Molly's Promise Read Online Free Page B

told me about the race. You beat him by a mile. Way to go, girl.”
    â€œNot quite a mile,” Molly said. “But I don’t think I want to play soccer.”
    â€œReally?” she said. “You love soccer.”
    â€œI think I make a better fan than a player.”
    They watched without talking for a few minutes.
    â€œWhat would you like to do?” Celia asked.
    Molly pulled the blanket up around her ears. She couldn’t bring herself to speak the words that were bubbling up inside.
    Celia looked sideways at her and said, “Moll, what do you have stashed away in that head of yours?”
    Molly wanted to tell her about the talent competition. She wanted to tell her that she wanted to sing.
    â€œI want to see my mom,” Molly said. “I want to know about her. When I ask Dad, he either gets mad, changes the subject or looks sad. How come?”
    â€œI don’t know why he does that,” Celia said and looked back at the game.
    The Cougars’ fans exploded. The players huddled and high-fived in front of Murphy’s net.
    â€œDid you see what happened?” Celia asked.
    â€œNo,” Molly said. “I can’t believe I missed it.”
    Murphy emerged from the crowd, holding the ball. He rolled it to the referee. The score was 2-1.
    â€œHey, Moll, I’m sorry about your mom,” Celia said. “How about I talk to your dad?”
    â€œSure, thanks,” Molly said.
    â€œBut that’s not everything, is it?” she said.
    Molly took a deep breath.
    Finally the words came out. “There’s a talent competition in town,” she said. “I want to enter. But I also don’t really want to. I don’t want to compete. I just want to sing.”
    Once Molly started to talk, she couldn’t stop. “Paige is going to dance. A lot of grade eights are entering.” The words flooded out. She told Celia about the competition, her dad and the boys. “I want to sing more than anything.” She stopped for a moment, then added, “Other than seeing my mom.”
    Celia’s jaw slackened and her eyes opened wide. “Wow, honey,” she said. “Thanks for sharing that with me. I didn’t even know you sang.”
    â€œI don’t,” Molly said. “I mean, I don’t sing to anyone but myself, with my mouth closed. I mean, I don’t sing out loud. Except for once, when I sang to Dad.”
    Celia bit her lip as if it was she now who didn’t know what to say. “He must have been surprised,” she said.
    â€œI think I surprised myself as much as him,” Molly said. “I’ve listened to my voice in my head, but I didn’t know it would feel that good to sing out loud.”
    Celia laughed. “Okay, Moll. That’s a bit crazy, girl. But I hear you.”
    Their conversation ended when the Cougars charged into Murphy’s zone. The Striker defensemen were scattered across the field. Molly and Celia threw off their blankets, jumped up and screamed, “Danny! Avtar! Where are you guys?”
    The Cougar players passed the ball in front of the net, up the wing and then back across the back line.
    Molly clenched her fists. If they scored, the game would be tied.
    Murphy’s eyes never left the ball. Danny and the other Striker defensemen were losing ground as the play moved closer and closer to Murphy and the net. Molly swallowed the lump in her throat. The Strikers left way too much to Murphy, as far as she was concerned.
    â€œCome on, Danny!” she hollered. “Get with the game.”
    A Cougar player passed the ball to his wingman. A tall lanky boy trapped it, took a stride and wound up. Murphy moved to the right in anticipation. The striker kicked with brutal force, sending the ball to Murphy’s left. The crowd went silent for a second. Molly watched the ball soar through the air. As it did, Murphy quickly changed his position. The tips of his fingers