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Show Most of the girls Kim knew who played basketball were awkward and clumsy on the court. Hardly anyone could do a lay-up, much less a good one. But Pilar was different. She had a controlled ease that Kim admired, in spite of herself. Time after time, Pilar repeated the same motions, like a dolphin leaping out of water. Each time she threw the ball, it cleared the rim. Kim watched, fascinated, yet afraid. There would be ten, possibly twelve girls on the team. No more than one or two of those would be freshmen, and if only one were chosen, she knew it would have to be Pilar. Her jaws tightened. Suddenly, Pilar changed her motions. Crouching first, then jumping at least a foot off the floor, Pilar flicked the ball off her right hand with a perfect wrist motion. The ball cut so neatly Kim could see the net cord snap. It was a flawless jump shot. Kim clutched her basketball to her stomach. Mrs. Parker's words loomed like a suffocating cloud in her mind. 'How nice that you're going play on the basketball team. This is the first time we've ever had anyone in the class who was interested in athletics.' More intent than ever, she watched the Mexican. As Pilar uncoiled her body, Kim mentally went through the 69 |