I jumped into my mother's car and threw my cross-country （越野） team bag into the backseat. "I'm so sick of it!" I said， "Training is less tiring than dealing with Jenny and her feelings."
    The training has been going for weeks：stretching，running，pacing，lifting weights and making u into a team.Jenny is always the goddess of cross country.She is a coach's dream.She helps all of un faster by upping the pace.She cheers us on.She trains harder，but so do jye.ai.We are co-captains.However，this week，Jenny keeps saying she won't run with the team.She has all sorts of reasons from leg cramps （抽筋） to a headache.I have to beg her all day，between classes，at lunch，on the way to practice.She really wears me out.
    "What's her deal？We're all tired of it.She's so needy." I complained.
    Mom pulled into our driveway and shared with me Jenny's story.Jenny and her little brother have been together all this time in foster care （寄养）.They're really close.But his father，Jenny's stepfather，came for him this week.He had gifts and hugs and big plans for the boy's future.But Jenny got nothing.She wasn't even a little part of the big plans.
    "Poor Jenny，not to have a family.Not to feel wanted or needed." I was close to tears.My mother patted my knee. "That's it，honey.You got it."
    The next day，I was the last one to get on the team bus.Then I spotted Jenny.She was sitting in the back，alone. "Can I sit by you？" I asked Jenny.She shrugged her shoulders.I took it as a yes. "I was afraid you weren't going to make it today."
    "I didn't think anyone would notice if I made it or not." Jenny said.
     I looked at Jenny.I understood what she was really saying. "We would have noticed if you weren't here，Jenny.We want you to run with us.The team needs you." "Isn't that right？" I called to the team.There was silence.

Please，I thought，gave Jenny what she needed.________________
She ran with us that day.________________