by Rich Wallace
Across the field, Calvin was psyching himself up for a wild twenty-four minutes. He’d spent the first half at sweeper, keeping things clear at the defensive end but not having much impact on the offense. He’d be at midfield now, trying to control both ends of the field as he had in earlier games. Zero would be playing goalie. Things were looking favorable for Little Italy.
He looked upfield and saw Jessie at right wing staring across at him, her braids pulled back and held by a pink hair band. Danielle was at left wing, wearing a similar blue band. Between them at center was their cousin, Johnny Rodriguez.
Through three and a half games, no one had scored against Bauer Electric. Thinking over that fact gave Calvin a rush of energy. It was time to end the streak.
His chance came just minutes into the half. After Rodriguez sent a long line-drive shot directly into Zero’s arms, Angel Medina fielded Zero’s punt near midfield and darted along the sideline. Calvin went straight up the center of the field, staying level with Angel. Mary Pineda trailed behind Angel, providing an outlet for the ball when he got trapped by a couple of defenders.
Mary fielded the ball and crossed it over to Orlando Green at the left wing. Orlando dribbled forward, then sent the ball in front of Calvin, who raced toward it and one-touched it ahead, never breaking stride. His speed carried him past Danielle, and just one defender and the goalie stood between him and the net. Angel was streaking in from Calvin’s right. Calvin gave him a leading pass, then moved around the defender, positioning himself for a return pass.
Calvin was just inside the goal box. Angel’s crossing pass was perfectly placed. Calvin stepped quickly toward the ball, trapped it with his instep, and fired it into the goal.
He avoided celebrating as he jogged back for the kickoff, looking straight ahead and keeping his hands down. But he couldn’t help himself as he got near Jessie, softly singing, “Un-de-feat-ed,” as he ran past.
“Long way to go,” she murmured. She spit on the ground and ran in place.
Jessie got the equalizer a few minutes later, taking a chip from the corner and stopping it cold with her foot, racing past Mary, and easily faking out Peter. Zero made a diving attempt at the shot, but the firmly hit ball slid under his fingertips and rippled the net.
Jessie returned the zinger to Calvin as she trotted up the field, singing, “In your fa-a-a-a-ce, ” while Calvin shook his head and winced.
The teams battled frantically as the second half wound down. Calvin had one hard shot knocked down by the goalie, and Danielle came ever-so-close to sneaking one past Zero. But much of the action took place near the center of the field, with constant changes of possession and furious defensive efforts.
Two minutes were left when Bauer Electric made a charge down the field, with Johnny and Jessie doing most of the footwork. Calvin stayed between Jessie and the goal, determined that she wouldn’t get off a clear shot.
Stop them here, Calvin thought. We’ve got time for one big push down the other end.
Danielle had the ball at the upper corner of the goal box, with Peter right on her. Danielle pivoted and crossed the ball to her sister, who took it at the top of the box, glaring at Calvin.
Jessie feinted left, then moved the ball to the right with the outside of her foot—the same move she’d faked Calvin out with at the preseason clinic. Calvin saw it coming and darted to that side, moving aggressively toward the ball.
And quicker than a bullet—much too quickly for Calvin to react—Jessie stepped on the ball to stop it, rolled it back to her left, and raced straight toward the goal. Calvin stumbled forward. Jessie booted the ball into the net. Bauer Electric led, 2-1.
Calvin regained his balance and stared at the sky in frustration. He felt a sharp jab in his bicep. “Ssssssss,” said Danielle as she poked him with a finger. “You got burnt so bad you’re steaming.”
The seconds ticked away. Little Italy made one last run at the goal, but Johnny intercepted the ball for Bauer Electric and booted it long and hard down the field. The final whistle blew as Angel chased it down.
The spectators stood and clapped as the Bauer Electric players danced and leaped at midfield. Calvin and his teammates stood and stared, exhausted and beaten.
The teams met at midfield for congratulations. Calvin held back for a minute, then walked up to Jessie and shook her hand.
Jessie gave him a triumphant smile.
