Choosing Sides

by Alex Morgan

  “Here you go, kiddo!” Dad said.

  I thanked him and then grabbed the syrup and poured it over my pancakes before digging in. We usually ate very healthfully at home, but every now and then we got a special treat. Dad’s pancakes were one of them.

  “So, girls, what’s on the schedule for today?” Dad asked.

  Again Maisie was the first to say something. “Devin promised to do soccer drills with me today!” she said, half-whining. I guess she was expecting me to say no.

  “I remember, Maisie,” I told her. “Don’t worry, we’ll do it.”

  “Yay!” Maisie cheered. “I’m going to watch TV until we start.”

  She quickly got up from her chair.

  “Not so fast!” my dad said. “Go wash up and make your bed first.”

  “I’ll do it later.” This time my little sister spoke in full-on whine mode.

  My dad gave her that no-nonsense look that meant it was pointless to try to argue with him. At least I had figured that out by now. Maisie, at age eight, was still learning.

  “Your hands are sticky from syrup,” he said sternly. “And we do our chores in this household before we watch TV. You know the rules, Maisie.”

  Instead of arguing, Maisie stomped up the stairs. She was being noisy and annoying about it, but at least she had figured out that arguing was pointless.

  Maybe she has finally learned something, I thought.

  I helped my dad clean up before going upstairs to grab a quick shower and change. Before I got into the shower, I got a text from Sasha, my former teammate on the Griffons who was now on the Santa Flora Roses.

  Hey, Devin. U busy today? Can we hang? I’d like to get your advice.

  I had plans with Maisie, and I knew I couldn’t cancel them. So this was my reply.

  If u wanna come hang with me and my little sis, we’re doing soccer drills today.

  Sasha replied: Cool! What time?

  We worked out the details before I jumped into the shower. I was dressed and ready when Sasha rang the doorbell.

  “Thanks, Devin, for having me over,” she said. “I can’t wait to meet your little sister.”

  I laughed. “You might regret that. Maisie, Sasha’s here.”

  Maisie loved meeting new people and hamming it up in front of them. Usually we had to pry her away from the TV, but I heard it shut off immediately, and she came running in.

  “I’m Maisie,” she said, beginning to talk excitedly. “Wait till you see me play. I’m really good. If you want any pointers, let me know.”

  Maisie charged through the house to the sliding glass doors that led into the backyard. Sasha and I exchanged grins before following her.

  “I warned you,” I said.

  “She’s funny,” Sasha laughed.

  We started out with a simple passing drill, kicking the ball back and forth to Maisie.

  “At first I was going to be a forward like Devin, but I think I like playing defense better,” Maisie chattered to Sasha happily. “I never let anyone past me. Never!

  I smiled as I thought about the last game of Maisie’s that I had seen. One of the players actually had gotten a goal past her, but I didn’t say anything.

  “Let’s do monkey in the middle,” Sasha suggested. “I’ll be the monkey first. Maisie, you and Devin have to try to pass the ball to each other without letting me get it.”

  We played for a while, and I noticed how great Sasha was with Maisie, getting her to laugh but focus at the same time.

  “I want to be the monkey next!” Maisie said. “But I’m thirsty. I’ll be right back! Don’t play without me!”

  She ran into the house, and Sasha turned to me.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said after the game yesterday,” she said. “I’d really like some more advice. Being on a team that’s so disorganized and playing so badly is really bringing me down.”

  I nodded. “Like I told you yesterday, I completely understand. I was in exactly the same situation you’re in. All of the Kicks were.”

  “You said to talk to Coach Doyle, but that’s kind of hard to do,” Sasha admitted. “I mean, she really is trying hard to be a good coach, I guess. And we all know that she kind of got stuck with this job. She stepped up to be coach when nobody else wanted to. So I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”

  “I know. But if she’s as nice as she sounds, she’ll want to help you and your teammates win,” I told her. “If you want, I can ask Coach Flores for advice. She might have some ideas of how you can bring it up with your coach.”

  Sasha’s hazel eyes brightened. “That would be so cool. Would you really?”

