英文故事Patty Potential

英文故事Patty Potential Oncetherewasayounggirl,namedPatty.Shehadlotsoffunandmademanyfriends.Duringthesummerbeforeherthirdgrade,Pattydecidedtotryanewsport.SwimteamwasnearlyoverandPattywasthefastestswimmerinheragegroup.Shehadalwaysbeenthebest.Theneighborhoodwasofferingatennisclinic.PattyandherfriendDarlagotpermissionfromtheirparentstojoin. OnSaturdaymorning,Darla’ smomtookthegirlstoaconsignmentstorearoundthecornerandboughtthemeachagood,usedtennisracket.“Ifyougirlssticktotennis,thenwe’ lltalkaboutanewracket.Thesewilldofornow.”Thegirlswerethrilledwiththeir newpurchases.PattyhadapurpleracketwithbrightyellowstringsandDarlagotablueonewithfluorescentgreenstrings. OnMondaymorning,at7:00a.m.,Patty’smomwokeherup.“It’ stimefortennis!”Pattycoveredherfacewithherpillow.“Mom,it’ swaytooearly!”shestumbledoutofbedanddowntothebreakfasttable.“You’ llneedfruitandcereal.I’ llfixyousomeGatoradetotaketothecourt.”HermotherseemedexcitedthatPattywaspickinguptennis.PattyfinishedbreakfastandranovertoDarla’ shouse.Theywalkedovertothecourts. Mrs.Cane,thetenniscoach,linedeveryoneupandstartedwiththebasics.Therewerefourgirlsinthelesson.Mrs.Canehadtwobucketsofballsandtirelesslytossedthemtotheforehandsandthebackhands.Bytheendoftheweek,Pattywasreallymakingprogress.Mrs.CanecommentedthatPattyhadlotsofpotential.Darla,ontheotherhand,wasstruggling.Theothergirlswerehavingatoughtimeofit,also.Pattywastheonlyonewhoseemedtogetit. Thatweekend,Darlabeggedherparentstohitwithher.Pattywasn’ treallyinterested.Shewassucha‘natural’attennisthatshefeltshereallydidn’ tneedtopractice.So,DarlawasoutintheAugustheat,practicingherservesonSaturday.Sunday,afterchurch,Darlawashittingtennisballswithherbigbrother.Hewasnotimpressedwithhertalent,buthedrilledheranyway.Shehitagainstherhouseandvolleyedwithhermominthedriveway.Bytheendofthesummer,Darlawasbeginningtogetthehangofit. Mrs.Caneheldanothertennisclinictheweekbeforeschoolstarted.DarlaandPattysignedupimmediately.Mrs.CanewaspleasedwithDarla’ sprogress.“Well,Icantellwho’ sbeenpracticing!”PattywishedthatshehadbeenasdiligentasDarla,butshewas stillproudthatshehadsuch“natural”ability.Mrs.CanecommentedthatPattyhadsomuchpotentialandwouldbethenextBillyJeanKingifshewouldjustpractic e.Bothgirlshadawonderfultime. Darladecidedtojointheneighborhoodjuniortennisteam.MatcheswouldbeeveryThursday.Pattywantedtojoin,butshedidn’ twanttomisstheYouthTroopTVshow.Shedaydreamedaboutbeingthenexttennisstar.Shetoldherselfthatshewouldcontinuetohitthetennisballwhenshegotsomefreetime.IfDarlahadfun,shewouldjointheteaminthespring. Severalweekspassed,andPattywenttooneofthematches.Shewasreallyimpressedwiththewaythegirlswerehitting.Shewasalittlebitlost,too.“Thirty-love, ”criedDarla,beforesheserved.“Whatisshetalkingabout?”thoughtPatty.Shewantedtoaskbutshedidn’ twanttoappeardumb.Finally,thematchwasover.Darlaandherpartnerlost,buttheyhadawonderfultime.Allthekidswerereallynice.Pattywishedshehadjoined.Itwastoolate,now. Laterintheyear,thespringjuniortennisteamstartedup.Darlawascaptain.Herparentsboughtherabrandnewracketbecauseshedeservedit.ShetriedtotalkPattyintojoining,butPattyhadnotpracticedandwaswaybehindtherestofthegirls.Shewasn’tcomfortablewhenshewasn’ tthe“best.”Shewassortofembarrassedthatshehadn’ timproved.Allofthat“naturaltalent”reallygothernowhere.PattyPotential Thatspring,Darla’ steamwenttotheplayoffs.Theygotin2ndplaceandwereinvitedtotheCityFinals.ThatwastheworstweekofPatty’ slife.Shewasveryexcitedforthegirlsandcheeredthemon.Butinsideshewasmiserable.“Whydidn’ tIgoaheadandjoinwhentheyaskedme?”shethought.Nowitreallywastoolate.Noonewasbegginghertojointheteamanymorebecausetheydidn’ tneedher.Thegirlshaddevelopedtheirtennisskillswaybeyondherabilities. Severalofthegirlscouldn’ tgotothecityfinalsbecausetheyweregoingonvacation.DarlaaskedPattytopleaseplaydoubleswithheratcityfinals.NowPattygotherchance.Toobadshehadnotpracticed.DarlahelpedPattyalongduringthematch.Pattysufferedfromheatexhaustionandfrustration.Theylosteighttoone.Pattyreallyfeltlikesheletherteamdown.Buttheteamwonthecityfinalsbyonepoint.Thatpointreallymadethedifference.DarlaandPatty’ sdisappointmentwasquicklyturnedintojubilation!Theyhadacelebrationparty.Pattydecidedtenniswouldbeagoodsportafterall. Throughtheyears,theteamgrewandchanged.Thegirlsstuckitoutandcontinuedtoimprove.Theybecameverygoodfriends.Pattyjoinedateamoutofthenei ghborhoodandpracticedregularly.Darlaworkedwithherandthetwogirlshadlotsoffuntogether,again.OneofthegirlsonDarla’ steammovedandaspotopenedupforPatty.Althoughshewastheweakestplayer,shestillenjoyedherselfandworkedhardatpractice.Becauseshefinallydecidedtopracticeandnotacceptthatshewasa‘natural,’ shewasabletojoininthefun.Thatwasoneofthebestlessonsofherlife.