Once outside Annie bounce-passed the ball to Ben He dribbled up the drive while Annie played a loose defense He leaped into the air taking a jump shot Annie threw her arm up to try to block it She missed and Ben’s shot swished through the hoop They decided to play a game of HORSE Annie dominated draining shots from every angle of the driveway As Ben was attempting a hook shot hoping not to get an E and therefore sealing Annie’s victory her mom poked her head out of the door We’re singing and blowing out candles she said If you want cake I suggest you come inside now You too Ben Did someone say cake Logan Parrish brought his bike to a screeching stop beside Ben I could have sworn I heard the word cake He sniffed the air like a cartoon dog 10
Gabe Santiago the last of Annie’s trio of friends pedaled up the drive behind Logan Hola guys Hey Gabe Annie and Ben said So why do you need rescuing Annie Gabe asked Annie tossed a thumb over her shoulder My sister’s friends are all here for her birthday party It’s like a teakettle convention in there I was hoping you guys wanted to go to Grover Park to play some b-ball What do you say Gabe nodded Yeah of course Ben added Sounds like fun Logan looked concerned We’re eating cake first though right 11
CHAPTER 2 After scarfing down slices of chocolate cake and washing them down with fruit punch the four friends ducked out of the party They rode their bikes through the town Grover Lake Annie led the way She cruised along sidewalks and streets with her basketball tucked under one arm In the middle of the town there was a huge park with a duck pond two baseball fields a large pavilion for barbequing and the biggest playground Annie had ever seen 12
The park also had a full basketball court complete with painted lines marking off half court the free throw lines and the three point circles It was the best court in town and it was Annie’s favorite place to play She crossed her fingers that the court would be empty As they rode up she breathed a sigh of relief No one was playing It was all theirs All right half-court two on two Annie said leaping off her bike and bounding over to the court They split up Ben and Gabe on one team Annie and Logan on the other Annie took the ball at the top of the key First team to twenty she said passing the ball to Ben who defended her He checked it and passed it back 13
