SIDETRACKED Diana Harmon Asher Amulet Books New York
For my mother DA
Chapter 1 FRIEDMAN I open my eyes and look up It’s Coach DeSalvo and he’s trudging my way Me I say Coach DeSalvo stops in front of me He folds his arms and looks around the soccer field I don’t see any other Friedmans Friedmans here he says That’s not strictly true There’s Tiffany Freedman but she spells it with two E s and she’s a girl Friedman he says again what are you doing back there Um playing defense I answer From behind the goal I look at the net Yup It’s clearly in front of me What’s the matter with you anyway Friedman Friedman What are you afraid of I want to say Green olives with red speckled tongues I want to say Stewed prunes and vampire bats and street sweepers I want to say Charlie Kastner who just a minute ago was charging toward me with a crazed look that I’ve seen
