Freaked Out

by Annie Bryant

  “Whoa, looks like Avery and Julie are getting along now,” observed Maeve.

  “Well, in order to play as a team, you have to put all your differences aside,” explained Charlotte. “Remember, there’s no I in TEAM!”

  The buzzer sounded at the end of the half and both teams jogged to their benches for the halftime break.

  “All right, we’re going to start off the second half with the veterans,” Coach Porter announced. “Kayla, you’ll be at center. Jenny and Amanda at forward, and Sarah and Min at guard. You guys are playing great! Let’s keep it up in the second half!”

  Avery sat back on the bench and drank from her water bottle. She hated to sit on the bench, but everybody had to get a chance to play. She was having a ton of fun so far, and Julie and company were actually working with their teammates instead of sabotaging the team with their meanness. Julie must still feel bad after her party, Avery figured.

  The score stayed close throughout the second half. Coach Porter subbed the players in and out and made sure that everyone got to play.

  Up in the stands, the girls were having a great time cheering on the Abigail Adams team.

  “Go Avery!” Kelley shouted.

  “Go Isabel!” Charlotte called out.

  “Go Betsy, go!” Katani shook her head. “She is unbelievable today.”

  “Go Anna!” Maeve finally got into the game. She started yelling for everyone. Yelling made her feel a whole lot better. Maybe someday she could teach yelling therapy. Maybe she would be a yelling therapist when she grew up. She could see her card now: MAEVE KAPLAN-TAYLOR—YELLING THERAPIST TO THE STARS. Her tagline would read: Shout Your Blues Away! Of course, her card would be pink. Pink would always be her signature color. Ms. Razzberry Pink told her that anyone who chose pink as their signature color would always be able to beat the blues.

  The clock was winding down in the fourth quarter and Abigail Adams was still down by two points. A Lincoln player took a shot and missed, and Isabel pulled down the rebound.

  “Time out, ref!” called Coach Porter.

  The teams huddled around their coaches at their respective benches.

  “All right, Avery, you’re going in for Sarah. Betsy, you’re in for Isabel. Anna, Amanda, and Jenny, you’ll all stay in. We’ve got twenty seconds left in the game and we need two to tie.” Coach Porter took out her clipboard and a marker and started to draw a play on the surface. “We’re going to run play number five. Jenny, you’ll inbound the ball to Avery, and Amanda, you’ll cut toward the open space. Avery, your job is to get the ball to Amanda when she’s open. Amanda, if you get a good look, take the shot. Everybody got it?”

  All the players nodded.

  “Okay, everybody in,” Coach said, placing her hand in the center of the tight circle. The whole team put their hands in for a cheer. “Team on three. 1, 2, 3…”

  “TEAM!” they all shouted as they shook their hands in unison.

  Up in the stands, the other BSG watched Avery run out on the court and get in position.

  “Oh, I’m so nervous for Avery!” said Maeve.

  “Don’t worry, Maeve,” Katani said. “Avery totally thrives on pressure!”

  Jenny Pesky inbounded the ball to Avery and she dribbled to the right, looking for the open player. Amanda ran under the basket and cut to the left, trying to lose her defender. Avery got ready to pass, but suddenly Amanda tripped and fell to the court. There was no foul, so the refs didn’t blow the whistle. Oh no! thought Avery. Now I can’t pass to Amanda!

  Avery glanced at the game clock. Only ten seconds left. She kept dribbling and saw Betsy open at the top of the key. Avery passed the ball to Betsy, who dribbled toward the hoop. Betsy’s going to do a layup, thought Avery. Betsy’s defender whacked her on the arm just as she was letting go of the ball, and the buzzer sounded. The referee blew the whistle, and the ball bounced off the backboard and hit the rim, bounced back above the basket and fell straight through the hoop. The score was tied! And Betsy was fouled, so she would get to take one foul shot.

  If Betsy hit her foul shot, Abigail Adams would win. Luckily for Abigail Adams, Betsy was the best free throw shooter on the team. The gym was silent as Betsy took her time bouncing the basketball a couple of times at the foul line. She lined up her shot, just like she practiced every day. Betsy bent her knees and extended her arm and shot the ball. Time seemed to slow down as the ball arced toward the basket. Swish! Nothing but net. The crowd went wild.

