Outstanding practice, everyone, said Gillian. Were in good shape for the game with the Bears tomorrow afternoon. Go home and get some rest now. Gillian slid her coachs clipboard into her gear bag, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked to her ca...
Footsteps crossed the parking lot. For a moment it seemed as if they were heading toward the van. Then, nearby, the children heard a car door open. It stayed open for what seemed like a very long time. Then the car door shut and the footsteps moved a...
Hello? said Violet, answering the phone. She listened for a moment and a worried expression crossed her face. The game has been moved? she asked. Oh. Okay. Thank you. She hung up the phone. The Aldens were at the breakfast table. Benny wasnt eating a...
Catch it, Watch! shouted Benny. He kicked the ball toward Watch. Watch ran after it and pushed it with his nose. Watch, Benny, and Soo Lee were practicing soccer in front of the Aldens house. They were playing keep-away, trying to keep Watch from get...
The blue van? You saw the blue van? Jessie cried. No! No, I saw the man who was driving the blue van, said Violet. She hesitated. At least, I think it was him. He was wearing dark glasses and a navy blue cap with gold trim pulled down low over his fa...
The Silver City Rockets look like a good soccer team, said Violet. Good. They will be fun to play against, said Jessie cheerfully. And look. Theres even a locker room where we can change into our new shirts. All the soccer teams had gotten new shirts...
Soo Lee looked over her shoulder as they walked across the field toward Gillian. Stan was still standing where they had left him, glaring after them. Uh-oh, she said to Henry in a low voice. Stan looks really angry. Then Im even more glad that were n...
Youre not eating very much breakfast, Benny, said Grandfather Alden the next morning. Im not hungry, answered Benny. Im worried. Worried? About the results of the soccer tryouts? asked his grandfather. Yes. Im not that good at soccer yet, said Benny....
Gosh, whispered Violet to Jessie. Look at all these people! What if Im not on a team with anyone I know? Violet was a little shy, and sometimes meeting new people made her nervous. Jessie said, Im glad there are a lot of people. That means well have...
Oh, Benny, what are you doing to Watch? Violet Alden asked her six-year-old brother. Benny Alden grinned. He had tied a bandanna around Watchs head with a leaf tucked under one side to make an eye patch. Im a pirate, he said. And I am making Watch wa...
