CHAPTER 2

Excuses

Coach Garcia explained the rules of the game. Then she showed the students some moves.

She stopped the ball with her feet. “This is called trapping,” she said.

She kicked the ball while running. “And this is dribbling!”

“Now it’s your turn,” Coach Garcia said.

Ali already knew how to play. He kicked the ball as hard as he could into the net.

Yasmin wondered if it hurt his feet to kick like that.

Emma bounced the ball off her knee. That looked like it really hurt.

Yasmin stayed near Coach Garcia. “Can I be the cheerleader?” she asked. “I can yell really loudly.”

Coach Garcia shook her head. “Everyone has to play.”

Yasmin watched the others kick and dribble and trap. One boy tripped and fell.

“Can I be the water girl?” she asked. “Everyone looks thirsty.”

“No, Yasmin.”

Coach Garcia blew her whistle loudly and clapped. “Ready for a game?”

She put the students into teams.

“Can I be the referee? I remember all the rules you taught us,” Yasmin begged.

Coach Garcia pointed to the net. “You get to be the goalie,” she said firmly.

“Goalie?” Yasmin asked with a gulp.

She remembered how Ali had kicked the ball into the net. Goalie looked like the most dangerous job of all.