  “Yeah!” cheered Avery as she high-fived Betsy. “You did it, Betsy!”

  The Abigail Adams players rushed onto the court to congratulate Betsy, clapping and high-fiving. By working together, and playing their best, they had won the game.

  After shaking hands with Lincoln, Isabel and Avery ran to the stands to see their friends.

  “We won!” Avery shouted, hugging Kelley. “Did you see that, Kelley? We won our first game. And half of us were new to the team.”

  “How unfortunate for the other team that you are so great,” answered a very serious Kelley.

  Avery hugged Kelley and turned to Charlotte.

  “You were outstanding too, Isabel,” Charlotte said. “Adams had the best team strategy. Where’d you learn to shoot like that, Isabel?”

  “I’ve been practicing and Avery has helped me a lot. I just didn’t know if I could play under pressure. Did you see what Betsy was doing?”

  “We saw it. I guess genius is good for more than college applications.” Charlotte laughed as she gathered up her things.

  “You’re my best basketball friends, Avery and Isabel,” Kelley said, holding hands with both of them as they walked to the showers.

  “Come on, Kelley,” Katani said. “Grandma Ruby will be waiting for us. And Avery and Isabel have to shower.”

  Kelley stretched her arms in the air. “I would like to shower, too. It smells in that unfortunate gym.”

  Katani couldn’t help herself. She laughed hard at that one.

  Kelley gave her a hug. “Happy day. Ms. Cranky Crank is now Ms. Sweetie Pie.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Aftermath

  Do you really have to take the math test again?” Avery asked Maeve as the BSG walked up Corey Hill toward Charlotte’s house.

  “Yeah. I really do. But first my parents and I are going to meet with the Crow and Mrs. Fields. We are all going to sit around and discuss the ‘Maeve math problem.’”

  “I think I would rather eat worms.” Isabel grimaced. Avery picked up a piece of grass and dangled it in front of Isabel’s face. Isabel swatted Avery’s hand away with a giggle.

  Joining in on the fun, Maeve raised her eyebrows in a perfect imitation of her dear math teacher. “If only Ms. Taylor-Kaplan would pay attention, do her homework, listen to my fabulous equations, and follow my incredible problem sets, then everything would be perfect, and Ms. Taylor-Kaplan would be my best C student.”

  The girls broke up. Maeve was such an incredible mimic. Charlotte thought her friend would be great at cartoon voices.

  “Seriously, Maeve. I heard a group talking in the girls’ room about the test. You aren’t the only one who flunked. I think you should bring that up at the meeting. Maybe they could start a special math support group or something,” Charlotte said as she adjusted her backpack. She was carrying way too many books. She didn’t care how dweebish a rolling backpack was, she was going to ask her father for one for Christmas.

  “A math support group is the coolest idea,” Katani exclaimed.

  Maeve’s face took on a devilish look. “We could do relaxation exercises.” She flung Avery on the grass and stood over her waving a fake magic wand. “Repeat after me. You are not afraid of math. Math is your friend. Math is tasty and delicious and will help you grow up to be big and strong and very crowlike.”

  That did it. Charlotte and Isabel fell on the grass laughing so hard a woman yelled out of an apartment window to see if they were all right.

  “Get up, you goofballs,” Katani orde
red, “before they call the paramedics.”

  The girls flew toward Charlotte’s house to find that Marty had heard them from a block or so away. He was flinging himself against the door as Charlotte stuck her key in. When he saw Avery, he yipped and yapped and danced until she scooped him up.

  “Ready to go to the hospital, Marty? Dress like a clown, do tricks, or maybe you can wear your Klondike Marty outfit if Maeve will give up her slipper again.”

  “Promise me, Avery,” Isabel sounded serious, “you won’t dress him like a clown. I hate clowns. Dress him in a tux like in the magic show. He looked very handsome, didn’t you, Marty?” Marty cocked his head back and forth as Isabel spoke. When she was finished, Marty yelped in agreement. No clown costumes for the little dude.

  “Okay, but I am taking Marty to pet therapy school,” Avery replied. She tickled the little guy under his chin.

