Fast Break

by Derek Jeter

  “What’s the matter, Gar?” Derek said. “Afraid of getting beat on the tests?”

  “Are you nuts? There’s no chance of that happening!”

  “Then what are you worried about?”

  Gary was cornered, and he knew it. “Okay, Mr. Talent—you’re on! Highest total score wins. You lose.”

  The two boys shook on it.

  Just then, Ms. Terrapin walked into the room, holding a stack of booklets. “Testing time!” she chirped, and all the students sat down at their desks.

  Chapter Eight RESULTS

  “Dad? Can I go with you?”

  Derek’s father cocked his head to one side. “Don’t you need to do math review? Remember, if you come along, you have to stay for Sharlee’s whole dance class.”

  “That’s okay,” Derek assured him. “I’ll bring my math book with me.”

  “I guess that’ll be all right, then,” said his dad. “I know the suspense must be killing you.”

  “You got that right!” Derek said with a laugh. He couldn’t stand not knowing whether he’d made the cut for the next round of tryouts. Not when the list was already posted on the bulletin board at the Y!

  He didn’t want to hear it from Dave over the phone. Derek knew that Chase would have driven him over there straight from school. If he stayed home, the phone would ring any minute, and it would be Dave, who would give him the news secondhand.

  Besides, Derek wanted to know who else had made it through the first round. That would tell him who his competition was in the next round—if he got that far.

  Although he liked dancing and was good at it, dance class would never have been Derek’s thing. Plus, this was something called “jazz dance.” Derek had no idea what that even meant—he guessed he’d find out now, sitting there watching Sharlee and the other kids.

  At any rate, it would please Sharlee that he was coming to one of her activities. “I’ll go get my book,” he told his dad.

  “Are you going to come to my recital next month?” Sharlee asked on the drive, her eyes wide with hope.

  “Of course!” Derek assured her. “Would I miss something that fantastic?”

  “It will be!” Sharlee said. “You can sit in the front row, because I have a big solo!”

  “Wow!” said Derek. “That’s so cool, Sharlee! Hey—don’t you ever get scared, getting up and performing in front of people?”

  “No,” Sharlee said matter-of-factly. “Why would I do that?”

  Derek laughed and shook his head. He tried to remember if he’d been that sure of himself back when he was her age.

  At any rate, it was pretty inspiring. If Sharlee could shake off any doubts about herself and her abilities, he figured he ought to be able to do the same.

  “Well, I can’t wait to see you up there, kickin’ it,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze.

  Dancing was only one of Sharlee’s many dreams—she wanted to be a soccer player, a black belt in karate, and a thousand other things. But Derek knew that she cared just as much about each of her dreams as he did about his. And that family and friends helped each other’s dreams come true.

  No sooner had they gotten to the Y than Derek took off at a run. “See you in class!” he told his dad and sister. He couldn’t wait any longer, running at full speed until he made it to the bulletin board.

  There was the notice.

  Derek’s heart was pounding—more from suspense than from running in from the parking lot.

  There was his name! He’d made the cut!

  “YESSS!” he cried out—then put his hand over his mouth, realizing that he was standing in a crowded lobby.

  There was Dave’s name too—right at the top of the list of centers!

  This time Derek said “Yesss!” under his breath.

  Of course, that meant another week of drilling, in advance of the next round of tryouts. And this time he really would have to spend time with Vijay, preparing for the talent show.

  Well, at least tonight was the last night of test prep—that would free up some hours—unless, of course, Ms. Terrapin had some other awful project up her sleeve.

  Derek scanned the list more closely. The kids were listed by position. There were five centers, ten forwards for two positions, and twelve kids listed under guards. The name at the top of the guards list was Sam.

  No surprise there. Of course, if Sam didn’t score well enough on the big tests, his mom wouldn’t let him play on the team.

  Sam really cared about basketball. If he didn’t get to play, it would be a crushing blow. It meant so much to him.…

  “I hope he makes it,” Derek murmured under his breath. “Even if it means I don’t.”

  Even as he said the words, Derek wasn’t really sure he meant them. Part of him did, anyway.

  Of course, there was still room for them both. Derek wondered if the order in which they were listed meant anything.… Was it a ranking? Or was it just random… ?

  He shook his head, not wanting to think about it anymore. He would just have to wait and find out, like all the rest of them. For now, at least, Derek felt relieved and happy. His and Dave’s dream of playing basketball together was alive and well.

  He slipped into the dance classroom as quietly as he could. The teacher was counting out beats, while two rows of six girls apiece went through their routine under her gaze.

  In the middle of the front row stood Sharlee, who smiled and waved. Derek waved back, sat down next to his dad, and pulled out his math book.

  It was hard to study, though, because he had to keep looking up every few seconds. Sharlee expected him to pay attention to what she was doing, and he didn’t want to disappoint her. Besides, she really was kind of fun to watch.

  In fact, at the moment, while the students were on a two-minute break, Sharlee was doing something that caught Derek’s attention in a totally different kind of way. She seemed to be standing still while gliding to her left using only her feet—zigzagging from heel to toe and back again.

