Rookie of the Year by Phil Bildner

Author:Phil Bildner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780374301354
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

The Hot Seat

“Tiki is some ballplayer,” Mom said, sliding into the driver’s seat and pressing the ignition.

I leaned my head against the window and nodded once.

“How many points did she have? Ten? Fifteen?”

“I don’t know.”

Usually after my games, I’m nonstop talking—recapping hoops, passes, steals, moves, everything. And Mom listens, really listens. She even asks questions. But this afternoon, the last thing I wanted to do was talk about the game.

“I see you’ve been pulling on these.” She touched the locks above my neck. “I really wish you wouldn’t.”

“Okay.”

I didn’t say anything else. Neither did she, and to be perfectly honest, the silence freaked me out a little. Yeah, the ride from RJE to our house wasn’t much of a ride at all. If we made both lights, it was all of three minutes.

But it felt like three hours.

A block from our house, Mom stopped. Not pull-over stopped. She stopped in the middle of Key Place and put the car in Park.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“You mind telling me what’s going on?” She shifted in her seat and rested her elbow on the wheel.

“We’re in the middle of the street.” I pointed.

“Do you see any cars?” She clicked on the hazards. “That was the best I’ve ever seen any of your teams play, and you haven’t said word one about it.”

I pulled the old Nintendo DS from the door pocket.

“You’re not going to say anything? Fine. I’ll do the talking. Put the game away.”

I dropped it back in and looked out the window.

“Don’t you turn your back on me, Mason Irving!”

I flinched and faced her.

“You want to sit there and sulk or do whatever it is you’re doing? Be my guest. But your eyes will be on me.” She tapped the dashboard. “Watching Red out there today was such a joy. The way Coach Acevedo had him take that foul shot. That was wonderful. And seeing him on the sidelines cheering everyone. It’s a beautiful thing that he’s part of Clifton United.” She paused. “Nothing to say?”

No.

“Fine.” Mom shook her head. “I will tell you, I was a little surprised to see you press like that. I didn’t like it when Millwood pressed last season, but I think that may have had more to do with that coach of theirs.”

I still said nothing.

She leaned in. “Honey, why didn’t you tell me you weren’t starting?” she said in a softer tone.

I let out a puff.

“Obviously you have a problem with coming off the bench. Not exactly a team-first attitude, Rip.”

“My attitude is fine.” I finally spoke. “I played hard. I cheered on my teammates.”

“Honey, you’re right.” She shook her head again. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

She turned off the hazards and started to drive.

“Life is about playing the cards you’re dealt, Rip,” she said.

I leaned my head against the window again and closed my eyes.

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