It was the last day of school before winter vacation.
Kids were exchanging presents and saying good-bye.
Bobby was heading toward Kids Central.
"Can you believe it's the last day of school?" Jason asked.
"It's not the last day of school," Bobby said.
"The last day of school is in June."
"It's the last school day of 2011!" Jason said.
Miss Shelly blew her whistle.
"Is everyone excited for the new year?" she asked.
"And for vacation?"
"Yes, but what are we doing today?" Jason interrupted.
"It's the last day of Kids Central for the year!"
"We're going to play a basketball game called Around the World."
Miss Shelly held up plastic place mats.
Each one had a letter written on it.
"Yes! I love Around the World!" Bobby cheered.
"These letters spell Kids Central," Miss Shelly said.
She put the place mats on the floor around the basketball net.
They made a big U-shape.
"You'll start at K and shoot the basketball.
If it goes in, you'll move to I.
Whoever makes it closest to L wins!"
"I'll go first!" Izzie said, rushing to letter K.
Miss Shelly tossed her the ball.
Everyone lined up, and Izzie took her first shot.
"I made it!" she cheered.
Everyone made their first two shots.
Now they were standing at letter D.
Izzie made her shot.
Bobby couldn't believe how well she was doing.
She had gotten good at basketball this year!
Nina missed her shot.
Ethan and Jason made theirs.
Now it was Bobby's turn.
It was an easy shot, but Bobby felt nervous today.
It was his last game of 2011! He shot.
The ball hit the backboard and went in.
"On to S!" Miss Shelly said.
E was right in front of the net.
Izzie, Ethan, Jason, and Bobby all made their shots.
At N, Jason missed. He groaned.
"I almost made it around the world!" Then he smiled.
"But I did pretty well for me."
Izzie, Ethan, and Bobby moved on.
They all made T and R.
At A, Ethan missed!
"What?" he cried. "How did that happen?"
He joined Nina and Jason on the floor.
Nina cheered. "Good luck, Izzie!"
"You can do it, Bobby!" Jason said, clapping.
Izzie smiled at Bobby.
"Here we go!" she said.
She shot. "Whoo!"
She cheered when the ball went in.
Bobby bounced the ball.
He couldn't get beaten by a third-grade girl.
He shot, and . . . the ball went in!
"The 2011 Around the World champions are Izzie and Bobby!" Miss Shelly announced.
"Nice job, you two."
"Thanks." Izzie was beaming.
"Good game," Ethan called to both of them.
Izzie turned to Bobby.
"You'd better watch out!
You'll have a basketball rival soon."
"I know!" Bobby said.
He was going to practice all vacation long.
He wanted to beat Izzie in 2012!
[caption_out@