Enthusiasm Read Online Free PDF

There—just look at that!” She held out a little pleated dress with puff sleeves. Pinned to the bottom of the skirt was a pair of bloomers. “What kind of sado-coach would make a team wear that ?”
    We spent some moments urging each other to try on the worst of the samples. When a saleslady headed our way, however, with “Can I help you?” on her lips and murder in her eye, we made for the calmer waters of the Aquatics Department.
    But before we could reach the kayaks, we found our way blocked by a figure in a close-fitting white jacket, smooth across the chest. Matching trousers fit snugly as well, showing off his powerful thighs. His face was hidden under what looked like a wire colander. In his hand he held a sword, which he was using to menace a large inflatable frog.
    Samantha cleared her throat.
    The warrior sprang to attention. With one graceful movement he brought his sword down and touched the blade to his forehead. Then, sweeping off his mask, he stood aside and bowed silently.
    As he rose from his courtesy, I found myself staring transfixed, eyes locked with the blazing turquoise eyes of my Mysterious Stranger.
    For a moment I stood and stared. Then Sam said, “Oh, hi,” breaking the spell. The Stranger smiled at her, showing the tips of his beautiful white teeth. He bowed again slightly and withdrew.
    Feeling weak and trembly, I breathed, “Samantha, who was that Masked Man?”
    “Some guy from Zach’s dojo,” she answered. “I don’t remember his name. I think they might have had kendo together.”
    “Kendo?”
    “Japanese sword fighting. I was considering trying it myself, but Zach thinks I’d like aikido better.”
    Shyness prevented me from asking Samantha any more questions about the Stranger. She continued to weigh the relative merits of the various martial arts, but I can’t tell you what she said. Indeed, the rest of the afternoon passed as in a dream, those turquoise eyes always before my inner eyes. All the way home Ashleigh called seagulls eagles to her heart’s content while Sam entertained my stepmother with details of team uniforms, without any interference from me.

Chapter 4
    Tenth Grade ~ Extracurriculars ~ A Sonnet.
    T he dream faded soon enough, however, and I awoke to the cold, hard knowledge that summer was over. I speak metaphorically, of course. Actually it was still pretty hot out, especially in my attic bedroom. Mom is always promising to redo the insulation if business ever picks up.
    Monday morning Mom made me my traditional back-to-school breakfast: whole-wheat buttermilk waffles with maple syrup and homemade sour cherry jam. (Ashleigh’s candy-making phase had a strong jam component.) For an extra treat, Mom set the table downstairs in the front parlor, at a claw-footed oak table that’s been on sale for several years. If it ever does sell, I’ll miss it terribly.
    I brushed my hair quickly, put on my lucky thumb ring, and came downstairs. I was wearing some of the clothes my stepmother had provided, and I worried a little that my mother would notice and ask where they had come from. Indeed, she looked me up and down appraisingly. All she said, though, was, “How nice you look, honey.”
    At school, Ash and I were disappointed to find we had different homerooms. She drew Frau Riechstoff-Murphy, the German teacher, and I landed the notorious math teacher Mr. Klamp.
    Mr. Klamp laid down the law. No tardiness, no talking above 40 decibels, no untied shoelaces, no visible undergarments, no eating, no chewing gum, no chewing tobacco, no chewing betel nuts, no chewing coca leaves, no chewing out students (unless Mr. Klamp was doing the chewing out), no chewing out teachers (unless ditto), no unnecessary displays of temper (unless ditto), no unnecessary displays of affection (no exceptions), no pets over one ounce or under one ton, and no singing, except in Bulgarian. I began to think Mr. Klamp wouldn’t be so bad—which was lucky, since I had him for math as