Just then, Ronny came over. “Taking care of that stupid thing?”
Shawn didn’t answer.
“Are you deaf, fiddlesticks boy?” Ronnie demanded.
Shawn paid no attention. He thought of the Golden Rule and fished out a candy bar from his pocket.
“You like?” Shawn held up the candy.
Ronny frowned at first. Then his eyes blinked. He snatched up the candy. “Give me that!”
And off he ran.
Shawn felt inside his pants pocket. He smiled. There was plenty more candy. He was ready for Ronny.
His plan was good. A golden plan.
“Shawn Hunter!” The coach called.
He was next.
The coach glanced at Shawn’s violin. A thin smile crossed his face. Then he looked away.
One kid shouted, “Hey, look! Shawn’s trying out with a violin!”
Coach waved his hand. “It’s music month, right?”
Kids on the sidelines snickered.
“Teamwork!” yelled the coach. He blew his whistle again. “Heads up. Spread out.”
Four players rushed onto the field. All of them wanted to be on the team. But none of them more than Shawn.
Things got off to a swift start. Shawn dribbled and passed rapidly. The others scrambled to keep up. Down the field they flew. Clutching his violin, Shawn eased in and out of the players.
“Go, Shawn, go!” Jason shouted.
Fast as he could, Shawn worked his way down the field.
His teammates shot the ball to him and he stopped it with his foot. He dribbled a few yards. He remembered Jason’s fancy footwork. And tried it out.
He was approaching the goal area.
The goalie was guarding like a hawk.
Shawn had to trick him. How?
Teamwork, he thought.
Shawn passed to another player. That player dribbled to the left, then booted it back.
Shawn stopped the ball with his hip and took control.
Pow! He snapped a clean shot into the net.
“Goal!” someone shouted.
Kids chanted on the sidelines. “Go, fiddlesticks, go!”
The coach blew his whistle. Long and loud.
The crowd got quiet.
“Next group!” Coach said.
Tryouts were over for Shawn. He felt good about his passing and shooting. But mostly he felt glad about his speed.
Jason and Eric circled Shawn.
“You were great!” Jason said.
“He sure was!” Abby said, running up to them.
“You great, too,” Shawn said to his cul-de-sac friends.
Eric scratched his head. “How can you play soccer and a violin?”
Shawn replied, “Not easy.” He smiled so big his eyes winked shut.
Jason asked, “Hey, what were those kids chanting?”
Shawn tossed his head. He knew. It was the nickname.
“Something about fiddles, I think,” Eric said. “Maybe that’s because Shawn’s so good at violin.”
Abby wrinkled up her nose. “Just forget it, OK?”
“Fiddlesticks,” Shawn offered. “Kids call me ‘fiddlesticks.’”
Abby’s eyes nearly popped.
Shawn shook his head. “Nickname not bother me now. Fiddlesticks good name.”
Ronny looked their way. He didn’t come barging over. But Shawn knew he’d heard what Shawn said.
“Ronny learn golden things,” Shawn said softly.
Abby frowned. “What do you mean?”
Shawn thought about the Golden Rule. But he kept quiet.
The kids walked toward Blossom Hill Lane. They talked about soccer and the team list.
“When will we know who made it?” Jason asked.
“Monday, after school,” Eric said.
“A whole weekend to wait,” Abby chanted.
Jason jigged down the cul-de-sac. “Wouldn’t it be cool if we all made the team?”
“Very cool,” said Shawn.
But he was thinking about Ronny. Would he make the team, too?
TWELVE
Monday finally came.
The team list was posted high on the P.E. door.
Shawn stood on tiptoes, reading the bottom names first. He saw Jason’s name. And Eric’s.
Shawn kept going, reading up the list.
“Hey,” called Jason. “Did you make the team?”
Shawn was still reading. “You make team,” he said.
Jason started to dance in the hall.
Shawn made his eyes squint. But the names on the list were too far away. He couldn’t see them.
The school bell rang. Kids hurried to class.
“Come on,” called Jason. “We’ll be late.”
Shawn turned to go. He wished he could see the top names. Maybe his was up there.
Maybe not.
Miss Hershey called the roll.
After that, she passed around some papers.
Shawn read his right away. Very good, he thought. Music homework.
“We’re going to do something special for Bach’s birthday,” Miss Hershey said. “We’re going to have a Bach Bash.”
Some of the kids had forgotten who Bach was. Miss Hershey reminded them of the famous music composer. Then she handed out ideas for creative reports.
Shawn raised his hand. “I play Bach piece on violin, yes?”
Miss Hershey smiled. “I hoped you would want to play,” she said. “Thank you, Shawn.”
All morning, Ronny was kind. He didn’t poke Shawn. He kept his feet to himself. He didn’t say the nickname.
