Long Live Basketball
By: Christopher Alex Hibbard
Copyright 2011.
This book is dedicated to my Grand Parents Zelphia and Hoblee Adams.
I miss you."Three! Two! One!" The ball left my hands before the buzzer blasted. I watched the ball in slow motion as it hit the orange rim and bounced onto the ground signaling my failure. "Focus Zack! You need to focus on the ball going in the goal! Don't focus on your surroundings!"
I looked down at the ground in disgust, "Sorry, Rez. I guess I'm not feeling it today."
Rez smirked at me and then said, "Well, we all have our bad day’s dude. Even me, The King of Highland Court. Just hang in their man, and one day when you're ready, I'll teach you my super twister shot."
"Really!? The same move that won you and your older bro the Kings of Highland Court title?"
"Yup, the same one dude." Rez, glared at his watch. "Hey man, we better hit the highway. The last time I came home late for dinner, mom threatened to make me the king of dish washing."
"Not cool," I smiled. "Same time tomorrow Rez?"
"Sure thing bro." With that, me and Rez parted. Both of us psyched about the upcoming tournament, yet not knowing the fatal blow awaiting us at the end of this journey.
My name is Zack Highberg. I'm just your normal twelve year old middle schooler. I attend school at Jakewoods Middle School here in Cleveland, Ohio. I can't remember one day that I have never been interested in basketball. I've always looked up to the great ones; Kevin Garnet, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and of course Michael Jordan. Basketball is my life. You would think I would play for the middle school, but there is no middle school basketball team. Our middle school is small and we don't get enough funding from the government. Since there are so many middle schoolers who love playing basketball, some of the faculty decided to take the responsibility to have a two-player team basketball tournament. They dubbed it the Kings of Highland Court. The teams play two twelve minute periods and whoever is ahead at the end moves on to the next round until one team remains undefeated. Rez, who is my best friend and his brother Kaz won the title last year. It was Kaz's last year at Jakewoods. Kaz started high school at Royce Wilko's Memorial High School. This disqualifies him from playing. This tournament is only open to Jakewoods Middle School students. I would have played last year but I didn't have a partner, also I'm just now getting adjusted to the ten-foot goal. However, this year Rez and I are going to win it all. Rez is my best friend. He is a spikey-haired green-eyed monster on the court. I've known Rez since I was in preschool. He has always been my biggest inspiration for doing my best at everything I try. He always tells me, "Zack, it's not if you fail, but if you try." We became close friends through playing basketball. He was the one who taught me the basics of basketball.
My thoughts kept drifting deeper and deeper about the upcoming tournament. Recalling my past experiences I made my way down Lance Street to my house.
As I walked up to my pale tan door, I was greeted by Pepper. Pepper is my stubbed tailed grey and black spotted tabby cat. "Hey Pepper." I reached down and slowly rubbed her fuzzy head. I opened the door and entered my home.
"Bubby, Bubby!" my little sister Lisa hugged my leg. "Welcome home! Let’s play tea party!"
I rubbed Lisa's sandy hair. "Sorry twerp, I got some math homework tonight and I’ll be too busy to play. Besides, you know I don't play tea party." I looked into her disappointed eyes.
"Mommy! Bubby isn't gonna play with me!” she whined.
My mother glanced at me from the kitchen. "You heard him, Lisa. Bubby has homework tonight."
"Ohhh Okay...," Lisa moaned.
"Yup, but first, he needs to eat his dinner that’s getting cold." My father scolded. "I slaved to make you my famous chili son. So you better not let it go to waste."
I smiled and made my way to the kitchen. I ate my supper, talked to my folks, and then made my way to my room to do my math homework. After I finished, I showered, said goodnight to my parents and sister, and went to bed. I glanced at my clock. It was 9pm. Then I closed my eyes and dreamed of being the first sixth grader to slam dunk a ten-foot basketball goal.
"Zack time to get up!" My mom yelled. "You are going to be late."