Bounce Back

by Hena Khan

  I try to ignore how big they are and how good I know they are. Instead, I focus on the game as the buzzer sounds and we get ready for tip-off.

  18

  THWACK!

  Number seven on the Lightning smacks the ball as I hold it up to make a pass. I’m being smothered by the defense. I manage to get the ball away and make a high pass to Blake. He dribbles and gets the ball to Matthew on the inside. I hold my breath as Matthew backs into a defender and turns to make a jump shot. It hits the rim and . . . it goes in!

  We’re down by one point, and the score has been up and down for the first seven minutes. Coach’s shirt is already soaked in sweat, and he has been yelling nonstop. We’re trying to keep up, but the Lightning are hot.

  “It’s too close,” Sam says as we run back to defend.

  I look at Coach to see what he signals. He’s motioning for us to press harder. These guys are scoring no matter what we do on defense.

  We double-team their gigantic point guard, but he burns us with his crossover. He gets the ball down to his power forward, who puts it in for an easy layup.

  Coach calls time out.

  “Okay, forget the press. Stick to the two-three zone. Zayd, you have to protect the ball while it’s in your hands. Don’t give them any chance to steal.”

  The referee blows the whistle, and we run back onto the court. I move the ball, looking for an opportunity to score. I’ve missed two shots already and haven’t put up any points. It’s already nine minutes into the half. I can’t go scoreless!

  I get past my defender, and Sam dishes the ball to me for an open pull-up jumper right inside the three-point line. It hits the rim and bounces right into the raised hands of the tallest kid on the Lightning.

  ARGH! What’s going on?

  In the next three minutes the Lightning score twice. We turn the ball over once and get fouled. Ravindu goes to the line and makes one and misses one.

  I’m shocked by how fast time is going by when the buzzer sounds at the end of the first half. We’re down by six, and the Lightning lead. I can’t believe I haven’t scored. This is not at all how I imagined my return.

  We all huddle around Coach, panting and chugging water.

  “You’re still in this,” he says. “Don’t let being down get to you.”

  I gulp some water and turn my head to the stands to where my family is sitting. Mama and Zara wave at me. Baba looks totally stressed out. Naano is talking to the lady next to her. Nana Abu has taken off his sunglasses. He catches my eye, raises his arm, and makes a fist.

  Last night, when I said good night to Nana Abu, he pulled me close to him.

  “You know, Zayd, when I was captain of my cricket team, we played in our championship tournament. I was very nervous about the other team. My father said something to me I never forgot,” he said. I waited as he fell silent, lost in his thoughts.

  “What did he say?” I asked after a few moments.

  “What was I saying?”

  “What your father said, before the championship game?”

  “Ah yes.” Nana Abu smiled. “Your great grandfather said, ‘Don’t let what you can’t do get in the way of what you can do.’ ”

  I didn’t know what he was talking about and only pretended to agree that it was amazing advice. Now I think I finally understand what he meant.

  I turn my attention back to Coach. As soon as he finishes speaking, Adam stands up and yells from the bleachers.

  “LET’S GO, GOLD!”

  Everyone cheers and gets fired up. Coach has Ravindu take us out. I can tell Ravindu’s still nervous, because his voice squeaks as he counts, “One two three . . .”

  “MD HOOPS!” I shout. I glance up into the stands again. Mama and Zara give me thumbs up. Baba points at me and yells, “Go, Zayd!” Naano is still talking to the lady next to her. Nana Abu gives me a knowing look.

  I nod back at him and jump up and down a few times to get myself pumped before I run onto the court.

  19

  We start the second half with the ball. I call for a screen. Matthew runs over to set the pick and creates an opening in the lane. I take a step, pull up, and miss the shot.

  “Don’t rush, Zayd!” Coach yells from the sideline. I don’t look at him, because I know I could have set that up better. My shot is still off, and I feel myself starting to panic.

  The Lightning miss a three-pointer and Blake grabs the rebound gets the ball back to me. I head down the court again and see another shooting opportunity. I hesitate, pump fake, and WHACK. The defender hits my arm and gets the whistle. I’m up to the line for two.

  Every player has a ritual before shooting free throws. I always dribble twice and picture the oil-stained spot next to the crack on my driveway where I practice.

  DRIBBLE, DRIBBLE, BOING!

  No way! It bounces off the rim!

  DRIBBLE, DRIBBLE, SWISH!

  It’s good!

  Finally! I put up a point, although I still haven’t scored a field goal. I can hear my family cheering in the bleachers and Adam whistling. As I run back on defense, I can’t help but think about all the mango milkshakes, rides to practices and games, one-on-one on the driveway, 2K battles, building my new basketball hoop, and trips to the doctor. It’s like I can feel Nana Abu, Coach, Adam, Mama, Baba, Jamal Mamoo, Zara, my teammates, and friends carrying me, pushing me further, echoing my great grandfather’s advice:

  “Focus on what you can do, Zayd.”

