Welcome to part two, of my Eric Walters Response.
Assignment #16.
In this post, Ms.Pollock has us doing a short story, or one small chapter about an issue we think is important, and base the character on our self.
Here is alittle summary of my short story;
Claire Garcia is a thirteen year old girl, who has a passion for basketball. She decides to join the 'Ottawa Jaguars' basketball team, for boys and girls, 13-14. Only to discover the standards are really high, and she's the ONLY girl on the team! But being on a team with mostly guys, has advantages. She makes new friends like Jayson, Philip, and the cute, but vauge Mikey; who she's totally crushing on. Being the only girl on the team; Claire feels out of their league, and doesn't think she fulfills their expectations... or Mikey's. Often, she always feels like giving up. Through hard work and sweat, Claire strives to prove herself to the team, and to her shady crush. But is it possible for her to catch the eyes of her teammates and Mikey, at the same time? Or will getting the attention of one, be more important than the other.
There's just one thing for sure;
it's not going to be easy.
***
CHAPTER 1.
'My first practice..' stated Claire. 'I'm so excited!' She changed into her new, pink, basketball shorts from Nike, a baggy white shirt that said 'Yes, I'm a girl who plays ball,' and her fresh, purple Nike's. She put on her purple gym bag stuffed with water bottles, and modeled infront of the mirror. 'Ok, I'm ready.' she told herself confidently.
'Mom! Let's go! We're going to be late for my first basketball practice!' hollered Claire from downstairs.
'I'm coming, calm down Claire,' replied Mrs.Garcia. 'We're going to be there on time.'
Claire recently joined the Ottawa Jaguar's basketball team, which she is super excited to play for. All she could think about was making new friends, getting her own jersey, and just playing basketball.
'Ok, I'll wait for you in the car!' cried Claire with a smile on her face. She grabbed the Toyota car keys, her orange basketball, and headed outside.
She swung the car door open, inserted the keys in the ignition, and tried to sit still patiently while waiting for her mother to come out. Five minutes turned into ten, when finally her mom walked out, and locked the door. 'Thanks for making me wait Mom. I appreciate it.' she said in a sarcastic tone.
'Next time would you like to bus there?' remarked Mrs.Garcia. 'No Mom. Your just trying to jack my swag,' joked Claire. 'What's swag?' questioned Mrs.Garcia. 'is that a clothing brand?' Claire couldn't help herself from laughing in her mother's face.
After an awkward fifteen minute car ride, with Claire trying to explain the slang word 'swag,' to her mom;
they finally reached the gym. Claire jumped out of the car, and sprinted inside the building. The first thing she heard were the melody of bouncing basketballs in sync. She walked down several hallways until she found the gym where they were practicing in. Claire pushed the doors to let herself through. Her smile dropped.
On the court, was 7-10 guys, doing lay-ups. Absolutely no girls. Just her.
Her mom caught up with Claire, patted her on the back and said; 'Ok Hun, go practice with them.'
'Uhm.. Mom. I kind of don't want to do it anymore.'
'What? Why?'
'Because, they're all guys..'
'So?'
'And they're really, really good!'
Claire started to observe them. They would sprint full speed, jump atleast one metre in the air, and sink the ball in the net.
'See mom!' pointed Claire. 'I'm not as good as them..'
'Claire, it's just a practice. Get your basketball and join them. I didn't drive all the way here for nothing.'
'But Mom-'
'GO!'
Claire rolled her eyes and turned away to set her bag down. She took out her basketball, and dribbled to the fellas, who were lining up to take some lay-ups. 'Claire, honey!' yelped her Mom. 'Your shoe laces are untied!' Claire couldn't hear her. 'What is it Mom?'
'Your shoe laces!' Claire gave up on trying to listen in, so she ignored her. 'CLAIRE!'
'What!?' She turned away for a second, and walked backwards while dribbling the ball. 'Yes?'
'No, wait. Look where your going!!'
'What-'
In an instant, Claire was on the floor, with a huge headache.
'Hey, I'm so sorry,' apologized a boy, about her age, helping her up. 'I bumped into you by accident while making a lay-up, and you sorta wiped out.'
'Oh,' was the only thing that came out of Claire's mouth.
'You.. ok?' asked the boy. Claire nodded slowly, still wondering what happened.
'Ok, good. I'm Mikey by the way.'
'Uhm, I'm.. Claire.'
'It's nice to meet you. And by the way, you better watch where your going next time,' Mikey applied. He smiled at her. 'Are you going to join us or what?'
'Uhm, yeah. Just let me.. tie my shoe laces.' she implied.
'That's a good idea. We don't want another accident, do we?' grinned Mikey.
Claire giggled. 'We sure don't.' Mikey got back to the line-up. Claire started tying her shoes.
Something that Claire didn't understand, is why she has butterflies in her stomach, and she can't stop smiling like a manic. And something else she didn't understand is how she got that floor burn on her knee. Whatever, it's another collection to the hundreds she already has, she thought to herself. But the thing that really scarred her wasn't the floor burn, it was Mikey's smile engraved in her memory.
Right off the bat, Claire knew this was going to be one heck of a basketball team.
*Epic*
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