The Star of the Game by Courtney

The Star of the Game
By Courtney
Shoot, dribble, pass, fake, run, sprint. Be the superstar, win. Show them who you really are. I was made to be on this league, be that girl. Run swiftly across the court; shoot that ball right in the basket with a swish. Pump those legs up and down, fight for that ball. Let nothing stop you from playing the game you love. The only words bouncing in my head.

I was now off the bus and in my fifth grade homeroom at school. During school I could not concentrate, all I could think about was basketball tryouts. In social studies, Mrs. Lenson called “Emily come up to the board please,” I was dreaming; Mrs. Lenson had to call my name three times to get me up to the board; it was embarrassing. In Mr. Clayton’s class, science, I could not quite figure out the experiment so I gazed out the window. Two periods later it was lunch time, finally friends and voices. When I dashed in the lunch room I found my friend Paige, she had already started eating and had a place saved for me, I quickly got my tray and went through the line for food, then came and sat next to Paige. I said “The morning has been so boring; I can never seem to listen the whole time.”
“Me either,” said Paige. We laughed and giggled with each other for the rest of lunch.

After school was over Paige’s mom came to pick us up to get to tryouts on time. When Paige and I hopped into the car, Paige’s mom said, “How was school for you girls today? Paige and I shrugged.
“Okay I guess” replied Paige.
“Well, I hope you girls are warmed up for your tryouts today.” said Paige’s Mom. Finally, we climbed out of the car and went inside the sweaty gym. When Paige and I got inside, there was a woman behind a table that asked us for our names and school, she gave us pennies to wear also. We dropped our bags and started to shoot and pass by the other girls that we trying out too. Finally, when every girl showed up, we had to line up shortest to tallest. Paige was very tall, so she headed to the taller side. I was regular height, so I started to the middle of the long line of girls. I saw some familiar faces; some of the girls were from my school, Brookview elementary school. Next, I got my place in line and stood there, I was slightly on the taller side, so I wasn’t on the shorter side of the gym. Now, the lead coach of the high school girls split us into two parts. I sighed with relief, I was with Paige. The coach said, “Girls, you will be in different stations and will be tested on how well you shoot, dribble, pass and many other skills. How well you do will determine what team you will be on, A team, B team, or C team.” All of the girls moved to the stations they were assigned to. I started at a dribbling station. The guy at the station said “dribble through those cones ahead.” So I dribbled down head up, looking at the cones ahead. After about ten minutes all the girls had gone through the cones twice we switched stations. Now I was at a passing station. I was across from a girl who I did not want to say, but was a not very good player. Every pass I made was perfect, but she could not catch anyone that came to her. When the girl passed to me it was sloppy but I new I had to catch everyone. Finally, I was over with the passing station and onto the last station, shooting. First, I had to shoot layups, then free throws, and other shots around the court. I made every shot but two, I messed up on one layup and a shot on the right side of the court. Luckily now, tryouts were over, so Paige and I grabbed our bags and waited outside for my mom to pick us up.

When my mom and I got home from dropping Paige off, food was ready for dinner. My dad is a great cook. He only could cook on the weekends because he usually gets home from work late. Although Mrs. Bengal is still a great cook. Right when I plopped through the door with my heavy big bag, I smelled it, one of the best smells in the world. From that moment I knew what my family was going to have for dinner that night, I smelled delicious white rice, sweet and sour chicken, with wonderful fortune cookies for desert. Daddy wasn’t home yet from work but my older brothers were home. One was on the computer doing homework and the other writing an essay for class. The oldest brother (writing the essay) is Matt, and the one on the computer is Torren. Both of them are pretty nice. When dad is home, around five to five thirty we eat dinner. I started with my backpack into the homework room, where my brothers were doing their homework. A few minutes later my mom called “Time for dinner, come in the kitchen kids.” As soon as the entire family got served op my dad prayed for the meal and everyone started chomping, my mom said, “Well Emily how was tryouts today?” “It was long, when I was in a passing station; I was across from a girl that could not catch a chest pass or a bounce pass. She could not pass the ball very good either. I feel bad for her,” I replied. “Always one of those kind of players,” dad said.
Matt said “I remember tryouts when I was your age, nobody was very good, but my friend Joe, couple of other guys I didn’t know, and me.” “Of course you” I said laughing. Torren didn’t talk much, he was a quieter kid. I had no idea why he was so quiet though. “Hi and lows everyone, Torren you first,” said Mrs. Bengel. Torren said “Hi, in science class we did explosion experiment, lo, L.A. because our class was doing a reading quiz that was really boring.” That was about how much he says at night. After mom, dad, and Matt had said their hi’s and lo’s it was my turn. I said, “Hi, kickball at recess and my lo passing at tryouts.” That night before bed I was shaking, I was so nervous that I would not get on a good team, also that I would not be with Paige.

