breakthrough

scene three

third person POV

(Basketball practice)
can't hold us by Mackelmore and ryan Lewis plays

John:right here, right here.
coach: good rebound. Let's run, eagle.
Set up that offense. Spread out the floor. Spread it out. Come on John. Set it up.
reiger: I'm open (John throws it to josh Rieger and he shoots it in the basketball hoop)
coach: nice, nice.
John: yes! Good job, guys.
Coach: come on now, spread it out. Defense.
Hands up.
John: defense, defense.
Coach: hands up! Hands up! There you go.
(someone gets it in)
coach: good job! Nice shot!
spread that floor. There you go. Spread it out. Move it out. Go go go.
(John shoots and gets it in)
coach: yes! That's what I'm talking abt.
(John steals the ball)
coach: very nice, John! Nice steal. There you go. Good job John
(John does a jump shot and chad pushes him to the ground)
John: can't catch me, so you gotta foul me?
(Pushes him)
chad: whatever ese (pushes John back)
John: what'd you just call me (slaps him)
(Coach blows whistle)
coach: knock it off! Next guy who swings is benched. (Blows whistle) practice is over. Wash up. John, chad, bring it here. What's up with you guys? John beat you out for starting guard, chad. Deal with it.
chad: temporary
(John scoffs)
John: whatever. you wanna start, better change schools.
coach: enough! News flash. You're not the nba yet. And acting like that you aren't ever gonna get there. Understood? Alright, wash up.
(Jenny walks into the gym)
Jenny was planning on meeting up with John after he was done with practice

coach: John hold up. I wanna talk to you for a minute. What's this I hear about you getting a failing grade in your family history assignment?
John: why does it matter?
Coach: well, unless you figure it out, I'm gonna have to bench you for Sunday's game.
John: what? that's bull-
(coach slams his clipboard)
coach: hey.
John: whatever.
coach: your a good player John. But right now your blowing it. What's going on with you lately?
John: I'm cool. I'll see ya coach.

Jenny: hey
John: hey
Jenny: you gotta really figure out something for that report
John: really Jenny
Jenny: look, John coach said if you don't do it your gonna get benched from the game on Sunday and Ik you don't want that
(They sit down on the ground of the hallway)
John, why haven't you done the assignment
John: I already said, I didn't have time.
Jenny: Ik that's not the reason
John: fine, I didn't do it cuz I don't wanna share with the class my whole life story. abt how I'm adopted and wasn't wanted.
Jenny: that must feel terrible having to explain that to ppl
John: mhm
Jenny: but let me tell u something, if u weren't wanted then I don't think u would be here rn
John: well if I was wanted then I wouldn't be adopted
Jenny: well you got some good things out of it.
you have an amazing mom and dad, you go to this great school, your playing basketball and Ik when u grow up ur probably even gonna be in the nba. Oh and u have amazing friends
(Jenny says pointing to herself)
John: (laughs) thanks Jenny.
(John hugs Jenny)
Jenny: ew dude ur all sweaty
(They both laugh)

(at John's house)
Joyce: hey! how was practice?
John:fine
Joyce: how was school? Oh, let me guess. Fine. what are you working on?
John: oral report
Joyce: maybe I could help.
(John shakes his head)
Joyce: what are you saving em for? Your Jordan's? (referring to the shoes sitting on John's dresser)
John: when it's the right time.
Joyce: okay.

(flashback to when John was younger)
Joyce: baby, come back downstairs. All your friends are waiting to sing "happy birthday" to you.
(John shakes his head)
Joyce: what's wrong? Everybody's waiting.
John: why didn't she wanna have a party for me?
why didn't she want me?
(Flashback ends)

Joyce: for what it's worth, you have a purpose and you are loved.

(Next day at school)
mrs. Abbott: mr. smith. Nice of you to join us this morning.
John: I'm ready to do my oral report
(he drops his bag and looks at Jenny whose smiling at him and he smiles back)
John: okay, so, I'm John smith. Uh, most of you know I'm adopted. I come from a small town in Guatemala called Sansare. um... I don't know who my biological mother is, but just that she didn't want me. Joyce and Brian smith adopted me when I was nine months old. They went down there on a missions trip and they ended up coming home with me. probably because I'm so cute.
(jenny and chayla scoff and smile)
John: but yea. (John picks up his backpack and goes to his desk while Abby was staring at him admiringly )
John: (turns around and mouths thank you to Jenny)
Jenny: (mouths no problem back)

authors note
Ik the beginning might not make sense you could skip that if u want cuz it's just them playing basketball but yea