CAASPP Success - Grade 5 Reading Comprehension - Narrative #1

The Champion of Quiet

[1] It was a Tuesday, and Maggie hated Tuesdays.

[2] Tuesdays meant one thing: gym class.

[3] Gym class meant one thing: picking teams.

[4] Picking teams meant one thing: Maggie would be picked last.

[5] As always.

[6] Maggie was a new student that year in a class of champions. To help herself remember the other kids, she’d come up with a special title for each one.

[7] There was Kevin, Champion of the Clean Desk; and Lynnie, Champion of Knowing the Answer First; and Caroline, Champion of Tardy. And so on.

[8] She’d had to think long and hard to figure out her own special title. After five whole weeks of school, Maggie had decided.

[9] She was the Champion of Quiet.

[10] The Champion of Quiet sat on the gym floor, sandwiched between the Champion of Daydreaming and the Champion of Goofy Jokes. Maggie felt blue. She knew what was coming. She considered changing her title to Champion of Last Pick.

[11] Mr. Murphy, the gym teacher, asked for volunteers to pick the basketball teams.

[12] The usual hands shot into the air.

[13] Maggie sighed and glanced to her right. She caught the eye of Jasmine, Champion of Cursive J’s. Maggie thought she might like to be Jasmine’s friend but never felt brave enough to talk to her.

[14] Looking at Jasmine, Maggie realized that Jasmine seemed a little blue, too. Maggie thought, I’m not the only one picked last. Sometimes Jasmine is picked last, too.

[15] With that, the Champion of Quiet had an idea.

[16] Mr. Murphy asked, “Anyone else want to volunteer today?”

[17] Maggie felt her hand slowly rise. She looked again at Jasmine and took a big breath.

[18] Maybe it was time for the Champion of Quiet to use her voice.

[19] “Maggie?” Mr. Murphy smiled. “You want a turn?”

[20] Do I? Maggie wondered. “Yes,” she said.

[21] The class murmured. Maggie leading a team?

[22] “Yes,” she answered again, louder this time. Her voice shook just a little.

[23] “What’s stopping you, then?” Mr. Murphy waved Maggie to the front of the gym, where the other three captains — Champion of Jumping Rope on One Foot, Champion of Never Misses a Shot, and Champion of Doesn’t Know How to Lose — stood, ready to choose their teams.

[24] “Maggie, you get first pick,” said Mr. Murphy.

[25] “Jasmine,” announced the Champion of Quiet.

[26] The class snickered. Was this a joke? More than once, Jasmine had tried to score on the wrong basket.

[27] Maggie smiled and repeated, “Jasmine.”

[28] Eyes wide, Jasmine took her place beside Maggie.

[29] The other three captains called out familiar names — the best players on the basketball court.

[30] It was Maggie’s turn again. “I choose Jamie.”

[31] Jamie, Champion of the Untied Shoelace. Jamie could not dribble, throw, or catch. He knew what it felt like to be the last pick.

[32] But not today.

[33] Jamie jogged to stand next to Jasmine. He tripped only once. The class sat in shock.

[34] So it went. The names flowed from Maggie’s mouth, sounding sure and strong. The stronger she sounded, the stronger she felt.

[35] Three very talented teams took shape.

[36] And then there was Maggie’s team.

[37] Maggie looked at her teammates. There stood Jasmine and Jamie, plus Gillian (Champion of Hugs) and George (Champion of Very Big Musical Instrument). They were grinning at Maggie.

[38] Maggie grinned back. I have chosen the worst team in the history of the world, she thought.

[39] The Champion of Quiet walked onto the court with her team close behind, ready to face players who were bigger and better.

[40] Game on!

[41] The basketball slipped through Jamie’s fingers, skated around Jasmine, dribbled itself away from George and Gillian, and bounced off Maggie’s head — twice. Their laughter echoed throughout the gym.

[42] Clutching the ball and out of breath from running and giggling, Maggie heard Jasmine call out, “Mags! Pass the ball to me!”

[43] I have a nickname, Maggie thought happily. She threw the ball to Jasmine.

[44] Of course, Jasmine missed. They were indeed the Worst Team in the History of the World.

[45] And they did what any Worst Team would do. They lost. They lost big.

[46] But losing a basketball game doesn’t make you a loser; Maggie knew that much. Maggie grinned at her team. We are, officially, the Champions of No Score, she thought. Awesome.

[47] The Champion of Quiet walked off the court with her new friends. And as the group made plans to sit together at lunch, Maggie was no longer surprised to hear her own voice joining the noisy chorus.

Clutching the ball and out of breath from running and giggling, Maggie heard Jasmine call out, “Mags! Pass the ball to me!”

I have a nickname, Maggie thought happily. She threw the ball to Jasmine.

Of course, Jasmine missed. They were indeed the Worst Team in the History of the World.

And they did what any Worst Team would do. They lost. They lost big.

But losing a basketball game doesn’t make you a loser; Maggie knew that much. Maggie grinned at her team. We are, officially, the Champions of No Score, she thought. Awesome.

The Champion of Quiet walked off the court with her new friends. And as the group made plans to sit together at lunch, Maggie was no longer surprised to hear her own voice joining the noisy chorus.

Maggie smiled and repeated, “Jasmine.”

Eyes wide, Jasmine took her place beside Maggie.

The other three captains called out familiar names — the best players on the basketball court.

It was Maggie’s turn again. “I choose Jamie.”

Jamie, Champion of the Untied Shoelace. Jamie could not dribble, throw, or catch. He knew what it felt like to be the last pick.

But not today.

Jamie jogged to stand next to Jasmine. He tripped only once. The class sat in shock.

So it went. The names flowed from Maggie’s mouth, sounding sure and strong. The stronger she sounded, the stronger she felt.

Three very talented teams took shape.