by John Coy
“If you’ve got a problem with me, be a man.” Liam squints into the sun. “Don’t slash my tire or send somebody else to do it.”
Drake clicks open his trunk.
“Talk to me, Drake.”
“I’ll talk to you when I want to.”
“Then talk.” Liam moves to avoid the sun and crosses his arms like he’s not budging.
“You ruined our season, Bergstrom.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You wrecked our team spirit.”
“C’mon, Drake. Good teams don’t go on about team spirit. They have it. You’re just looking for somebody to blame.”
“I am not.”
“You’re the captain.”
Drake grabs a box of Adidas from the trunk. “By the way, Bergstrom, I’m leading prayers now. They’re voluntary, but we’ve got plenty of volunteers.”
24
Go at Her
Liam rubs his forehead. Basketball homework. How did he get stuck with such a difficult book?
Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and power,
Cheerful, for freest action form’d under the laws divine,
The Modern Man I sing.
And why is this guy singing about everything?
All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,
And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.
Liam thinks about this. Death might be different from what anyone supposed, but luckier? Grams says she’s had a full life and that she’s grateful for everything. She’s less afraid of death than anyone he knows. Would she consider death luckier than being alive, though?
He struggles with long lists of people and places. He turns to the glossary to look up words he doesn’t understand. He’s supposed to be finished with this by next week, so he reads on about boatmen, clam diggers, and runaway slaves. How will he ever memorize any of this? He needs a break, so he checks his e-mail.
From: Mackenzie Kost
To: Liam Bergstrom
Date: March 7
Subject: miss you!
liam,
I bet u are surprised to get this after what happened but i miss u. jeanbaptiste is a jerk. i should have known better.
>:-<
i am fed up with france and wish i was home.
i am really sorry. whats up with u?
lyl
kenz
x o x o x o
Liam rereads the message. Sounds like she got dumped. Too bad. He hits DELETE and the message disappears from his screen.
“Stand in one place and imagine you are a tree.” Iris leads Transition. “Put your hands above your head and move them in a gentle breeze.” Liam raises his arms. “The wind blows stronger now and moves the trunk.” She sways her hips. He moves his hips and tries not to stare too hard at Iris’s. “Huge storm now.” She swings back and forth. “The tree bends, but does not break.” Everybody shakes all over and Liam smiles at being among all these willowy trees in the storm.
“The wind dies down and the tree stands tall,” Iris declares. The players freeze in place with outstretched arms. Iris slowly lowers her hands to her sides and everybody follows.
“Thanks, Iris,” Leah says. “Chloe, you’ve got Game of the Day?”
“Shoot. I forgot,” Chloe says.
“Anybody else got a game?”
“I do.” Liam steps forward.
“What’s it called?”
“Banking Around the World.”
“What are we going to do?” Jessica asks. “Exchange money?”
“You all know how to play Around the World.” Liam grabs a ball. “Start here.” He banks a layup off the board. “Then you go to all the other spots. But you have to bank your shot. If you make it without hitting the board, you have to start all over. Also, you have to pick a different country name for each spot. Run down all your misses.”
Everyone spreads out at different hoops.
“One, two, three, go,” Liam shouts, and balls fly. Players make their layups and move to the second spot. Most make their second shot and move to the corner of the free throw line.
“Oh, no.” Iris swishes her shot and has to start over. “I finally get that shot down and now I have to bank it.”
“Yes.” Darius banks his in. “Argentina.”
Players chase down rebounds and launch shots. Country names alternate with cries of frustration as players make shots and miss. Everybody is struggling, with one exception.
Liam watches Jessica, who’s quietly progressing. She uses the board a lot in her game, so maybe she’s used to looking for it. She banks a shot from Iris’s free throw spot, chases the ball, and lines up her next one. She’s almost finished.
Chloe swishes another free throw. “No.” She jumps up and down and her ponytail flaps like a flag.
“I’m done!” Jessica hollers.
“No fair,” Chloe says. “I’m back at the beginning.”
Liam goes over to Jessica. “What were your countries?”
“United States, China, Iraq.” Jessica pauses. “Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland.”
“Banking around the world in record time, Jessica is the champion.” He holds up her arm like a boxer’s.
“Good Game of the Day.” Jessica slaps his hand. “Let’s hear it for Liam.”
“Vada vim. Vada vom. Yom. Yom. Yom.” Everybody dances and shakes arms. “Go, Liam!”
“Scrimmage time.” Jack walks onto the court. “Starters in red today.”
Iris pulls off her jersey, showing a black sports bra underneath. Liam watches her turn the jersey inside out to red. She glares at him and he looks away.
“Let’s have a good run.” Jack claps.
Liam pushes Jessica under the hoop, and she elbows him in the head. Darius passes the ball to Liam and he sends it back.
“Go at her.” Darius passes the ball back in.
Liam turns and shoots over Jessica.
“That’s there, Norbert,” Darius says. “Take it.”
