Last Line of Defense
Page 5
“I didn’t come to fight, Jess. We need a fifth for our pick-up game this weekend.”
“I don’t want to hang out with your jerky friends, and I don’t need you to babysit me,” he says defiantly.
You really do need a fifth, so you remind him that he’s known the twins practically since birth. They’ll be happy to see him. Well, Matt might not. He and Jesse always get into it, but Tommy will.
“Remember two summers ago?” you say. “We shot hoops in the driveway every day. On the weekend, we played at the court near Grandma and Papa’s.”
He nods, “Yeah, so what?”
“Well, we had fun. That’s all.”
He thinks about it for a while, but finally agrees. He’ll come.
On Saturday, you meet the guys at the rec center. They’re cool with Jesse playing. You’re up against Dan Connors, from the Lions, three of his buddies, and his cousin Ed, who’s visiting from Florida. Luckily, Jesse’s got speed, and he’s playing a pretty good game. Unfortunately, he keeps going for a lay-up, but he’s so afraid of contact, he can’t do it.
GO TO PAGE 46. You call a timeout, hoping you can coach Jesse without making him feel like you’re telling him what to do.
GO TO PAGE 22. You let the game play out and hope Jesse will realize that his lay-ups are about as good as your free throws.
Jesse is feeling courageous, and who are you to stand in his way? Besides, you have a plan. The only problem is that Jesse doesn’t know the plan and you’re not sure how to let him in on it without letting the Lindonville thugs in on it too.
First, you try to signal him with your eyes and facial expressions, but he looks at you like you’re crazy.
Next, you cough to draw his attention, and then try to use subtle hand gestures to convey your master plan. But that falls flat too.
Meanwhile, the guys from Lindonville are still playing the game like it’s a form of keep-away. You don’t care though, as soon as Jesse knows what you’re thinking, you can execute and escape.
At one point the guy who first took the ball actually dribbles it for a minute. Then, he seems to get a little cocky and tries for a behind-the-back pass. It goes nowhere near his buddy, and Jesse grabs it. For a minute, you think this is your big break, but the guy who was intended to receive the pass charges and tumbles into Jesse, knocking him down. Then, the big dufus lands on top of him, and Jesse yells out in pain. It’s his arm.
“Jesse, are you okay?” you rush over to him.
Luckily, it seems like just a sprain. And although that qualifies your team to get the ball, these guys are still not playing by any actual rules. If they would just let go of the ball, you could get it.
Finally, the best idea comes to you. When you and Jesse were younger, you went to summer camp, where you learned a very simple, but secret, language. You wonder if Jesse remembers it. You sure hope so.
“Feedomkin!” you yell to see if he responds.
“Yeah,” Jesse calls back, raising his fists in the air. It seems he at least remembers “freedom,” and you are hoping he remembers the rest.
The other guys look at you like you’re a weirdo, but continue bobbing and weaving with the ball, passing it to one another at close range, without dribbling at all – basically handing it off to each other.
“Iggle tippin and charrufin,” you say to Jesse. (I will take and run.)
It takes him a moment, but then his face brightens with recognition.
“Ubu charrufin dastuni,” you continue. “Charrufin humbo.” (You run too; run home.)
Then, in English, you tell Jesse to guard his man, and you can tell he’s got it. He understands the plan. Now, you just have to get the ball away from Thug 1.
“Hey, aren’t you even going to try for a shot?” you question him. “Can you even make a shot?” you challenge.
“Yeah, I can make a shot,” he sneers and that’s when you get your opportunity.
As soon as he goes for the basket, Fixer Halverson, defensive powerhouse, goes into action. He dribbles once, twice, and on the third one it’s yours. Before the Lindonville thugs know what hit them, you and Jesse are running as fast as you can across the court, across the street, and into the woods. You don’t even bother to look back.
Once you’re a safe distance from them, you slow to a jog and both of you start laughing.
“Oh my gosh,” Jesse says breathlessly. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
“I know,” you agree. “That was crazy.” Then you add, “How’s the arm?”
He rubs it and shrugs. You think he’s not letting on how much it really hurts, and you start to worry that maybe it’s broken, which would mean hospitals and doctors and definitely getting busted for sneaking out.
This was pretty awesome though, and it might be worth it even if you did get caught.
“We make a good team,” Jesse observes, and you agree. You think that no matter what happens with your parents, and no matter how messed up things might get, you and Jesse will handle it just fine together.
THE END
You really appreciate that Jesse is feeling courageous, but if you’re going to play two-on-two, you think you’d rather have your trusted teammate and friend, Ashton, to help you. Jesse stares at the ground, disappointed.
“Sorry, bud,” you offer, but he just shrugs.
“I need to call my teammate,” you tell the Lindonville thugs.
“Fine, whatever,” the one guy says, as he pretends to wipe his butt with the ball. These guys are real jerks.
Luckily, Ashton answers right away and he is psyched for a reason to sneak out and play basketball. He says he’ll be over in a second, and he is. Ashton comes running up with a huge grin on his face, ready to take these guys out.
Ashton is the second tallest guy on your team, next to you, and although these guys have a couple years and some muscle mass on you two, that’s about all they have.
“Okay, guys,” you say. “Let’s play street ball rules: one game, first to 21.”
They agree, and you add, “And when we win, I’m taking my ball and going home.”
Ashton laughs at your joke, but the Lindonville thugs laugh because they don’t think you’ll be taking your ball at all.