  “Sure. I feel like I can talk to Coach Flores about anything.”

  Sasha gave me a big hug. “Thanks, Devin!”

  I had another idea.

  “Did you know that there’s a soccer clinic at Carmella College next weekend?” I asked her. “Most of the Kicks are going. You should come and bring as many of your teammates as you can.”

  Sasha smiled. “That’s a fabulous idea. I think just about everyone on the team will want to go. Do you have the info?”

  We pulled out our phones, and I sent her the website with the registration information.

  “Devin, you are awesome! Thanks so much. You’ll definitely see me and most of the other Roses there.”

  I returned her smile. It felt good to be able to help someone who was in the same situation I’d been in.

  Maisie came running back out into the yard. “I’m the monkey! I’m the monkey!”

  Sasha looked at me. “Should we go easy on her?”

  “No way!” I said, but then I relented. “Well, maybe a little bit.”

  Sasha hung out with me and Maisie until lunchtime, and then her mom picked her up. Later that afternoon Jessi’s face popped up on my phone screen.

  “Hey, Dev!” she said. “What’s up? I am totally bored. What’d you do today?”

  “Not much,” I said. I didn’t tell her that Sasha had come over, and I wasn’t sure why. I guess I didn’t think it was newsworthy.

  Boy, was I wrong!

  Chapter Five

  “It’s nuggets day!” Jessi cheered the next day at lunch. She slid into the seat next to me and put down her lunch tray holding milk, an apple, and a pile of chicken nuggets. “I’m glad Mom gave me lunch money today.”

  “Lucky!” I said. “I’ve got turkey rollups again.”

  “Salad for me,” Frida chimed in. “Miriam says to avoid fried foods, but those nuggets look really good.”

  “Don’t get any ideas,” Jessi said, putting a protective hand over her plate.

  I glanced over at Emma, who hadn’t even opened up her bento box.

  “What do you have today, Emma?” I asked.

  She blinked. “Me? Oh. Vegetable sushi, I think,” she replied. “Does anyone know where Zoe is? Is she out sick?”

  “No. She was in my Spanish class,” Frida replied. “Why, what’s up?”

  Emma just frowned. Now, it wasn’t unusual for one of us to be missing at lunch. Mostly the five of us sat together. But sometimes Frida ate with the drama club, or Jessi sat with Cody.

  “Earth to Emma?” Frida asked.

  Emma shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’ve just been wanting to talk to her about something, but . . .” She sighed. “There’s no point.”

  “Don’t bottle up your feelings like that, Emma!” Jessi said. “If you’ve got something to say to Zoe, just say it! It’s not healthy to keep things inside you. Unless they’re nuggets.” She popped one into her mouth.

  Emma smiled, and then Frida started talking about this old movie she had seen with Miriam, and Emma was fine.

  Until practice that afternoon.

  • • •

  “We’ve all got to remember the pressure that is on our goalies,” Coach Flores said at practice. “So we’ll all be taking a turn in the goal today.”

  A lot of the Kicks groaned, but Emma and Zarine, who played goal
, both gave shouts of excitement as they high-fived. We had done this drill before, and it was intense.

  “Devin, you’re up first,” Coach Flores said. I sighed. On a great team the players knew what it took to succeed in every position. These kinds of drills made us stronger overall. Yet they weren’t easy.

  I slipped on the goalie gloves as I headed into the goal, and braced myself. The Kicks lined up to launch balls at me as fast as they could.

  Jessi was first. She grinned as Coach yelled, “Go!” Then Jessi ran up to kick the ball.

  It came flying at me, high and fast, and I had to jump up to block it. I had no sooner dealt with that ball than another ball came barreling at me, this one at my feet. I dove for it, but it skidded through my hands and landed firmly in the back of the net.

  “Emma, you’re my hero,” I panted as my turn was over and she took my place.

  “I make it look easy, don’t I?” She winked as she slid the gloves on.

  I felt much more comfortable facing the goal, lining up with the others to take my shot. Emma blocked every ball that came her way, except for one.

