Underdog by Eric Walters Page A

said.
    â€œWe’re doing just fine here. We still have some more time tonight, and then tomorrowand even Friday night if we need to. We’re going to make it,” I said.
    â€œYou really think so?” Ashton asked. “Hey, would I lie?” I asked, still wondering if I was.
    â€œHey, Mom, we’re back!” I yelled as we burst through the door.
    â€œI’m in the kitchen!” she hollered back.
    We kicked off our shoes.
    â€œDo you smell it?” Kia asked.
    â€œSmell what?” I asked.
    â€œSmell nothing. I don’t smell anything baking. I guess there are no muffins.”
    â€œToo bad,” Ashton said.
    â€œBut there’ll be something. It would be almost impossible to leave the house without my mother feeding you something,” I said.
    â€œMy mom is the same way. She thinks I’m too skinny, so I can only imagine what she’d think of Kia.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by that?” Kia demanded.
    â€œMy mother would try and fatten you up. Both of you,” he said, pointing at me.
    â€œSorry, my mom already has that job on a full-time basis.”
    â€œSo how did things go?” my mother asked as we entered the kitchen.
    â€œGood. So good we were hoping you’d hold the money.”
    I handed her the carton and she opened up the flaps.
    â€œMy goodness, how much money is in here?” she asked, looking shocked as she reached in and pulled out a wad of bills.
    â€œClose to three hundred dollars,” I said.
    â€œThat’s amazing!” she exclaimed.
    â€œIt’s good, but not good enough…not yet,” I replied.
    â€œActually, it’s better than you think it is.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” Kia asked.
    â€œIt means two things. I was just on the phone with your coach.”
    â€œYou were?” I asked.
    â€œHe called and wanted to know if it was definite that your father couldn’t be an assistant coach this year.”
    â€œAnd you told him?” I asked.
    â€œYou know what I told him,” she said.
    I did. I’d just hoped that somehow it could have worked out. My father knew something about basketball—not like Coach did—but he knew ball, and we really, really did need an assistant. What would happen if Coach was tossed out of another game and there was nobody else left to work the bench?
    â€œAnd while I was talking to him he told me two things that you three might be interested in. First, the registration fees are not due for another week, so that gives you more time to sell almonds.”
    â€œThat is good news,” Kia said.
    â€œAnd the second thing?” I asked.
    â€œAnd the second thing is that you’ve sold another fifty boxes of almonds,” my mother said.
    â€œWe have?” I gasped.
    â€œHow? To who?” Kia questioned.
    â€œTo your coach. He bought fifty boxes.”
    â€œBut why would he buy them from us?” Ashton asked. “Wouldn’t he just buy them from his own son?”
    â€œBecause he’s the coach, his son doesn’t have to pay registration fees or sell anything.
    But he told me he just loves those chocolate-covered almonds, so he bought a bunch. He said he’d like you to bring the boxes on Saturday and he’ll pass on the money.”
    â€œThat’s great!” Kia remarked.
    â€œThat means we’re almost halfway there,” I said.
    â€œNot quite,” Ashton said, “but we’re getting there. I bet we can sell another thirty boxes tonight if we really tried.”
    â€œTonight? Aren’t you three finished for the evening?” my mother asked.
    â€œWe were hoping we could get a snack and then head back out again,” I explained.
    â€œIt’s going to be dark soon,” she said, “and I don’t want you three out after dark. It isn’t safe.”
    I looked at the clock up on the wall. “We have another hour before then. How about if we go right back