The Last Play

MVP-62

Neighbor hood friends came and visited, Jamie, her brother Tyler, and Brittany stayed the night with me most of the time. After a month and 3 weeks in the hospital I was finally able to take of my neck brace and jaw strap off, Jacky said that we could start therapy training with heavier stuff in a while. The main doctor I had started showing up more and I was off the pain killers so I was able to think straight.

"Del El Rouse?" I heard my coach call from the hallway, he's been making daily visits everyday around the same time each day.

"In the same room I've always been in," I called back. He comes in with a bucket that's used to hold softballs, next comes in Kelly, holding the front of a banner and my team following bringing the whole banner into my room, balloons made to look like softballs followed in with by Jacky, Ashley and other Coaches at the training center came in, the last person who comes in is the lead coach at the training center I went to, Coach Macy.

"What's going on?" I ask, I half smile forming moon my lips, the team hangs the banner over my bed with it reading, "Our Number One Player 62" Brittany and Taylor hold out a medallion with MVP carved into it.

"From the staff, players, and coaches at Genuwin Sports Training Center, we would like to honor you in taking the "MVP of the year" award. You deserved it Del El Rrouse." Coach Macy said as Brittany and Taylor put the medallion around my neck. Clapping and cheering echoed throughout the room as I accepted the medal, I was completely speechless snd had no clue what to say, "I always told you you were a good athlete, kid," Coach Marcy said smiling.

"Now," Coach Jim said throwing me a shirt, "put this on, so we can take a team photo, it's going to hang in the front office at Genuwin."

I slipped the shirt over my head, noticing that it was my gold jersey. Coach stood by my side, and all of my teammates found spots either on or near my bed, Coach Macy on my other side, and the other coaches either standing next to Coach Jim or Macy. I lifted the medallion up to my mouth and pretended to take a bite out of it.

The picture turned out great, my teammates wearing their blue jersey and me wearing my gold looked cool, Jennifer said the reason be hind it was, "people looking at it won't have to look long to find the MVP,"

After the picture was taken, Colin snuck out, and came back with a huge circular cake that was designed as a softball which read, "Congratulations, turd ball," as I read it I turned toward Brittany and said, "I see who had the job of the writing on the cake."

Laughing Brittany tried playing it off cool, "That wasn't my idea!"

"Nice try Brit. You're gonna pay," I said as my smirk grew wider.

By the time most everyone left it was 9:45 the only people who stayed were Brittany, Taylor, Jennifer and of corse Jacky and Colin. Taylor Jen and Brittany were staying the night with me, taking advantage of the fact it was still summer.

"When are you getting out of this place?" Taylor asked.

"Jacky said I only had to do a weeks worth of therapy, then I'm free to leave," I said, jacky nodding in confirmation.

"Awe sweet, you might be able to show for the away tournament next week!" Jen exclaimed.

"I don't see why not, we already paid for it anyway," Colin said as he took another piece of cake.

"Sweet! I could watch the games, then criticize you all for loosing the thing," after I said that Jen went diving to the wooden table next to the spare bed.

"Don't jinx us!" She said, repeatedly knocking on the wood.

"Face it with out me playing you guys are going to be in a hole you can't get out of," Brittany's face looked like she saw a ghost she turned so white, "Kidding kidding!"

"Good," Brittany said throwing her plate at me, I replied by taking a spoon full of cake and flinging it at her.

"Trouble number one and Trouble number two knock it off!" Jacky scolded at us.

"She started it," I mumbled.

"You act like three year olds. Bed now," Colin said as he was cleaning up the cake and plates everywhere. Jacky cut the lights, but the T.V. was still humming in the back round. This night was probably one of the best nights I had in a long time, not only because I got the MVP of the year, but because something good happened in my stream of bad luck.