"Take five, Lena!" Coach Ramirez shouted.
Lena stomped off the soccer field in frustration. She had missed another easy shot at the goal, and when the coach noticed her shaking her fists, he gave her a time-out.
"Kate, you're in," he added, replacing Lena as forward.
Kate was the best player on the team. She ran faster and scored more goals than anyone else and could do fancy tricks like the soccer stars on TV. The other players nicknamed her "Super Star." Yet she didn't brag or act like a big shot at all. She was kind and encouraging to the other girls, which only made Lena envy her more.
Lena watched from the sidelines, feeling glum. Why is Kate so terrific? she wondered. She noticed how Kate kept her eyes darting around so she knew which players were open, and she noticed how precisely Kate sent the ball flying to her teammates. Soccer seemed to come naturally to Kate in a way that it didn't for Lena.
When the game ended with a win for their team, Lena swallowed her pride and walked up to congratulate Kate.
"You had some great moves today," Lena told her.
"Thanks. It was a solid game," Kate replied. "Hey, before I forget—can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure. What?" Lena asked, surprised.
"I bombed the French test last week," Kate said, "and my parents are making me quit soccer if I don't do better." She took a deep breath. "You're, like, the best student in class. Would you study with me sometime?"
"Of course," Lena said. "Whenever you want." Kate thanked her and jogged away. Lena shook her head in disbelief. Maybe no one in French class called her "Super Star," but she felt like one all the same.
Answer the theme
1.Everybody struggles with something
2. Practice is the only way to improve
3.Pick your role models carefully