Read Online Boot Camp by Eric Walters - Free Book Online Page A

better not. Talking might cost the team push-ups. I guess it made sense that he’d be the player who was leaving—he was the worst player on our team, and maybe the worst player in the gym. They were going to give us somebody really good and then—
    A second name was called, and the two changed teams. I recognized our new player. He wasn’t much better than the player we’d traded. During lunch yesterday, while other kids were taking shots and fooling around on the court, he’d gone up into the bleachers and started fooling around on a handheld gaming system.
    He ran over to our team, smiled and nodded as he took a seat. Maybe he wasn’t very good, but at least he was friendly.
    Sergeant Kevin continued to call out names— again, one player per team. Either he was going to go back for a second pass at each team or—
    â€œThere, the teams are now set,” Sergeant Kevin said.
    I turned back around. Kia looked shocked. Jamal looked angry—real angry.
    â€œEach team will now pick a name, a captain and get ready to play your first game. You have fifteen minutes,” Jerome said.
    Everybody broke into their teams, some going off into a corner, or off to the side, and others just formed a circle where they were alreadysitting. Our team gathered together off to the side. We started talking and welcomed our new member—his name was Brandon.
    I looked past the circle—Jamal hadn’t joined us. In fact he hadn’t moved. He continued to sit there by himself, his back against the wall, his familiar scowl plastered across his face. Everybody in our group continued to talk. Was I the only one who’d noticed Jamal hadn’t joined us?
    â€œKia, did you notice that—”
    â€œJust ignore him,” Kia said.
    â€œHe’s on our team,” I said.
    â€œDon’t remind me,” she said.
    â€œBut we need him,” I said.
    â€œJust more playing time for the rest of us,” one of the other guys, Troy, said. I knew it wasn’t just Kia and me that Jamal had annoyed.
    Two of the other guys nodded in agreement.
    â€œI was hoping he’d be the one traded,” Troy said.
    â€œMe too,” voiced a second person and a third nodded.
    â€œHe’s a good player. We can use him,” I said.
    â€œWe can win without him,” Kia said.
    I shook my head. “I’m not even sure we can win
with
him.”
    Nobody said anything. I think I’d said what we had all been thinking.
    â€œIf you want him, you talk to him,” Kia said.
    I shrugged. “Sure.”
    I got up and walked across the gym floor. All around me the different teams were excitedly talking. The coaches all stood together in their own little group. Hadn’t they noticed Jamal just sitting there? Jerome looked at me and gave a subtle nod of his head. They’d noticed but weren’t going to do anything about it…at least not yet.
    I stopped right in front of Jamal. He didn’t even look up at me.
    â€œNot the team changes I was expecting,” I said.
    He didn’t say anything, didn’t look up. Maybe a lie was what was needed.
    â€œBut I’m glad you’re still on my team,” I said.
    â€œYou are?” he asked in disbelief.
    â€œSure, you’re one of the best players here.”
    â€œOne of?” he asked.
    I bit my tongue. “Can’t think of anotherplayer here who I’d rather have on my team, so I’m glad they didn’t trade you.”
    â€œWhat was with the guy they gave us?” he asked.
    He’d said “us”—that was a good sign. “What about him?” I said.
    â€œYou know what he was doing at lunch?” Jamal asked.
    â€œThat was him in the bleachers playing with his handheld game, right?”
    â€œYeah, do you know what he was playing?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œChess. He was playing
chess
.”
    â€œI didn’t know that. Chess is a pretty interesting