Calvin grimaced. “See you Friday?” he asked.
Jessie looked surprised. “Where at?”
“The carnival.”
Her eyes got narrow. “Says who?”
“I don’t know. Just thought we’d see you there. Me and Zero.”
“Why’d you think that?”
Calvin let out his breath in a huff. “Danielle didn’t say nothing?”
“Not about you turkeys.” She looked around for her sister. “Danielle!”
Danielle was in the midst of a group of six or seven kids near the sideline. She jutted out her chin and called, “What’s up?”
“Come over here, sister.”
Danielle trotted over. Zero was walking over, too. Jessie had her hands on her hips. “You know anything about a carnival situation, Danielle?”
Danielle smiled. “These boys might have said something. Wasn’t exactly definitive.”
Jessie squinted at Calvin and gave a tight half-smile. She reached forward and gripped the neck of his soaking T-shirt between her thumb and first finger. “You got anything definitive to say? Or to ask?”
Calvin squirmed and looked at the ground. Then he looked Jessie straight in the eye. “Yeah,” he said firmly.
“So let’s hear it.” She let go of his shirt.
“Me and Zero just thought it might be cool to hang out with you two at the carnival. You know ... just hang around. Go on rides and stuff.”
Jessie looked at Danielle and flicked up her eyebrows. She was holding back a bigger smile. “What do you think, Danielle? These two worthy?”
Danielle broke into a very broad grin. “You know they’re cute, Jessie.” She turned to Calvin. “She’s not as tough as she seems.”
Jessie very gently kicked her sister in the shin. “So who’d be with who?” she said. “Or haven’t you worked that out yet?”
Calvin shrugged.
“We may be twins, but we’re not interchangeable dates,” Jessie said. “Or should we do the choosing for you?”
Zero cleared his throat. “I think you should be with Calvin,” he said to Jessie.
“Why? You afraid of me?”
“No.” Zero took a step back. “Just think you and Calvin might be a better match.”
“Works for me,” said Danielle.
“You buy us dinner?” Jessie asked.
“Whatever,” said Calvin.
Jessie glanced around the field, then kicked at the turf with her toe. “Okay,” she said. “We’ll give it a try. Six o’clock on Friday in front of the Y. Bring your wallets.”
Both boys nodded vigorously. The girls walked away, laughing hard.
9
Half Sprite, Half Orange
Calvin banged on Zero’s front door Friday at about five P.M., wearing a green polo shirt, neat black shorts with a belt, and a pair of running shoes with no socks.
“What’d you do?” Zero asked. “Raid your father’s closet?”
“Real funny. What are you wearing?”
Zero had on the same brown shorts he’d been wearing all summer and a spotty T-shirt that said Liberty State Park. He looked down at the shirt. “What I’m wearing now?”
“No way.”
“What’s the difference?”
Calvin frowned and shook his head. He pointed toward the stairs. “Let’s go.”
Calvin opened Zero’s bedroom closet and sifted through the shirts.
“I outgrew most of those this year,” Zero said.
Calvin took out a blue-checked shirt with short sleeves and held it up. “This is okay,” he said.
Zero shrugged and pulled off his T-shirt. “We ain’t going to church,” he said.
“It matters. Think they’ll be wearing the same clothes they mow the lawn in?”
“Guess not.”
They walked downtown, way early, and sat on the steps of the YMCA, watching traffic go by. The day was warm and dry. The carnival had opened at four, so plenty of kids they knew walked past, including their teammate Angel. Angel never said much at the games or practices. He was a year younger.
“Going to the carnival?” Zero asked.
Angel shook his head. “Maybe tomorrow,” he said. “I gotta babysit for my little brother.”
When the Rosados’ station wagon pulled up a while later, Calvin felt a cold, empty rush in his stomach, and he swallowed hard. The twins and their father emerged from the car and walked toward them. Calvin stood up and yanked on Zero’s shoulder until he stood, too.
Calvin’s eyes were fixed on the father, who had a tight smile and was eyeing him back. He was wearing a starched white shirt and a blue tie, and his dark hair was neatly cropped.
