Points aren't the only things that Count!

When Ms. Clay told us to choose kickball teams at recess...I ran out those doors and to home base as fast as I could because I knew exactly who I wanted to have on my team. First, Jaden... because he can kick harder than anybody in our whole school and he never kicks fly-balls. He kicks low and fast. So fast that even if you could see the ball, you can't catch it in time. Yeah, and for sure we need Madison because she is the best at catching the close-up flyballs. She has no fear and she just reaches right out and grabs those balls no matter how high they go, no matter how long it takes them to come down. Luci just has to be on my team because she is my best friend and we are always on the same team.

"Jaden!" "Madison!" I yelled. "Jaden!" "Madison!" and my hands waved frantically to tell them to come over my team. "Luci, help me yell their names! We have to have them on our team...we have to!"
Well, then Ms. Clay came and told Ryan and Misha to be the captains. They could take turns choosing their teams. I know that Ryan can run fast...but he never listens to the girls and so I squished over by Misha and started to whisper as loud as I could: "Misha, choose Jaden!" And right then- she did choose Jaden. Then Ryan chose Isaac. Then I whispered: "Misha, choose Madison!" And right then-she did choose Madison. Then Ryan chose Skyler. Then I whispered: "Misha, choose me!" But she didn't hear me I think, because lots of kids were telling her to choose them and she probably got all mixed up and so she just chose Shelly. Then Ryan chose Garrett. Then I yelled to the top of my lungs: "Misha, choose me!" But everybody was yelling to the top of their lungs and so she couldn't hear anybody and so she just chose Olivia. Then Ryan chose Hunter. Then Misha chose Hannah. Then Ryan chose Issac. Then Misha chose Luci! Wahooo! Finally! I could put my hand down and not yell my head off anymore. She would choose me next, I just knew it.But the worst possible thing in the whole wide world happened. Ryan drummed his chin with his fingers and looked all around. Twice. I think he wanted everybody to memorize that he was the big captain boy. Anyway, people were waving and jumping and shouting: "Choose me, choose me." Then Ryan told everyone to be quiet-- and he chose-- "Hadley K."

What?! How could he do that? My team was on the other side...couldn't he see that? Why not Autumn or Caroline or Kaylee? Why not choose Logan or Jacob or Eli? Why me? I slowly stepped over to the wrong team which was now MY team. Misha chose Emma. Ryan chose Cody. Misha chose Carter. Ryan chose Kadence. And they kept calling all the names until everybody had a team...even if it was the wrong one.Plus, we had to start outfield and so the other team would probably get two ups and we would probably only get one or maybe one and a half if we were very very lucky because recess isn't that long you know. My day was pretty much shredded to bits and ruined. I looked over at Misha's team. They had the two fastest runners in the universe, the three best catchers know to mankind, the fastest throwers in our entire town, and my best friend on top of all that. It wasn't fair. I couldn't even look at our team.

Regge, Margaret, and Neil were chosen last. Well, Regge has to take over the whole thing no matter what and won't listen to anyone much. Margaret has new shoes on and can't really kick or run in those fancy things--plus she doesn't like sports. And Neil, well, he is Neil.

The real team got 11 homeruns before we finally got their runners out. I was way out in left field and so I pretty much just stood there the whole time watching Luci and Misha smiling and talking on the real team. The bell couldn't ring fast enough for me. Math was better than this. But after a long long time, we were up and after a much longer time, it was finally my turn to kick that ball. My first serve was way wobbly and so it had to be thrown again. Then the next serve was slow and smooth and I kicked it with all my best. Not too low for it to be a pop ball. Not too high for it to be too short. But just right for it to speed sail between the pitcher and 3rd base. It went fast and so did I. First base, Second base, and almost to third, when I tripped on my shoelace and fell down so hard. My elbow was all scraped up and stingy, and my shirt had grass stains everywhere. Most everybody on my team came over to help me up. "Are you ok?" Hunter wanted to know. When Ryan saw my elbow he said, "I'll go get teacher!" and started to run. Somebody shouted: "I'll get some wet paper towels," I tried really really hard not to cry too much. I looked around at my team. "You sure ran fast Hadley!" "Does it hurt alot?" Everybody was being so nice to me and trying to help me feel better.

After recess, when we were all back in our desks, Ms. Clay was telling us about our new spelling words. I looked down at the bandage on my stingy elbow. Our team only got 3 runs, the real team got 11; but just then an idea popped into my mind. 'Points aren't the only thing that counts'. I thought about all the people on my team that tried to help me. Maybe they weren't the fastest runners, or the best catchers, or best kickers, but they were there when I needed them. I sorta think that I was on a winning team after-all!