  My shot may be off, but I can keep trying while I concentrate on defense, passing, and everything else I can do for now. We’re still down 22–19 and only have six minutes left to play.

  Over the next several minutes I turn it on and do my best impression of a determined John Wall who’s down in the fourth quarter. I hustle and have a couple of impressive passes and a few nice assists. I finally break the shooting slump and make a quick layup, a shot from inside the three-point line, and a pull-up jumper.

  With a minute left in the game, I have seven points, three assists, a steal, and a rebound. It’s much better than my first-half performance, but it’s not enough to give us the lead. At least I know that no matter what happens, I’ve given it my all and done everything I can do.

  The seconds are ticking by and we’re down 28–27. It’s our possession, and I pass the ball to Sam. He gets it knocked out of his hand by a defender. My heart sinks as I imagine the Lightning going on a fast break. Then Sam dives for the ball and manages to get it back! He tosses it to me, and I find Ravindu open. Ravindu drains the open shot.

  “WOO-HOO!” I hear Zara scream.

  And now I can’t believe it—we’re up by one! But it’s the Lightning’s ball, and they just need to score to win it all. Our entire season comes down to this play.

  With twelve seconds left, the Lightning point guard looks confident as we cover them tight in man-to-man defense. It’s as if we are gnats he can ignore. He passes it to number ten, who makes a move and blows by Sam.

  But I’m quicker than number ten. Any thought of my ankle is history as I sprint down the court. I chase him down from behind. Then, right as he goes up for the layup, SMACK!

  My block sends the ball soaring into the bleachers!

  As the buzzer sounds, I’m smothered by my teammates in a gigantic group hug. I think we’re jumping up and down in circles, or maybe it’s the room spinning because it’s hard to breathe. Either way, it’s awesome.

  I hear my family and Adam yelling and, when I look up, I see Adam standing and clapping. Naano and Nana Abu are beaming. Zara is doing a goofy dance. Baba is hugging himself. Mama is holding out her phone, and a tiny Jamal Mamoo is on the screen, hollering something I can’t hear. I’m guessing he’s yelling “Way to go, Skeletor!” I can’t wait to tell him about my block and re-create it for him when he gets back. I’m going to relive this moment as often as I can.

  Coach Wheeler comes around and gives me a huge pat on the back that almost sends me flying forward.

  “Incredib
le hustle out there, Zayd. That was some block,” he says.

  I’m already fired up and feeling confident, so I take a deep breath and decide to take a chance and ask for another thing I’ve been waiting for.

  “So, Coach, do you think I could maybe be team captain next season?”

  Coach frowns. He looks me up and down, like he’s sizing me up. He scratches his head, and then starts to shake it slowly. I’m about to melt into the floor when he looks up at me and winks.

  “Absolutely. You got it.” He punches me lightly in the shoulder.

  YES! I’m so overwhelmed and happy I can barely get the words out as I thank him. I’m going to be captain of the gold team! The championship-winning gold team!

  Then, just when I think the moment can’t get any better, I hear my team chanting “MVP! MVP! MVP!”

  And they’re talking about me.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Hena Khan is a Pakistani American who was born and raised in Maryland. She enjoys writing about her culture as well as all sorts of other subjects, from spies to space travel. She is the author of several books, including It’s Ramadan, Curious George; Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns; Night of the Moon; and Amina’s Voice. Hena lives in Rockville, Maryland, with her husband and two sons. You can learn more about Hena by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com.

  Salaam Reads

  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

  Simon & Schuster, New York

  Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids

  Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Hena-Khan

  Also by Hena Khan

  Amina’s Voice

  It’s Ramadan, Curious George

  Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors

  Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story

  More in the Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream series

  Power Forward

  On Point

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

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  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Text copyright © 2018 by Hena Khan

  Jacket photograph copyright © 2018 by Patrik Giardino

  Interior illustrations copyright © 2018 by Sally Wern Comport

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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  Also available in a Salaam Reads paperback edition

  Book design by Dan Potash

  The illustrations for this book were rendered in Prismacolor pencil on Denril and digital.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Khan, Hena, author. | Comport, Sally Wern, illustrator.

  Title: Bounce back / Hena Khan ; illustrated by Sally Wern Comport.

  Description: First edition. | New York : Salaam Reads, [2018] | Series: Zayd Saleem, chasing the dream ; 3 | Summary: When an injury sidelines new captain Zayd, he must find another way to be a leader for his basketball team.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2017057095 (print) | LCCN 2018000682 (eBook) | ISBN 9781534412057 (hardcover) | ISBN9781534412040 (paperback) | ISBN 9781534412064 (eBook)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Basketball—Fiction. | Pakistani Americans—Fiction. | Family life—Fiction. | Leadership—Fiction. | Middle schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.K52652 (ebook) | LCC PZ7.K52652 Bo 2018 (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017057095