Winning Touch

by Ellyse Perry

  Why do some parents have to be so mean? It takes all the fun out of it. I’m so glad Dad isn’t like that.

  At the end of the game, Hawks won 4–0. The Green Arrows were tired, but they shook hands in good spirits.

  ‘Good game, Hawks,’ said Vinnie. ‘Don’t forget – next week we’re playing the Spinners.’

  Ellyse groaned. That was Josh’s team. She wasn’t looking forward to playing against him again.

  Jamie nudged her. ‘Don’t worry, Josh doesn’t play for them anymore.’

  ‘Really? Why not? Did they kick him out?’

  ‘He’s gone to boarding school,’ Jamie said. ‘His parents got posted overseas somewhere.’

  ‘And they left him behind?’ Ellyse said. ‘That’s awful.’

  Jamie shrugged. ‘Maybe they were sent somewhere dangerous? I don’t know.’

  Vinnie raised his voice. ‘When you’ve all finished gossiping … Training next week is compulsory if you want to be in the team on Saturday, no excuses. All right?’

  ‘Yes, Vinnie,’ they chorused.

  Yep, Vinnie’s tough, Ellyse thought, but he’s a good coach. I’ve improved heaps under his training.

  ‘Before I forget,’ Vinnie continued, ‘there have been some special selectors watching your games the last few weeks and they’ll be there next Saturday. There’s talk of academies and elite camps.’ He frowned around at everyone. ‘Do your best for the Hawks first, okay?’

  Ellyse’s heart made a giant leap in her chest. Elite camps for soccer? That’d be amazing! Then her heart fell again. I’ll never get in. Even being two centimetres taller won’t help when most of the boys are growing too. I wish they had camps just for girls.

  She sighed. Vinnie was right. Play for the Hawks first. Who knew what the selectors wanted, anyway?

  By Sunday night, Ellyse was feeling very achey and grumpy.

  ‘You’re still growing,’ Mum said. ‘A lot of your aches are from that, not from training. Don’t worry, Dad’s been keeping an eye on you to make sure you’re not overdoing it.’

  ‘You mean I have growing pains?’ Ellyse said. ‘I thought that was just in your mind.’

  Mum laughed. ‘No, it’s real and it’ll fade.’

  But right at that moment Ellyse’s muscles felt like she’d been climbing mountains, so Mum ran her a warm bath and made her go to bed early.

  The next morning, Ellyse was feeling better, but she was even further behind with her homework. Ms Alberto wasn’t happy that her science project was only half-completed.

  ‘You can have one more day,’ she said, ‘or you’ll have to stay in at lunchtime and finish it.’

  That night Ellyse was still working on the project at midnight, with a towel jammed under her door so her parents couldn’t see her light was on. Finally, it was done, although her drawings looked more like dead sticks than living plants. She was able to hand it in before class but her relief was short-lived. In English, she found herself in trouble again – this time for forgetting to do a book review.

  Why didn’t I add schoolwork to my training and game schedule? Ellyse lamented. But she knew why – because then Mum and Dad would make her do schoolwork first and she’d miss training.

  ‘You’ll have to stay in at lunchtime to do it,’ Ms Carter said. ‘That’s the rule.’

  Ellyse huffed and slumped down in her chair. It’s not fair. I won’t even get to eat lunch with Charlie and Jazz, and I won’t … Oh no, I’m going to miss soccer training! Ms Beattie was strict, just like Vinnie. Her number-one rule was that you had to go to training to be allowed to play in the interschool games. I hope Ms Beattie will let me off just this once.

  But when Ellyse met Charlie and Jazz after school, the news was all bad.

  ‘I told Miss Beattie you’d been kept in to finish homework, but it was no use,’ said Charlie. ‘She was pretty strict that it was all about being responsible and turning up, no matter what.’

  ‘Silly old cow,’ Jazz said. ‘I’m so sick of grown-ups making stupid rules as if they own the whole world.’

  Charlie and Ellyse glanced at each other. It wasn’t like Jazz to call people names.

  ‘You’re both playing tomorrow, though, right?’ Ellyse asked.

  ‘Yeah, I guess.’ Jazz heaved a theatrical sigh. ‘I might bring a book to read. Standing around in the goal all the time is getting mega-boring.’

