Just Kidding by Annie Bryant Page A

“This article is going to be fantastic!” she whispered to herself. “I think it could be one of the best things I’ve ever done!”
    â€œMarty, come!” she called. “Time to go home!” She pulled her coat more snugly around herself. It was starting to get bitterly cold. “Thanks so much, Ms. Pink,” she said gratefully. “I can’t wait to show my article to you when it’s done.”
    â€œI’d love to read it, Charlotte,” Ms. Pink answered, waving her pink-polished hand. “See you soon.”
    Marty trotted over to Charlotte obediently. His play time with his friends had tired him out enough that he was delighted to head home. Charlotte looked around for Miss Pierce. She’d left her on the bench right in the middle of the park and hadn’t noticed her leaving, but Miss Pierce wasn’t there now.
    Well, it’s getting cold , she told herself reasonably. Maybe her professor arrived and they went inside for coffee. Probably to Montoya’s Bakery .
    Charlotte walked to the edge of the park and started down Harvard Street, hoping she’d find Miss Pierce at Montoya’s. But as she headed for the bakery, she saw two alarmingly familiar figures sauntering toward her. Oh, no! The Queens of Mean were headed right for her, looking pleased with themselves as usual. Just what I need right now , Charlotte thought.
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    The basketball was making its usual hollow thud in the driveway of the Madden house as Avery played a game of D-O-N-K-E-Y with her older brother, Scott. Taller than Avery by almost a foot, Scott also had a few more years of practice, since he was sixteen. But Avery was strong and accurate with her shots; she could usually count on winning at least half the D-O-N-K-E-Y games they played together.
    Today, though, Avery was thinking as much about Spirit Week as about their game. As Scott dribbled the ball a couple of times and set up a shot, Avery said in a casual tone, “You know, I really think I can be the head of the sports committee.”
    Scott shot the ball and watched it swish neatly through the basket. “Another one for me,” he said with satisfaction. “You’ve got D-O-N, and I’ve only got D…ha-ha!”
    â€œDon’t you think I could do a great job heading up the sports committee?” Avery said again, ignoring her brother’s teasing. She wasn’t in the mood for an all-out Madden battle, and she really wanted to know what her brother thought about going for the head spot.
    But Scott wasn’t too excited about the idea. “Oh,I don’t know,” he said slowly. “Do you want to do it all by yourself? Why don’t you work with a boy, like a cochair or something? That way, you’d show everybody how the committees and the teams can be coed.” He took another shot and watched it swish through the net. “Still only D for me.”
    Avery bristled. “Why does everyone think a boy should be running things? Why can’t a girl do it herself?”
    Scott shrugged. “You asked me, Ave. I just told you what I thought.”
    â€œWell, maybe I don’t care what you think!” Avery shouted. She grabbed the basketball from Scott, even though it wasn’t her turn, and started dribbling toward the basket. She was angry but just a little worried that Scott might be right, that having a girl and boy working together was really the right way to handle the sports committee. And because Avery was a little doubtful, she took out her frustration on the court.
    â€œHey, squirt!” Scott shouted. “This isn’t one-on-one!” He chased her down by the basket, and Avery tried in vain to shoot the ball past him. But he was too tall and too good at guarding her, which was making her more and more frustrated!
    Finally Avery did a quick pivot to get away from Scott and stood for a split second, aiming the ball at the basket, which was almost