Chapter 3
“Hey, Isaac,” PJ said. He stuck his head into the cafeteria and waved at Isaac. “You coming to Coach T’s office? The starting lineup is posted.”
Isaac popped a last tater tot into his mouth and nodded. “On my way,” he said with his mouth full.
After he dropped his empty tray at the return counter, he jogged after PJ.
“The list has been up for at least ten minutes by now,” PJ said. “We’ll be the last two to check it, I bet.”
Isaac shrugged as he jogged beside PJ toward Coach Turnbull’s office. “I’m not worried,” he said. “I already know what the list is going to say. Isaac Roth, starting power forward.”
Just then, Dwayne Illy passed them, going the other direction. He looked at Isaac and smiled. “No hard feelings, Isaac,” Dwayne said, and jogged on.
“What was that all about?” PJ asked.
“He was just being a good loser, I guess,” Isaac said, “since he didn’t get starting power forward. After tryouts on Monday there’s no way the coach chose someone else over me.”
PJ and Isaac rounded the corner. Then they stopped in front of the office door that read “Athletics Department.” The team lineup was posted on the corkboard.
PJ leaned down to look at the list. “Uh-oh,” he said.
“What?” Isaac asked, pushing PJ out of the way. “Didn’t you make the team?”
“Sure,” PJ said. “Starting center.”
“So why the uh-oh?” Isaac asked. Then he saw it. “Starting power forward, Dwayne Illy,” he said slowly.
Isaac looked at PJ. PJ nodded. “I guess you’re our new point guard,” PJ said.
Isaac curled his hands into fists. “I can’t believe this!” he said. “What was Coach T thinking?” Then he pounded on the office door.
“Come in,” the coach called. Isaac pushed the door open.
“Coach T, how could you make Dwayne power forward?” Isaac asked. “I played way better than he did yesterday.”
“Yes, you did,” the coach said. “But you’ll do more for the team at point guard.”
“More for the team?” Isaac said. “Point guards hardly ever score!”
“No, they assist,” the coach said.
“But what about all my steals,” Isaac said, “and doing better than Dwayne so many times at tryouts?”
“Dwayne Illy is a great power forward,” Coach T said. “You’re a great point guard, and that’s final.”
“But I don’t want to play point guard,” Isaac said.
“Well, you don’t have to be on the team, of course,” the coach said. He got up to lead Isaac out of his office.
“That’s it, huh?” Isaac asked angrily.
The coach nodded. “If you want to be in the starting five, you’re our point guard,” he said.
Isaac stepped into the hall. Coach T closed the door behind him.
“Where’s Dwayne?” Isaac asked.
PJ looked at him. “Um, eating lunch, I think,” he said. “Why?”
Isaac took off like a shot. He was a fast runner. Seconds later, he was heading into the cafeteria.
He found Dwayne sitting at a big table by the window. Isaac stepped right up to him.
“Dwayne, you know you don’t deserve to have power forward instead of me,” Isaac said.
Dwayne just looked at him and frowned.
Isaac lightly pushed Dwayne’s shoulder. “Well?” Isaac said. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
Dwayne just shook his head and went back to eating his hamburger.
Isaac grunted in frustration. Then he turned and headed for the door.