  At the school pick-up zone, Jazz’s mother was waiting and tooted her car horn impatiently, which made Jazz walk even more slowly. She’d barely closed her door when their car roared away.

  Charlie made a face. ‘Is it just me or is Jazz being weirder than ever?’

  ‘No, I think so too,’ Ellyse said. ‘I was going to …’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Ellyse said. I can’t tell Charlie about the necklace. If Jazz finds out we’ve been talking about her, and I’ve accused her of stealing … She decided to change the subject. ‘Coming to touch tonight?’

  ‘Yep, but the auditions are on Thursday at lunchtime, so it might be the last time.’ Charlie groaned. ‘I wish I could clone myself and be two people, then I’d get to do everything I want.’

  ‘Me too,’ Ellyse said. ‘And one of me would be Homework Ellyse!’

  She was determined to catch up on her schoolwork and projects that night, but when she got home, Dad and Damien were setting up the new ping-pong table in the garage. As soon as the net was up, Damien challenged her to a game, which became the best of three, and then it was time for dinner.

  I haven’t done anything I was supposed to do! Ellyse worried as she took her place at the dining table. She ate fast and went to her room, where she spread out her books and began work on her maths.

  There were six pages of problems to catch up on, five chapters of the novel to read for English and she’d barely started her geography project. A sharp, heavy rock settled in her stomach and refused to go away. She could hear Damien and Dad playing ping-pong and her mum laughing.

  They’re all having fun without me, she thought miserably.

  She rushed through her maths and did some research for her project, then crawled into bed and fell asleep before she’d read two pages of the novel.

  In the morning, as Ellyse shoved everything into her schoolbag, she spotted her soccer boots by the door. Mum must have cleaned them for her last night. Tears sprang into her eyes. Thanks, Mum, but I’m not allowed to play. Still, she took her kitbag with her boots and soccer gear, hoping Ms Beattie would let her off the hook.

  But at the game after school, Ms Beattie shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, Ellyse, I hate to lose you from the team but it’s the rules. I can’t make an exception – everyone would expect special treatment then.’

  ‘Okay.’ Ellyse went to the sideline, dragging her feet. Hu’s father was sitting there as usual.

  ‘Are you sick today?’ he asked.

  ‘No.’ She thumped down on the bench. ‘I missed training, so I’m not allowed to play.’

  All he said was ‘Hmmph’ and then went back to watching Hu. ‘Hu is playing well, you think?’

  Ellyse nodded. Hu was flying across the field, dribbling the ball like a W-league player, whisking it past her opponents. ‘She is really good.’

  ‘Hmmm. Maybe next year she can play for your team.’ As Hu booted the ball in for a goal, he leapt out of his chair, clapping madly.

  Ellyse joined him, shouting, ‘Woo hoo! Awesome work, Hu!’

  Just as they sat down again, Ellyse’s dad arrived. ‘Hi, sorry I’m late.’ He frowned at Ellyse. ‘Are you injured, little one?’

  Uh-oh, I forgot Dad was coming to the game. What can I say? But she knew the truth was her only option. She explained about being kept in because of the book review and Ms Beattie’s rule. ‘Please don’t be mad with me, Dad. I just … There’s so much homework! But I couldn’t stand to miss any of my games or my training. I got stuck and …’ She pressed her fingers against her eyes. I will not cry.

  �
�Hey, it’s okay.’ Dad gave her a big hug. ‘Why would I be mad at you? But you should have told us. Here your mum and I thought you were Supergirl, managing everything and needing no help. Of course you need help, and that’s our job.’

  This time, Ellyse’s tears spilled over. Thank goodness Dad understands. ‘I will try harder, I promise,’ she said. ‘But don’t make me drop anything, please.’

  ‘Well, I can’t guarantee that,’ Dad said. ‘Let’s talk about it when we get home.’

  Ellyse watched the rest of the game with Dad and Mr Sun. She cheered on her team, trying not to think about what ‘the talk’ might mean. It felt like the heavy rock in her stomach was growing bigger.

  At least Jazz seemed to have got over her ‘goalkeeping is boring’ attitude and stopped several hard shots. Each time Jazz saved another goal, Charlie gave Ellyse a grin and a thumbs up, and Ellyse did the same back. Callinan won the game 2–0, thanks to Jazz’s saves and Hu’s fearsome attacking skills.

