Soar

Read Soar for Free Online Page B

Book: Read Soar for Free Online
Authors: Joan Bauer
stuff,” I tell it.
    SARB seems stuck. “Do you want me to turn you around?” I reach down and pick the little robot up.
    â€œI’m getting an emergency signal, Jer! He has to do it himself.”
    I put SARB down. “Sorry!”
    I’d make eye contact if SARB had reasonable eyes. “You’re a winner, SARB. Every minute. Every day. Walt will program you to leave your doubts at the door.”
    SARB backs up, runs smack into the door, and falls over.
    â—†Â â—†Â â—†
    The sign Walt put up on the door reads:
    NO ROBOTS IN THE BATHROOM
by order of The Management
    I look at Jerwal and SARB. “I’m sorry, you guys. Walt has this boundary thing.”
    I open the bathroom door and walk in. It’s pink, unfortunately.
    There’s a small mirror above the sink. I look at myself. People say I look like a kid actor, with my straight blond hair that falls over my left eye. I brush the hair back. My eyes look tough today. My skin isn’t puffy like it used to be when I was sick. It definitely isn’t blue—it got a little blue when my heart was at its worst.
    Lopper, you’re looking good, kid. You’re looking strong. Go warm up. I’m putting you in the game.
    I take out my phone, type:
    NOTE TO SELF: FIND OUT—Does this school have a baseball team? “Kind of,” “somewhat,” is not an answer.

Chapter
9

    â€œDOES THIS SCHOOL have a baseball team?”
    I ask three kids on the bus and get three answers.
    Yes.
    No.
    Maybe.
    â€œDoes this school have a football team?”
    Well, yeah.
    â€œA basketball team?”
    Of course.
    â€œTrack, soccer . . . ?”
    Sure.
    â€œSo what’s with baseball?”
    Kids shrug, except for a guy named Logo Larson. The school bus drives past the Hornets’ Nest. Logo points out the window. “If you don’t win here, nothing else matters.”
    â€œYou mean the middle school team didn’t win?” I ask.
    â€œWe won.” He rubs his elbow and stares out the window.
    I say, “I don’t understand.”
    He shrugs and keeps looking out the window.
    â—†Â â—†Â â—†
    The bus pulls around the middle school baseball diamond. The field doesn’t look like it’s been used much. The grass is overgrown; the pitcher’s mound is a mess. I see Franny and a few girls running laps. Franny is in the lead, running fast and easy. The bus pulls up to the middle school entrance. Mr. Hazard is in front saying good morning.
    He gives me a wave. “How’s it going, Jeremiah?”
    I smile and walk over. “Good, sir. I have another question.”
    â€œShoot.”
    â€œWhat’s a ‘somewhat’ baseball team?”
    His smile cracks a little. “You know, that’s a good question, but unfortunately, it would take too long to bring you up to speed. You’re not thinking of playing, right?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œNext year, hopefully.”
    â€œI won’t be here next year.”
    â€œOf course.” He pats me on the back.
    â—†Â â—†Â â—†
    â€œDoes this school have a baseball team?” I ask Ms. Mullner, the science teacher.
    â€œWell, I don’t think they do, Jeremiah. This is my first year teaching. They used to have one and something happened.”
    Logo, the kid from the bus, says, “The coach got fired,” and takes his seat.
    I sit next to him. “Why did they fire him?”
    â€œHe pushed too hard.”
    I whisper. “What do you mean?”
    â€œNobody wanted to play for him anymore.”
    Ms. Mullner is standing by her desk. “Today,” she says, “we’re going to be talking about huge small things: molecules. How can we explain something so infinitesimal?”
    No kids raise their hands.
    â€œAnybody hungry?”
    A few hands go up.
    Ms. Mullner holds a sandwich. “Salami, cheese,turkey, ham, on a roll. What happens when I cut

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