A Brighter Tomorrow: My Journey with Julie

I decide to call the foul. I hold out my shirt and showed the others where it’s stretched out from Stinger grabbing it. T.J. says that he didn’t see what happened, and Stinger throws his hands in the air defensively and says he never touched me. Mike hesitates and looks his brother in the eye. Stinger just glares at me. I can tell he’s trying to figure out a way to call me out for stepping on his shoelace, but he knows he doesn’t have proof of that.

Mike doesn’t wait any longer. He sighs and bounces the ball to me. Here I am again at the free-throw line. A pin-drop hush falls over the crowd and I can hear my own heart thumping in my chest. I plant my feet in place, dribble three times, raise the ball behind my head, and…

I make the first basket. Julie and Tracy go crazy, jumping up and screaming. Stinger kicks the ground. The game is tied 34-34. I still have to make the second shot if we’re going to win the game. Before she steps back to her spot next to Tracy, Julie gives me a hug. She thanks me and tells me that whether or not we win, she’s so glad I was on her team. I whisper the same.

But at that moment, I realize that Julie doesn’t care about winning at all. She cares about being a team and winning by skill, not tricks. Even though Stinger didn’t play fair, nor did I.

All eyes are on me now. Suddenly, I’m not so sure I want to make this basket, but I have to try. I push the prickle of guilt to the back of my mind and block out the shouting crowd. As the ball releases from my fingertips, it moves in slow motion. I feel disappointment, then relief, when the ball bounces off the rim.

Julie and Stinger dive for the ball when it bounces. The rest of us are frozen, watching the battle. Julie snatches the ball a split second sooner, but Stinger knocks it free. They dive again, hands and elbows flying. Stinger almost has control when Julie slides low, scooping the ball out of his grasp. She spins, drives, jumps for the lay up, and scores for two points.

I yell that the girls win. Julie and I jump up and down in a bear hug as the crowd cheers. Mike claps Julie on the back and gives us a good game. We all shake hands. T.J. tells Stinger to admit it. The girls beat them fair and square. Tracy pumps her fist in the air. Stinger shrugs and looks at the hoop like he can’t believe what just happened. I can’t help beaming at Julie. The win is sweeter now that we won because of her super-quick moves.

Mike bounces the ball as he walks toward his gym bag on the sidelines. Stinger and T.J. follow. We say that they can’t leave so fast. We made a bet. T.J. gulps and Mike hits his forehead. Stinger tries to run, but Mike pulls him back by his shirt. A bet is a bet. Julie and I run over to the girls in the park who are practicing cheers. We explain about our Battle of the Sexes basketball game and our bet. The girls say that the boys can borrow our pom-poms if they get to watch.

We drag the boys to the center green next to the playground and picnic area. Julie hands them the pom-poms and the two cheerleaders show them some moves, complete with high kicks. Julie and I gather our audience from the basketball game and invite kids from the park to come watch. Stinger turns three shades of red.

The boys cheer as they shout G-I-R-L-S. They wave their arms and kick their big sneakers in the air like clowns. The crowd cheers. Julie, Tracy, and I hoot and call out to them and pump our fists in the air. T.J. is doubled over with laughter, and Stinger is grinning sheepishly. Mike trills a shout and hams it up. T.J. tries to cartwheel, but he falls over and lands on his backside. The crowd roars with laughter.

As the boys hand back their pom-poms and turn to go, Stinger calls over his shoulder to see us all on the courts at school.

Julie is all smiles on the way back to Gladrags. When we’re standing in front of the store, I tell her it’s time for me to go home. I add that I hope Julie makes it on the team. If she can convince Stinger, she can convince anyone. She thanks me and we share a goodbye hug.

As Julie disappears inside the shop, I realize she’s convinced me of something, too. I was so scared to be on a team without Chloe, but in just one game, Julie made me understand that I can make a difference on any team, even one I just joined. When I get home, I’m going to sign up for the basketball team at my school. I press myself against the wall of the building and make sure no one is looking before slipping off the ring.

A spin later, and I’m standing before the storefront that used to be Gladrags. Now it’s a coffee shop that sells delicious mini-muffins and chocolate shakes that Zack likes. And that’s when I realize there’s more to one team I need to be a part of. I run upstairs to get Zack. I find him in his room, his eyes wet with tears. I know I can’t fix Mom and Dad’s problems, but I can help Zack feel better about our move and our family. At the very least, I can make sure he doesn’t feel so alone anymore. I put my arm around his shoulders and we start to talk.