“Hi, Emma,” Ox said. He was leaning against the wall just outside the library. “Hi!” I said. “What are you doing here?” “Well, I knew you had tutoring today, and I’ve got a few minutes to kill before I suit up for football practice, so I hoped I’d get to see you.” Ox smiled. I smiled. Ox smiled. “Um, so.” I tried to continue the conversation. “Does football season last all year?” Ox snorted. “Actually, football is a fall sport,” he told me. “We only have one more game.” “Oh!” I thought fast. “That gives your team one last chance to get over .500! Or, conversely, if you lost, your percentage would only be .416 repeating six. That’s not so good.” “Yeah,” Ox agreed. “But I had one hundred percent fun playing, and I think next year our team will be really good. I’m moving up to junior varsity. They play on the high school field, so it’ll be cool. You’ll have to come cheer me on.” “Me?” I cringed, imagining myself in a cheer outfit attempting clumsy cartwheels.
