of Mirabelle. She just rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out as Mirabelle walked away. At least Mirabelle didn’t try to stop the seventh graders from having fun.
    â€œWait. We have to put them on a special way too,” Jessi said. “For good luck. Here, watch me.” She made a big show of putting on her right sock first and wiggling her toes, and then she did the same with her left foot. We all followed suit.
    â€œAnd then we put our left shoes on first,” I added. “And you tie the right one last.”
    My hand went up and touched my pink headband. Nomatter what, I would always keep the ritual I’d had with Kara. Too bad Mirabelle had stopped us from making a new one with all of the Kangaroos. I asked Jessi to snap a picture of me with my phone camera, and then I sent the pic off to Kara.
    First game in California! I texted her.
    Now I was ready.

    As game time neared, I started to get the jitters. I hopped up and down, warming up my legs, and did a few stretches. Coach Flores gathered us into a large circle. “Girls, it’s a beautiful day, so go out there and have fun! Everyone will have an equal chance to play. Eighth graders, you’re up first. Then we’ll sub in.”
    Wait, what? That made zero sense! And it didn’t seem fair at all. If all the eighth graders always got to play first, some of us would never start a game.
    Jessi threw up her hand to object. “Why can’t we start too?”
    â€œDon’t worry, Jessi. Everyone will get the same playing time,” Coach assured us, smiling. “It will be very fair. Fair and fun, words to live by!”
    I didn’t know what Coach Flores was thinking! I walked over to Jessi, Emma, and Zoe in a huff. “What is this all about?” I asked. “Why would Coach think it was a good idea to split us up by grade instead of starting out the best people in each position?”
    Emma shrugged. “I guess she’s trying to be fair?”
    Mirabelle marched over to Coach Flores. “The eighth graders are short a player,” she said curtly. “I guess it’s not a surprise since you gave us such short notice about the game.”
    â€œHow about Devin?” Coach Flores suggested, ignoring Mirabelle’s snarky comment. “Since she’s a captain?”
    Mirabelle nodded. “Only if we can both play striker.”
    â€œAs long as that’s okay with the rest of the team.” There went Coach Flores again, trying to make everyone happy.
    â€œNo, I can wait. It’s okay,” I said. “Let Jessi play.” Mirabelle rolled her eyes at me.
    â€œI’d rather wait too,” Jessi said. Now none of the seventh graders wanted to start. The Kangaroos couldn’t even get eleven players on the field!
    Frida chimed in, “If people are volunteering, I don’t need to play at all.” Great, even more of a mess.
    Finally Coach Flores stepped in. “All the eighth graders plus Devin, get out there. Everyone will have the same playing time,” she repeated. It was the