“Norbert. Is that your middle name?” Jessica laughs.
Up and down they go. Liam’s more confident on offense after making that first hoop. He can shoot over Jessica. He calls for the ball and scores again.
“Jess, that’s too easy,” Jack says. “Move him off his spot. Make him work harder.”
Chloe doubles down on Liam, but he sees Nikki open at the arc. He passes to her and she buries the three.
“Chloe, stay with the shooter,” Jack says. “You can’t leave her open.”
The game is fast and intense. Jessica banks in two shots in a row.
“You’ve got to get out on her, Liam,” Jack says.
With the game tied, the starters work the ball for the winning shot. Leah passes to Chloe, who dumps it into Jessica. Liam pushes against Jessica to keep her out of the paint. She passes to Iris, who swings it to Chloe at the top of the key.
Darius flies out and tips the shot. Liam snags the rebound and passes to Darius, who dribbles upcourt. One shot to win.
Darius passes to Liam, who passes it right back. The game’s on the line, and he’s not taking any chances. Darius will hit the game winner. Chloe jumps out to double team, and Darius passes back to Liam. Liam makes a tentative move baseline, looks to Darius, and then passes back.
Leah dives in for the steal. She hurries downcourt and finds Chloe in the corner. Darius is all over her, so she passes to Jessica, who turns and banks it off the board for the win.
“Banking Around the World,” she hollers. Leah and Iris rush up to her and Chloe jumps up and down.
Liam looks to Darius, who shakes his head. “My bad.” He pats his chest. “I blew it.”
“You did,” Darius shouts. “You need to go to the hoop.”
25
Decision
“Let’s talk about Leaves of Grass.” Jack sits next to Liam on the bleachers while the rest of the team shoots free throws.
“It was hard at first,” Liam says. �
�The old-fashioned language was confusing, and I didn’t get what it was supposed to symbol—”
“Looking for symbols is one of the worst things to do with poetry,” Jack interrupts. “Start with the language, the sounds, how the words go together, what you like about it.”
Liam stretches out his legs. “I like Whitman’s lists of the different people he feels connected to. He feels connected to everybody, everything, including animals and nature.”
“Yes.” Jack smiles.
Liam flips to a passage he’s highlighted and reads:
I hear bravuras of birds, bustle of growing wheat, gossip of flames, clack of sticks cooking my meals,
I hear the sound I love, the sound of the human voice,
I hear all sounds running together, combined, fused or following,
Sounds of the city and sounds out of the city, sounds of the day and night.
“Beautiful,” Jack says.
“I also like it when he talks about animals.” Liam finds that section and reads:
I think I could turn and live with animals, they’re so placid and self-contain’d,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition.
“True,” Jack says. “What lines did you memorize?”
Liam shuts his book and begins:
But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll,
My left hand hooking you round the waist,
My right hand pointing to landscapes of continents and the public road.
Not I, not any one else can travel that road for you,
You must travel it for yourself.
“Exactly.” Jack beams. “That’s Whitman. It’s your road, Liam.”
Liam nods as balls echo and shoes squeak. Whitman pays attention to everything. What would he notice here? The colors of the jerseys, the sounds of the balls going through the nets, the connectedness of everyone on the team working together.
“Liam, this is for you.” Jack reaches into a cloth bag and takes out a wooden box.
Liam lifts the lid and pushes aside newspaper. He uncovers a ceramic bowl with a gray-green glaze. The smooth shape looks like the shell of a turtle. “Wow.”
“It’s a celadon bowl, the piece I was making when you agreed to be on the team.”
“It’s beautiful.” Liam turns the bowl over. “Thanks, Jack.”
“Thank you, Liam, for saying yes.” He holds out his hand and Liam shakes it.
Liam sets the bowl gently in the box and places it underneath the bleachers to protect it. He walks back onto the court to join his teammates. My road. Not Mom’s. Not Dad’s. Not Mackenzie’s. Not Jack’s. Not Whitman’s. My road.
“What do you got, Old Man?” Darius challenges Sully as he bounces the ball between his legs at the B-CAB.
“I’ll shut you down.” Sully crowds close.
Darius jab-steps, fakes a jumper, and drives to the hoop. Sully chases after and pushes Darius as the shot rolls off.
Liam grabs the rebound and goes right back up. Cadillac hits him on the shoulder, but Liam plays through it. You don’t call a foul in this game.
Darius’s hook shot rolls off, and Liam slides past Cadillac for the rebound. He fakes and gets Cadillac in the air before spinning the other way.
“Strong move, Norbert.”
Liam grabs the ball. There’s no way he’s going to get Darius to stop using his middle name. “Eleven.” He shoots from the arc. “Twelve.” He’s been practicing shooting just for this. “Thirteen.” He misses the next one and Darius picks up the long rebound. Liam hops out to defend him.