  “I like how the little dude always knows we’re coming,” Charlotte said.

  Avery agreed. “Yeah, I think that’s why he would make a great pet therapy dog.” Katani led the way to Charlotte’s bedroom while Charlotte went to let her father know they were home.

  After unloading their books, all five BSG headed back downstairs to the kitchen where Mr. Ramsey had opened five pizzas. The delicious smell of cheese, tomato, pepperoni, and spices filled the air.

  “I anticipated that you girls might need a little study fuel,” Mr. Ramsey said. “We’ve got plain cheese, we’ve got pepperoni, we’ve got mushroom and onion….”

  “I think I’ll pass on the pepperoni,” Maeve said with a faint smile. The vision of red punch and pepperoni chunks spewing out of Tim Cole’s mouth wasn’t one that she would soon forget.

  “We better finish up because I have to leave ‘precisely at nine o’clock.’” Katani imitated her father’s stern tone.

  “Ditto,” said Maeve and Avery together.

  “One of our parents will drop you off, Isabel,” Avery said.

  The girls climbed the stairs to the Tower room. Every time they entered the Tower, they felt a shiver of excitement. The Tower was their special place, a room of their own to be themselves: dreamy, klutzy Charlotte; quirky, artistic Isabel; sparkly, bad-at-math Maeve; sporty, opinionated Avery; stylish, reserved Katani. A place for friends to figure out how to grow up loyal and true. It also happened to be an awesomely cool room with windows to see all of Boston, and each girl had her own favorite spot, uniquely decorated to fit her personality.

  Katani went directly for her great-grandfather’s Lime Swivel—the barber’s chair that he used to cut Jackie Kennedy style bobs from years ago.

  Avery, who was the president of BSG, took charge.

  “Okay, I call the BSG to order. And BSG, we’re going to have to stay totally focused in order to have time for studying.”

  Everyone groaned and chorused, “Do we have to?”

  “We said we were coming here to study,” Avery reminded them.

  “Sometimes we have to play first.” Maeve jumped up. “You gotta check out this move.” She proceeded to demonstrate her newest dance. Katani, Charlotte, and Isabel went crazy when Avery attempted to imitate her.

  Finally, Katani sat, folding her legs yoga style, and waited for Maeve to settle down.

  “Okay. First up…Maeve. Inquiring minds want to know, why were you late to the basketball game?”

  “Is there time for personal reports?” Maeve asked Avery.

  “I guess so. I have something to report myself.” Avery sat down. “You first, Maeve. Why were you late to the most important first girls’ basketball game of the year?”

  “I was with Tim Cole.” Maeve let the astonishment sink in, then she hurried to say, “Only for a minute. When I went back to my locker at noon, he had left me a note. And he asked me to meet him after school.”

  “What did he have to say about the way he behaved at the party?” Avery asked, looking at the note Maeve shared.

  “He apologized. He asked me to forgive him, and then when we met in person, he asked me to dance with him in hip hop class.”

  “He should have apologized. He was very rude to throw up on you.” Isabel held Marty, who was quite content to be adored by one of his BSG.

  “I know. I probably will forgive him, ’cause I don’t want to be one of those people who holds a grudge forever and ever,” Maeve said.

  “Yeah, a weekend is forever,” Katani commented with a wry smile.

  “Very funny, Ms. Cranky Crank.” Maeve chuckled. “Truth or dare, though, I don’t like him as much anymore. He’s cute and everything, but if somebody can dare him to do something stupid like chug a beer, he’s not my kind of guy. But dancing with him is another thing.”

  “So you’ll go back to Dillon for your main crush?” Charlotte uncapped her water bottle and took a big swallow.

  “I’m so done with crushes. Boys are fun to be with, but I’ve resolved not to obsess so much over boys and obsess more over math.”

  Avery took out her chart. “Let’s give Maeve an A-plus for having a healthy dose of common sense.”

  Maeve stood up and bowed. “My first A-plus.” All the BSG clapped enthusiastically, even Maeve.

  “Charlotte?” Isabel asked. “You look like you have something to say.”

  “Well, Tim really didn’t show respect at all for Julie Faber when he was drinking, crashed the party, then expected a guest to dance with him.”

