Thirty-Five

After coming back from breakfast, we were presented with a few different options. For some reason, Darc and I chose P.E. The chosen activity for the day - basketball. The counselor running the activity was named Leonard and he looked like he had spent about as much time on a basketball court as I had on a spaceship to Mars. He split up the teams and somehow Darc and I ended up on the same team. Darc took the ball out and dribbled up the court. I jogged down court.

Lemme tell you how we’re going to do this.

I’m open to anything I guess.

You’re huge. I’ll pass, you dunk.

I can’t dunk.

Try.

What’s the point if I’m not going to be able to do it?

The point is that you tried.

I guess I can understand that.


You better be able to.


Why?

“Hit it!” shouted Darc. His pass caught me right in the chest. I grabbed for it but I wasn’t fast enough. The ball bounced away and was picked up by the other team.

The other team consisted of two old women and two middle-aged men. We played defense, but it wasn’t exactly our A-game. After we let them score, Darc moved the ball up the court again.

Go.

I’m going.


This time I caught the pass, but as I leapt up to try a layup, one of the opposing team’s players swatted me. He didn’t block my shot, he took it from me as I was going up. I looked at him in stunned surprise.

“Gotta be quicker than that, sonny!” He smiled at me as he passed the ball down court. They scored again and Darc seemed a little miffed. As he took the ball out this time there was no communication except a stern look in my direction.

I stood away from the basket as Darc dribbled around. I looked toward him and he looked toward me.

Hit it.

I started running toward the basket, dodging a defender. Darc faked left and then lofted a pass skyward. I timed my jump and as I sailed through the air, I felt something below me. Suddenly, the ball was in my hands and the basket was practically level with my shoulders.

Do it.

I centered on the basket and just as I was throwing the ball through the net, a scream erupted.

Come to me.