A Whole New Ball Game by Belle Payton Page A

“We need to paint your room whether you like it or not. You may be fine with that hideous mustard color, but I, personally, can’t stand it. School starts next week, so now’s the time.”
    â€œOkay,” Ava said. “I do want to put up my posters.”
    â€œCome have some breakfast,” Mrs. Sackett commanded. “Then the two of you can move Ava’s stuff out into the hallway.”
    It took most of the morning for Ava and Alex to stack Ava’s still-packed boxes into the hallway, along with her posters, which were all still carefully rolled up and stored in special poster canisters.
    Alex offered to help their mom prime the room. “It will be so satisfying to get rid of that hideous color,” she said.
    â€œShould I help too?” asked Ava.
    Alex and their mother exchanged a look. “I think we can do it,” said Mrs. Sackett.
    The last time Ava had tried to help paint, she’d started daydreaming halfway through and had painted half the ceiling bright red before she realized what she was doing.
    So Ava went to practice with Coach and Tommy.
    That night, Ava and Moxy slept on the couch. Alex had been firm about the danger of breathing volatile organic compounds, but Ava couldn’t help notice that Alex hadn’t invited her to sleep in her room.
    The next morning their mom announced that Ava’s room was still under quarantine. It was going to require two coats of paint to completely cover up the mustard color. “Why don’t you girls go somewhere for the morning?” her mom suggested. “I can drive you wherever you want.”
    Ava looked at Alex. “You want to head to the pool?” she asked her.
    â€œCan’t,” said Alex shortly. “I have to study.”
    Ava’s brow furrowed. “Study? School hasn’t even started yet.”
    â€œI have twenty-five more vocab words to learn,” said Alex with a patient sigh. “And I’m taking pre-algebra this year; there are some sample problem sets I found at the back of our new textbook that I want to try.”
    Ava shrugged. “Okay. Maybe I’ll take Moxy to the park and play some basketball.”
    â€œGood idea,” said her mom.
    Half an hour later, Ava let the screen door slam shut behind her and Moxy—she wasgradually becoming acquainted with the new house, but she kept forgetting that the screen door slammed. They set off on foot for the park. Moxy strained at the leash, thrilled to be on an unplanned outing on top of her morning walk.
    Ava’s large sports bag bumped against her back with each step—it had been a birthday present from Alex last year, a special backpack that had a net pouch large enough to accommodate a basketball or a soccer ball. This time she had even remembered to pack some water for herself and for Moxy in it.
    As they got closer to the basketball court, Moxy suddenly strained on the leash and pulled her along the sidewalk faster. Ava looked up. It was Jack. He was heading toward the park from the other direction, riding his bike.
    He slowed to a stop at the entrance and waited for her and Moxy to catch up.
    â€œHey,” he said, grinning.
    â€œHey yourself,” she said back, feeling her ears get hot.
    Moxy sniffed his leg and looked at him adoringly, her tail wagging back and forth like crazy.
    â€œGuess Moxy likes you,” said Ava.
    â€œAll dogs love me,” Jack admitted, stoopingdown to ruffle Moxy’s head. “I can’t explain it. I don’t have a dog myself, because my mom’s allergic. But most dogs I know just seem to decide their lives will be incomplete if they can’t spend every moment in my presence.”
    Ava laughed. Her heartbeat quickened a little too. Not only was he an athlete, but he was funny. It was always so great to discover that someone had a good sense of humor.
    â€œDo you come here a lot?” she asked him, as they headed toward the court.
    He