“Shake his hand,” Calvin said under his breath to Zero.
“Okay.”
Zero stepped past the girls and stuck out his hand. “Hi, Mr. Rosado,” he said.
“Hello, Dr. Rosado,” Calvin said, giving Zero a hard, sidelong glance.
Dr. Rosado laughed. “Hello, fellas. Nice night for a carnival.”
The boys nodded.
“You played a good game against my girls the other night.”
“Yeah,” said Calvin. “Hope we get a rematch in the playoffs.”
Jessie was standing with one hand on her hip, looking them over. “Boys,” she said in greeting.
“Hey, Jessie,” said Calvin. “Hey, Danielle.”
“So,” Dr. Rosado said, rubbing his palms together. “Ferris wheel at ten o’clock, right? Or call if you need me earlier.” He kissed both girls and winked at Calvin. “See you tonight.”
“See ya,” Calvin said. They stood on the sidewalk until Dr. Rosado had driven away.
Calvin gave Zero a hard nudge with his elbow. “He’s a surgeon, stupid.”
“How would I know?”
“Pay attention to the world.”
“Oh, like you do?” Zero said sarcastically.
“I know things.”
“You don’t know everything.”
Danielle and Jessie had started walking toward the carnival grounds, side by side. Calvin and Zero walked behind them until they got there.
The field was lined with dozens of booths featuring gaming wheels where you could win candy, stuffed animals, CDs, and T-shirts; food vendors with french fries, ice cream, steak sandwiches, and countless other items; coin tosses, basketball shoots, and face-painting; and lots more. On one end of the field were the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and other rides. Later there’d be a band.
“Too early to eat?” Calvin asked as he and Zero fell into step with the twins. The smells of sausages and pizza were making him hungry.
“Maybe we’ll start with some fries,” Jessie said.
“Then move on to bigger things. What do you think, Danielle?”
“Fries sound good to me.”
Both twins crossed their arms and gave the boys a look like, We’re waiting. But they were smiling, too.
Zero and Calvin got in line at a fried-food stand. “This is gonna cost us,” Calvin said.
“Yeah, they’ve got it all planned, I think.” Zero opened his wallet and looked inside. “I got eighteen dollars.”
“I got about thirty.” Calvin looked back at the girls, who were talking to a couple of their friends. “We should be okay.”
“They can’t eat forty-eight bucks’ worth of food.”
“Nah. But we gotta eat, too. And pay for the rides.”
“We’ll stall,” Zero said. “Always get on the longest lines.”
Calvin nodded. “Right.”
They walked over with the fries and joked around a bit with Julie Carrasco, from their soccer team, and Sherry Allegretta, who they knew from track. When the fries were gone, Danielle said, “I could use a drink.”
“Me, too,” said Jessie. She raised her eyebrows and gave Calvin an expectant look.
“What do you want?” Calvin asked.
“Half Sprite, half orange. About this much ice only,” Jessie said, holding her fingers about three-quarters of an inch apart. “With a straw.”
Danielle shook her head and smiled gently at Zero. “A Coke will be fine,” she said.
Calvin and Zero walked back to the same stand. They could hear the four girls giggling behind them.
When they were in line, Zero smacked Calvin’s arm to get his attention. “Remember,” he said, looking as serious as he could. “This much ice.” Then he cracked up.
Calvin stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the sky. “She’s busting my chops, huh?”
“She’s something else.” Zero glanced over at the girls, who’d been joined by three guys their age—Vinnie DiMarco, Spencer Lewis, and Willie Shaw. “Why’d you pick them, anyway?”
“I don’t know. They’re cute, you gotta admit that. Jessie was a lot of fun last year in school. Always busting on the teachers and giving me gum and stuff.”
“She likes being the center of attention,” Zero said. “That’s for sure.”
“Maybe we can switch girls next time.”
“Yeah, right. You think there’s gonna be a next time?”
Calvin grimaced. “Who knows?”
