Out of Bounds (Beacon Street Girls Series #4)

Chapter 1 The Soccer Mom It can't be thiscold," Maeve wailed. "It's like we're in Alaska or something," Katani added, stomping her feet on the bleacher steps. "My hands feel like polar bear snacks!" piped in Charlotte as she tucked her hands into the sleeves of her favorite hoodie sweatshirt. "I'm thinking Mexico...on the beach...tropical sun beating down...a cold drink," added Isabel dreamily. "Ooh! You have to try this. Think about sweating and being really, really hot. It helps. Try it." Unseasonably cold, that's what Kristy B., the most popular weather woman in Boston, said.Record breaking. But it wasn't supposed to last. ByWednesday, itwould be back in the sixties. That's just what fall was like in New England. What was it that Isabel's Aunt Lourdes said when they moved east to live with her?If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a minute. But all in all the Beacon Street Girls loved the fall. "The air is just so crisp and clear," Avery always said. "It makes you just want to jump around and do backflips." Averywouldsay that because she was the only one of the Beacon Street Girls who could actually do a backflip and land on her feet! Isabel decided that fall was her favorite season, too. The leaf colors were totally awesome -- bright red to intense orange to vibrant yellow and even deep purple. You really had to be totally oblivious not to notice them. And the fall light -- it cast the most amazing shadows. They called it northern light, the kind of light that all real painters love. Isabel thought everyone should live in New England at least once. At least all artists, or aspiring artists like her, as Isabel wasn't ready to give herself the honor of being called a real artist yet. Isabel, Katani, Maeve, and Charlotte were cheering at Avery's soccer game. Well, it wasn't her game exactly. Avery wasn'tonthe team this time; she was an official referee in the fourth-grade girls' tournament. And this game was a big one: the Twisters vs. the Tornadoes. "Go Twisters, Go Twisters!" whooped Maeve as she stood, raised her arms, and rocked back and forth. It wasn't as if she had any loyalty to either team, but they were sitting in the Twisters' bleachers, so she figured she owed them her best cheerleading efforts. "Sit down, Maeve," scolded Katani. "You're making Avery laugh, and she has to concentrate. She's getting paid real money for this." Katani was totally a businessgirl type. President of a major corporation was definitely in her future, or at least owner of her own fashion boutique. The Kgirl had some serious style. They all looked down on the field and saw Avery grinning up at Maeve and shaking her head back and forth. "Okay," sighedMaevewith a fake sorry look. "I guess my cheerleading abilities are not wanted here." Charlotte grabbed one of Maeve's arms and Katani grabbed the other. They yanked her down, shouting in unison, "Sit down, Maeve!" Behind them, a group of little boys repeated, "Sit down, Maeve," and burst into uncontrollable laughter. Isabel, Charlotte, and Katani completely cracked up. "You are so busted," they sputtered in between their giggles. "The life of a performer is very trying," complained Maeve in her best dramatic voice, and she went back to looking intently at the field. Her friends knew she wasn't mad, though. Maeve hardly ever got mad at anyone. It just wasn't her style. Sometimes her feelings got hurt, but her upbeat spirit always managed to shine through. Avery once said that Maeve was like one of those wobbly dolls that whenever it gets knocked down, it bounces right back up again. So true, because with a mischievous little grin on her face, Maeve jumped up for one more quick whoop and roll before anyone could stop her. Then she turned and high-fived one of the little boys behind her. "You are so hyper," Katani said. "It's all this cold weatherBryant, Annie is the author of 'Out of Bounds (Beacon Street Girls Series #4)' with ISBN 9781416964278 and ISBN 1416964274.