Free Two Cool for School by Belle Payton

keptsilent. Moxy spotted a small dog on a leash across the street and strained to get closer to it. “Heel, Moxy,” said Mrs. Sackett, gently tugging the dog back toward the sidewalk.
    But Alex wanted to tell her mom about Corey. “Okay, so there’s this guy I like,” she blurted out. “His name’s Corey.”
    And then she shared everything. About how Corey had asked her out. And how she knew there was this other girl who liked him too, and she really wanted to be friends with that other girl, but she thought it would cause problems if she, Alex, went out with Corey. And how she had no clue what to do.
    Her mom listened and nodded, looking thoughtful. “I thinkyou should follow what your heart tells you, hon,” she said when Alex finished. “You’re wiser than you might think you are.”
    â€œWhat if I have no idea what my heart is telling me?” asked Alex. “I really like Corey, but I really want to be part of Lindsey’s group. I’m completely torn!”
    Mrs. Sackett smiled sympathetically. “I can tell you that in my experience, friends usually last longer than crushes do. If this girl is really someone you value as a potential friend, maybe you should follow your instincts, and hold off on rushing into something with Corey.”
    Alex nodded. Her mom was always so comforting. She put her arm through her mom’s and gave her a squeeze. “Thanks, Mom,” she said. “I think that’s what I’ll do.”

    When they returned from the walk, they found Coach reading the article about himself in the Ashland Times with a queasy expression on his face. The article wasn’t on the front page of the sports section—it was on the front page of the paper.
    â€œLaur,” he said, looking up at Mrs. Sackett over his half-glasses. “Was it necessary to tell them I like to bake?”
    Mrs. Sackett laughed, and then hung Moxy’s leash on the hook. “You do like to bake, dear. It seemed like a harmless detail. All the other questions felt too personal. I passed on most.”
    Coach read from the article. “ ‘Coach Sackett’s pie crust was legendary back at the Three-County Fair in their former Massachusetts town. His cherry pie won honorable mention two years in a row.’ ”
    â€œWell, it did!” said Mrs. Sackett. She moved to the sink and filled Moxy’s water bowl. “I was flustered,” she said, turning around and smiling sheepishly. “The reporter was asking me so many questions, and I was in the middle of about three things and I think I started rambling. I’m really sorry, hon!”
    Coach smiled back at her, but when he flipped through several more pages of the paper to where the article continued, he groaned loudly. “Laur! You sent them this picture of me having a tea party with the girls?”
    Alex looked over his shoulder. “It’s a really sweet picture, Daddy,” she said, trying to make it okay, even though she knew it wasn’t. “We were only four, right? You look so cute, sitting in that tiny chair with your long legs and holding that little teacup in your two fingers.”
    Her father glared at her.
    She shut her mouth.
    â€œMichael. I know you’re trying to come off as a strong, tough leader to the town in the days leading up to your first home game.” Mrs. Sackett plunked Moxy’s bowl down, sloshing water onto the floor. When she stood up, Alex could see that her eyes were bright andshe looked honestly upset that she’d messed up. “The reporter seemed to want me to talk about personal stuff, and these things seemed harmless at the time—I just kind of blathered on without thinking. I’m sorry! You see? I don’t think I’m cut out for this.” She left the kitchen.
    Alex was at a loss for words, which was rare for her. She moved to the coffee machine and filled her father’s cup back