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Show "Sorry," Kim apologized. As the coach gave last minute instructions, Kim could hear yelling and cheering coming from the gym. When the Putnam's team came onto the court, the volume of shouting doubled. There were even more students crowded into the bleachers than Kim had imagined on Orientation Day. Looking up at the mass of faces, she felt a surge of excitement and nerves. She watched the Simmons girls warm up. Miss Fites would probably have her guard number four, one of the shorter forwards, but quick. She followed the team to the north basket and fell in line behind Pilar for lay ups. She took a pass from Pilar and ran up to the basket, putting it in perfectly. After ten minutes of shooting, Kim finally relaxed. She could always tell when she was going to play well because she felt mentally up. Today was going to be a good day. Kim had expected Miss Fites to give the starting line up in the locker room. But coach had probably waited so she could see the Simmons players first. Five minutes before the start of the game Miss Fites circled the players around her and announced the starters: "Hill, Martin, Starkweather, O'Dell, Turner..." A lump settled in Kim's throat. Yelling from the stands and thumping balls of the Simmons players on the court dazed her mind. What do you expect? she kept telling herself. You're only a freshman, and this is a big game. Miss Fites wants 121 |
