think sheâs got much more potential than Mr. Ballard. Donât tell him that, though.â
Tennis, tennis, tennis. Did he ever talk about anything else? Well, as a matter of fact, he did, right at that very moment.
âLauren called,â he said, taking a swig of Gatorade. âThree times.â
âYou didnât tell her where I was, did you?â
âI told her you were with Sammie. She was really eager to talk to you. In fact, she asked if I had made a decision yet. Is there something you havenât told me?â
If I had ever doubted whether or not I wanted to go back to the SF2s, my conversation with Spencer had put everything back in perspective. There was no decision to be made. What I wanted was crystal clear to me.
âLauren and the girls are applying to start a Junior Waves club at school,â I said. âThey want me to be part of it. And I totally want to do it.â
He nodded.
âSo tell me, how much of your time do you think this club will take up? Because you know my feeling . . . school and tennis take priority over social activities.â
Of course, I knew he was going to say that. Itâs his standard response whenever either of us asks to do anything. I pulled out my ready-made speech.
âIâm getting all As in school, Dad, except for maybe a B in Spanish, but I can bring that up if I practice with Esperanza and Alicia. And tennis-wise, Sammie and I are on a roll. You saw me finish off Fritz and Fernandez yesterday.â
He nodded again. That was a good sign. I was so glad I had pulled it together for the tiebreaker.
âWell, I like the idea of you being part of a sports fan club,â he said. âThat makes a lot more sense than that wacky stuff your sister is into.â
That was a typical comment. My dad thinks anything that isnât sports related is wacky.
âSo I can do it?â I asked.
âSchool and tennis first. Do we understand each other?â
I nodded so vigorously that my head was in danger of toppling off my neck. He reached out and tousled my hair. âOkay, go call Lauren; sheâs waiting to hear from you.â
âThank you a million, billion times, Dad,â I said, throwing my arms around his neck. âI wonât let you down. I promise.â
I practically flew into the kitchen. Inside, Sammie and GoGo were sitting at the counter, sampling several different kinds of quesadillas from a serving platter.
âHey, Noodle,â GoGo called. âCome have a taste. Iâm trying to decide which one to serve as appetizers at Bethanyâs party. Itâs down to chicken and cheese or veggie with avocado.â
âIâll be right back, GoGo. Iâve got to do something first.â
I ran into my room and closed the door, grabbed my phone, and called Lauren.
âMy dad said yes,â I said without even so much as a hello. âIâm in!â
âOh, Charlie, this is super awesome!â I heard her whisper âSheâs going to do it,â to someone else in the room. In the background, I heard Jillian and Brooke cheer and echo Laurenâs âthis is super awesomeâ comment. Everyone in the SF2s, especially the girls, winds up talking like Lauren. Sheâs the kind of person you want to be like.
Jillian grabbed the phone from Lauren.
âCan we come to the club right now and do the application?â she said. âThe sooner we get it in, the sooner weâll know.â
The last thing I wanted was for us to be sitting around working on the application with Sammie hovering nearby. It was going to be hard enough to tell her my decision, and I didnât need a constant stream of critical remarks from her.
âWould it be okay if I came to Laurenâs instead?â I asked.
âLet me check.â Then I heard Jillian whisper, âShe wants to come here.â Lauren whispered something back to her, but I couldnât hear what
Joseph Lance Tonlet, Louis Stevens