Howdy,

#NaNoWriMo (550) — Day 10
(Unedited, or only slightly)

 

Continued …

Jake was the first to start shooting. Careful, he chased down errant shots bouncing toward plastic tables and folding chairs creeping onto the court. He did not want to hit anyone or give cause to be told he had to stop.

On their way to the basket, Jake had a pretty good read on where his off-the-mark shots were headed off the rim, and no teachers or lunch duty adults stopped him. He kept playing ball right alongside those eating lunch.

Others soon joined him. Shooting around, with both balls in play, rising the chaos level. Jake stationed himself on the side with the table, taking responsibility to keep the game from spilling onto the tables and ruining their privilege.

Someone suggested that the six on the court start up a game of three-on-three. Jake figured there was just enough room for it, if the game play leaned heavy to the right side, away from the makeshift foodcourt. He knew he won’t be as able to be in position to save a ball from ending up on someone’s plate, but without as much time left in lunch it wasn’t as crucial. Less of an eating crowd and less clock left for hooping in the school gymnasium on the wooden floor.

One of the six players matching up was a girl who happened to be from one of Jake’s classes. Michelle.

Jake hadn’t seen her join in out on the playground court and had no idea she played. Michelle was about a head taller than Jake, but that didn’t mean much. Most who stepped on the court seem to be. At least. He wondered if she could play.

He’d find out. She was one of the other two on Jake’s team.

They’d shot for teams, and technically it was Michelle’s team, not Jake’s. She’d stepped up to the free throw line first and made the shot.

Then a boy, CJ, had missed before another, Mike, had made his shot. Jake’s turn to make the first team came after Mike, shooting for the final spot. Jake’s committed interest, desire, in making the shot and the team added more pressured than he’d even expected. Feeling himself tightening as he released the free throw, Jake shook his head while it was in the air, knowing he’d missed. It bummed him out, disappointment riding him as he had to watch the next three players take their attempts to join the first team: the team who would take out the ball to start. The team who had earned it.

All three of the boys, Jose, Marcus, and CJ again, missed. Jake Jones gained another chance. He dribbled the ball he liked, the less inflated of the two, to the line, took a deep breath, bounced the basketball a couple more times, and looked at the rim. He shot it up and through. Third player to the team. Teams set. Play ball.

In reality the arrangement to get the teams set happened quickly; it just felt momentous to Jake — he was pumped to play in the gym and he tended to put pressure on himself to perform. In his mind he hoped he hadn’t taken all their free time for three-on-three with his stinkin’ missed free throw.

Ball in.

Michelle tossed it to him.

To be continued …

 

Billy

Reading. Writing. Living.


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