Can't Stop the Questions

Chapter 17: Valentine Playoffs

On February 11, the Monday after the basketball season ends for both genders, the basketball teams are assembled in the band room. Which is full because several players of either gender invited some of their friends to attend the playoff bracket release session. Including Audrey and Heather.

The boys had little hope of playing in the playoffs, thanks to their 8-18 record for the season, and 2-4 in district play. On the other hand, the girls wind up posting a much better record of 16-10, and 4-2 in district play.

"For those in their first season of playing basketball for VA, for playoff purposes, we are in division II non-select" Kent explains to both teams, and their guests.

Some of the guests don't understand what select and non-select mean, or even how teams are seeded, but they all understand that the higher seed will have home advantage. But once the boys' playoff brackets are released, and the Division II non-select one appear on the band room's screen...

"We didn't make it, boys" the coach breaks the unpleasant news to the boys' team upon release of the bracket relevant to VA.

The boys' basketball players then leave the band room, along with their guests. As in band practices, Tyler takes up position where a drum set is, ready to roll drums when the girls' bracket is about to be released. And the seeding, too.

"And the Venomous Agendas will begin the girls' basketball Division II non-select state tournament..." the coach begins announcing with Tyler rolling the drum. "At home, with the eleventh seed, we will be playing Franklin Parish!"

With that, the coach starts writing an email to the principal with all the details of the bracket, as well as start selling tickets for the first-round game against a new opponent from the other side of the state, held on Valentine's Day, immediately.

This is the coda of our basketball season. Games are held on Thursdays and Mondays, so Leesville, next Saturday, won't interfere with the state tournament. But since the first round is held on Valentine's Day, I'd better have a gift at the ready for him, should he choose to attend the game, Audrey starts thinking of what she could give him on Valentine's Day.

Pablo, who sat next to Tyler during that meeting over playoff brackets, wastes no time making plans to buy his beloved Audrey something he knows would supplement her intake of analgesics, a.k.a. coffee. So as soon as he could finish the assignments for the day, he could then go buy that item in question and not worry about it.

I guess, I didn't give much to him other than coffee when he came over to my home prior to quiz bowl tournaments, or for group projects. After all, for Christmas, he gave me and my family a full set of brakes for the car; however, I don't think he has needs that expensive. I didn't give him anything for Christmas, and I must give him something for Valentine's Day as well, Audrey, too, starts thinking of what to give him for Valentine's Day on her way out of the meeting, where they were told about what to watch out for against Franklin Parish.

She then comes across Ethan talking to Nadine, who, in the past few weeks, suddenly became much higher profile among the student body because she's playing at the HSNCT. And Lilina, too, but people assume she's dating George for some reason.

"Oh Nadine, do you want to be my valentine?" Ethan asks Nadine.

"I'll think about it"

He's not alone in asking me for being my valentine, but people know I'm not in a relationship, Nadine has some surface thoughts related to Ethan asking her to be his valentine.

But Audrey, too, needs to get to shopping for her own Valentine gift to him. And a belated Christmas one on top of that. Before she leaves the premises to do so, she then texts her parents. "I'm going to shop for Valentine's Day"