The Secret Star

It’s the sixth game of the basketball season; I take my position – on the bench. I’m a new player on the team, and every player hates me. Well, I guess I can’t complain though – it’s the only team that would actually let me join. I know Coach doesn’t like me because he never puts me in the game. I’m the shortest kid on the team, so he thinks I’m a bad player. Since I’m so short, everyone calls me “Short Danny” – except for my Grandma; she’s my biggest fan.  She comes to every game even though I don’t do anything. When Coach lays out the game plan, it’s the same every time. I bet I could quote him perfectly – here he goes again – same speech, every time: “Alrighty Wildcats, here’s another game for us to win. Our game plan? Pass to Brady; let him do his thing!” I think to myself, “Why does coach always let his perfect son be the star of every play, every game?” I would call myself a pretty good player, but I’m never allowed to play in any game, so I have no proof of that being true.

There’s the whistle. The game has begun. Ugh, another game on the bench for me. I don’t feel nervous about the game because, of course, the star player, Brady will be in control of the ball. Time ticks by, and the Wildcats (or Brady, at least) are looking great – wait a second – why is Brady on the ground…crying? The trainer is running over, and then she’s checking out his knee! Uh oh, Coach is yelling at the trainer. What happened? Hold up! Brady is hobbling over toward me! He’s sitting down, next to me, on the end of the bench!

“Stop staring at me you pipsqueak,” Brady greets me, with his usual warm welcoming. Uh-oh Coach is approaching us.

“Get up, you big baby!” Coach yells. A wave of fear seems to wash over Brady the second his Dad begins to bark at him. I’ve never seen this side of Brady before, so afraid and nervous. What a concept!

“I can’t – my knee!” Brady screeches. Brady starts to tremble knowing his father won’t listen to his cries of pain. I know he’s trying to look tough but he’s doing a terrible job at it!

“I don’t care. I need my star player back in the game. There’s no one else to send in!”

“Dad, you’re gonna have to put Short Danny in!”

I stare at Brady, the bully who pushes me down on the playground, the kid who always taunts me about my height, the kid who says I shouldn’t even be on the team.

“Just send him in Dad, you have no choice,” Brady yells, noticing the ref getting impatient. Coach stares at me as if he’s never seen me before. I know that he won’t put me in, and I just just know that he’ll find a way to get a “better” player than me even though the Wildcats are the smallest team in the entire league, he’ll find a way to get another player.

“Well, I can’t seem to think of any way of getting around this. Get in there kid!”

I stare at Coach in awe of the decision he just made. In spite of my awe, I know it’s time to play. I pop up off the bench and run to join my teammates on the court. They look at me like I’m an alien, but I don’t care. I glance at my Grandma and smile the biggest grin she’s ever seen. I feel so proud of myself, and I can’t believe I’m actually playing a game!  The referee blows the whistle, and the game is restarted. I play my very best, and according to my teammates , I’m actually playing better than Brady. Somehow, I am the star player, or at least that’s what my Grandma whispers to me between the 2nd and 3rd quarter. I knew that if I could get some playing time I could do it. I just knew it. I am so excited, I couldn’t contain myself!

It’s the end of the 4th quarter, 28 seconds left, and the score is tied up. Panic washes over me like a wave. I look up at the scoreboard: 35 to 35! Can we get the win? My teammate Jack passes me the ball at half court. 12 seconds left. I can’t get a shot, so I pass to Robert. Robert passes back to me with 6 seconds left. I take the shot, praying that it will go in. Swish! Wildcats win – 37 to 35! My grandma runs onto the court and gives me a huge hug.  My team swarms around me! I get lifted up onto their shoulders as they chant and cheer.  While all this is going on, out of the corner of my eye, over on the bench, I see Brady, sitting with the trainer, looking as sour as a lemon drop. In that moment I don’t care. I’m on cloud nine, and I feel like I could climb Mount Everest! I’m carried back to the locker room where Coach is waiting. My teammates put me down, and Coach hugs me. This day is just too good to be true, I can’t believe Coach just hugged me, “Short Danny.” He actually just hugged me!

“Danny, I never knew you had such talent! I’m so sorry for ever underestimating you.”

“Thanks Coach. I hope Brady is okay” I reply, looking at my teammates, knowing that they don’t think Brady is so hot anymore. After that game, I got playing time in every game that followed. In fact, everyone on the team got equal playing time. Well, except for Brady. He ended up having a broken knee cap and was out for the rest of the season.  I think that’s called karma.