Moments of Magic

The First Game

"You ready?" Coach Eddy asked right before our first basketball game of the season.

"You can say that again!" Leah crooned. Leah was a sixth grade Chinese girl who wore braces. She was easily the best player on the team.

"Alright, then. Girls, head to the basketball court and do your lay-ups." Coach Tony instructed. We all headed to one side of the court and did our warm-up. On any other day, I could make do two or three baskets in several minutes. All throughout the warm-up, I kept missing. At this rate, I'll be a Stormtrooper.

"Alright, girls. Bring it in." Coach Eddy announced right before the game began. Tony proceeded to assign positions to a few girls. I wasn't one of them. Just as I had thought.

I sat with the other girls and watched as the game unfolded. Ten minutes in, our team was ahead by five points. I was yearning to show my stuff on the court, but at the same time, I hoped that it wouldn't happen. If I was called in, then I could maybe score a point or two. At the same time, I might get a foul or something. Why even play another school when we've only had three practices? Logic, people.

"Mia, come over here." Tony instructed. "Mia, I want you to replace Leah and play as rim."

"Gotcha." I said. Tony then called Leah to the bench and put me into the game. Great, I'm screwed.

"Play!" The referee shouted. The minute he said that, the game turned into something like capture the flag...or was it ball? The whole scene was a blur until I got involved. I leaned in and surrounded the player with ball with limbs apart and on the balls of my feet, trying to intimidate her.

"Foul!" The referee yelled. Now I'd done it. I screwed up---big time, and on my first game, too! Coach Tony called me out of the game. I took my seat next to Coach Eddy and prepared for a long hard lecture.

"I failed out there." I muttered under my breath.

"No, you didn't. You did great."

"I got a foul and I don't even know what I did. My brothers won't let me forget about this."

"You've only had three practices. You don't need to know everything right away. You're not supposed to cross the line in the middle once you're on the opponent's side."

"Oh. Gotcha."

"Really, Mia. Don't sweat it. This is only your first game, don't be so hard on yourself."

Coach Eddy was right. I was drowning in guilt over one stupid mistake. Besides, it was only my first game and we've only had three practices, so I wasn't bound to be the best out there.

The rest of the game went quite well. Our team won by a landslide and I vowed to try harder on the basketball court next time. Until next time, amigos!

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Author's Note: That was a tad short. Anywho, be prepared for a few basketball chapters, cuz they're obviously worth sharing!