Play Ball! By: Nathan

Play Ball!

By: Nathan

It was a normal day. I had just gotten home from my crops and was walking into my nice house. When I got to my comfy abode, I realized something strange. There were nobles standing in front of my house. They stopped me from going in and said in a serious tone, “You will be one of the players for the sacred game. It is in two days. Be ready, you are captain.” Then, they left. You, Have, To, Be, KIDDING ME! I thought in my head. A player for the sacred game, and two days to get ready! This was going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I left my things underneath a tree and headed off to the practice court. The champs were already there and so was my team. It was made up of the most athletic men in our civilization not already on the champ team. I felt pride growing in my chest along with dread. The court was split between us and we started to practice. I got on all of my gear and joined the practice. The rubber ball went back and forth between our teammates. As I lunged back and forth trying to get the ball to go through the hoop, I realized it was chaotic. When I looked at the other side of the court, I could see the champions practice organized. “All right guys! Let's get organized.” I started to organize our little group. I put them each in one of the corners of the court. Then I had some of them in the middle, and finally one under the hoop. I threw the ball into the air and started to shout out instructions. “Corner one, get the ball, corner two get in the open space.” Eventually, we got better and better. I started to add in different elements. I put in people as defenders and once we got the hang of it, we started to go towards the hoop. We quickly found out that one of us was the best shooter, but he was also the worst defender. One of us was the best defender, but the worst shooter. That was me. As we progressed, I could see the other team start to shoot nervous and envious looks towards our team. Finally, during one of our practices, the other team was gone. “We will now split up into even teams and play against each other in a scrimmage,” I said. We started to play and play. I could tell that we were a lot better than we used to be. “Look out below!” We heard all of a sudden, and then we started to get pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables. I even realized the marking of all of our crops and our fruit that we had grown ourselves. The other team had pulled all of our crops up. I could feel the hard work of the day before being thrown off of a cliff, as if it were nothing at all. After being bombarded with our work and food, I realized something very important. This team was probably going to do anything to not get sacrificed. “Guys, I forgot something very important. The champs have all played many games that we have watched, and one of the things that they do is slam into other players. You guys can do it too, but you had better get out of the way if you see them preparing to check you. I don’t want anyone on our team to be injured because of the champs. Now, let’s practice!” We started to practice getting out of the way of another player. It was hard to do, because you were doing it against people you knew who were your friends. Eventually, I paired people up with their enemies, and that finally got the practice started. One person wanted to get a good check in, but the other wants to get out of the way. Our team gt really good at getting out of the way of checks, and we thought that we were ready for the game tomorrow. “Get a good night's sleep tonight team. See you at the sacred game!”

I woke up to the sound of voices outside. I got up and went to the door. “SURPRISE!” All of my neighbors said. “We are all cheering for you and your team!” They were all standing outside of my teammates doors and my door as well, and we had a parade following us as we went down to the ball court. This one was the actual thing and was bigger than the practice court. Good, then we will have more space to spread out! I know that my team is better when we have more space. I thought. We were met by more cheering as we walked into the court. Our parade filed into the seats and I could see the ruler of our people sitting down with the best view. My teammates spread out when I said the word. The other team just started in a clump, it looked like they were discussing strategy. Luckily, they were taking so long that I had time to give my team a quick pep talk. “Alright guys. This is it. We have been practicing this nonstop for the past two days and we know every bit. We have watched this game played thousands of times in our life. We know what their weakness is and how to exploit it. NOW LET’S PLAY BALL!” Once I finished my speech our team gave a shout in unison to challenge the champions and pump up our spirits. We spread out into our places and a resounding roar came from the crowd. It seemed as if we were the ones that we they were rooting for. I sneaked a quick look at the leader as he shouted out, “START!” The ball was thrown into the court and we played. We got possession first and quickly made the champs have to scramble about by passing to each other very quickly. I was calling out instructions of who was open and where to pass the ball. “Left, right, switch it! Long pass. Step back. Cover the guy to you left, Cadmael” I eventually got our team to move it down the field and put it into the air. Then, our best shooter jumped up and hit the ball into the ring. “SCORE!” We all shouted in unison, but are joy was dashed when the other team quickly started down the field. They were so fast that I couldn’t get us organized. I sprinted back towards the other ring, and jumped up as high as I could, right as they shot it. I managed to deflect the ball with my hip right before it went in the hoop. My team took over and we got the ball again, I started to call out directions again. “Gabor! Cover the tall one. Sachihiro, get the one ahead of you.” I kept on giving directions. This time we were a little rattled from the other team’s drive down the court. We moved our way down the court and got near the hoop. As our team got the ball in the air and I hit it toward our best shooter, he jumped up to hit it in. Then, his defender jumped hit his legs and turned him upside down. All we could do was watch as he flailed around and hit hard on hi left ankle. As he tried to stand he fell down. He had to sit and he couldn’t do anything. The team drove it down the court and scored. That tied it up one to one. Now it was our turn. “5 minutes left!” the timekeeper. 5 minutes! Man, time flies! I thought. We had possession of the ball. “Alright guys, let’s show the other team what we got!” For the last time I called out instructions again. We moved down the court quicker with more space, but when we got to the ring, no one was making any moves to score. Eventually, I took charge. I knew that I was the worst shooter on the team, but no one else was making any moves. “Get it into the air!” I shouted. Cadmael got it into the air and my teammates kept it there. I started to make my move. I ran ahead, faked left, came back and jumped. Sachihiro hit the ball towards me. I leaned into my jump and collided with the ball. As I came down, my heart stopped as I heard the timekeeper say. “That’s game!” I heard immense cheering, looked up and saw that the ball had gone through the ring. “WE WON!” I yelled. We jumped onto one another in pure joy. We weren’t going to be sacrificed! Then, I saw the other team. I went over to their captain and said, “Good Game.“ “You are one of the best captains we have ever played a game against.” He replied. Then I went back to my team and celebrated for the rest of the day.