Free 'Tis the Off-Season by Belle Payton Page A

you’re incredibly talented, and that your band is a hot ticket. It’s not going to stop being that. Again, be mad at me, for being such a terrible planner. Because I’m guessing the reason you guys aren’t going to Boston is that your parents used the money for your trip to help me out. They invited me to stay here until I could get back on my feet, and your dad bought that car so I’d have a way to get around.”
    That shut Tommy up.
    â€œAnd you,” said Scott, turning to Alex. “What’s this I hear about you giving your mom the silent treatment because she won’t let you have a Christmas party?”
    â€œOh, that,” said Alex, the color rising in her face. “Well, yeah. I mean, I sort of forgot to mention the hosting part to my mom before I told my friends I would have it here at our house, and now they’re making it into this massively important party with decorations and contests and food requests, and I haven’t gotten up the nerve to tell them I can’t host it and they’re all going to ostracize me and—”
    â€œAlex,” said Scott, leaning forward and putting a hand to the side of her cheek. Her talking had sped up and her voice had grown shrill, which Ava knew was a sign that her sister was seriously stressing. Scott seemed to understand that too, but his gentle touch calmed Alex quickly.
    â€œLook at me and tell me honestly. Do you want to host this party?”
    â€œOf course! Well, sure, kind of. Actually, not really,” she finally admitted. “It would be a ton of work, and planning, and cleanup and stuff. But I promised my friends. And I can’t let them down.”
    â€œSo use me as the reason,” said Scott simply. “Tell your friends your uncle has suddenly shown up for a visit, and he doesn’t like wild parties. Someone else is bound to step up and volunteer.”
    Alex blinked at him. “That’s a brilliant idea,” she said. “Why didn’t I think of it?”
    â€œAnd keep using words like ‘ostracize,’ ” Scott added, grinning. “I like your style.”
    Alex beamed.
    â€œAnd you, Ave? Is everything cool between you and your parents, or do you have an issue with them too?”
    â€œI have an issue,” said Ava.
    â€œShe really does have a reason to be mad,” said Tommy loyally. “They’re not letting her play basketball. Have you met her? If she can’t play sports, she’s going to spontaneously combust.”
    â€œI have ADHD,” said Ava glumly. “I was diagnosed this year. And they think I need more structure and time to devote to my homework and stuff. They talked to the learning specialist at school, who told Mom that night practices are going to be ‘disruptive.’ ”
    â€œHmm, I see,” said Scott. He scratched his scruffy chin.
    â€œThe thing my parents don’t seem to realize is that not playing a sport is making me less able to concentrate, not more able,” said Ava. “I mean, like this dumb persuasive essay I’m supposed to write. I turned in my outline and everything, but I just can’t seem to get fired up enough to write four pages about why we should have a longer lunch hour.”
    â€œYeah, that does sound kind of tedious,” agreed Uncle Scott.
    â€œI just can’t sit still and focus for two seconds on it. I need to run around. Studies have shown that. I mean, I haven’t actually read any, but I’m pretty sure studies have shown it.”
    â€œHmm,” Scott said. “You sound like you want to persuade your parents to let you play, right?”
    â€œWell, yes, but they won’t listen because—”
    â€œYou want to persuade them.” He emphasized the word.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œSo why not make that a topic for a persuasive essay?”
    Ava stared at him. It was such an obvious solution! “But I already submitted the