One of the eighth graders put on music I liked the steady beat but I was in no mood to enjoy it Marcus shifted his shoulders up and down and smiled Then he lifted his arms and went doot doot-doot to the rhythm Hey I said putting on a dry T-shirt We lost You forgetting that already One game Marcus replied Like we’ve never lost a game before You’ve got a short memory if you think that Marcus and I have been teammates on and off since first-grade soccer We played Little League baseball together YMCA floor hockey Jaycees basketball you name it But this was big-time compared to all of that Middle school basketball in the best league in the county I had made the starting lineup right off the bat displacing an eighth-grade point guard I’d never felt pressure like this before But I’d handled it well Until tonight 8
Coach will probably bench me I had no business being out there I’m more skilled than any guard on the team But if I can’t handle the pressure in a big game like this one what good am I Marcus zipped his gym bag You going to sit there all night I’ll be right out I said Tell my dad I’m hungry You Hungry He’ll be shocked Marcus said Our fathers own an accounting business together and our families live across the street from each other So I’ve known Marcus my whole life Marcus left the locker room Somebody turned off the music and I hurried to get dressed Then I heard Coach Good effort tonight Torry he said You played him tough I felt like a little kid out there I said 9
We’ll get another shot at them in a few weeks Coach said Chalk this one up as a learning experience I guess I shut my locker Thanks Coach For what For not giving up on me Coach laughed Not even close he said Get a good sleep Tomorrow’s a new day Yeah I like Coach Mancini He’s a young guy only one year out of college He works us very hard but he’s fair and gives us the truth He’s always upbeat Outside my breath wafted up in a puff of steam The January night was freezing cold but the parking lot was dry I waved to my father who was standing next to his car with Marcus’s dad Our fathers are both over six feet tall and still play a lot of basketball mostly early morning pick-up games at the Y I said hi to Mr Thorpe 10
Tough game Dad said shaking his head It could have gone either way I shrugged and got into the backseat with Marcus Could we get something to eat I asked I didn’t have much dinner Too worked up before the game You guys hungry Dad asked Marcus and his father said yes Can’t do anything that takes too long Dad said You two have school in the morning Tacos Tacos sounded good Yeah Call Mom Tell her we’ll be home soon I had to read ten pages in my state history book before bed and I wanted to start on my science project But I wouldn’t be able to concentrate without some grub first I sent Mom a text that we’d be a little late Mr Thorpe turned from the front seat You really hustled tonight Torry he said At least I did that much I replied 11
