Taylor wasn't sad that football season was over. His team had done well with a 6 and 2 season, and he liked playing free safety, the position his older brother had played. But it was time to move on to basketball, possibly his favorite sport. Practices had begun.
His team was expected to do well this season. It was the same team his brother coached for two years before going to college. The guys were friends on and off the basketball court.
Taylor was getting good at long shots, not quite the three-point spot yet but almost. He practiced during the summer on the basket in his driveway His jump shot was getting where he wanted it, rarely touching the rim as it swooshed right in.
There was something about playing sports that Taylor felt was what he should do. As long as he could remember, his family was involved in one sport or another. His father went to college on a football scholarship; his mother coached volleyball and basketball; his older brother and sister played sports in middle school and high school. Taylor knew he was meant to play sports.
He also knew being a good student was important. He liked school and looked forward to the challenges. In a way, school was like playing a sport, you had to work at it, learn how to be good at it, and then do it. That's what it was all about, learning and doing.
Taylor had many friends in school. He spent time with lots of different kids, not just the ones who played sports. He was involved in school activities, and never hesitated to do something extra to be helpful. That's how he met Alex.
Ms. Simmons, one of the school counselors asked Taylor if he would be an assistant to Alex, a special needs boy in his class. Taylor was glad to help. He liked Alex, who was slow in doing physical things but seemed to be mentally above average. He impressed Taylor with his math abilities.
Taylor made sure to watch Alex on the playground during recess. Sometimes he had to run interference when a bully would start to pick on him. He would go to Alex, throw his arm around his shoulder and guide him to another area of the playground. He made a point of going through the line in the cafeteria behind him in case he needed help. He made sure Alex sat with him and the other guys during lunch. After school, he helped Alex get on the school bus.
During basketball practice, one evening, Taylor's ride home was late. He was watching the Wildcats practice, sizing them up to see their moves. They had been the team to beat last year. Unfortunately, his team had lost to them in the city playoffs. Taylor watched to see if they had any special plays.
He was bouncing a ball on the sidelines near the door watching when he saw Alex on the court running up and down with the team doing drills. It surprised him that Alex was there. He'd never seen him at any of the games before.
"Hey, Alex," Toby, one of the Wildcats guys called, "get off the court. You're slowing us down."
"Let him be," their coach called. "He's on our team."
"What?"
"Just keep your pace and Alex will keep his," Coached said sternly.
Taylor's pick-up driver stuck his head inside the gym door and waved for him to leave.
As the season progressed, Taylor was good at making baskets, but he was at his best in defense. Never hesitating to get in front of an opponent and snatch away the ball, he found it was his favorite part of the game, getting the ball and driving it back down to his side of the court. His coach relied on him to get in there and get that ball. His teammates made sure they were ready when he got it and passed it to them.
Near the end of the season. Taylor's team, the Amazons were at the top of the standings. They had been first, then the Wildcats were first, but the Amazons moved back into the top spot. It was a fierce competition.
Finally, the time had come. The Amazons were playing the Wildcats. Whichever team won would go on to play in the district playoffs. Taylor's team put in extra practice time at coach's house. Taylor spent whatever free time he had shooting baskets in his driveway, even in the dark.
During school time, he thought about the plays coach had taught them. He knew the right spot to take basket shots. He knew how to guard his opponent. He was ready for the Wildcats.
The day before the big game Taylor was in the lunch line behind Alex, who was moving slower than usual. Alex never moved fast, his disability made it hard for him to reach for items on the lunch layout.
"Alex!" a voice behind Taylor yelled. "Move it or lose it. Come on, you're holding up the line."
Taylor looked behind him. It was Toby, the same guy who had yelled at Alex to get off the court at practice.
"Do you want the jello salad?" Taylor asked Alex who nodded.
Taylor picked up one of the bowls and put it on Alex's tray. "Here, you go. You okay carrying the tray?"
"Yeah," Alex responded. "I'm okay. Thanks, Taylor."
During lunch, the guys talked about the game coming up with the Wildcats.
"You think we can beat them" Will stabbed his fork into a salad.
"Yeah, no way we can't," Connor banged his milk carton on the table.
"You going to beat us?" Alex asked, looking at Taylor.
"We're going to try," Taylor said. "You never know what's going to happen."
"Do you think I'll get to play this time?"
"Sure you'll get to play Alex," Taylor said, "Why wouldn't you."
"Coach never put me in yet."
Will looked at Alex. "You never played in any of the games?"
Alex shook his head. "I don't play good," he stammered.
"Sure you do," Taylor punched him lightly on the arm.
Lunch was over. Time to go back to class. Taylor picked up Alex's tray.
"See you at the game Saturday," Alex pulled himself up from the chair.
"Yeah. See you." The guys called.
Taylor couldn't remember seeing the stands as full as they were at the game on Saturday. People were standing on either side of the bleachers. He was tense. He knew his teammates were tense. This was a big game and the two teams were evenly matched. Both had lost only two games during the season. Anything could happen.
The Wildcats played a fast-paced game. Taylor's team kept up with them, one on one. The score stayed close. The Wildcats scored, the Amazons scored. They were evenly matched. One of the Wildcats fouled out with 7 minutes to go. Taylor was guarding him and then his replacement, who was taller than Taylor. Height never bothered Taylor, he could get in and take away the ball no matter how tall an opponent was. He knew how to make fake moves to put the opponent off guard, then get in and grab the ball in mid-air.
The Wildcats scored. The race to the opposite side of the court was fast and furious. Taylor stayed with his guy. Suddenly from off to the left, one of the Wildcat players tripped, falling on the guy Taylor was guarding. Both players hit the floor hard. Taylor barely managed to stay on his feet. A timeout was called. Taylor looked at the scoreboard. The Wildcats were ahead 31 to 29. He breathed deeply as Coach went over the things they needed to think about when play resumed with only a minute and a half to go.
Back on the court, Taylor was ready to guard the player he'd been with before the fall and timeout. It wasn't the same guy. It was Alex. The two guys who had gone down were on the bench.
"Hey Taylor," Alex waved at him. "Coach put me in."
Taylor gave a thumb's up.
The Wildcats had the ball, moving down the court surprisingly slower than earlier, setting up positions under the net. Taylor stayed with Alex, watching what play was being set up. They went to full press knowing the Wildcats were trying to play out the clock. Somehow the Amazons had to get the ball. Taylor watched the ball tossed from one Wildcat to another. He had to make his move. He did. Dashing between two players he grabbed the ball, dribbled down the court. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alex standing to the side. Without looking at the Wildcat defender in front of him, Taylor bounced the ball to Alex.
The crowd in the stands was suddenly silent. The Wildcat players stopped, not sure what Alex would do or what they should do. Taylor moved swiftly to Alex, "Come on Alex, you can do it." Taylor encouraged him.
Alex moved slowly, he dribbled the ball, got just beyond half court when he stopped, looked at Taylor, smiled and moved forward, the ball in his hands.
"Traveling," the coach called.
The Wildcat coach signaled for their last time out.
"Why did you do that?" One of Taylor's teammates asked. "You gave him the ball."
Taylor just shrugged his shoulders. Their coach rubbed him on the head. "Good job," he whispered.
The Amazons won the game in the last 8 seconds when Taylor made his first three shot of the season. He felt good about making the basket. He felt good about seeing Alex with the ball.
© 2013 M. Bradley McCauley
for her Grandson, Taylor