The class got busy. They divided into groups. Ronny was in Shawn’s group.
Miss Hershey came around and listened to each group. But Ronny was silent. He let Shawn do all the talking.
Shawn was surprised. What a big change.
It was a Ronny Kitch switch!
During recess, Shawn and Jason went to P.E. They looked at the soccer list.
Jason spotted Shawn’s name. “You made it!” he cried.
Shawn jumped up to see his name. It was at the top of the list. But he kept looking. “I not see Ronny on list,” he said.
Jason shook his head. “Ronny didn’t make the team this year.”
“He not?” Shawn asked.
“Coach heard about the nickname,” Jason said. “He didn’t like the way Ronny was acting.”
Jason ran out for recess.
Shawn hurried to catch up, but inside he felt sad. Sad for Ronny.
Shawn played on the soccer field with the other boys. Ronny watched from the sidelines.
Then Shawn had an idea. Another golden one. He marched off the field. Right up to Ronny.
“You want candy?” he asked.
Ronny’s face turned happy. “Are you kidding? After what I called you? After what I did?”
Shawn gave him an eyeball gum ball. “For you from fiddlesticks.”
Ronny’s mouth dropped two feet. “What did you say?”
“You not deaf. You hear right,” Shawn said. “Fiddlesticks nickname good. Make me run fast. Make me feel like music.”
Ronny shook his head. “I don’t believe this.”
“Believe,” Shawn said. “Good thing to believe.”
He thought of the Golden Rule.
And he smiled.
THE CUL-DE-SAC KIDS SERIES
Don’t miss #12!
THE CRABBY CAT CAPER
Dee Dee Winters is worried. Mister Whiskers has run away. The Cul-de-sac Kids help her search Blossom Hill Lane, hoping to find the crabby cat.
When Mister Whiskers is spotted at the school carnival, the cul-de-sac pets join the hunt. A wild chase!
Dee Dee sees her cat perched high in the top seat of the Ferris wheel. But something goes wrong—it stops! Poor Mister Whiskers meows and paws the air. Dee Dee holds her breath and covers her eyes.
Will the cranky kitty stay put till the fire truck arrives?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
&nbs
p; Beverly Lewis thinks nicknames can be fun. “But the mean kind are horrible,” she says. And she remembers being teased. Even by a teacher! “I was as skinny as Shawn Hunter, and people made fun.”
Playing the violin and piano were a big part of Beverly’s life. Her violin training began in fourth grade. She played all through high school and college. Later, she taught violin and piano to many students.
But Beverly never played violin on the soccer field. Or carried it around for tryouts!
You will always laugh when you read The Cul-de-sac Kids series. The books are full of humor and mystery. Beverly loves writing kids’ books—just for YOU!
Also by Beverly Lewis
Adult Nonfiction
Amish Prayers
The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook
Adult Fiction
Home to Hickory Hollow
The Fiddler • The Bridesmaid
Seasons of Grace
The Secret • The Missing • The Telling
Abram’s Daughters
The Covenant • The Betrayal • The Sacrifice • The Prodigal • The Revelation
Annie’s People
The Preacher’s Daughter • The Englisher • The Brethren
The Rose Trilogy
The Thorn • The Judgment • The Mercy
The Courtship of Nellie Fisher
The Parting • The Forbidden • The Longing
The Heritage of Lancaster County
The Shunning • The Confession • The Reckoning
Other Adult Fiction
The Postcard • The Crossroad • The Redemption of Sarah Cain • October Song • Sanctuary* • The Sunroom
Youth Fiction
Girls Only (GO!) Volume One and Volume Two†
SummerHill Secrets Volume One and Volume Two†
Holly’s Heart Collection One‡, Collection Two‡,
and Collection Three†
www.BeverlyLewis.com
*with David Lewis †4 books in each volume ‡5 books in each volume
Beverly Lewis Books for Young Readers
PICTURE BOOKS
Annika’s Secret Wish · In Jesse’s Shoes
Just Like Mama · What Is God Like?
What Is Heaven Like?
THE CUL-DE-SAC KIDS
The Double Dabble Surprise
The Chicken Pox Panic
The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery
No Grown-ups Allowed
Frog Power
The Mystery of Case D. Luc
The Stinky Sneakers Mystery
Pickle Pizza
Mailbox Mania
The Mudhole Mystery
Fiddlesticks
The Crabby Cat Caper
Tarantula Toes
Green Gravy
Backyard Bandit Mystery
Tree House Trouble
The Creepy Sleep-Over
The Great TV Turn-Off
Piggy Party
The Granny Game
Mystery Mutt
Big Bad Beans
The Upside-Down Day
The Midnight Mystery
Katie and Jake and the Haircut Mistake
www.BeverlyLewis.com
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