Molly's Promise Read Online Free Page A

out of the gym. In the hall she ran into Paige and her friends.
    â€œWhat does it say? What does it say?” Dede asked, flapping her hands hysterically.
    Fi held up a piece of paper and squealed. “It says, Write the winner’s name here . Paige Nelson!”
    Paige grabbed the form. “Settle down, girls. It’s just the registration. You’re putting too much pressure on me.”
    Molly didn’t have a chance to slip away without being noticed. She sat on a bench outside the gym doors.
    â€œHi,” Molly said quietly to Nell when their eyes met.
    â€œYou should come down to the multipurpose room. Paige is going to practice. I’m her stage manager,” Nell said. “Did I tell you that already?”
    â€œYeah, you did,” Molly said. “I’m going to the soccer game.”
    â€œIt’s pouring,” Nell said.
    â€œI’ve got an umbrella,” Molly said. She thought getting drenched at a soccer game would be more fun than watching Paige parade around on the stage.
    Paige hollered from down the hall. “Nell, what are you doing, girl?”
    â€œGotta go,” Nell said and ran to catch up with the others.
    â€œYeah, of course you gotta go,” Molly said. She sat on the bench and looked down the hall toward the office. Maybe she should just forget the registration. The soccer team interrupted her thoughts as the players spewed out of the gym.
    â€œWe are gonna beat those suckers,” Danny shouted, high-fiving the other boys.
    The only team that had a chance of beating the Riverside Strikers this year was the Central Avenue Cougars. They were only two points behind Riverside in the standings. With two games left in the regular soccer season, the boys could clinch the title with a win this afternoon. A loss would give Central Avenue a chance to tie it up.
    â€œWe’re going to win it,” Murphy said when he saw Molly.
    â€œI know,” Molly said, “but aren’t you worried?”
    â€œDo I look worried?” Murphy asked, puffing his chest out.
    â€œSort of,” she said. His noisy teammates jostled in front of them. “The whole team sounds pretty hyped.”
    Murphy had started playing soccer in grade six, five years after most of the other boys. Now that he was the starting goalie, people thought he was the most important player on the team.
    â€œWe have to win this afternoon, and everyone’s looking for me to play a big game,” he said.
    â€œOuch,” Molly said. “That kind of pressure must hurt.”
    Murphy said, “No worries. All pressure is self-inflicted.” He laughed. “I can handle it.”
    The truth was, Murphy loved competition. He even loved the pre-game jitters. He had told Molly after the last game, which was a 3-0 shutout, that tough competition made him nervous but also made him play better. The better the opposing team, the better Murphy played.
    Molly loved competition too—as a spectator. The very idea of competing in something herself made her stomach hurt.

    After school the rain stopped, and a chilly sun came out and brightened the field. Murphy’s mom had brought two chairs and a blanket for her and Molly to share.
    Molly’s shivering lips slurped hot chocolate from a thermos. “Mmm, thanks,” she said. “This hits the spot.”
    Soon a crowd of Riverside fans had lined one side of the field, and Central Avenue fans lined the other. The game got off to a quick start. Eli made a pass that bounced off a Cougar defenseman and went into the net off the goalpost. The crowd erupted. A lucky fluke for the Strikers. The excitement died down as the game turned into a running match—the Riverside boys were chasing the ball, not playing it. After a Cougar defenseman kicked the ball into his own net, the score at half time was 2-0 Strikers.
    â€œMurphy said you might join the girls’ soccer team,” Murphy’s mom said. “He