Free Perfect Season by Tim Green Page B

right?”
    Troy spoke up quickly before Chuku could make a wisecrack. “Tate was the kicker on our state championship junior league team in Georgia. You should have seen her tackle people on kickoffs.”
    Tate slurped her milk shake and Chuku tilted his head to consider her.
    After they ate lunch and Chuku called his dad to let him know Seth was driving them back, they got into Seth’s truck, stopping at a convenience store on their way to grab a few bottles of Gatorade. Troy and Chuku also grabbed a few snacks, even though they’d just eaten, and opened the packages in Seth’s backseat.
    â€œNo crumbs.” Seth glanced at them in the rearview mirror.
    Chuku held a cheese Dorito over the seat, offering it to Tate.
    â€œThank you,” she said, crunching it carefully.
    â€œYou guys won’t be eating like that if you want to make it to the big leagues,” Seth said into the mirror.
    â€œI thought potatoes were a vegetable.” Troy munched on a Pringles Dill Pickle potato chip.
    â€œI don’t even know if potatoes are in those things,” Seth said. “They’re, like, salted fat.”
    â€œYou’re only young once.” Troy took another and shook a few out into the extended hands of his friends. “At least we are—young, that is.”
    Seth pulled into the school parking lot and stopped the truck. “Very funny, wise guy. I hope you’re still laughing when you do that mile run tomorrow.”
    Troy’s face fell. “What mile run?”
    â€œI didn’t tell you?” Seth pretended to be surprised. “You and Chuku got your physical tests tomorrow to see if you can play varsity.”
    â€œAre you serious?” Troy looked at Chuku to see if he was surprised, too.
    â€œI was going to wait until tomorrow so you didn’t get all nervous about it.” Seth smiled. “But I’m getting so old, I was afraid I’d forget.”
    â€œWow,” Tate said, laughing as they got out of the truck. “That hurts. Remind me not to get on your bad side. Do they really have to take a test?”
    â€œYes,” Seth said, “seriously, and it is tomorrow.”
    â€œI thought you just picked us,” Troy said, feeling stubborn.
    â€œWhat do we have to do besides run a mile?” Chuku asked.
    â€œA mile in under eight minutes. Push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, stuff like that.” Seth walked across the hot pavement of the empty parking lot with a football in hand. “It’s a fitness test mandated by the state. If you pass, you’re all set.”
    â€œEven if we can’t do whatever it is we have to do, you can just fudge it for us, right?” Troy hurried to catch up.
    Seth shook his head. “Nope.”
    â€œSeth,” Troy said, “stop kidding around. You’re not old. I was kidding.”
    â€œAnd I wish I was kidding about fudging it for you,” Seth said. “Some guy named Coach Witherspoon gives the test. He’s the high school phys ed teacher. Mr. Biondi told me he’s fair but tough. He’s also the wrestling coach, so he won’t be cutting you guys any slack.”

CHAPTER THIRTY
    â€œWELL, COME ON.” SETH started down the concrete steps toward the field. “I won’t wear you guys out too bad, but we can get started on the basics and work on your chemistry.”
    â€œKiller Kombo Kemistry.” Chuku grinned. “With three k ’s.”
    Â 
    The next day, Troy stared at the locker room door set into the back of the brick junior high school. “At least we got each other.”
    Bees buzzed around a big green Dumpster, but otherwise nothing moved in the heat. Beyond the parking lot, the school track circled a grass soccer field.
    â€œYou make it sound like we’re condemned prisoners,” Chuku said. “We just need to do some push-ups and run a few laps.”
    â€œFor time,” Troy reminded him. “In