COURT - by Ty

10 people on.

The cheers of the distant crowd fade to slight whispers

like an owl on a brisk summer’s night.

All that is real is the other nine players on the court at the same time.

The heavy anxious breath is all that can be heard from the other players,

and the two steady heart beats;

one beat is the beat of my own team,

the other is the assailants of the opposing team.

The two centers stand feet away from each other,

staring each other in the eye.

As the ref throws the ball in the air

reality slowly begins to come back.

Up

Up

Up the ball goes

Back

Back

Back to reality we go.

When the ball taps the finger tip of the first center

the game begins and reality clicks back into place

The rocket lands on earth and it’s time to focus.

The screams of the crowd are evident now

and in all honesty rather distracting.

Already the foul aroma of sweat infects the gym

making our poor eyes water.

I see the point guard dribble the ball up court,

the unevenly cut wood planks that bug me,

the ten foot hoop fifteen feet away from me.

The point guard passes me the ball and I feel

the smooth, slick, leather slide against my slippery hands.

The sound of the ball hitting the hard wood floor as I dribble.

I see no open passes so I pull up for the three pointer;

I let go of the sphere and the entire gym goes silent

as the orange ball soars through the air.

The suspension in the air is so great that I can almost touch it.

I hear the swish of the ball as it sinks itself into the net.

Half the crowd goes nuts, and the other half sighs.

Alone

The burning sun radiates heat waves

making warm sticky sweat poor into my eyes.

I have been out here for hours; exact same shot; exact same routine… miss.

Anger, frustration, and rage fester inside of me like a volcano ready to erupt.

Shot… miss

Shot… miss.

I am about ready to go inside and give up, until I remember

the secret basketball has to teach me.

Determination

Concentration

Success.

I remain outside longer, repeating the secret in my head.

Determination; I am determined to master this shot.

Concentration; I concentrate on the shot as I leap through the air and the ball releases from my fingers and soars through the air

Success; the ball swishes in the net and I jump around with joy.

Determination

Concentration

Success.