Read Online True (. . . Sort Of) by Katherine Hannigan - Free Book Online Page A

was one kid, though, not looking at anybody. It was Ferris Boyd.
    The idea blew up in her brain like a genius bomb. “Holy shikes,” Delly squeaked, it was so smart.
    The other captains picked first. All the while kids were yelling, “Ooh, ooh, me, me.”
    Till it was Delly’s turn. The gym went silent.
    It didn’t matter. In a few minutes everything would change.
    â€œFerris Boyd,” Delly called out.
    There were gasps, then giggles, as Ferris Boyd shuffled toward her.
    It didn’t matter.
    â€œWe’re going to be winners,” Delly whispered.
    With Ferris Boyd on her team, Delly didn’t need anybody else. She was about to tell Ms. Gerwitz, “I’m done,” when she got another blast of brilliance.
    I’ll pick the kids nobody else wants, she decided. Sibyl Salisbury, Chicky Plunkett, Eldon Stank, Melbert Fouts—Delly got every one of them. They slunk up and stood behind her. None of them said, “Thanks.”
    It didn’t matter.
    â€œWe’ll all be winners,” she breathed.
    They sat together for the first game. Melbert was gnawing his nails, asking Delly over and over, “What are we going to do?”
    â€œI got it,” she assured him.
    They huddled before the tip-off. “Here’s the plan,” she told them. “Ferris Boyd, you stand by our basket. Everybody else, pass it to her.”
    Ferris Boyd’s head jerked up, her eyes popping with panic.
    â€œThat’s it?” Melbert shrieked. “That’s the plan?”
    â€œBawlgrammit, Melbert,” Delly barked, “just get the ball to her. It’ll be all right.”
    â€œWe’re dead,” Chicky cried. The others nodded.
    It didn’t matter. In a minute Ferris Boyd would transform into a swish-shooting machine. Then they’d be shouting, “Hooray for Delly! She made us winners.”
    Ferris Boyd slumped to her spot.
    â€œPerfexcellent.” Delly grinned.
    Ms. Gerwitz blew the whistle, and the two teams came to center court. “No touching Ferris,” she reminded them.
    Melbert jumped for the tip-off. He hopped on one foot while his arms flailed around his head.
    Novello grabbed it and took it down the court for an easy layup. “Your team stinks, just like you,” he sneered as he passed Delly.
    It didn’t matter. Now she had the ball.
    Delly Pattison might be too tiny to shoot, but she could dribble. She was so low to the ground other kids couldn’t reach her. As she sped down the court, she snickered. “You’re going down, Nobraino.”
    â€œHere, Ferris Boyd. Do your business!” Delly yelled as she threw the ball to her. Then she turned to the hoop and waited for the swish.
    She heard shouts. She felt the wind of people whizzing by. She swung around just in time to see Novello put the ball in his basket.
    â€œDelly!” Melbert wailed.
    She looked at Ferris Boyd, still slouching. “What the glub happened?” she asked.
    â€œNothing.” Sibyl sighed. “The ball bounced off her.”
    Eldon was wheezing. “What are we going to do?”
    â€œDo it again,” she told them.
    â€œWhat?” they screamed.
    â€œI said, ‘Do it again!’”
    Delly got the ball down the court. This time she stopped a foot away from Ferris Boyd. “Here it is. Take it and shoot,” she said, and lobbed it.
    The ball hit the girl’s hand, then fell to the floor. Delly picked it up. “Ferris Boyd, shoot!” she hollered, and tossed it at her.
    But the girl was a human backboard. The ball thumped off her belly.
    And into Novello’s hands. He took it to his basket for two more points.
    â€œTime out!” Delly shouted.
    The whistle blew.
    Delly stood two inches from her. “Ferris Boyd,” she whispered, “I’m getting the ball to you. All you got to do is shoot. Just shoot the ball.”
    Then Ferris Boyd looked at her, with the same sad eyes