You start off with some tight defense, which is no surprise, and you shut them down immediately, blocking lay-ups and dunks, and grabbing rebounds. Ashton is on point and you’re playing center. When it’s his ball, he passes to you.
You slice to the rim as soon as you get open. Then those thugs double team you, so Ashton cuts to the hoop and you pass to him for an easy two points.
Since the game is to 21, you don’t have to worry about losing your energy, and you are determined to pound these guys, so you play as hard as you can. It’s not very long before you’re beating them, and they don’t like it very much.
Thug 1 keeps yelling at Thug 2, telling him what he’s doing wrong.
Ashton sees an opportunity here and starts trash-talking Thug 2, so it’s almost like he’s ganging up on the guy with his own teammate. It’s genius.
You and Ash trounce them and, although they are pretty sore losers, they do give the ball back. You toss it to Jesse, who has been quietly watching from the edge of the court. You hope he isn’t too bummed you called Ashton.
“Man, Fixer,” Ashton says as the Lindonville thugs walk away, “you brought some serious game tonight.”
It felt good to wipe the court with those jerks, but you’re not feeling like much of a fixer right now. Maybe on the walk home, you’ll be able to smooth things over with Jesse. You hope so.
THE END
Coach wants you to see a counselor, but you’re just not sure. Truth is, you just want to play ball and you don’t want to think about the mess with your family anymore. Besides, seeing a school counselor sounds too embarrassing.
“I understand,” Coach says, putting a hand on your shoulder. “I’m not going to push you, but if you change your mind, just say the word.”
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nbsp; “Yes, sir. Thanks.”
“And, just so we’re clear, this doesn’t change my policy about academics,” he reminds you.
You say you understand and promise you won’t be late again. You also promise you’ll focus more on your schoolwork. You hope you can deliver.
The next night, you guys really bring your energy onto the court. Tommy scores twice in the first five minutes; you score right after that. The Dragons’ offense is killing it. By midway through the second half, you’re up by 14 points, so Coach subs Mark Cunningham for you.
Coach is really great about giving court time to all 12 guys on your team. He believes that in elementary and middle school, it can’t just be about winning; it has to be about creating passionate athletes. He says that kids don’t join sports teams to sit on the bench and watch their teammates play. When it’s a game against the Lions though, stronger players do see a little more time on the floor.
You happen to be sitting on the bench when your mom shows up with Jesse. She looks like she just rolled out of bed, all haggard and disheveled. She’s holding onto your brother as if letting him go would unleash an unspeakable evil on the world. What did he do now? A dull ache starts to pulse through your forehead. Unfortunately, this is when Coach decides to send you back in.
You’re distracted, and it seems like the other team can sense it. The Lions’ offense moves past you like you’re not even there. They start scoring like mad and, suddenly, they’ve got you by only a point with just seconds left. Then, the worst thing happens. You get fouled. Even on a good night, you can’t knock down a free throw, and now your mind is somewhere else. You shoot and miss both free throws. The Dragons lose the game.
You’re not sure what to do. You’re really upset about being distracted by your family, and you don’t want to deal with them right now, but you hate to see your mom so unhappy. Should you go home after the game, or go to Ashton’s for pizza and strategizing?
GO TO PAGE 33. Whatever the problem is, it will still be there when you get home later. So, you go to Ashton’s house.
GO TO PAGE 44. Although you don’t know if you can even fix whatever mess Jesse’s created, you go home with your mom and brother to at least try.
You can’t believe these Lindonville bullies stole your ball and pushed your little brother. Jesse looks a little freaked out, but he’s off the court and away from the other guy too, so he seems safe. Besides, you think these guys are just messing around, and you know you’ve got the skills to get the ball back, even if you simply get it back and run for it.
“Yeah, I could take it,” you answer the guy who stole the ball from your brother.
“Well,” he says, spinning the ball on his finger. “How about a little one-on-one? Let’s see what you’ve got.”
You immediately charge him and make him lose his concentration, but he doesn’t drop the ball; he tucks it under his arm like a football and charges back at you.
“Do you even know how to play basketball?” you mock him.
“You don’t want to mess with me kid,” he warns.
“No,” you say. “I don’t. I just want my ball back.”
They guy practically refuses to dribble, and he hasn’t even tried to make a shot. It seems like he’s playing keep-away, not basketball.
“C’mon, already,” you say. “Are we playing basketball or what?”
He dances around some more like an ape, laughing and holding the ball under his arm.
“Hey,” his buddy calls out. “I wanna play too.”
“Do you actually want to play?” you ask again.
“Yes, you little party-pooper,” he says, scowling at you. “Let’s play two-on-two.”
You look at Jesse to see what his face will tell you, because you don’t want to put him on the spot and ask him. Plus, even if he is into it, you’re not sure Jesse is the best candidate. One of your best friends, who also happens to be an excellent ball player, lives right around the corner. Ashton could easy sneak out and be here in couple of minutes if you called him.
“I could do it,” Jesse offers. “Let’s get our ball back.”
You really appreciate that Jesse has found his courage, and you know he has speed on his side, but his technical skills are lacking. Still, there’s more than one way to get that ball back. You’re not sure what to do.
GO TO PAGE 56. Jesse’s found his courage and wants to be your two-on-two partner. You say yes, because you have a plan.
GO TO PAGE 59. There’s no way you’re going to beat them with Jesse as your partner, so you decide to call Ashton to come over. He lives right around the corner.