“Honey wake up, time to get ready for school,” called Mom. “Huh” I yawned. “Time to get ready for school,” mom said sounding a little stricter this time. I yawned, “Okay I’ll get up.” “Good, get downstairs in ten minutes, then breakfast will be on the table,” said Mrs. Bengel. When mom left the room I hurried to my closet. Finally, I found the perfect outfit and put in on, blue shorts with pink stripes down the sides and a pink shirt with light pink flowers. I made my bed, picked up my room and went into my bathroom. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair and put a pink flower in it. When I got downstairs pancakes were on the table with sausage and bacon. I ate all of the good food in no time. “This is delicious” I said. “Thank you” mom said. Torren and Matt were already off to school by the time I got downstairs. After I made my lunch, and packed my bag I started toward my bus stop. There were already three other jumping kids at the bus stop. There are six kids total counting me. After two minutes I saw two other kids with worried faces on the sidewalk running to our bus stop because, the bus turning a corner coming toward us. Finally I was on the bus sitting next to Paige talking about basketball. When we got to school I said, “Bye Paige, see you at lunch.” “You to,” Paige called back. After lunch the girls went to recess and played one on one basketball together. The rest of the day was tiring, I had math class. Math is the hardest for me, and I always make silly mistakes. I was glad to hop on the bus and sit back down next to my best friend Paige after school.

“Emily!” Mom yelled in an excited voice when I got home from school, “You made the A-TEAM!” I screamed back, “TEAM MICHIGAN?!” Mom smiled, “Yes! Time to celebrate with chocolate chip cookies and milk!” “Good job little sis,” said Matt. “Yea nice job,” Torren agreed. I got a big brother hug from each of my brothers.

“Ahhhhh!” I screamed together with Paige. We were talking on the phone, “I got on the A-Team, Michigan,” we both said at the exact same time so we didn’t understand each other. “You first” said Paige. “Okay,” I began, “I made the A-Team, Michigan!” “No way me too!” Paige exclaimed. “I am so happy we are on the same team together!” I said. Paige said, “It will be so much fun being on the same team this year! But sorry I got to run, I have this party my mom planned at a park and I have to help set up, and other stuff.” “Okay see ya!” I said. “See ya” Paige echoed.

One week later Paige and I had our first practice. When I got there the coach said, “What is your name? My name is Mr. Smith. I am going to be your coach this season.” “I am Emily Bengel, nice to meet you Coach Smith.” I said. “Glad to have you on our team,” The coach replied. When everyone got to the practice, we met each other. I recognized a few girls, others were from different schools. We did dribbling, passing and layups. I knew all of the drills, so this was easy. Every shot I made went in except for a four. Sweat was rolling down my face when it was water break. I loved basketball. I was so happy to be playing, especially on Team Michigan.

“How was your first practice today?” asked mom in the car from picking me up. “It was awesome to see all of the girls on my team and to simply play basketball,” I replied. “Well, you’re sweaty, so take a shower and go to bed,” said mom. When I finished taking a shower I brushed my teeth, put on my pajamas and went to bed.

The next morning I had an alarm that woke me up at seven, with a beep, beep, beep, beeeeep, before I pressed the button, and then I got out of bed. Today I dressed in blue basketball shorts with a white stripe down the side and a shirt that said ‘EBA’ it stands for Edina Basketball Association. I brushed my teeth and cleaned my room until it was spotless. I poured myself a glass of milk and put some cereal in a bowl. I packed for school and I was able to read a little bit before I had to walk to the bus stop. My mom had been on the computer doing business work this morning because things were a little busy. Finally when it was time to go to the bus stop I looked out the window and saw five other kids already there. I dashed over to them hoping I wasn’t late, but I could already see that the bus coming toward the stop so I started to sprint and I got there just after the last person was stepping on to the bus stairs. I was very happy to see Paige that morning so I said, “Hello Paige, how are you going today?” “I feel great, thank you! You seem very cheerful this morning” said Paige. “Well I do feel very cheerful today” I said. It felt great to have a good friend like Paige. When we got to school I ran toward my homeroom because I knew that the bell would ring any second. Later in the day I was in social studies, Mrs. Lenson was the teacher. Social studies is not my best strength, so I have to give my full attention during class. I felt that I did well in social studies today, I understood the concept well. In science it was all about experiments on water. This week was about evaporation. I did a nice job on that. After gym and music it was lunch, and that meant talking. This time Paige was not at a table waiting for, me, she was with a bunch of other girls I didn’t know and there was no more seats left at that table. So I went to sit with some other girls that I knew. During recess I was on the swing all alone, I felt so lonely, I saw Paige and the other girls all laughing. At the end of the day I went to the carpool lane because my mom was going to pick me up from school that day.