  Katani nodded. “Girls need to always be sure guys treat us with respect.”

  “Katani and Charlotte receive As for their thoughtful remarks.” Avery nodded.

  “Hey, how come we don’t get A-plus like Maeve?” Katani’s competitive spirit was kicking in.

  “Because,” Avery spoke in a tone usually reserved for the third graders she coached in soccer, “Tim Cole did not throw up on you.” Katani threw a pillow at Avery’s head.

  “Seriously, I think it’s a girl’s job to know her boundaries. My mother always says that,” Maeve explained. “You have to practice saying no. So that if somebody is really pressing you to do something you don’t want to do, you feel comfortable telling them to politely buzz off.”

  “It’s like Betsy and her free throws. She practiced, and when the time came she was ready to sink that basketball,” said Avery.

  “I think we should give Betsy an A-plus for effort,” Katani proposed. “Clap if you agree.”

  All the BSG clapped loudly and long for Betsy, the nerdy girl, who annoyed everyone every day of her life with her obsessions about achieving the perfect college resume.

  “You know, I am going to propose amendment number eleven to The New Tower Rules: ‘We will always think before we act,’” Avery noted. “Tim Cole wouldn’t be in such major trouble with everyone if he had used a little brainpower. What’s the vote?”

  Katani, Charlotte, and Isabel spoke up quickly in favor of the amendment.

  “I hereby resolve I will always think before I act,” Maeve held up her hand and swore.

  Everyone laughed, wondering how long Maeve’s resolution would last. Like New Year’s resolutions, maybe a week. Life with Maeve was so entertaining and never predictable, Charlotte thought.

  “Charlotte, do you have anything to say? After all, you were a star at the party. Do you think Riley will make his own CD soon? It’s pretty cheap to do that. And he could sell them for less than CDs of famous bands in stores.”

  “I’m sure he’s thought of that,” Charlotte said. “I gave him that poem a long time ago and thought he had thrown it out. Or that he didn’t like it or think the poem would set to music.”

  “So maybe you’ll become a songwriter instead of an author and poet?” Katani asked.

  “Why can’t I do all of those things when I grow up? No limits is my new motto.”

  “I would like to make a special award for this evening,” Katani announced.

  “Go for it, Kgirl.” Avery handed her friend the BSG official meeting notes.

  “I nominate Isabel and Aver
y for the BSG humanitarian award for being super volunteers for kids with cancer.”

  Isabel put her hands to her face and Avery put a pillow over her head as Charlotte, Katani, and Maeve thumped, whistled, and clapped for their BSG buddies.

  “You can come with us to the hospital if you like. They have a pet visitation program. I want us to train Marty even better, teach him more tricks, and take him in to visit the kids. That’s my announcement.” Avery sounded so excited with the possibility of bringing Marty to visit.

  “And Maeve,” Isabel piped in, “I bet the kids would love it if you and Riley put a show on there.”

  “Yeah.” Avery jumped up and started pacing. “These kids are just like us except they have to fight cancer. They want to have fun, and eat junk food, and laugh. If we include other girls in some of our projects, we could do a lot of fun stuff for the kids.”

  “Like math?” Maeve said half seriously. “Maybe if I have to stay in seventh grade and take math over again, it won’t be too bad. I can be the most mature person in the class.”

  “Maeve,” a suddenly very mature sounding Katani explained, “you are not going to have to repeat seventh grade. Mr. Sherman is just going to have to figure something out.”

  “Besides,” said Avery, “we aren’t going to let you flunk, even if it takes all of us working weekends and nights to help you pass your tests.”

  “Speaking of work…” Charlotte sighed. “I hate to be the nag, but this was supposed to be a study session, and I have one more page to write for my social studies report. Then I have to check it over to make sure it’s really finished.”

  Maeve opened her math book reluctantly.

  Charlotte giggled when Maeve lay down and used her book as a pillow. Maybe she thought it would sink into her brain more easily that way.

  “Let’s plan our twentieth high school reunion now.”

  Avery whistled through her teeth like she would at a football game. Marty barked and ran in circles to give everyone a face lick. Then he got Happy Lucky Thingy and held it down with his front paws as if it would escape.