  ‘Well done, team,’ Ms Beattie said. ‘You’ll be giving Arsenal a run for their money next.’ She led the team in their new ‘give ourselves a clap’ routine, ending with a Callinan roooaaarrr!

  When she got home, Ellyse went to her room and stacked her schoolwork on her desk.

  ‘Let’s have a look at the damage, then,’ Dad said.

  She showed him the list of things she had due written in her homework diary.

  ‘That’s not too bad,’ he said. ‘What’s the most urgent?’

  ‘Finishing the novel for English and the geography project on my street and neighbourhood.’

  ‘Right, let’s sit with your mum in the kitchen and look at your sports schedule.’

  To Ellyse’s huge relief, in a few minutes of talking and making notes, it was solved. Mum would help with English and science while Dad would help with maths and the geography project.

  ‘Before school tomorrow, you can take some photos of the neighbourhood for your project,’ he said. ‘But you will have to give up one thing, Ellyse. Maybe it should be indoor cricket.’

  ‘We’ve got a bye this week,’ Ellyse said. She bit her lip, weighing up her options. She liked indoor cricket but touch and soccer were more important to her. ‘Okay, I guess I’ll tell Nicola I can’t play anymore.’

  Dad showed her how to get more done by working hard in small blocks of time. By bedtime, she’d read enough of the novel to keep Ms Carter happy! Best of all, the rock in her tummy had dissolved …

  … until her phone buzzed and a text from Charlie popped up: Did Jazz message you? She sounded really strange. I’m worried.

  In two seconds, the rock had come back.

  It was too late to call Charlie about the ominous text, so all Ellyse could do was quickly text her back: Talk tomorrow?

  Ellyse couldn’t wait to get to school the next morning, and found Charlie and Jazz waiting for her at the gate. Seeing Charlie looking relieved rather than worried, Ellyse relaxed a little.

  ‘What’s happening?’ she asked.

  Jazz’s face was pink, and Charlie answered for her. ‘Jazz is going to audition for the musical too. Remember, I told you it was today?’

  Thank goodness it’s not more bad news. ‘For Cats,’ Ellyse said, nodding. ‘That’s great. I thought …’

  ‘What?’ Jazz asked.

  Charlie jumped in. ‘She thought I’d have to go and do it by myself, and I’m really nervous.’ She twirled around. ‘I’d so love to be one of the cats. Even Rum Tum Tugger.’

  ‘I’d be happy just being a Jellicle cat,’ Jazz said.

  I hope auditioning takes her mind off her dad and mum’s divorce, Ellyse thought.

  At lunchtime, there were so many girls wanting to audition that they had to make two lists and run more try-outs on Friday. Charlie and Jazz were both put on the Friday list.

  ‘Now I’m going to be nervous for another whole day!’ Charlie said. ‘Hey, Jazz, do you want to come over to my house tonight and practise a song?’

  Jazz’s face fell and she shook her head. ‘Can’t, sorry. Mum’s still making us go to counselling. It totally sucks, but I can’t get out of it. Liana wants to refuse to go, but I couldn’t bear another fight.’

  There was an awkward pause before Charlie piped up.

  ‘In that case,’ she said, ‘let’s go out tomorrow night again. We can celebrate getting through the auditions with pizza.’

  ‘Cool,’ Jazz said. ‘Mum’ll probably give me and Liana money so we’ll go to counselling without giving her a hard time.’

  Ellyse tried really hard to keep a smile on her face. ‘Great, we can meet at the fountain at six, then.’

  Charlie told Ellyse she’d keep going to touch training a bit longer. ‘Who knows? I might not even get into the chorus.’

  Touch is better with my friends, but Charlie is dying to be in Cats so … ‘You will,’ Ellyse said, giving her a nudge.

  At the Friday auditions, Charlie and Jazz were both so nervous they could barely talk. Ellyse sat with them outside the auditorium; they were holding hands and trying to breathe and relax.

  ‘Don’t stress, just do your best,’ Ellyse said.

  ‘Der, like we don’t know that,’ Jazz snapped.

  Ellyse shrank back, her face hot. I was trying to be supportive, that’s all.

  Jazz noticed her face and shrugged. ‘Sorry, I’m kinda freaking out.’

  Der, like I don’t know that. Then Ellyse felt bad for thinking it. But Charlie’s not being mean. No, Charlie was gazing up at the ceiling and biting her lip.

