Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) by Lisa Yee Page B

accident.
    Once the teams were decided, Mr. Rainerhaus tossed footballs to each team captain. Bobby caught his and looked around to see if anyone had noticed. “Let’s begin with the basics,” Mr. Rainerhaus shouted.
    Everyone took turns holding the ball. At least Bobby knew how to do that. When it came time to throw, Jillian Zarr’s ball spiraled way past the tetherball courts. St. James and Jackson were pretty good at throwing too. Swoozie’s ball somehow went straight up, and Chess’s ball hit Holly in the knee.
    Then it was Bobby’s turn.
    â€œOkay, everyone, gather around,” Mr. Rainerhaus said. “I want you all to see this.”
    Bobby felt his chest tighten. Was he having a heart attack? What if he collapsed right now? He felt like throwing up. That was a sure pass out of PE. Maybe if he had a heart attack, threw up, and broke both wrists, he could get out of PE for the rest of the year.
    Mr. Rainerhaus handed Bobby a football. “Show these kids how to throw. I’ll go long and you pass it to me.”
    Bobby watched in silent panic as Mr. Rainerhaus jogged to the far side of the playground. He looked like a speck. Bobby realized that if he turned around and ran home right now, Mr. Rainerhaus would have a hard time catching up to him.

    â€œAny time now,” Mr. Rainerhaus shouted. “I’m ready.”
    Bobby motioned for Mr. Rainerhaus to come closer. Then closer. Then closer still, until he was about five feet from him. Bobby tossed him the ball.
    â€œWhat was that ?” Jillian Zarr asked. “Are you playing hot potato?”
    Mr. Rainerhaus shook his head. “I’m disappointed,” he said.
    Even though Bobby was standing still, his heart was racing. He was glad his father wasn’t there to see this.
    â€œBobby, it was unfair of me to ask you to show off in front of everyone,” he heard Mr. Rainerhaus say. “We all know that if you’re one-tenth the athlete your father is, you could make that ball sail over the school into the street. Yet you chose not to show off. That’s the sign of a true gentleman.”
    St. James started to say something, but stopped when Holly pinched him.
    Bobby didn’t think it was possible, but now he felt even worse. Mr. Rainerhaus had gotten it all wrong. He wasn’t one-tenth the athlete his dad was. He wasn’t even one-one-hundredth.
    The class dragged on. Bobby’s team was as bad as he thought they’d be. At one point, both Chess and Bobby fell down when they ran into each other. And when Holly scored a touchdown — for the opposing team — she looked like she was going to cry.
    By the time the class was over, Bobby was ready to hide under a rock. But Mr. Rainerhaus had other plans. “Bobby,” he said. “Stay behind and help me.”
    In silence, Bobby and Mr. Rainerhaus returned the football equipment to the PE shed. Finally Bobby spoke up. “Mr. Rainerhaus, I’m sorry I’m so lousy at football. I can’t even throw.”
    Mr. Rainerhaus smiled at Bobby. He didn’t look nearly as scary when he smiled. “You can throw,” he said. “Well, okay, so maybe when you throw, your ball doesn’t go as far as you’d like … or even in the right direction, but you can throw. In fact, I was quite impressed when you threw the ball and it spiraled behind you. I’ve never seen that before. Listen, Bobby, if you just practice, you can probably get a lot better. I’m sure your dad can help you get really good at football.”
    â€œBut what if I don’t want to play football?” Bobby blurted out angrily. “Do I have to just because my dad did?” He covered his mouth. Bobby had never said that out loud before.
    â€œYou have a good point,” Mr. Rainerhaus said slowly. He sat down on the bench and motioned for Bobby to sit too. “My father wanted me to be a doctor, like him. I even started to