  After everyone had taken their turn in the goal, we played a short scrimmage. When practice was over, I headed to the locker rooms with the other Kicks, until I remembered I had promised Sasha that I would ask Coach Flores for advice.

  I jogged back to the field. Coach Flores was putting soccer balls into a large mesh bag.

  “Coach, you got a second?” I asked.

  Coach Flores straightened up. “Always for you, Devin. What’s up?”

  “So, the game on Saturday, with the Roses? I was talking to Sasha from that team, and she’s really upset,” I explained. “Sasha says her coach is only focused on everyone having fun, not on winning. But the problem is, they are not having fun, and they are not winning, either.

  Coach Flores gave me a rueful grin. “Sounds familiar, huh? I seem to remember another coach who had the same problem.”

  “Yep, but now you are the best coach ever!” I assured her. “Sasha wants to talk to her coach about how she’s feeling, but she’s nervous. I told her I’d ask you for advice.”

  “I’ve met Coach Doyle,” Coach Flores said. “She’s an English teacher at Santa Flora. I know she doesn’t know too much about soccer. The only reason she volunteered to coach the team is because there was no one else to do it. Without Coach Doyle, the Roses wouldn’t even exist.”

  “That’s what Sasha said,” I told her. “That’s why she doesn’t want to hurt Coach Doyle’s feelings by telling her that everyone on the team is unhappy.”

  Coach Flores nodded. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to get in touch after Saturday’s game. It looks like Coach Doyle could use a little help. I’ll reach out to her.”

  “That would be great!” I said. “What should I tell Sasha?”

  “Encourage Sasha to talk to her,” Coach Flores replied. “I don’t think she’ll get upset. I know she wants to do a good job for the team.”

  I beamed. “Thanks, Coach!” I said, and I felt great, like I had just solved a big problem. I knew Coach would come through!

  Coach Flores smiled at me. “It’s the least I can do, Devin. I feel blessed that you felt like you could talk to me about how you were feeling. Now the Kicks are playing great and everyone is having fun—everything I could have hoped for as a coach.”

  As I walked back to the locker room, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I was eager to grab my phone out of the locker so that I could text Sasha and let her know what had happened.

  But I couldn’t text Sasha right away, because when I walked into the locker room, I found Emma and Zoe squaring off. Emma had her arms crossed defensively in front of her, and Zoe’s cheeks were flushed red. Jessi shot me a warning glance, her eyebrows raised.

  “Why didn’t you sit with us today at lunch?” Emma was asking Zoe.

  I looked at Jessi. Emma had apparently taken her advice to talk to Zoe.

  Zoe looked down at the locker room floor. “Sometimes you eat with the kids from the Tree Huggers club. Who cares?”

  Emma frowned. “Maybe it wouldn’t be weird if you were answering my texts, but it’s like you’re not even talking to me. Are you mad at me or something?”

  Zoe shook her head. “No.”

  Emma snorted. “I’m the one who should be mad, anyway. You totally flaked on the fan club meeting. You didn’t even tell me you weren’t going to come.”

  Jessi and I exchanged glances but didn’t say anything. Zoe had tried to tell Emma, but Emma wouldn’t—or didn’t want to—listen.

  “I tried to tell you I’ve been busy with some other stuff,” Zoe said. Now she also crossed her arms protectively. “I’ve been doing things with my new friends from the art club, and I wanted to eat with them to talk about a project we’re going to start. I didn’t realize I needed your permission to do that.”

  Ouch! I cringed. Jessi and I once again exchanged looks, and this time both of our eyebrows were practically on the ceiling.

  “I thought friends talked about things,” Emma shot back. “Not got permission from each other.”

  “I’ve gotta go,” Zoe replied as she slung her backpack over her shoulder. “My mom is waiting for me in the parking lot.”

  “Fine. I’ve got to go too.” Emma turned her back toward Zoe as she shoved her practice gear into her gym bag before hurrying out of the locker room.

