Rivals by Tommy Greenwald (the speed reading book txt) 📗

my grandfather. I like it. Why, you don’t like it?

CARTER:

Uh, no, it’s cool.

ALFIE:

I think so, too. So, anyway, yeah, once again welcome to the show everybody. That voice you hear belongs to Carter Haswell, eighth grade basketball star and captain of the Walthorne South Middle School Panthers. We’re here to talk about the upcoming game, the first game of the season against your archrivals, the Walthorne North Cougars. Carter, what are your thoughts?

CARTER:

Uh, my thoughts?

ALFIE:

Yeah. You know, like, your thoughts about the game and stuff.

CARTER:

My thoughts. Got it. Well, my thoughts are that I hope we win.

ALFIE:

Cool.

CARTER:

Cool.

ALFIE:

Everyone’s been looking forward to this game since the end of last year, when the two teams battled it out for the league championship and you guys beat them in the finals by three.

CARTER:

That was pretty awesome, especially winning in that fancy new gym they built.

ALFIE:

Yeah. I wonder when we’re gonna get a gym like that.

CARTER:

Probably never.

ALFIE:

So now it’s a new season, though, and Walthorne North has a lot of tall players, especially their center, Clay Elkind. What’s the plan to contain them? Are you gonna play zone, maybe a box and one, or do you think you can handle them playing man-to-man? Are you concerned about their pick-and-roll?

CARTER:

Whoa. You know a lot about basketball. Like, more than me even.

ALFIE:

I love basketball.

CARTER:

Cool. I like basketball, too.

ALFIE:

Do you love it?

CARTER:

Uh, sure, I guess. I’m not, like, obsessed with it or anything.

ALFIE:

That’s so weird because people are saying you’re, like, one of the best players to ever come out of Walthorne, and you’re not even in high school yet.

CARTER:

I don’t pay attention to any of that stuff. A lot of people take basketball too seriously if you ask me. I mean, it’s just a game, right?

ALFIE:

If you say so. So if you don’t take it seriously, how did you get so good? Do you practice a lot?

CARTER:

I practice when I feel like practicing, which is a lot, but, like it’s not all I ever do. Do you play an instrument?

ALFIE:

No.

CARTER:

Oh. Well, I love playing guitar, but I’m way worse at that than I am at basketball. It’s like, some things you’re really good at, and some things you’re not, and that’s just the way it is, you know? With basketball, people tell me I have a feel for the game. I guess that’s part of it.

ALFIE:

Plus you’re tall and super athletic.

CARTER:

Yeah well, that’s all luck.

ALFIE:

I guess so. Well, it’s almost time for next class, so thanks for coming on the show.

CARTER:

No problem.

ALFIE:

Oh wait! I almost forgot, the school asked me to announce that the town is doing this online pep rally thing, and they want us to encourage people to go on there and say supportive things about all our sports teams and show some school spirit!

CARTER:

Oh yeah, I heard about that. I guess that sounds fun, so yeah, for whoever’s listening out there, check it out—wait, what’s it called again?

ALFIE:

Walthornespirit.com

CARTER:

Right yeah, Walthornespirit.com. I guess, like, lots of kids are going to be on there getting psyched up for the winter sports season, so all the boys and girls teams are counting on everyone for support and stuff. Thanks.

ALFIE:

Thank you, Carter! This has been Alfie Jenks, Talking Sports. Be sure to tune in next week, when my guest will be seventh grade gymnastics star Rebecca Smythe.

5:32 pm

Austin

YO CLAY, YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS THING?

WHAT THING

THIS ONLINE PEP RALLY THING

YEAH WHATEVER

COACH WANTS US TO DO IT THOUGH, GET EVERYONE PSYCHED

I DON’T NEED TO GET MORE PSYCHED, I ALREADY WANT TO KICK THEIR BUTTS DON’T YOU?

HAHA OF COURSE MAN

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT MY LEG THOUGH I’M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT IT, SOMETHING STILL DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT

YOU’LL BE FINE BRO, YOU JUST NEED TO REST

YEAH PROBABLY

SO YOU GOING ON THIS ONLINE THING NOW?

CAN’T RIGHT NOW I GOT MY TRAINING IN A FEW MINUTES, WILL CHECK IT OUT WHEN I GET HOME

THAT PRIVATE COACH DUDE? YOU’RE STILL DOING THAT?

YEAH

HE’S AN AMAZING COACH, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT TRAINING WITH HIM TOO ALTHO YOU’RE ALREADY WAY BETTER THAN ME AT THIS POINT LOL

HAI DON’T KNOW ABOUT THAT BUT THX

ANYWAY I GTG BUT DON’T FORGET TO GO ONLINE TO THAT THING,

COACH WILL BE MAD IF WE DON’T,

I TOLD EVERYONE ELSE THEY GOTTA DO IT TOO

OKAY MAYBE I’LL CHECK IT OUT

WALTHORNESPIRIT.COM

WELCOME TO WALTHORNESPIRIT.COM, AN ONLINE PEP RALLY TO GET THE WHOLE TOWN EXCITED ABOUT THE WINTER SPORTS SEASON! PLEASE BE SURE TO POST SUPPORTIVE THINGS ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES FOR ALL SPORTS! *PLEASE NOTE* THIS SITE WILL BE MONITORED AND NEGATIVE COMMENTS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!

Wednesday at 6:20 pm

Carter Yo everyone did you guys check out my radio interview with Alfie today? #rockstar

She was asking me about the little test we got with Walthorne North this Friday to open the season, who’s comin and who’s down with getting LOUD?!?!

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Wednesday at 6:22 pm

Janeece I’ll be there

And the first girls game is next Monday and hope to see y’all there too

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Wednesday at 6:25 pm

Abner I’ll be there Carter to see you whup up on those North boys

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Wednesday at 6:26 pm

Briscoe I’ll see if I can clear my sked

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Wednesday at 6:28 pm

Lucas Every1 wear red and if you sit behind the hoops you are hereby ordered to go nuts during every foul shot taken by North

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Wednesday at 6:30 pm

Carter U know it

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Wednesday at 6:33 pm

Clementine i will say those boys do look cute in those little uniforms with the shorty shorts

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Wednesday at 6:34 pm

Briscoe C’mon Clem throw some love to the football players

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Wednesday at 6:36 pm

Sham Back off son, it’s basketball season. Please continue my dear

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Wednesday at 6:38 pm

Clementine Nah I’m done

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Wednesday at 6:41 pm

Sadie Sorry Briscoe, Clem’s