Quill’s Trophy Sneak Peek — Between the last whistle and the pizza boxes, Quill tiptoed through the award hall with a broom over one shoulder and a fizz of questions in his head. Read the full story →
Between the last whistle and the pizza boxes, Quill tiptoed through the award hall with a broom over one shoulder and a fizz of questions in his head. The tall volleyball trophy stood under the lights, smelling faintly of lemon polish, with laurel leaves curling around it like green question marks. Quill only meant to sweep the confetti before Coach Bee arrived, but one square of paper kept fluttering upward instead of down.
He chased it past the ribbon banner, under the curled handle, and up to the trophy’s round lid. Plink! Another bit popped from beneath the top volleyball. Then three more sprang out, each stamped with a tiny mustache. Quill pressed his ear to the cup and heard a muffled giggle. “Aha,” he whispered, grinning so hard his cheeks hurt.
Inside the hollow trophy, the team’s setter had hidden a crank toy that puffed confetti whenever anyone said “champions.” Quill set the lid back just as Coach Bee opened the door. “Champions!” she called, and the trophy sneezed stars all over her clipboard. Next time you spot the high ball, the leafy branches, and all those floating scraps, see if you can guess which piece is still trying to fly upward.
