Free Double-Crossed by Lin Oliver

pearl necklace turn to her friend in a gold necklace and whisper, “Imagine, talking to your father like that.”
    â€œI’m going after them,” I said, breaking loose from my dad’s grip. “I’m not playing. I quit.”
    I bolted for the entrance and dashed out into the parking lot. I could see GoGo in her wide-brimmed straw hat walking with Alicia and Eddie. Oscar was trailing behind.
    â€œWait up, guys,” I yelled and took off across the asphalt. My dad was right behind me and in about two giant steps, got in front of me and blocked my path.
    â€œHold it right there, young lady,” he said in a stern voice. “You
are
playing today. I have committed you. Kozlov and Shin drove all the way down here from San Diego. And as your father and your coach, I will not allow you to withdraw from the match unless you are injured.”
    By that time, Alicia, Eddie, and Oscar had come back to where my dad and I were standing in the middle of the parking lot, staring each other down. A BMW honked at me and I stuck my tongue out at the driver. Okay, I know that wasn’t mature, but it felt great. Alicia reached out and put her hand on my shoulder.
    â€œIt’s okay,” she said to me. “We can do something else this afternoon.”
    â€œI am so sorry,” I said to her and the boys. “I invited you to come but I forgot to tell you about the dress code. And you even gave up going to Etta’s party.”
    â€œI don’t think they wanted us inside anyway,” Eddie said.
    â€œEveryone there has white skin and yellow hair,” Oscar added.
    Now it was me who wanted to drop into a hole and disappear. As if Oscar didn’t have enough problems, now he had to feel bad about his skin color. Tears of anger welled up in my eyes. I wanted to say, “It’s not like that, Oscar,” but I knew he was right. This wasn’t just about shirt collars. This was flat-out prejudice.
    â€œSammie and I apologize for the embarrassment we’ve caused you,” my dad said to Oscar and Eddie and Alicia. “This whole incident was very unfortunate. But right now, Sammie needs to get on the court or she’ll have to forfeit the match.”
    â€œThat’s fine with me,” I muttered.
    â€œIt’s not fine with me,” he snapped back.
    It was GoGo, as usual, who came to the rescue.
    â€œCome on, kids,” she said, taking Oscar’s hand. “I’m dying for an ice cream. Frankie’s Clam Shack on State Beach has an amazing chocolate-dipped cone.” Of course, she pronounced it
cho-co-LA-tay
like they do in Spanish.
    â€œ
Me gusta el chocolate
,” Oscar said. Whether he actually liked chocolate or not, I couldn’t blame him for wanting to get out of the tense situation.
    â€œThen follow me,” GoGo said, turning to go. “And afterward I’ll show you the tide pools. You can see mussels and hermit crabs and those cute little sea urchins.”
    â€œCan I take one home with me?” Oscar asked. “I’d like to draw it.”
    â€œOh no,” GoGo said. “On the beach, we take nothing but our time and leave nothing but our footprints.”
    â€œThat’s cool,” Oscar said.
    GoGo smiled at him and latched her arm into his.
    â€œSo is the ice cream,” she said. “Wait till you taste it.”
    While GoGo led them away, my dad took my arm firmly and led me toward court eleven.
    â€œI’m not playing,” I said. “You can’t make me.”
    â€œNo, but I can ground you. And take away your allowance. And your television privileges. Need I go on?”
    When we got to the court, word that Alicia and her cousins had gotten thrown out had already reached Charlie and her friends.
    â€œOMG, aren’t you so embarrassed?” Lauren said to me. “I’ll bet you wanted to just die.”
    â€œWhy should
I
be embarrassed?” I said. “The people at