chapter 11

To guys like Clipper, there are few things that compare with Indiana High School basketball in March. Summit High could clench a berth in the state playoffs. They had two games left on the schedule and they only needed one win. First they faced a below average team- Woodlawn High School. Then they would face their cross town rival- Western High. Western won two state championships in the 90's and consistently remaining on the USA Today Top 25 poll of High School basketball teams across the country. They were a true basketball dynasty. The coach of Western actually left a college position for a chance to coach this great team. They were dominating.
The first game took place Saturday night at Woodlawn. With the help of a packed house of partisan Woodlawn Pioneers, Summit found themselves in a close game. Tupper was furious with the team's performance. They were playing way under their potential and in all respects this was a must win.
When one of the Summit's starting players seemed lacidasical, Tupper went for his secret weapon. The mighty elbow himself: Clipper Hayes. Clipper's family and friends went nuts when they heard his name called over the loud speaker. They knew more than any that destiny had smiled on a lifetime dream. He really didn't expect to play, but Tupper was willing to take a chance and give him a few seconds toward the end of the first half. His defensive abilities seemed to intensify under pressure. Defensively he shined during the two minutes he played. Summit was sparked by his dive into the stands to save the ball and a hard fought rebound. But in the second half when they Coach Tupper called his number, he missed two huge free-throws with less than two minutes to go. Troy shook his head and glared at the coach. Why did he have their worst foul shooter in the game in the final seconds? He asked himself in frustration.
The coaches call paid off however when Clipper made another athletic rebound with 30 seconds left in the game. Among the hundreds of people packed in the small gym, Clipper could hear his Dad shout "YES!" Clipper's heart pounded as he gripped the ball. It seemed as heavy as metal. Summit was down by a point and Clipper couldn't throw it to Troy soon enough. The pass was perfect and the weight of the world was lifted off of his shoulder. He didn't want to be fouled with the ball and be forced to shoot the free throws, not with the season on the line. His confidence was blown from his last trip to the line.
Troy took the ball and spotted Justin making a break for the goal he was open. But Troy was having a great night. He had scored a season high 28 points and the moment was all his. He dribbled down the court and stopped about fifteen feet from the goal putting up a beautiful jump shot. The moment seemed to hang in the air as they watched the ball arching toward the goal. But the ball hit the front rim and bounded off the back as the Woodlawn partisan went crazy. They were nowhere near an invitation to the State tournament so this was the biggest game of the year for them and they celebrated it like a state championship.
As the ball bounced to the floor and the Woodlawn Pioneers began their celebration, it was as if Summit saw their whole season go down the drain. This was their golden opportunity to go to state and they blew it. Now they had to wish for a certified sports miracle against highly favored Western High next week.
Tupper was almost too disappointed to go into the locker room to talk with his players. The room was hot, humid and quiet as the guys sat stunned. Only Tad's whistling a rendition of Queen's "We Will Rock You" broke the silence. Everyone just stared at him, puzzled with his queer expression of grief. They all thought, Why is he whistling? We just got upset by a losing team and what does Tad do? He whistles the other teams fight song!
"Would you shut that up?" Troy demanded of his friend.
"Shut what up? I didn't say anything."
"Oh, get out! We just lost our best chance at State and your whistling."
"So what? Do you think its gonna do any good to sit around cryin' about it?" Tad replied and then began a sarcastic pep talk, "Do you think Babe Ruth cried when he struck out? Did George Washington cry when he got in trouble for choppin' down the cherry tree? Do you think Sonny cried when he broke up with Cher??"
"SHUT UP!" Jared screamed.
"Touchy, touchy," Tad remarked.
"Troy, why didn't you pass it?" Justin asked. "You looked straight at me on that last play. I was five feet further down the court than anybody else. I could have laid it in no problem."
"Justin, How many points did you score?" Troy asked as if cross-examining a criminal.
"I don't know but-"
"You know how many. You scored three. Do you know how many points I scored? Huh? I scored 28. Now tell me what you would have done."
"If I were you I would've trusted the open man to make the easy lay up."
"But you're not me. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Clipper would give us all a break and hit a free throw in the clutch!"
Clipper looked away and then bowed his head in silent agreement.
Justin got right in Troy's face and grabbed a hand full of the number on his jersey and pushed him against the locker. Justin's old ways came back to him easily, "You lay off him. Where do you get off blaming Clipper."
"Whoa! Mr. Rogers goes ballistic," Troy mocked.
"Why don't you eat your own crow? You lost the game, man. Not Clipper."
Troy pushed Justin out of his face with both hands, "Go ahead. You want a piece of me? Here's your chance."
"It would be my pleasure." Justin said under his breath. But he caught himself, in that moment he realized how hypocritical it was for him to publicly claim Jesus as Savior and then knock his teammate's teeth out. He loosened his grip and then turned away.
