She pocketed her phone and then shot the ball It landed short bouncing off the rim and ricocheting back toward her Annie snatched it up and dribbled in for a layup She’d been playing for some time and as much as she didn’t want to brave the party inside she needed a drink of water The side door was barely open an inch before Annie heard her sister shrieking I can’t believe it My very own Fabulous Princess Pony Annie clapped her hands over her ears and tried hard to shut out the sound of sugar-powered nine-year-olds gathered in the living room Olivia jumped up and down in the middle of the frenzy She wore a purple dress with a ruffled tutu and a plastic tiara She hugged a toy in a pink box 6
It’s just what I wanted Olivia screamed Thanks Mom Thanks Dad You’re welcome sweetie Annie’s mom said She smiled but Annie could tell her mom was super tired She’d spent a lot of time preparing for the party It looked like a birthday monster had thrown up all over their living room Balloons Signs Confetti Even a piñata shaped like one of the ponies that the girls were screaming about Wow Annie thought If their screeching gets any louder the windows are going to shatter Annie poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher in the fridge Then she walked into the living room snatched up the remote and turned on the TV She rifled quickly through the channels ending on a sports station broadcasting an NBA 7
basketball game The Los Angeles Lakers were playing the Miami Heat It was in the fourth quarter and the Lakers were up by three Sweet Annie said She cranked up the volume to drown out the sound of the squealing girls Ahem Her dad loudly cleared his throat His hands were on his hips and a stern look was carved into his face Uh yeah Annie tried to sound like everything was okay Please turn the TV off Dad it’s Lakers-Heat Annie protested There’s only three minutes left Your sister is having a birthday party her dad said Please respect that 8
But basketball is way cooler than stupid princesses and ponies and stuff Annie The way her dad said her name Annie knew he wasn’t in the mood to argue He looked almost as tired as her mom Annoyed Annie clicked the TV off As she did there was a knock on the side door She saw Ben Mason’s face peering in the window Of course Ben would get to her house first He only lived across the street Annie hurried over grabbed the basketball off the floor and swung open the door Hey Ben said I’m here for the rescue mission Great timing she said as her sister’s friends began to squeal some more 9
