All in the Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

muscular.
    Shannen quickly looked away from him, staring instead into the sparkling clear water.
    â€œHow do you know my sister won’t tell on you?” demanded Lauren, her eyes darting from Shannen to Ty and back again.
    â€œBecause I read the same name book that she did, and Shannen means ‘not a snitch,’” said Ty.
    â€œA bitch but not a snitch,” amended Konrad.
    Lauren stamped her foot. “My sister is not a bitch! You should apologize to Shannen right now, Konrad.”
    â€œHe doesn’t have to, I’ve been called worse names than that.” Shannen stole a glance at Ty. When she found him staring at her, she looked away again. “It doesn’t bother me.”
    â€œI’m sure whoever called you…worse names, regrets doing so, Shannen,” Tynan said quietly.
    â€œI’m sure I don’t care, Tynan,” she retorted. “Sticks and stones and all that.”
    â€œY’know, that’s just crap,” Konrad said vehemently. “Some of the names I got called as a kid made me a helluva lot madder than getting whacked with any stick. And in the joint, you better watch your mouth—you get whatI’m saying? You diss somebody there and you’re dead meat. It’s worse than punching him out.”
    â€œThat’s an interesting point.” Ty raised his camera. “Would you say that again when I turn the camera back on?”
    â€œSure.” Konrad looked pleased. “Uh, should she say the bit about sticks and stones before I say it?”
    â€œYeah, that’s good.” Ty nodded. “Shannen?”
    â€œI’m not saying anything,” Shannen said crossly. “You aren’t directing a movie, and we’re not supposed to rehearse our lines. Get out of here, Tynan. Go back and film Cortnee.”
    â€œHey, I made an interesting point,” argued Konrad. “It should be on TV.”
    â€œI’ll give you a lead-in, Konrad,” Lauren volunteered. “Okay, Tynan, ‘Camera, action, take one,’ or however that drill goes.” She tilted her head, her expression suddenly wistful. “Shannen, remember how the kids at school used to call us freaky clones? And Gramma told us to say, ‘Sticks and stones may break our bones but names will never hurt us.’”
    â€œWho called you freaky clones?” demanded Konrad. “Just tell me who and when I get back I’ll break every bone in their— ”
    â€œNobody ever called us that.” Shannen heaved an exasperated sigh. “It was just Lauren’s cue for you to say your—oh, turn off that camera, Ty. This is ridiculous.”
    Ty turned off the camera. “Makes you really respect directors, doesn’t it? Imagine doing take after take after take of the same botched scene.”
    â€œActing is harder than I thought,” admitted Konrad. “Care to try it over again?”
    â€œNo!” Tynan and the twins chorused.
    The four of them looked at each other and laughed. They immediately lapsed into silence, nonplussed by the unexpected moment of camaraderie.
    â€œI got a fish!” Lauren suddenly shrieked, hanging on to her bamboo pole, which was waving and twitching. “I bet it’s big, it’s really strong! Help!”
    Tynan turned on his camera to film Lauren clutching her fishing pole as it swayed precariously, back and forth and around. Konrad reached over and took hold of the string, swinging it out of the water. The fish on the primitively fashioned hook went flying into the air.
    â€œGet it! Get it!” cried Lauren.
    Konrad did, catching the impressive-size fish with his bare hands.
    â€œThat was so quick!” marveled Shannen. “Like watching Gramma’s cat reach up and nab the bird who’d made the fatal mistake of flying onto the porch while he was napping there.”
    â€œExcept we can eat the fish,” said Lauren. “That bird