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~~THE ONE THEY CALL THE WOLF~~

"Hey, Matt, I heard a rumor that one of the new kids trying out for the team is The Wolf." Aaron told me as we bounced a soccer ball back and forth waiting for the tryouts to start.
The ball came toward me, and I used my knee to bounce it back to Aaron. "The Wolf? You mean the kid whose team won the championship in Chicago?"
"That's the one." Aaron used his head to bounce the ball back to me. "We are so lucky to have him trying out for our team."

The Wolf was a celebrity around these parts. Every player on our team was envious of him since our team has never made it to the championship.
"No kidding! With him we'll be unbeatable," I said, the soccer ball forgotten as I started looking around. "I wonder which one he is."
"Our newspaper didn't print his name or picture." Aaron's eyes were also searching for The Wolf.
"It's not him," I said, pointing to a boy in the stands. "I've known him since he was born."
"Me too," Aaron agreed, then he pointed to a girl in the stands. Her hair was in a ponytail, she had purple nail polish, and was wearing dangling earrings. Her nose was stuck in a book, but I couldn't see the title. "It's certainly not her."
I laughed. "She doesn't look like a wolf to me."
I don't think girls should be able to play soccer, but the coach doesn't see it my way. At least the girls on the team were different. They didn't wear makeup or jewelry. This girl did, so there was no way she could be a wolf. "Must be somebody's sister," I mumbled.
"I bet it's him." Aaron pointed to a boy on the field who was bouncing a ball on his knee, then on his head, then on the back of his foot. I had to admit the kid was good. He had some good moves, but he didn't look like a wolf to me.
I shook my head. "Nah, I don't think so. Wolves are ferocious creatures. He doesn't look all that mean." I pointed to a boy in the stands who looked like he was about the same age as Aaron and I, but he was at least a whole foot taller. He looked like a wolf to me. "I bet it's him."
"Okay, if I'm right, you have to take out my garbage after practice," Aaron bargained. We both hated taking out the garbage, but I knew I would win. I knew that boy was the one they call The Wolf so I took the bet.
"But if I'm right, you have to take out my garbage." I grinned.
"Deal! "Aaron stuck out his hand and we shook on it, then the coach called us onto the field.
"Okay, team, we have three new players trying out. They just moved here. Why don't you come up here and introduce yourselves?"
The two boys and the girl from the stands walked up to the front of the group. Her earrings were gone, and she was holding a soccer ball under her arm. I looked at Aaron and he looked at me. This was a big moment. It would decide which one of us would be doing an extra chore.
"My name's Pete. My dad's in the military and we moved here from Denver," said the boy who I thought was The Wolf. As soon as he said Denver I knew I lost. Now I had to take out Aaron's garbage. I sighed. How did I get myself into these messes?
"I'm Justin and I moved here from Chicago."
Aaron gave me a big grin, teeth and all. We both knew he had won.
Then the girl introduced herself. I couldn't breathe. I needed air. This couldn't be happening. Was it really true? I couldn't believe my ears when the girl said, "Hi, I'm Caitlin. I'm from Chicago, too, and I'm the one they call The Wolf."

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Wrobel.
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