“So what are we supposed to do? Follow them around all night and buy whatever they want?”
They’d reached the counter. Calvin hesitated, then said to the heavy guy in a red-and-white-striped shirt, “Can you give me half Sprite and half orange with just a little ice?”
“This much ice,” Zero said, holding up his fingers, clearly enjoying himself while Calvin squirmed. “His date is a little fussy about that.”
The guy smirked and nodded. “Aren’t they all,” he said. He went to get the drink.
“A Coke, too!” Zero called. “No special treatment needed.”
Calvin elbowed Zero again, but he paid for both drinks. The twins and their posse had walked over to one of the gaming booths, where Spencer was trying to win some candy by betting on a wheel. Spencer had been the starting point guard on the school basketball team and was considered one of the coolest kids in their grade. He was wearing a tank top that was stark white against his brown skin. He had muscular arms for a twelve-year-old.
After a few spins, Spencer won four chocolate bars. “For the ladies,” he said, grinning broadly as he handed one each to Jessie, Danielle, Sherry, and Julie.
Calvin turned to Jessie. “Hope that don’t spoil your appetite,” he said with a touch of sarcasm.
“Don’t worry,” she replied. “I’m just warming up.” The group walked around the inner perimeter of the carnival grounds, stopping now and then to check out a booth or greet a friend. Zero and Calvin hung toward the back of the pack. Eventually Danielle joined them.
“How you guys doing?” she asked. She had a knowing grin.
Calvin shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
“My sister’s a trip, huh? She knows how to get her way.”
Calvin just nodded.
“You guys getting hungry for some real food?” Danielle asked.
“I am,” Zero said. “I could go for a sausage sandwich.”
“Sounds good.” She gripped Zero’s arm momentarily and pointed him toward an Italian food booth. “Catch you later,” she said to Calvin.
Now Calvin found himself in a pack of seven people, with Jessie at the front and him trailing behind. She chattered away with Spencer and Sherry as they walked around the fair. After a couple of circuits, Calvin noticed Zero and Danielle waiting to get on the Ferris wheel.
Calvin caught up to Jessie and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Oh ... hey, Calvin.” She said it nicely, but acted like she�
��d been taken by surprise, as if he’d just arrived.
“You getting hungry?”
“Yeah. A little.” She turned to Sherry. “What are you guys gonna do?”
Sherry shrugged. “Go on some rides, maybe.”
“We’ll see you later,” Jessie said. She stopped walking and looked at Calvin. “What do you feel like?”
“I don’t know. Calzone or something?”
“Yeah. Something spicy.”
They walked across the grounds. “Where’s my sister?” Jessie asked.
“She and Zero took off a while ago. They hit some rides, I think.”
They got calzones and onion rings and a wad of paper napkins and took a seat at a green plastic table under a big red tent.
“Thanks for buying the food,” Jessie said. “I can pay for the rides.”
“Cool. If you want.”
Jessie still had her drink cup. She held it out to Calvin.
“No, thanks,” he said. “I’ll get something later.”
“Okay.”
“How was it, by the way?”
Jessie looked a little embarrassed as she smiled. “Just right.” She took a sip, and the straw made a squishy sound as she reached the bottom of the cup. “Perfectly mixed.”
Without an audience to show off for, Jessie had suddenly became a lot nicer. She asked Calvin how he liked soccer—“better than baseball, about even with football”—and reminded him of the day their math teacher had a big rip in the butt of his pants and didn’t know it. He’d spent most of the class writing on the blackboard while the kids tried to hold back their laughter.
They found Zero and Danielle and went on the Tilt-A-Whirl and into the haunted house, then got ice-cream sandwiches and tried to win some CDs. They ended the night on the merry-go-round.
“That was great,” Jessie said as they strolled through the crowd toward the Ferris wheel to wait for their father. “I’m definitely going back in the haunted house tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Calvin asked.
“Yeah.” She took a seat on a bench. Zero and Danielle were lagging behind, having stopped to listen to a jazz trio that was playing near the center of the grounds. “Spencer asked me to come with him.”