Chapter One

Travel Team?

Asiyah Najjar and Lucy Stone were cracking up. They were eating lunch at school and were laughing so hard that they both almost fell out of their seats.

“You are the funniest person ever!” Lucy exclaimed. “You always make me laugh.”

“We definitely have a lot of fun together,” Asiyah replied.

“We’ll have even more fun if we make the travel volleyball squad this year,” Lucy said. “You are trying out tomorrow, right?”

Asiyah groaned. “Ugh, maybe? I’m not even sure if I want to join.”

“Why not?” Lucy said, picking up a french fry. “I know you’re not as excited about it as I am. But we’ll improve so much. We’ll play against better teams.”

“I don’t know. I like the old rec league where anyone could play,” Asiyah said. “I don’t think I’m competitive enough for travel volleyball.”

“You’re a good player. You’ll be fine,” Lucy replied. “Plus, you’ve gotten so much taller since last year. You could play in a bunch of different spots.”

“I guess. It’s just that travel teams have so many practices! When will I have time for piano lessons, or time just to relax?” Asiyah said.

She paused. “And on the town team, I didn’t have to explain to anyone about wearing my hijab. The coaches and the players understood what it is and why I wear it.”

Lucy looked at Asiyah’s bright, flowered headscarf. “No one will care that you wear a hijab. Lots of Muslim girls wear them in all kinds of sports,” she replied. “You have the skills to make the team. Try out!”

“I guess if I didn’t make it, I’d just be back on the rec team,” Asiyah said.

“So you’ll do it? Are we are going to be travel-team buddies?” Lucy asked.

Asiyah put both thumbs up. Then she did a little dance, wriggling in her seat and whipping her head around. The two girls burst out laughing again.