My first shot went up, and while it was in the air, a hush fell over the gym. The ball came down. It hit the rim. It bounced up. Fell again. Hit the rim again. Wobbled on the edge. Circled the rim. And finally fell through.
Tie game!
Cheers roared through the gym.
The referee handed me the ball for my second free throw.
I focused on the basket. I hefted the ball and went into motion. As the basketball left my fingertips, I knew it was good. And it was. Nothing but net.
The noise in the gym somehow grew even louder. Players from the bench swarmed the court. People from the stands flooded the gym floor.
I saw my mom on her feet, clapping and yelling.
I saw my dad trying to make his way through the crowd in front of him.
Sweat rolled down my face. I felt my shoulders relax as all the tension left me. My smile started deep in my toes.
Dad finally reached me, and he put his arm around my shoulders.
“Great shot,” he yelled over the crowd.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said. It still took some getting used to, hearing him give me praise.
He hugged me, then he stepped back and smiled.
“And by the way,” he said, “we never talk about our feelings, but I wanted you to know I love you.”
Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of many books for children and young adults. He has contributed to the Orca Currents series (Wired, Sewer Rats) and the Orca Sports series.
Sigmund enjoys visiting schools to talk about his books. Interested teachers can find out more by e-mailing [email protected].
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