the loud twang of foot on metal.
“Hey, Issi. Let’s go to the park and play,” she said.
“Oh, I’m never allowed to go to the park by myself,” said Isabella, her blue eyes huge.
“You wouldn’t be alone. I’d be with you. Come on. Just this once. Company won’t be coming for hours.”
“Well, all right,” Isabella said reluctantly. “I guess it’d be all right if you’re with me.”
As soon as Sophie left the yard, she was sure she was going to have fun. The sun was shining so brightly, even the air seemed yellow and cheerful.
They crossed the street, looking both ways first. Not a car in sight.
Sophie galloped down the sidewalk to the bridge which went over a stream. She stopped halfway across the bridge. Isabella was trailing far behind, huffing and puffing.
“Wait for me!” she panted.
While Sophie waited, she stared down into the bubbling water and caught a glimpse of the shiny silver back of a fish making its way upstream. She wished she could swim like it could, but she knew if she fell in, she’d sink straight to the bottom.
Isabella finally caught up. They crossed over the bridge together, their feet making loud hollow sounds on the wood. They followed a path to where Sophie had seen some kids playing under the trees.
“Let’s ask if we can play too,” she said, dragging Isabella down the path. “Hey, you guys,” she shouted, pulling off her silly pink hair ribbons. “Can we play?”
The kids turned around and she realized they were all boys. They were crowded around a dented bean can.
“Naw,” said the tallest boy, a freckle-faced red head. “No girls allowed.”
“Why not?” Sophie demanded. “Bet we can run as fast as any of you.”
“Ha!” said Red. “That’s a joke. Besides we never let D.P.s play with us.”
“D.P.s? We’re not Displaced Persons.”
“Where d’you come from then?”
“I’m from Quebec, but my cousin lives across the street.”
“Quebec! Then you’re a Frenchie pea-soup. We sure don’t let Frenchie-pea-soups play with us. Especially girl Frenchie-pea-soups.”
Sophie felt her face flush with anger. “What d’you call me?” She shook her fist under Red’s nose.
Another boy stepped between them. “I say we let them play.” He was a short stocky boy and he was holding the can so it looked as if it was his turn to be ’It’.
Sophie gave him her best Star Girl grin and said, “I’ll kick the can for you.”
“Oh, all right,” said Red, shrugging. “Let them play. See if I care.”
Sophie backed up and gave the can her best Star Girl kick. It went “Twang!” and flew over the puddles and new grass into some bushes by the stream. When the stocky boy ran to retrieve the can the other boys scooted away to hide.
Sophie grabbed Isabella’s hand and dragged her behind some rocks. Isabella was so slow they didn’t get hidden before the stocky boy, whose name was Ned, had found the can and brought it back to the goal.
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