  It was a move he’d seen a few times in music videos. It was funky and cool. Most important, it was perfect for his and Vijay’s haunted house scenario!

  Derek could see it playing out in his head—the two kids sneak along the walls of the house, doing that zigzag thing. Then when the monster comes out, they moonwalk away—getting nowhere while he gains on them!

  Ka-ching! Derek pumped his fist in triumph. Vijay was going to totally love it!

  * * *

  “Thanks, Sharlee!” Derek told her as they buckled up in the backseat after class was over. “That was really fun. Educational, even!”

  Sharlee beamed. “So can you come to my karate class tomorrow?”

  “Ah, sorry,” Derek said. “I’ve got to work with Vijay. But I think I learned a few dance moves today, thanks to you.”

  “Yay!”

  “In fact, there’s one of your moves I wish you would teach me. It’s way cool.”

  “Which one?”

  “That thing you do with the feet, like you’re moving but you’re not moving?”

  “Oh—sure! It’s easy. You’ll see.”

  “You know, you’ve got the stuff.”

  “Huh?”

  “Never mind. You just keep on doing whatever you’re doing.” He took her hand and held it the whole way home. Even though he got annoyed at her once in a while, Derek knew he had the greatest sister ever.

  * * *

  Derek looked back over his shoulder. Gary was grinning an evil grin at him, pencil in hand. As Derek watched, Gary put down the pencil, closed his test booklet, and got up to leave.

  Derek frowned and looked over his other shoulder. There was Sam, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead as he tried to keep plowing through the math portion of the test.

  Poor guy, thought Derek. I hope he remembers at least some of what we went over.…

  “Eyes on papers, class!” Ms. Terrapin said, and Derek’s neck swiveled back around so quickly that he felt a momentary twin
ge of pain as he focused back onto his test paper.

  He didn’t have much time to finish. It had been the same way yesterday. Derek was usually pretty quick at finishing tests, but not this time. It was harder for him to concentrate than usual. Other things kept intruding on his brain.

  Yesterday it had been whether he’d made the cut for the team. Today it was next Saturday’s final tryouts, plus the talent show.…

  Derek forced all those other thoughts out of his mind. He got back to work, determined to focus on beating Gary.

  * * *

  “Nice moves!” Vijay said, clapping. “I love the worm! Can you teach me that one?”

  “Sure!” The two boys were really into their work—making up for all that lost time.

  This is really, really fun! Derek thought. It was the first time he’d felt the same excitement as Vijay about the talent show.

  “I have to get home for supper,” Vijay said. “Let’s pick it up again tomorrow.”

  “Um, it’s going to have to wait, Vij. I’m practicing basketball with Dave and my dad the next two days. It’s the only time my dad can coach us.”

  “Oh.” Vijay looked crestfallen. “But I thought after the tests, you—”

  “Yeah, but… it winds up there’s a second round of tryouts. Don’t worry, though. It’s over on Saturday, for keeps. Either I make the team or I don’t—and even if I do, they only play on weekends, so it won’t interfere.”

  Vijay sighed. “I guess it will be okay. We made good progress today in just one hour—so maybe that’s how it will be next time too. I hope so.”

  They exchanged handshakes, and Vijay picked up his book bag. “Oh, by the way—who did you get to dance the part of the monster?”

  Derek felt his stomach drop. Oops.

  “It’s… a surprise—I’ll tell you tomorrow. But I think you’ll be pleased.”

  “Like with the song, huh? Cool,” said Vijay, and headed out the door. “I love surprises. See you in class tomorrow!”

  Derek slumped into a chair. Boy, he sure hoped he beat Gary out on the tests. If not, there was no plan B.

  And what would he tell Vijay then?

  * * *

  “Class—thanks to Scantron technology, we have your practice test results back already!”

  A rumble of anxious conversation arose from the room. Ms. Terrapin clapped her hands for quiet. “You can feel free to share your scores with one another, or not. However, there are three of you with whom I will speak privately after class, about getting extra help after school between now and the real tests next spring.”

  Derek looked over at Sam, whose head was hanging down and shaking slowly from side to side.

  Ms. Terrapin walked slowly up and down the aisles, placing a single folded sheet of paper on each student’s desk. Derek held his breath as she placed his sheet in front of him. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was too dry.

  He unfolded the paper slowly and peeked inside. There were three grades:

  English: 675

  Math: 724

  Total: 1399

  Derek took in a deep breath, his eyes wide. A 1399! That was much higher than he’d imagined he’d get! It made him think he had a real chance of beating out Gary’s score.

  Speaking of Gary, here he was now, leaning over Derek’s shoulder. “Well?” he asked.

  “You first,” Derek said, trying again to swallow, with the same result.

  “Read it and weep, Je-Ter.” He dangled his paper for Derek to read.

  Derek gasped in happy surprise. Gary’s grades were:

  English: 692

  Math: 706

  Total: 1398

  “I win!” Derek cried, getting up and thrusting both arms in the air. “Check it out, Par-Nell! 1399!”

  Gary stared at Derek’s grades, dumbfounded. “This has got to be a misprint,” he said, shaking his head. “There’s no way! It can’t be right!”

