Patty Takes Charge

by Patty Mills

  HI THERE – I’m Patty Mills.

  I play basketball in the NBA and I’ve represented Australia at the Olympics three times. That’s these days. Growing up, I was a sport-loving kid just like you. And that’s why I’m excited about my new series of kids’ books, Game Day!

  Patty, the main character, loves playing every sport he can – especially basketball. He learns many important skills and values through sport, dancing, and of course at school. He also has a whole lot of fun with his friends, but when it comes to game day, he always makes sure he’s ready to perform.

  I think you’re going to love taking this journey with Patty. Have fun reading the series and I hope to see you on the basketball court one day!

  THE GAME DAY! SERIES

  BOOK 1 Patty Hits the Court

  BOOK 2 Patty and the Shadows

  BOOK 3 Patty Takes Charge

  First published by Allen & Unwin in 2017

  Copyright © Text, Patty Mills and Jared Thomas 2017

  Copyright © Illustrations, Nahum Ziersch 2017

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or ten per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to the Copyright Agency (Australia) under the Act.

  Allen & Unwin

  83 Alexander Street

  Crows Nest NSW 2065

  Australia

  Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100

  Email: info@allenandunwin.com

  Web: www.allenandunwin.com

  A Cataloguing-in-Publication entry is available from the National Library of Australia

  www.trove.nla.gov.au

  ISBN 978 1 76029 512 7

  eISBN 978 1 76063 984 6

  For teaching resources, explore

  www.allenandunwin.com/resources/for-teachers

  Cover design by Ruth Grüner & Nahum Ziersch

  Text design & typesetting by Ruth Grüner

  Cover illustration by Nahum Ziersch

  Set by Ruth Grüner

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  I DRIBBLED OUT FROM THE KEY, spun and scored.

  ‘Awesome shot, Patty!’ Tyson said.

  ‘Let’s shut them down now,’ Boris said as we ran back to defend.

  I looked at the clock. There were only two minutes left in the game against St Joseph’s. Scoring another five points to win was a big ask.

  I was guarding their ball carrier and as he tried to get around me, the ball bounced off my foot and out of court.

  ‘Foot violation,’ the referee called.

  I was so frustrated. But Tyson slapped me on the back. ‘Don’t worry about it, Patty,’ he said. ‘You were trying your best.’

  St Joseph’s pulled further ahead of us with a transition jump shot from their point guard. I scored once more, but in the end we couldn’t catch them.

  Although we lost, there were high fives all round between Tyson, Manu, Boris, Ben, Tiago and me. My best mate Josie was missing and I had no idea where she was.

  As everyone headed for their drink bottles, Coach Clarke said, ‘Patty, Tyson and Manu, can I have a word with you?’

  Oh man, I thought. I was worried that Coach Clarke might start telling Tyson and I how pleased he was we were getting on, and mess things up. Tyson had been my rival since I could remember. Apart from footy, he had beaten me at almost everything, until the beginning of the year, when I grew a couple of inches and got a lot faster and stronger. But we’d been teammates for a while now, and we were finally starting to support each other.

  ‘What’s up, Coach?’ I asked.

  ‘I’ve got good news,’ he said, tucking the basketball beneath his arm. ‘The three of you have been selected to represent Canberra in the East Coast under twelves basketball tournament.’

  ‘Awesome!’ Tyson said, a huge grin on his face.

  ‘Really? Wow!’ Manu said, putting his hand to his head as if something had just hit him.

  ‘You’ve been selected as the best players in your age group, you should be very proud of yourselves,’ Coach Clarke told us.

  I was over the moon. Basketball had become so important to me and for the first time I thought I might really have a future in it. But I had one question. ‘Will I still be able to play with the Shadows?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Coach Clarke said. ‘The tournament is being played during the holidays at Sydney Olympic Park Stadium. You’ll love it.’

  Tyson was bouncing around, full of excitement and energy as we headed back to the school bus. ‘I knew you’d make the team, Manu,’ he said. ‘But I can’t believe both of us did too, Patty. I thought it’d come down to just one of us.’

  ‘It’s unreal,’ I told him.

  ‘HEY, JOSIE!’ I called out. I saw her shooting hoops in the park as I walked home from school.

  I threw my backpack down next to the court and jumped in front of her to catch the rebound.

  ‘Where were you today?’ I asked.

  ‘I had to go to the doctor.’

  ‘Is everything all right?’

  ‘I thought I was dying. But the doctor said it was only growing pains. Who won the game?’

  I told her all about our match with St Joseph’s. ‘But I have some good news, too,’ I said. ‘Coach Clarke told me I’ve made the under twelves team to represent Canberra in some tournament during the holidays.’

  Josie’s eyes opened wide. ‘It’s not just some tournament, Patty. It’s the East Coast under twelves basketball tournament!’

  ‘Yeah, I know,’ I answered, a smile spreading across my face.

  ‘That’s awesome! But what about the trip to the Torres Strait for your Athe’s birthday?’