“Let’s go.” Darius bounces the ball and then goes up for a shot. Liam leaps for the fake, and Darius ducks under and banks it off the board.
“Banking Around the World, Norbert.” He raises his arms.
In the game, Darius feeds Liam inside. Liam makes a move to the hoop and is double-teamed, so he kicks a pass back to Darius, who drains it. Making a move opens space for Darius to score. The game isn’t that complicated.
Liam rushes to his locker after school Friday. No teachers for two days. On his phone, there’s a missed call from area code 202. Where’s that? He returns the call.
“Hello, Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Megan speaking.”
“Megan. This is Liam. How are you?”
“Great, and I’ve got some excellent news.”
“What?” Liam plugs his ear to hear over the end-of-the-week din.
“We received a letter today from Principal Craney.”
“Finally. What does it say?”
“No coach at Horizon High School will lead or conduct prayers before, during, or after games or practices. Any violation will be grounds for disciplinary action, and this information has been conveyed to all coaches at Horizon High School.”
“That’s exactly what we asked for.”
“Yes,” Megan says. “Principals usually respond this way when they’re reminded of the law.”
“Awesome.” Liam pounds his locker so hard, kids turn to stare. Coach Kloss is going to have to change. “We did it.”
“You did it,” Megan says. “You’re the one who initiated it.”
Liam picks up his pack, but then remembers his conversation with Drake. “Megan, the captain of the team says he’s leading prayers after games now. He says they’re voluntary. That’s not much of a change.”
“Sure it is,” Megan says. “Coaches leading prayers is unconstitutional, and our Constitution is only as strong as the people willing to stand up for it. You did that, and it has an impact now and for all the students who follow you. You got people at your school talking about this. You’ve accomplished more than you realize.”
Liam throws his pack over his shoulder. Maybe she’s right. Coach Kloss can’t pressure players that way anymore. He rubs the stone in his pocket. Calling Megan also got him to Jack and the girls’ team. It got him to Darius and the guys at the B-CAB. It’s impossible to imagine not playing with all of them. “Megan, thanks for everything.”
“Thank you, Liam. Thanks for having the courage to stand up.”
Liam flips his phone shut and closes his locker.
GOT GAME
The tape is starting to curl. He smooths it back in place. “Yep.” He pumps his fist. “I do.”
Liam races home and tells Mom the news in a rush of words.
“That’s wonderful.” She wraps him in a bear hug. “Congratulations.”
“I still can’t believe it.” Liam untangles himself. “Principal Craney agreed to everything.”
“He had to,” Mom says. “The law is clear, and principals have to follow the law.”
“I wonder what Coach Kloss will do?” Liam grabs a Dr Pepper from the fridge and pops it open.
“He’ll follow the law. Or quit coaching. I thought Craney should have fired him for lying to you when you went to him with your concerns.”
Liam relaxes on the couch. That’s Mom. She always wants more. But her instincts about Coach Kloss not changing without pressure were right. Even though he hates to admit it, her instincts are often right. He doesn’t need to tell her that, though.
“A lot of people want Kloss fired. Not making the playoffs is worse to them than leading prayers in the locker room.” She sits down in the green chair. “So, now that you’ve accomplished this, what’s next?”
“I’m going to take it easy.” Liam leans back.
“Have you been studying your vocabulary for the PSAT?”
“What?” Is she kidding?
“Vocabulary. Have you been studying for the PSAT?”
Liam looks at her like she’s from Mars. How can she go from Principal Craney’s letter to the PSAT like that?
“Liam, I asked you a question.”
“I know. I’m not going to answer.” He stares at the painting above the fireplace that Mom made in art school. He sees shadows he’s never noticed.
“What do you mea
n?”
“That’s good. You should go back to painting.”
“What are you talking about? We’re talking about you.”
“Let’s talk about you for a change.” Liam sits up. “Do you miss painting?”
“Liam, I asked you about the PSAT.”
“I’ve got plenty of time.” He drains the can in one long gulp.
“You have to think about it. The PSAT is your future. Your scores determine your college choices.”
“I’ll prepare for it my own way.” He looks directly at her.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve got my own road, Mom.” He smiles. “I must travel it myself.”
26
The Thread
“Who has a poem?” Jack gathers the team around him before the sectional final against Clearwater.
“I do,” Iris volunteers. “It’s called ‘The Way It Is’ by William Stafford.” She recites from memory:
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
“Thank you, Iris.” Jack looks around at the team. “There is a thread you follow, and you have all followed it here. You’ve followed it for years—through all the hours of practice, through all the games. Tonight, have fun. Be present. Don’t let go of the thread.”
Liam and Darius sit in the first row behind the bench. Last night, Horizon won by eleven to put them here. One more win to go to State.
The gym is packed. All kinds of kids who’ve never been to a girls’ hoops game are here because a trip to State means two days off from school and blowout parties. “Let’s go, Blazers. Destroy them,” hollers a linebacker who’s started partying early.