1 Dale walked slowly home. He kept his head down. He was not smiling. He looked very sad. He was thinking about Jen. Jen was his best friend. At least, Jen used to be his best friend. Dale did not know if she even liked him now.
2 Dale just kept thinking about what happened in P.E. class today. Coach told Dale and John to choose their teams. The class was going to play baseball. Dale was excited to be captain. And he had the first choice, too.
3 Dale looked at all the other students. Jen was a very good baseball player. Dale wanted to choose her, but he knew the boys would make fun of him. They would call him a sissy. They would say that only sissies want girls on their team.
4 "Come on, Dale," Coach had said. "Make your first choice."
5 Dale looked down. "Mark," he said. "Mark will be on my team."
6 Dale looked at Jen. She looked surprised. She looked a little bit hurt.
7 John chose Al. Then it was Dale's turn again.
8 "Luke," Dale said. He looked at Jen. This time she looked very hurt.
9 So John and Dale took turns choosing. When they ran out of boys, John had to choose the first girl.
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