Free Johnny Long Legs by Matt Christopher Page B

our team. You mighthave your chance to get even with Jim on the court. He plays with the Hornets.”
    Johnny felt discouraged. He didn't want to get even with anyone. He had hoped not to make enemies here. Especially not on
     the first day of school.

2
    O n Tuesday, December 7, the White Cats played the Swordtails at five o'clock in the Community Hall gymnasium. Tonight was the
     third night of the Junior Basketball League. The White Cats' record was one win, one loss.
    Toby introduced Johnny to Coach Biff Dates, a big, barrel-chested man. AUBURN was printed on the back of his sweatshirt.
    “Can we use him?” Toby asked. “He played basketball a lot in New York City.”
    “In that case I think we can,” answered the coach, pumping Johnny's hand and lookinghim up and down with a very pleased expression on his round face. “We need those long legs. Did you play center, Johnny?”
    “Mostly.” Johnny blushed. Everybody always reminded him of his long legs.
    “Well, that's where I would put you,” said the coach. “Can't try you out tonight anyway. Have to register you first. I'll
     watch you work out tomorrow night and possibly start you Thursday against the Astro Jets.”
    Coach Dates introduced him to the members of the team and let him sit on the bench with them. The White Cats uniform was all
     white with the team's name printed on the front and numbers on the back. Toby's number was 8. He played left guard. The other
     guard was Cotton Cornish. At center was Rick Davis. The forwards were Stitch Buttons and Huck Stevens.
    Johnny couldn't get over the large, beautiful gym. The two baskets had glass backboardsbehind them. A large electric scoreboard was at one end. A movable seating stand was against one wall. This court would put
     the one he had played on in New York to shame.
    And imagine having a ref with a black and white striped shirt and black pants with white stripes down the sides. The kids
     in his neighborhood never had real refs. They took turns refereeing themselves.
    Rick scored the first basket with a layup, then Toby tossed one in from a corner to put the White Cats in a 4 to 0 lead. Later
     the referee's whistle shrilled and a foul was called on Huck. Huck had struck a Swordtail's hand when the player jumped for
     a layup.
    Two shots. The Swordtail missed the first and made the second.
    Gradually the Swordtails crept ahead of the White Cats. The Cats finally evened the score, rallied for a while, then fell
     behindagain. They trailed 12 to 10 when the first quarter ended.
    Then Johnny realized that he was alone on the bench. The other players were standing around Coach Biff Dates. No one seemed
     to notice him and he didn't know whether to join them or not. He stayed there.
    I don't know,
he thought.
I never played basketball like it's played here. Move your foot an inch and you're called for traveling. Touch a guy and it's
     a foul. I've never played by such strict rules.
    There were basketball leagues in New York City but Mom had not wanted him to join a team. She had not wanted him to play basketball
     at all. Only after he had pleaded with her had she allowed him to play scrub games. She didn't care for basketball. She didn't
     care at all for athletics.
    Was it his fault that he had to prove to the guys that he was no sissy by smoking withthem? Once a kid had dared him to swipe a melon from a fruit stand. He swiped it, but had been caught and made to promise
     he would never steal again or he'd go to jail. He had kept that promise.
    The second quarter got under way. Huck dumped in three field goals himself. The quarter ended with the Swordtails leading,
     26 to 23.
    The White Cats fell further behind in the third quarter. Then Cotton Cornish got hot in the fourth and sank three in a row,
     plus a foul shot. Rick laid in a couple and Toby sank two long ones to put the White Cats back in the lead.
    When the final whistle blew the Cats won by two points, 61 to 59.
    “Told you we have a good