Blue Ribbon Champ Read Online Free PDF Page B

game isn’t working for me.”
    Skye, happy that Joey was nowhere near, giggled while she worked her controls. “Sure. I’m bombing out on my game too. Maybe I’ll have better luck with pool balls.”
    “Then let’s do it,” Chad said.
    “Morgan, do you mind?” Skye shut down her computer.
    “No problem,” Morgan said. “I’ve just connected with a kid from Australia in this Battleship game. She’s aChristian too. We’re discussing life while we’re trying to wipe out each other’s fleet. This is too cool.”
    Chad headed toward the pool table. “I’ll rack the balls, Skye. You can break them.”
    He is so-o-o polite. Skye grabbed a pool stick from the wall mount. “Okay, but I’m not very good at this. I’ve had only a few lessons.”
    Chad grabbed a stick and chalked its tip. “As a beginner, all you need to remember is to hit the cue ball in the center. You don’t want to stab at it or hit it too low. That’ll make it skip across the table at the same time your stick is gouging the cloth on the table. That’s disaster.”
    “Dad tells me that all the time,” Skye said, chalking her cue tip. With a nervous eye on Chad, she placed the cue ball on the table and took aim, holding the stick as Mr. Chambers had taught her.
    “Easy, now,” Chad whispered. “Take your time and hit the ball in the center.”
    Skye pulled back, and whack! She miscued, and the ball went flying into a corner pocket. The triangular rack of balls sat on the table undisturbed.
    “Oh, no!” Skye squealed. “I think I missed.”
    “No problem.” Chad retrieved the cue ball and rolled it back to Skye. “Try it again. We’re not in a world championship or anything.”
    He is so-o-o kind. Skye smiled in agreement. “Okay. One more time.” She took aim and hit the ball squarely. It smacked the racked set, scattering balls all over the table. A cherry red ball dropped into a side pocket.
    “The three ball! You did it!” Chad said. “Very good, Skye. Are you sure you haven’t been on a world billiards tour?”
    Skye giggled at Chad. “Wow, that’s the best shot I ever made.”
    “Well, you have another turn.” Chad pointed to a yellow-and-white ball near a corner pocket. “And lookhere. The nine is just hanging on the end. That’s an easy shot. Go for it.”
    “Okay, Mr. Billiard Boss!” Skye smiled at Chad and ran her fingers through her hair, winding long strands around her ear. Carefully, she took aim and made the shot.
    “You’re on a roll now.” Chad smiled. “You have a run of two. That’s pretty good for a beginner.”
    “What should I do now?” Skye couldn’t help but stare at Chad’s wavy blond hair.
    He walked around the table, studying the layout of the balls. “I think—”
    Bam! Bam! A knock at the basement door drew all eyes in that direction. As though launched by giant slingshots, the dogs charged the door with a barrage of guarddog warnings.
    “Will somebody get the door, please?” Mr. Chambers yelled from outside.
    “Here, boys!” Skye yelled.
    “Come here, boys. It’s just Mr. C.,” Morgan added.
    Chad hurried toward the door. “Coming!”
    Tippy and Ty retreated, releasing long ripples of suspicious growls.
    Mr. Chambers shuffled in, lugging an enormous computer monitor. “Chad, will you open my office door? This old thing weighs a ton.”
    “Sure thing, Mr. C.” Chad reached toward a second door off to the side.
    The dogs waddled to Mr. Chambers and greeted him with wagging tails.
    “Thanks, Chad,” Mr. Chambers said. “George just dropped off this antique. Looks like I’ll have my work cut out trying to fix it.” He huffed his way into the computer shop. “I don’t think I can get the parts for it anymore. Maybe I can talk him into getting a flat panel. It might cost him as much to get this fixed as to buy a new one.”
    “That does look ancient,” Chad said, walking back to the pool table. “Now, where were we, Skye?”
    Skye stared into Chad’s brown eyes