  “That’s what happens when you don’t study,” Derek said, trying not to rub it in too much. “Nobody told you to chuck the booklet and play computer games the whole time.”

  “I underestimated you, Jeter,” Gary said, losing the robot voice. “You must have spent every waking minute cracking the books. That’s the only way you could possibly have come close, let alone come out ahead.”

  “Oh well,” Derek said with a shrug and a smile. “I guess you can try again in the spring. Meanwhile, we had a bet. And now, it’s time to pay up—Mr. Monster.”

  “Huh?”

  Derek chuckled. “You’ll see. Don’t worry—you’re going to be the star of the show!”

  * * *

  “Omigosh! Gary Parnell?”

  “That’s right,” Derek said. “I got him good, too.”

  “This is great news, Derek! He will be the perfect monster. And the worse he dances, the better for our story—it is a no-lose situation!”

  “I told you I’d get someone,” Derek said with a grin.

  “Still, it must have been difficult—I mean, Gary, of all people! Who would have thought he would agree to do such a thing?”

  “Yeah,” Derek agreed, folding his arms across his chest in satisfaction. “Who would have thought it?”

  Chapter Nine PAIN IN THE NECK

  “Show me again how you do it, Sharlee.”

  Sharlee clucked her tongue and rolled her eyes. “Derek, I already showed you a million times! It’s so easy!”

  “You showed me exactly twice. But never mind, just show me one more time. Please?”

  He gave her a quick tickle under her arm, and she squealed with laughter. “Okay, okay! Stop!”

  “Now, here we go,” said Derek, getting in position. “Stand next to me so I can do it like you.”

  “Okay—so if you’re going left, you put your weight on your left heel and your right toe. Got that?”

  “Okay, now what?”

  “You swivel on your left heel, and turn the toe out to the left. At the same time, you move your right heel to the left, pivoting on the toe. Then you just keep switching, in and out—like this. It’s easy!”

  “Sheesh,” Derek said, making an awkward attempt as Sharlee glided effortlessly to the left. “Wow, Sharlee, you sure are a good dancer.”

  “You can do it, Derek! Just keep practicing. But I have to go now. Daddy’s taking me over to Ciara’s for a play date.”

  She ran out of the living room, calling, “Daaad! We have to go!”

  Derek blew out a breath and tried the move again—slowly. Eventually, he got the hang of it. When he was done, he went on to perfect his moonwalking.

  It was almost four—Vijay was due over any minute now. They were going to finally get down to planning out their dance routine. Now that Gary was roped into being part of it, Derek and Vijay could map things out, knowing they had a monster lined up.

  When Vijay arrived the two friends set to work. “Okay, should we start with the story?” he asked Derek. “Or should we go through all the moves we know first?”

  “Let’s get the story down,” Derek said. “Then we’ll know what kind of moves we need to get it across.”

  “Okay. Sounds good. So from what we talked about on the phone, I have fleshed it out a lot. So let’s start with the basics, all right? Two friends”—he pointed to himself and Derek—“each thinks he’s braver than the other. So they dare each other to go into the haunted house. We can do that with dance moves, like trying to outdo each other.”

  “What are we going to do to show the house?” Derek wondered. “Is the audience just going to have to imagine it?”

  Vijay thought for a moment. “I’ll paint a big poster of a house—maybe even with the words ‘Haunted—Do Not Enter!’—and we can hang it from the back curtain.”

  “Sounds good, but—”

  “Don’t worry, I know you’re busy with basketball and such. I’ll do the poster.”

  “Cool. So what next?”

  “So then we do all our fancy walking moves, edging closer and closer
to the house, right? Moving in, backing off, ’cause we’re really scared underneath. Then finally we get there, and we’re about to go in when the monster comes out and tries to get us!”

  “That’s when we can do our floor moves—spins and flips—”

  “And that worm thing you do!” Vijay said. “And at the end, when the monster talks? We try to get away, but he keeps getting closer, and closer—’cause we’re moonwalking, and we’re not getting anywhere!”

  Both boys cracked up, and Derek applauded. “Good job, Vij!” he said. “Man, you’ve done a lot of good work on this!”

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” he said, waving Derek off. “When I get excited, all kinds of ideas come into my head.”

  “That’s for sure.” Derek clapped his hands together. “So why don’t we put the song on and go line by line, figuring out what moves to do?”

  They got about halfway through, then sat down to write down everything in an outline form, so they wouldn’t forget all the details.

  “Okay, we can pick this up tomorrow,” Vijay said.

  Derek was about to suggest they put it off till after the tryouts on Saturday—but he just couldn’t disappoint Vijay yet again. He’d already put him off so many times. And besides, this routine was looking like it was actually going to be good!

  Derek knew Vijay was right—it was going to take practice. They each had some good moves, but the story demanded that they do a bunch of things in unison, and that meant they would have to learn each other’s moves.

  “See you tomorrow,” he told his friend.

  “See you tomorrow, Derek. Hey, by the time we get to the talent show, we will be ready for prime time! Watch out world, here we come!”

  * * *

  “Tell me again why I have to do this?”

  “We made a bet, Gary,” Derek said. “And I won!”

  Gary rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He heaved a sigh. “So what do I have to do?”