Take a Chance on Me by Becky Wade

Author:Becky Wade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Becky Wade
Published: 2020-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Herding cats had to be easier than coaching second grade boys’ basketball.

On the evening of July fifth, Eli led the Sharpshooters’ practice. He ran drills, taught, ran drills, taught, then finished with a scrimmage. Several times, he stopped their scrimmage to explain or act out a visual example he wanted them to follow.

“Okay, guys,” Eli said when they had just five minutes of time left. “Grab a drink, then bring it in.” The boys, red-faced and sweaty, located their water bottles and plopped onto the court’s floor in front of him.

Creighton, who’d spent the practice sitting on the sidelines swiping and punching his phone’s screen, had informed Eli earlier that the next team they were playing also had zero wins. This meant Monday night’s game was the best chance they’d have all season of coming out on top.

“I know you guys usually get to the games fifteen minutes early, but I’m going to send out an email to your parents, asking them to bring you to the game on Monday twenty minutes early because I have a surprise to give you.”

That caught their attention.

“What is it?” the shortest kid asked.

“You’ll have to get there twenty minutes early to find out. So. What two things did we work on the most at practice today?”

“Pooping and farting,” the class clown answered with a snicker.

Eli pretended he hadn’t heard.

“Defense,” one boy said.

“Rebounding,” another offered.

“Yes.”

Creighton appeared at Eli’s side. He clapped three times. “Hustle out there, guys. Hustle!”

“Does Coach Theo ever bribe these kids?” Eli asked Creighton.

Creighton lifted his brows and gave a small shake of his head.

“That’s probably because Coach Theo doesn’t think you’re old enough for bribery,” Eli said to the team. “But I do.”

“What’s bribery?” the least-coordinated boy asked.

“It’s when you offer to give something to someone if they’ll do what you want in exchange. I’m guessing that parents frown on bribery. But lucky for you guys, I’m not a parent.”

Their small faces sharpened with interest.

“We’re playing the Bricklayers on Monday night and we’re going to bring a full court press defense. We’re also going to rebound. When we have the ball, we’ll take our time and attempt smart shots. If you steal the ball from the other team or if you rebound a ball, Coach Creighton here is going to add a tiger claw tattoo to your arm the next time you sit on the bench.”

“A permanent tattoo?” a red-haired kid asked.

That’s right. We’re going to ink a permanent tattoo onto your arm on the sidelines of a youth basketball game. “A temporary tattoo. At the end of the game, you’ll count up your tiger claws and we’ll see who has the most.”

“So what are you bribing us with?” Redhead again. His mouth twisted with confusion.

“The tattoos. If you do what I want—steal the ball or rebound the ball—I’ll give you a tattoo. Deal?”

“Deal,” they said in unison.

• • •

Penelope immersed herself in a bath composed half of water and half of thick, glossy, vanilla-scented bubbles. Her fingers drifted back and forth, creating fanciful patterns in the suds.

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