forward. She tackled Kirsten and won the ball. Lifting her stick, Helena swiveled, about to send the ball out to a winger.
Kirsten gasped with horror as Storm dashed forward and stood in front of Helena. He was right in the path of the rock-hard hockey ball.
Chapter SEVEN
âLook out!â Quick as a flash, Kirsten dropped her stick and shoved against Helena with her whole body.
âOh!â Helena skidded and only just managed to stop herself from falling over. Her hockey stick slammed down, missing the ball.
Pheep! Miss Strong blew the whistle for a foul as she ran toward them. âI saw that, Kirsten! You did it deliberately. I will not tolerate this behavior. Go and get changed and wait for me in the classroom.â
Helena stood there with a hurt expression on her face. She looked more upset than angry.
Kirsten felt terrible, but at least Storm was uninjured. Her shoulders drooped as she trailed across the field.
Tracy jogged up to her. âWhat happened? I thought you were starting to like Helena.â
âI was . . . I am . . .â Kirsten said.
âWell, youâve got a funny way of showing it!â
âI wasnât trying to hurt Helena, honest!â Kirsten protested. âBut I couldnât help itââ She stopped. There was nothing else she could say without giving away Stormâs secret. âI canât explain. But you have to believe me.â
Tracy looked puzzled. âI donât know, Kirsten . . .â
Sighing heavily, Kirsten left the field and headed for the changing rooms.
Storm bounded after her. âThank you for saving me, Kirsten,â he panted. âBut now you are in even more trouble because of me.â
âIâll live with it,â Kirsten said resignedly. âItâs more important that youâre okay. It was my fault, anyway. I should have warned you to stay off the hockey field. Donât worry, Miss Strong will probably make me write out a hundred lines or clean the art cabinet. Itâs no big deal.â
But the teacher decided on a more serious punishment.
âDetention!â Kirsten cried, gaping at her. âBut I canât stay behind after school, Miss. Iâve got majorette practice.â
âIâm afraid you should have thought of that earlier,â Miss Strong said firmly, adjusting her glassesâtoday they were bright red. âIâll let your parents know that youâll be home late.â
At the end of the dayâs lessons, Kirsten sat with her chin propped in her hands as everyone filed out of class.
âBad luck,â Helena said as she passed Kirstenâs desk. âNo hard feelings, eh?â And for once, she sounded as if she meant it.
âThanks,â Kirsten said, managing a half-smile. Helena was being really fair about this and Kirsten realized that sheâd stopped minding so much about Helena becoming best friends with her and Tracy. Maybe it could workâif she hadnât now messed things up.
Miss Strong picked up a pile of papers from her desk. âI have a few things to do in the staff room. I wonât be long. Continue working on your art project, please.â She went out and closed the classroom door behind her.
Kirsten groaned. âNow what am I going to do? I canât afford to miss practice. Thereâre only a few left before the town parade.â
Stormâs furry face lit up. âI have an idea!â
Kirsten felt a familiar prickling sensation down her spine as bright gold sparks danced in Stormâs shaggy, light brown fur and his bristly whiskers glowed with electricity.
There was a bright flash and a silent explosion of sparks. Pop! Kirstenâs CD player appeared out of thin air and floated on to the floor. Crack! Her baton clattered down beside the CD player. Rustle! Her school uniform was magically transformed into a T-shirt, a short pleated skirt, and sneakers.
Kirsten beamed at her tiny friend.
Rockridge University Press