  Athe is what we call our granddads in the central and western islands of the Torres Strait. I felt guilty and confused, because I’d forgotten all about my Athe’s fiftieth birthday celebrations. All our family and friends, including Josie’s family, would be there.

  I sat down on the basketball and said, ‘All I think about is basketball and being with my family in the Torres Strait and I don’t know which I love more.’

  Josie sat down in front of me and said, ‘Patty, I know you love the Torres Strait—’

  My mind went straight to the islands, where the weather is warm, everyone is nice and the food is delicious. Not to mention how much I love being surrounded by my family.

  ‘But like I said,’ Josie went on, ‘it’s always going to be there. And maybe there’s some way you can play in the tournament and go to the Torres Strait for your Athe’s party.’

  I thought about what Josie said, but I knew that the only way I could play in the tournament was to miss out on some time in the Torres Strait.

  ‘Let’s play one on one,’ I said, jumping up from the court.

  I WAS PUSHING A TROLLEY around the supermarket with Mum and Dad, thinking about what it would be like t
o play in a tournament with Tyson. Would he start to annoy me again?

  As we walked down the treats aisle I didn’t even hear Dad when he asked, ‘What type of chocolate should we get, Patty?’

  ‘Whatever, I don’t mind,’ I said, beginning to think about how my cousins would react if I missed a week with them in the Torres Strait because I was playing basketball in Sydney.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Dad asked, giving me a strange look.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine,’ I said absently.

  After we went through the checkout I started walking to the car park, but Mum said, ‘Patty, we’re going this way.’

  ‘Where?’ I asked.

  ‘The travel agent. We have to book our tickets.’

  Usually, going to the travel agent with Dad and Mum was the best thing in the world. I loved booking our tickets, making sure that I got a window seat. I’d count down the days until I could feel the warm sun on my back, see my grandparents and all my cousins, go swimming on the reefs with the fish and turtles and head to Uncle Frankie’s Café for the best banana milkshake. But all I could think about now was how I was going to tell Coach Clarke that I wouldn’t be able to join the team.

  The travel agent asked what she could help us with.

  ‘We’d like to fly to the Torres Strait on the twenty-third of September,’ Dad said. That was just before the tournament. ‘And return on the eighth of October.’ That was a week after the tournament.

  ‘Let’s see what we can find,’ the travel agent said, typing away on her keyboard.

  I didn’t know where to start. I had to tell Mum and Dad about the tournament. I didn’t want to miss it or going to the Torres Strait.

  ‘Dad,’ I said, tapping him on the shoulder.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I’ve been selected to play basketball for the Canberra representative team.’

  ‘That’s great, Patty,’ Dad said, turning his attention back to the travel agent.

  ‘There are flights available and I’ve even got a window seat for Patty,’ the travel agent said.

  ‘Dad and Mum,’ I said, raising my voice. ‘The tournament is being played in the first week of the holidays.’

  Both my parents turned to look at me. The travel agent smiled at us. ‘How about you take a bit of time to talk,’ she said. ‘We’re open late tonight, and on the weekend too. Just come back when you’re ready.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Mum said. ‘Yes, I think we need some time to talk.’

  DAD AND MUM took me to a café nearby.

  ‘I only found out about it today,’ I told them.

  ‘It’s really great,’ Mum said. ‘You should be very proud of yourself.’

  ‘You think so?’ I asked, surprised.

  ‘It’s great that you’re making so much progress with your basketball,’ Dad said. ‘All your hard work is paying off.’

  ‘But to play in the tournament I’d have to miss out on our holiday, and Athe’s birthday party.’

  ‘Maybe you could join us after the tournament?’ Dad said.

  ‘Have Patty catch a plane to the Torres Strait by himself?’ Mum asked.

  ‘He’s big enough. And we’ll all be waiting for him when he arrives. Do you know your Uncle Sam was the first person to leave the Torres Strait to train for basketball at the Australian Institute of Sport?’

  I shook my head.

  ‘He was older than you, of course,’ Dad continued. ‘But the thing is, sometimes when you want to reach your potential, you need to make sacrifices. Do you want to play in the tournament?’

  I was so confused. ‘I do. But I don’t want to miss out on time in the Torres Strait or disappoint Athe,’ I sighed.

  ‘How about we talk to Coach Clarke and take a day or two to think about it? There’ll still be flights available,’ Mum said.

  AT LUNCHTIME, Ms Kelly walked to the edge of the court and called to Josie. I watched Josie follow her to the staffroom. ‘I’ll be back,’ she said.

  It was a tough few minutes for Tyson and me, trying to keep up with Tiago, Boris and Manu without Josie to help us.

  She reappeared as we were walking back to class. ‘What was that about? Why are you looking so happy?’ I asked.

  ‘I’ve been selected to play in the girls’ tournament team.’

  ‘That’s awesome!’ I said, giving Josie a high five. ‘So are you going to play instead of going to the Torres Strait?’

