Got It! UFLI Foundations Lesson 79
Practice Words
Jed stands by the fence with his ball. On the grass, a kid kicks a ball far up. It does not drop once. 'I can do that,' says Jed. 'I bet I can.'
Jed slips in past the fence and waves. The kid kicks the ball far up. It drops in a big arc, and it hits Jed in the chest. Thump! 'Ha!' Jed grins. 'That was not hard at all.'
They start to play, and the kid is fast. He darts past Jed with the ball. Jed runs hard, but he can not catch him. 'I am fine,' pants Jed. 'I am just starting.'
Jed stops and looks. Tap, tap, tap. The ball rolls from leg to leg, and it stops just where the kid wants it. 'Wow,' says Jed. 'That kid is smart with a ball. It is like art.'
'Stop!' calls Jed. 'I must rest!' But the kid darts on with the ball. He will not stop. Jed lunges to grab the ball, but the kid zips far past him.
Jed swings his leg and kicks the ball hard. Crack! It zips far off the grass, and it rolls to the car path. The kid darts after it.
The kid runs onto the car path and bends to grab the ball. A bike zips at him, fast! 'Stop!' yells Jed. 'Stop, stop!' But the kid will not look up. Jed runs hard.
Jed grabs the kid's hand and pulls hard. They tumble onto the grass, safe from harm, and the bike zips past. The kid grips Jed's hand and looks up at him.
They sit on the hill by the fence. It is dusk, and the sky is gold. Jed puffs and pants. The kid bumps Jed's arm. Jed bumps him back. That is all they want.
The kid marks his name by the ball: Faf. Then he talks with his hands, quick and smart. So that is it! Faf did not ignore Jed at all. Faf talks with his hands. Jed copies him. Faf grins and claps.
Jed can not talk with his hands yet. His hands get in a big snarl. 'Hang on, Faf,' says Jed. He bends and traces his name: Jed. Faf looks at the marks and grins a big grin.
Jed and Faf flop on the grass. The sky is gold. Two pals, two balls. Jed is glad he came to play. He got a pal, and a pal is more than a game.
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