Cherly woke up in time to get to school for basketball. When she woke up, she changed her clothes to the training outfit and dashed out of the house after a little meal she saw in the microwave. She took a bus to the school. When she got off the bus, she went to the school’s basketball court. The fence was made of iron. She could see Josh through the net-like fence created round the basketball court. Josh was sitting on the bench in the basketball court like a retired player. She walked in through the exit opening when the coach was picking teams for the next round. Cherly and Josh were in different teams. They would compete against each other in this round. At the end of the match, it was a tie. It was broken with free throw. Cherly won since she was the point guard. She was very good with shooting. It was a very interesting game. He walked her home after practice. She dared to break the silence as they walked.
“Where’s Stacy? Why’d you remember me all of a sudden?”
“I figured you needed a little cheering up. And earlier today, you looked glum in class.”
“Mhmhn…”
“Hey, you said so yourself and also Stacy’s quite busy?”
“busy?”
“yeah. Between the school play and prom, she has a lot to do….”
“so I’m filling your schedule! I’m your replacement”
“no! You’re not”. They were both yelling now, but not enough to cause a scene. Someone however saw them and moved a bit closer unnoticed to watch the action.
“I get it!”
“You know this is our last year in school…”
“And now’s the best time to play all the games…” cherly retorted.
“No! Will you just listen?”
“No, so I’m your plan B or something?”
“You know what, forget it!” Josh says, picks up his jacket and walks away. Cherly is red with anger and clenches her fist. She stands where she is walking in the direction in which Josh left.
“Cherly, practice is over, you can leave now!” the coach calls out.
"I know!” Cherly says without moving an inch. The coach was starting to leave too but he came back and said,
“Why’d you change the schedule, something up?”
“No, nothing, just wanted to see the rest of the err team….”
“Sure?” the coach asks
“Yeah.., sure. Nothing to worry about” Cherly tries to force a smile which startles the coach.
“I’ll be off, lock up”
“I’m leaving now too” Cherly says and walks off the court and back home.