"What happened Justin? You really are a wimp," Troy said. "Don't touch me again unless you plan to back it up, boy."
Not another word was spoken in the locker room outside of Lunsford and Tupper's post-game briefing. They tried to get the team focused on the final game of the season but it was obvious to everyone in the room that morale had never been this low.
When Summit's team loaded onto the bus, Troy taunted Justin again in a soft voice, "I heard you were a real hero the other day with Kandi. Bet you have the hots for the girl. You can have her. I got her blood pumping the other night. I don't know what she told you, but believe me, she wanted it. But anyway... she ain't my type."
Justin looked straight ahead knowing that Troy wanted to provoke something nasty that might get him expelled. Justin's heart was racing. It took everything in him not to give Troy what he had coming. He took in a breath of air. Let it out slowly and prayed silently, Lord, please keep me from my old ways. Spare me from this compulsion to slam my fist down his throat. He turned around to Troy who was sitting in the seat behind him and said as calmly as he could. "Troy I know you're upset about the game and your bummed out that you wasted your time on a girl that happened to have some principles but I'm warning you to shut up about Kandi."
"Ooooo. Do I sense jealously?"
"Nope. I'm not going to tell you what you're sensing right now. Please. Give it a rest. And be advised-
"What are you- a lawyer?" Troy asked.
"Be advised. Don't talk to her. Don't touch her. Or I'll be coming for you."
Was it right for him to draw a line and make such a promise? He didn't know.

"So he picked you up?" Melissa asked as she drove Kandi home.
"I didn't have any choice. I wasn't going to call my mom."
"You could have called me."
"I didn't have your number."
"You like him, don't you?" Melissa asked.
"I can't believe you're asking me that! I tell you that I almost got raped by the Senior class favorite of Summit High, and you think I called Justin because I wanted a date."
"I didn't say you wanted a date I just-."
"Yes, you did," Kandi said.
"I just said that you could like him."
"Right then, I could have cared less about...about Chris O'Donnell. Troy was a jerk."
Melissa smiled sarcastically, ?Hmm... Troy's a jerk. Troy's a guy. Therefore all guys are jerks. I think you were over simplifying."
"It was pretty humiliating. I was soaked to the bone. I looked like I'd been washed up in some gutter."
"Did you tell him what happened?"
"I tried to act normal about the whole thing but the situation was far from normal. I couldn't even come up with a decent lie. My eyes were red from crying, my hair was dripping. I was shivering."
"So what did he say when he picked you up?"
"That part was really strange. He didn't say all that much. He asked me where I lived and about five minutes later he asked if I was going to be all right and then we were home. He pulled up to the apartment and asked if I wanted him to walk me to the apartment and I told him, no thanks. He didn't even push me about the Bible Study. I could tell he was just angry."
"At you?"
"No, Melissa! He was mad at Troy. It was like he knew what had happened."
"If you haven't noticed, Kandi, the Troy and Justin aren't exactly pals.
"What Happened?" Kandi asked.
"They used to hang out a lot together. Justin always looked up to Troy. They partied together and were really tight but then Justin started on this Jesus kick, which was a real turn-off to Troy. I don't understand the whole deal with Justin. He's a sweet guy but he takes all the religion stuff way too far. I mean, I'm a Christian too. In fact, Justin and I go to the same church but he's too freaky for me. He carries this little New Testament around with him and he reads it. Can you believe it? When he's just hanging out he reads that green New Testament. He dog ears it like he was reading a John Grisham novel. What's that all about? Shesh!"
Kandi just looked puzzled after this long discourse on rivals and theology. Melissa hardly stopped for a breath and Kandi was a little surprised when she did. They looked at each other and then looked straight ahead at the road.
"So did he ask you out?" Melissa asked as she folded a stick of gum into her mouth.
"Nope. Melissa, let me say this again just like I told you on the way to the game. I am way to shaky about guys to even care about dating, even if I had a an armed guard escort and stun gun with me the whole time."
Melissa burst out laughing. It almost frightened Kandi. There were some things that went straight over Melissa's head and other things that seem extraordinarily funny to her. The uncanny thing is that no one could ever judge what reaction would come when. "You're back to that 'all guys are jerks' thing again," Melissa said, laughing.
"I guess I am."
"So are you going?" Melissa asked.
"Going?"
"I mean to the Bible study?"
Kandi paused for a moment thinking. "I guess I am."
"Don't let the Bible bug bite you too."
"... do my best." Kandi replied.
Melissa pulled into the apartment.
"How ?bout you?" Kandi asked.
"No thanks. Sunday morning does me just fine."
"Oh come on! The only people I know that'll be there are Justin and Clipper."
"Maybe. But please don't ask me tonight." She stopped the car and Kandi got out. "Give me some time to make up a good excuse."
"You're impossible, Melissa."
"But I was the first one to speak to you so you're stuck with me. Those are the rules, girl." She laughed at her own cleverness and wheeled away.