Defending Irene (17 page)

“Not only that, but if the weather is nice enough, the friends of Renzo come to play a couple of times a week during the winter.”

“Bello,”
I said.

“You are invited,” Luigi said. The Italian word he used,
invitata
, was singular and feminine. Before Manuel's lips could finish curving for the inevitable “Oooooo!” Luigi added, “All of you are invited.”

“That would please me,” Werner said.

Manuel nodded. “Me too.”

“I will come. Thanks,” I said.

“It's nothing. We must stay in shape.”

“Agreed,” I said. “Without all of you, we
Esordienti
must work hard.”

“
Ma dai
, Irene,” Werner said. “Maybe you will go on too.”

I shrugged. “The
mister
already asked, ‘Are you playing with us next spring?'”

“Has he said ‘with me' or ‘with us?'” Luigi asked.

I thought back. “With us.”

“
Madonna!
With us means with the club, not just the
Esordienti
. Maybe you'll go on. We'll see.”

We reached the van. The
mister
had already unlocked the doors and most of our teammates had piled inside. My family stood waiting on the sidewalk nearby.

“
Ciao
, Irene,” Federico said. He leaned toward me, holding up his hand. I gave him five.

Other blue-sleeved arms reached out. I slapped their hands too, climbing halfway into the van to finish the job. Matteo sat in the backseat with his arms crossed.

“Ciao,”
I said. “We'll see each other later.”

“Until Monday, Irene.
Ciao.
” Luigi pulled himself into the front seat, humming. As he slammed the door shut, I recognized the song by Eros Ramazzotti.

Yours will be the right step—the new way.

Amica donna mia.

Grazie mille
to the players, coaches, parents, and support staff at U.S. Sinigo for giving me a window on the world of Italian soccer. Another thousand thanks to Marina, Tina, and Mara for their additional insights to the culture of the South Tyrol. This project could not have been completed without the help of Gretchen, Sara, and Calvin Nitz—my able team of in-house research assistants—or my husband Kurt who gave me encouragement, time to write, and the chance to live in the Alto Adige for three years. The generosity of other writers helped me over the rough spots. Jeanie, Debbi, Terrie, Pat, Tovah, and Julia followed Irene every step of the way. Darcy and Terrie talked me through the ending one night in Arkansas. Stephanie, Donna, and Sue checked out the big flick issues. Erin, Vicki, and Sondy provided unrelenting support and key insights into the writing process. Gary taught me about generating conflict. Isi, Dorothy, and Lisa helped me off the ground at the beginning of my writing journey. And thanks finally to my editor, Lisa Banim, who asked, “Why don't you send me what you've got?”

Kristin Wolden Nitz lived for three and a half years in Northern Italy, where her family made up the entire American community. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Michigan Technological University and is the author of several articles, short stories, and nonfiction sports books for children. Nitz currently resides in Missouri with her husband and three children.
Defending Irene
is her first novel for young readers.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2004 by Kristin Wolden Nitz

Cover design by Loraine Joyner

ISBN 978-1-5040-3879-9

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