Hi there. It’s me, Polly Panda, and I’m feeling pretty bummed. I can’t believe it. I decided to try out for the volleyball team this year. Molly, Laurabeard and Cowabelle were trying out too. I thought it was going to be so much fun if all of us were on the same team. I know volleyball hasn’t always been my thing, but we played a lot at camp over the summer and it was really fun, and so I just thought…

On the day of the tryouts I was feeling kind of nervous. I do like sports but I’m kind of new to volleyball and sometimes I can’t remember where to stand. About halfway through the tryouts, I thought I did an okay serve, but the next time we changed positions, I moved the wrong way and crashed right into Purr-cilla! It wasn’t even that hard, but she made a big deal about it and pretended to cry so Mrs. Cowoline had to stop the game and help Purr-cilla over to the bench. I know she wasn’t really hurt because as soon as Mrs. Cowoline turned away, she was smiling and winking at Penelope, and when Mrs. Cowoline sat down facing the court– she turned on the waterworks again. Can you believe it? After that I was so upset I just couldn’t concentrate on the game and I made a lot of silly mistakes and kept missing the ball.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I just checked the board, and not only did I not make the team – guess who did? Purr-cilla, that’s who! I’m so disappointed. I tried my hardest and if I hadn’t been thrown off by that run in with Purr-cilla I’ll bet I would’ve done a lot better. Molly and Cowabelle both made the team too, but Laurabeard didn’t either. I saw her in the hall and asked if she was as upset about it as I was, but she said she just tried out for fun and she wasn’t really expecting to make the team because she’s never done that many sports before. She did say that there were some spaces left in the Arts and Crafts Club if I wanted to try and get in and that we could go together.

Just then Cowabelle came up and told us that she told her mom that Purr-cilla was faking it and she shouldn’t make the team but her mom said she had no proof of that and that Purr-cilla was a strong player who would be an asset to the team. And she said that her mom said I’m getting a lot better at volleyball and I would probably make the team next year if I keep practicing.

Oh well. Maybe I will join the Arts and Crafts Club. That will probably be fun, and I won’t be tripping over Purr-cilla there because they meet at the same time as the volleyball team practices.