  ‘Charlotte Fielding,’ the drama teacher called.

  ‘Eek, that’s me,’ Charlie whispered. ‘I have no voice.’

  Ellyse squeezed her arm. ‘Go for it. Give it all you’ve got.’

  Jazz rolled her eyes but said ‘Break a leg’ and forced a smile.

  It seemed like Charlie was only in there for ten seconds before she was out again. She slumped on the bench next to Ellyse. ‘I made a mess of it. I picked the hardest song to sing and I was flat.’ Tears slid down her face.

  Ellyse couldn’t think of anything encouraging to say, so she gave Charlie a hug.

  Jazz bounced up when her name was called and raced into the auditorium. She was in there much longer than Charlie, and emerged with a smile on her face.

  ‘You did great, I can tell,’ Charlie said. ‘All those singing lessons, I bet.’

  ‘We don’t find out until Monday,’ Jazz said. ‘I don’t think they want any Year Sevens in the main roles. One of them made a face when I said what class I was in.’ But she still looked confident.

  ‘There’s always the chorus,’ Ellyse said. ‘You’ll both have lots of fun being part of it.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Charlie said. But as they walked to their fifth-period classes, she whispered to Ellyse, ‘I bet Jazz gets in and I don’t. Oh, I wanted to be in it so much!’

  ‘Fingers crossed, then,’ Ellyse whispered back. Although she had a horrible feeling that Charlie was right.

  The weekend whizzed past. Shopping and eating with Charlie and Jazz on Friday night was uneventful. This time Carla and Sheridan came too and wanted to start in the make-up shop, trying things out. Ellyse giggled, watching them put on sample eye shadows in green, pink and purple.

  As the girls wandered through the shops, looking at shoes and tops and dresses, Ellyse couldn’t help watching Jazz. She felt guilty about it. It’s like I’m being a store detective waiting for her to steal something.

  But Jazz hardly picked anything up or tried anything on. She walked around humming songs from Cats, which made Charlie a bit cross. Ellyse was stuck in the middle between her two friends, and it was an icky feeling.

  At Saturday’s soccer game, Ellyse was able to relax and play well because Jamie was right – Josh Bolt was no longer playing for the Spinners. The Northern Hawks drew 2–2 with the Spinners, and it was a tight game all the way through. It wasn’t until half-time that Ellyse remembered selectors would be watching, and Vinnie sa
id they’d already been and gone by then.

  On Sunday she managed to catch up on all of her homework with Mum and Dad’s help, and as a reward, they took her to the park to play touch.

  ‘You’re coming too, Mum?’ Ellyse said in surprise.

  ‘Hey, we’ve both been training,’ Mum said. ‘We’re thinking of joining a mixed team. Even us old people can play touch, you know.’

  Ellyse made a shock-horror face at them both. ‘Omigod, you’re not both going to end up with ACL injuries, are you? I can’t push two wheelchairs at once.’

  ‘Smartypants,’ Mum said, laughing. ‘We’ll show you.’

  And they did!

  Ellyse felt much better about the coming week. She’d worked on her schedule with Mum and she was sure she wouldn’t forget anything. The only problem was going to be the announcement of the cast for Cats.

  Ellyse was beginning to wish the musical had never been written. She hoisted her schoolbag higher on her shoulders and headed for her locker. There was no sign of Charlie or Jazz, which was odd. She was sure neither of them would’ve slept in today of all days.

  As Ellyse went to step into her homeroom, she heard her name being called. She turned to see Jazz’s face alight with happiness and excitement, and instantly knew she’d got a part in the musical.

  ‘I can’t believe it!’ Jazz squealed. ‘I’ll get to sing and dance and everything!’

  Ellyse gave her a hug. ‘That’s brilliant, Jazz.’

  Jazz spun around on her toes. ‘I might have to take dance lessons too. What do you think?’

  ‘Er, will your mum let you?’

  Jazz’s face darkened. ‘Who cares what she thinks? I’ll ask Dad to pay for them.’

  Ellyse glanced around. ‘Have you seen Charlie? Did she get in?’

  ‘No, she didn’t.’ Jazz frowned. ‘I feel really bad for her. I know she kind of wanted to be picked.’

  Kind of? Charlie wanted it even more than you. ‘I might go and look for her,’ Ellyse said.

  The first bell rang, and girls everywhere moved towards their homerooms.