  Zoe grabbed her gear and walked out a few seconds later. Jessi and I just stared at each other, our mouths hanging open. The other Kicks were clearing out, too, but Jessi and I hung back so we could talk about what had just happened.

  “Well, that was awkward,” Jessi said finally.

  “Tell me about it,” I said. “Emma and Zoe never argue. What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know,” Jessi replied. “But if this keeps up, we’re going to have to take sides.”

  That startled me. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, if they keep arguing like this, we’re going to have to figure out which one is right, and then convince the other one that she’s wrong,” she replied.

  “But that’s impossible!” I said. “I mean, Emma is partly wrong, but Zoe is definitely acting weird.”

  Jessi shrugged. “Maybe they’ll make up and we won’t have to deal with it.”

  “I hope so,” I said, and I meant it. I did not want to have to choose sides in a battle between Emma and Zoe!

  Chapter Six

  Although the week had started out with a lot of stress on Monday, it had ended up being pretty quiet. I talked things over with my friend Kara on Friday night. She was my best friend back in Connecticut. I missed her so much, but we video chatted every chance we got.

  “So, the whole Emma and Zoe thing is very confusing. They seemed fine after their fight,” I said. “We ate lunch all together on Tuesday like nothing had happened. On Wednesday, Zoe ate with the art club. On Thursday, Emma ate with the Tree Huggers, Kentville’s environmental group. Then we all ate lunch together today. It was kind of weird. Jessi and I didn’t know what to say, and Emma and Zoe didn’t bring it up. Luckily, Frida wasn’t in the locker room when the fight happened. Otherwise she would have totally made the entire situation more dramatic.”

  “Hmmmm.” Kara seemed lost in thought. “I would be so upset if we had an argument like that. I wouldn’t be able to pretend that nothing had happened. I’d have to talk it over with you. I’d totally have a stomachache if I thought you were mad at me.”

  When Kara got nervous, or upset, her stomach always hurt. I’d known about that ever since the first day when we’d met in kindergarten, when a boy named Dylan had knocked over her block tower. She’d started crying and had said she had a tummy ache and needed to go home. I’d made her laugh with a dinosaur puppet, and we’d been best friends ever since.

  “You’re right,” I told her. “If we had a fight like that, I wouldn’t be able to ignore it either. But at least Emma and Zoe are still talking. Maybe that�
��s just the way they handle things.”

  Kara shrugged. “All friendships are different,” she said. “So hey, tell me more about this soccer clinic you’re going to tomorrow.”

  “I’m excited!” I said. “Our game this week is on Sunday, so Coach Flores found this soccer clinic for us. It’s being held by the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Carmella College, and they’ll be teaching us some skills and leading us in drills, stuff like that.”

  “Skills and drills!” Kara said. “Awesome!” Then she yawned. “I know you’re three hours behind me, but it’s past my bedtime,” she said. “Have fun tomorrow.”

  “Thanks!” I said. “And good luck in your game!”

  Kara and I signed off, and even though it was only eight o’clock in California, I started getting ready for bed. I wanted to make the most of the clinic and work on improving my form and technique. It was going to be great!

  • • •

  The next morning I got up as soon as my alarm went off on my phone, and I bounded into the shower. Then I dressed in my practice clothes and went down to the kitchen, where my mom was sitting at the table, reading the newspaper.

  “Good morning! I toasted a slice of whole wheat bread for you, and there’s a banana and peanut butter on the counter,” Mom said before taking a sip of her coffee.

  “Yum!” I said. It was one of my favorite breakfasts. I slathered peanut butter onto the toast and then sliced the banana and put the slices on top.

  I sat down at the table with my plate. Mom had poured a big glass of orange juice for me.

  “Thanks for taking me to the clinic, Mom,” I said between bites of toast.

  Mom smiled. “I should thank you. Since we both had to be up early today, Mrs. Dukes asked me if I wanted to go with her to the spa. She’s treating herself to a massage and a mani-pedi before the baby is born. And I get to tag along for some pampering, too!”

  “I guess that’s relaxing,” I said. “But I’d rather be at the soccer clinic!”