Ход королевы
Chapter 1
Itwasn’tjustthatshewasolderandtaller;shealwaysknewexactlywhattodo,andwhentheballcamehighoverthenet,shecouldstationherselfunderitwithouthavingtoshoutattheotherstokeepoutofherway,andthenleapupandspikeitdownwithalong,smoothmovementofherarm.TheteamthathadJolenealwayswon.
TheweekafterBethhurtherfinger,Jolenestoppedherwhengymendedandtheotherswererushingbacktotheshowers.“Lemmeshowyousomething,”Jolenesaid.Sheheldherhandsupwiththelongfingersopenandslightlyflexed.“Youdoitlikethis.”Shebentherelbowsandpushedherhandsupsmoothly,cuppinganimaginaryball.“Tryit.”
Bethtriedit,awkwardlyatfirst.Joleneshowedheragain,laughing.Bethtriedafewmoretimesanddiditbetter.ThenJolenegottheballandhadBethcatchitwithherfingertips.Afterafewtimesitgottobeeasy.
“Youworkonthatnow,hear?”Jolenesaidandranofftotheshower.
Bethworkedonitoverthenextweek,andafterthatshedidnotmindvolleyballatall.Shedidnotbecomegoodatit,butitwasn’tsomethingshewasafraidofanymore.
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EveryTuesday,MissGrahamsentBethdownafterArithmetictodotheerasers.Itwasconsideredaprivilege,andBethwasthebeststudentintheclass,eventhoughshewastheyoungest.Shedidnotlikethebasement.Itsmelledmusty,andshewasafraidofMr.Shaibel.Butshewantedtoknowmoreaboutthegameheplayedonthatboardbyhimself.
Onedayshewentoverandstoodnearhim,waitingforhimtomoveapiece.