That night I had another practice. I was excited but not, at the same time because I would not be buds with Paige anymore. I wondered why Paige would suddenly stop being friends with me, it does not sound like her at all, and she would tell me if something was wrong. I wondered about that all in the car to basketball practice. Finally, when I go to practice, I saw Paige. I tried not to look at her, but I sometimes just had to. I went to the coach and told him I was here and I started shooting. I could not make a single shot. So then I just passed the ball to the wall and dribbled it around. When we started you had to pick a partner to pass with and I chose Jamie, another girl from my school. My passing was lousy. Something had to be wrong. The coach called for a one-on-one game. I could not make any shots at all. I was glad when my dad came to pick me up. I gulped down my water bottle and my feelings.
That night it felt great to get a cool, soothing shower. I was so sweaty. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, put on my pajamas, put my clothes down the laundry shute and went to bed. After my parents came in to say good night, I thought hard about Paige and the odd friend situation. A few tears dripped down my cheek.

That morning I woke up at nine and it was Saturday, so no rush to get up and go to school. The only thing on my mind was the basketball game at one o-clock. It would be my first game and I didn’t want to miss it. At twelve-thirty, I started to pack up and head to the game. Matt was driving me today, and he wanted to see how good I really am at basketball. I was going to show him. When I got there I saw Paige, I had to talk to her, we have to get this problem sorted out. Besides there were fifteen more minutes left before the game starts. I hurried over to Paige, I said, “Paige we need to talk,”
“Okay,” said Paige. We went out to the hallway. “About yesterday” I began, “Why did you go with the other girls at lunch and recess?”
“What happened was that Angie pulled me over to sit with her and the other girls; I tried to say that I was going to sit with you, but they would not listen. I did not want to be rude so I sat with them, I planned to play with you at recess but they wouldn’t listen to me that time either,” replied Paige.
“Oh I’m sorry I thought you were trying to be mean to me,” I said.
“Friends?” asked Paige.
“Friends,” I replied.
“Girls” said Coach Smith, “Time to get playing,” That night the Paige and I passed and played picks for each other, made baskets and won the game for the team. Matt said, “Sis, never new you were that good.”
“I showed you” I told him back. The whole team went out for ice cream at Dairy Queen. When I got home I took a quick shower and hoped into bed.

On Monday morning I woke up and smelled egg bake coming out of the oven so I jumped out of bed and quickly got ready for school and raced to the kitchen to find that egg bake sitting on the counter waiting for me. Cut a big piece and ate it in a heart beat. I love egg bake, what is better than it. I had to take another piece it was just too good. When I packed my bag I climbed on the bus and Paige and I talked on and on about how sorry we were about the misunderstanding. School that day was fine; the first period was social studies today. In science the experiment was fun, and in gym we played nine base, which was exciting.

When the girls met up again at the next game that night. We won again to this team, Paige and I did the same great passing, picks, and shooting, the other girls on the team helped too. So far the team was undefeated; it was a very good feeling. “I bet you got your basketball skills from me, Emily” said Matt.
“In your dreams Matt” I said back. After that game I could only think about how Paige had gotten pulled away from me, she did, want to sit with me, but she couldn’t. I never thought it had happened that way.
One month later it was the championship game, our team still undefeated. I was so happy that my team had made it to the championship game. The other teams were easy, but this team was another A team. Before we started the game my team all yelled “Team Michigan!” Then the tallest girl Jamie was in the middle ready for the tip. The ball shoots up in the air and Jamie hits it to me I caught it and started dribbling down the court. I passed the ball to Paige she caught it and shot it at the basket and made it in. The crowd cheered loudly. Now the other team has the ball, I was guarding the girl with the ball. When she passed the ball I tried to stop it but I was to slow to get there on time. Lizzie was guarding the girl with the ball now; the girl shot the ball to the basket and made it in. By half time the score was close, 18-17 my team in the lead. During the last half Paige and I were working very hard and were helping each other make baskets. At five seconds on the clock I had just gotten the rebound and I was sprinting down the court, three seconds, two seconds, the ball soared into the air, the ball bounced into the basket beeeeep! The crowd screamed, I won the game for my team. After the game I got lots of pats on the back and nice jobs from everyone. I ran up to Paige and hugged her; she had set a pick for me to make the basket! My team went out for ice cream at Dairy Queen; I ordered a large vanilla cone. I still couldn’t believe I won!