Castle High

19. Badge

“So today, you’ll finally get to meet the team.”

Andrew informed Jake as they both sat in seats — aligned opposite each other at the utmost end of the class awaiting the commencement of the assembly. The semester was rapidly coming to an end with only two weeks left before the winter break. And ever since Jake had earned his place on the team, he hadn’t actually met them officially.

Although events of practice sessions had been recurring, but they had been solo and independent sessions and not official collective team practices. This particular problem stemmed from the verification of the new coach’s credentials, to determine if he was actually fit for the looming task at hand. The news had come in finally, and the green-light for the coach’s appointment had been given prompting the first ever official meeting of the team, which was today.

Jake sighed, his hands clasped and his legs crossed. “I don’t think they’d be nice, though. I watch TV, and I read novels. I know how jocks bully newbies; especially the seniors.”

Andrew shook his head vehemently; as his gaze skimmed his friend’s perplexed state. “No, that only happens in public schools, Jake. Parents don’t pay ostentatious fees to get their kids bullied here in any form. Believe me, that sort of thing doesn’t exist here in Castle. But still, I won’t call the team friendly either. I’d say – ‘indifferent’.”

Jake nodded as comprehension dawned on him. “So you’re advising me to be indifferent also, yeah?”

Andrew laughed, edging forward in his seat. “Look, Jake it doesn’t matter what you do, they still won’t like you if they don’t want to. I mean, c’mon you’re ‘Jake Marshall’ of the Jungle Camp, right now in Castle – no one else can rival your popularity, and you’ve become some sort of face of the school, while in sophomore year. As seniors, it’s their time to reign, dominate and be the best stars they could be, but once there is a 10th grader with even more fame, popularity and influence – I don’t think they’d be warming up to such person.”

Jake cracked his knuckles. “I really don’t know which is worse, Drew; this or getting bullied and overworked by Jocks in public schools.”

“None is preferable, really.” Andrew replied. “But you’d get through it eventually. What I’m going to advise you to do is that as absurd as this might sound but to be on everyone’s good side and to keep enemies at bay – you can’t outshine them unnecessarily. Bottom-line, you have to suck at practice. So you don’t get picked for games, increase your credibility and your preference in the eyes of the coach.”

Jake sat up straight abruptly. “I don’t see how that is good advice. To be on everyone’s good side, I have to suck? That’s a load of crap, dude.”

Andrew shook his head, sitting up also. “It isn’t, Jake. You’re just in the 10th grade, you still have plenty of time left before you begin to get scouted or commence penning for scholarship bids into different colleges. You don’t need basket-ball spotlight as much as they do, right now. When your time comes, you’d dominate. But you can’t be selfish now, Jake. This might sound ridiculous but it’s just the point.”

Jake exhaled, rumpling his hair with both hands. “It’s like I’m joining a cult or something. Anyway, your points totally make sense. I’d back down in the meantime, and let the people who need it most shine. Thanks for the heads-up.”

“You’re welcome,” Andrew winked, rising to his feet. “Look, we better start heading to the hall for the assembly. You know how grumpy Mr. Tanchaoren gets when people arrive late for assemblies.”

Jake chuckled as he rose to his feet. “I don’t blame him though. Assemblies aren’t frequent and yet people keep turning up late.”

Andrew scoffed, as they both strode out of the class and joined the crowd of students in the hall-way heading for the hall. “Oh, please I don’t know what he is trying to achieve. There is no way in hell; all the students would show up early for assemblies. The staff knows this of course, but they keep punishing folks because they enjoy it.”