A Whole New Ball Game by Belle Payton

barbecued spare rib.”
    Coach laughed, then was quiet. “Have you and that sister of yours had a talk?”
    She shook her head and turned onto her back. “No,” she said, crossing her arms. She was quiet for a minute. “We’ve just gotten really . . . different . . . since we moved here. We don’t seem to see eye to eye much.”
    â€œShe’s the best friend you’ve got, and ever will have, and you know that,” he said. “And you know her better than anyone. Alex handles change by taking control over it. Then you changed, but she can’t control you.”
    Now Ava was quiet for a minute.
    â€œI didn’t change to hurt her.” She sighed. “But I see what you mean. I’ll talk to her. But Daddy—” She stopped herself. Should she even bring it up?
    â€œYou never call me ‘Daddy,’ Ave—what’s up?” He waited, his clear green eyes searching her face, encouraging her to go on. So she did.
    â€œI’m worried about something else. Alex and I both are.”
    â€œAbout me?”
    â€œYeah . . . about your job.”
    â€œHoney, Alex and I already discussed this. I told her there was nothing to worry about. Besides, we haven’t even had our first game yet.”
    â€œI know, I know, but I keep hearing gossip. Mostly about what PJ’s mom is saying. She’s going around bad-mouthing you to anyone who will listen. She says you’re hard on some of the players, especially PJ. And that you’re not using the receivers and the running backs the right way, or something like that. I’m worried that”—she swallowed down a huge lump that had risen in her throat—“I’m worried that if you keep being hard on the stars on the team, your job might be on the line.”
    Her dad pressed his lips together and smiled. “Ave, I don’t think we have to worry about Mrs. Kelly all that much, to be honest. The other coaches warned me about her long before I even got here. She’s infamous around these parts. She’s complained about her son’s coaches since PJ was just out of diapers, it seems.”
    â€œShe has?” Ava pushed up to a sitting position,allowing herself to feel a tiny bit of relief.
    â€œYes, she has. And PJ is a good kid. A nice kid. But he’s lazy. He’s such a good athlete, he’s never really had to work hard. It’s the same thing with Tyler. So far, they’ve both gotten by on raw talent. But they’re at the point now where they need to learn to work hard: to learn the plays, to show up for practice on time and ready to perform, and to become positive contributors. Leaders. That’s going to be the difference between a talented team making it to state, and actually winning state. We all need to go the extra mile.” He sat back and looked reflective. “If I have been a little hard on them, it’s for their own good.”
    â€œAnd what about Tommy?” asked Ava in a small voice. “Do you think you’ve been hard on him, too?”
    Her dad looked at her and stroked his scruffy chin. He was silent for a moment before he spoke. “Maybe I have been, honey. Maybe I have been.”

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
    No one brought up the party the next day in the Sackett household. It seemed everyone would rather forget it and move on.
    Neither Alex nor Ava slept well Sunday night. Early Monday morning Ava climbed out of bed and stumbled sleepily down the stairs to watch some dumb TV.
    She discovered that Alex was already sprawled out on the couch. The sisters exchanged a wary look. Ava hesitated, trying to decide if she should stay. Then she shrugged and settled into her usual place at the other end of the couch. Moxy jumped up and nestled between them.
    An hour later Mrs. Sackett appeared in the doorway, her hair up in a kerchief, wearing herpainting clothes. “Ava Jane,” she said firmly.