  ‘The solution you and your parents were talking about sounds great to me. A week playing in a basketball tournament and a week in the Torres Strait would be the perfect holiday! As long as my parents agree,’ Josie said.

  ‘Do you want me to be there when you talk to them?’

  ‘Yeah thanks, that might help.’

  JOSIE AND I SAT AROUND our kitchen table as our parents had a cup of tea and talked about the tournament.

  It turned out that Athe’s birthday was during the first week of the holidays, when the tournament was being played, and his birthday party was happening the day after the tournament finished.

  ‘Mum and I would love to be there in Sydney to watch you, but we’ve had a family dinner planned on the day of Athe’s actual birthday for a long time,’ Dad said. ‘But we think you and Josie could fly up from Sydney together. How does everybody feel about that?’

  I looked at Josie’s parents, who nodded in agreement. Then I looked to Josie. I could see the relief wash over her face.

  ‘Do you think Athe will be okay with me not being there on his actual birthday?’ I said.

  Josie’s dad laughed and said, ‘I bet your Athe wishes he were playing in the tournament with you, Patty.’

  Dad ruffled my hair and said, ‘That’s right. And you’ll still get to celebrate with him. But Mum and I have to be there with Athe on the day of his actual birthday.’

  ‘Maybe you can call Athe from Sydney? We need to ask Coach Clarke if he’s prepared to take you and Josie to the airport, too,’ Mum said.

  AFTER SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY Tyson and I rode to our first representative team training session. We’d never ridden anywhere together before.

  I changed up a gear, coasting along on my mountain bike next to Tyson’s BMX.

  When we walked into the stadium, Matthew, one of Tyson’s club basketball teammates from the Titans, was at the far end of the court shooting hoops.

  It felt weird walking up to him, knowing that we were going to be playing on the same team. Usually I was sizing his team up from the other end of the court. Matthew was one of the toughest competitors I’d ever been up against. In my first season of school basketball Matthew had demolished us in the semifinal.

  As I walked towards Matthew I started to wonder who else might be on our team. I’d been so caught up thinking about whether I’d get to the Torres Strait for the holidays that I hadn’t even asked Coach Clarke who else had been selected.

  Tyson and I joined Matthew and started shooting hoops. As I was lining up for a three-pointer, someone slapped me on the back. I turned around to see Luke, my teammate from the Shadows.

  ‘Good to see you, bala,’ Luke said as he shook my hand.

  ‘Good to see you too, bala,’ I said. Bala means brother in Torres Strait language.

  A few more players from other clubs walked into the stadium with their parents, and a minute later Manu walked in with Coach Clarke.

  ‘Congratulations on being selected to represent Canberra in the East Coast under twelves basketball tournament,’ Coach Clarke said. Tyson shot me a smile. ‘Let’s all get to know each other a bit better by sharing how long you’ve been playing basketball, what you think your strength is and something you’d like to improve.’

  ‘I don’t want to give my secrets away,’ Luke said. ‘We start playing against these fellas in the club season soon.’

  ‘We’re on the same team now – no secrets. And Luke, I already know you need to learn to dribble on your left hand,’ Coach Clarke said.

  Luke laughed and said, ‘Yeah, but I always get th
e rebounds.’

  IT WAS NO WONDER Tyson and Matthew were so good at basketball, they’d been playing since they were seven years old. I’d seen the little kids playing with the hoop lowered before our club games.

  ‘I want you to know that you are all brilliant,’ Coach Clarke said. ‘You’re the best basketballers for your age in Canberra. But the East Coast tournament is going to test you like you’ve never been tested before.’

  My new teammates and I were all concentrating really hard on what Coach Clarke was saying.

  ‘We only have four training sessions together before the tournament,’ he continued. ‘Rather than teaching you new drills, I’ve set you all some to practise in your own time. During our sessions, I want you to focus on the basics.’

  ‘I guess you want me to tie my right hand behind my back or something?’ Luke asked.

  ‘You’ve got it,’ Coach Clarke answered. ‘I don’t want to see you use your right hand during training unless it’s absolutely necessary. Tyson, we need to get some pressure around you. Patty and the Shadows forced too many errors from you last season. And Patty, have you been practising your transition jump shot?’

  I hadn’t been developing it as much as I knew I should have. So when Coach Clarke let us work on our own areas for improvement at the end of the session, I was determined to work harder than ever.

  I was deep in concentration when I leapt into the air. But in the next instant, I felt myself tip off balance. I came down hard on my right ankle.

  ‘Ahhhhh,’ I screamed.

  COACH CLARKE raced over as I held my ankle. ‘Are you okay, Patty?’

  ‘I think it’s broken.’

  ‘Let’s have a look.’

  ‘Ouch!!’ I yelled as Coach Clarke started to untie the laces on my shoe.

  The coach finally removed my sock and I looked down to see my bruised and puffy ankle. I felt like throwing up, it hurt so much.