Coach K blew his whistle, signifying the start of the endgame. The gym transformed from silence into chaos, at least on the red side. Everyone except Wade on the red team charged towards the red rubber balls. As they picked up the balls and looked up at us, they were dumbfounded. We hadn't moved an inch from our starting position. We stood shoulder to shoulder by the wall, like linemen on a football team. From left to right, Connor, Barry, Keisha, me, and Stanlee.
For a hot 10 seconds, everyone was shocked, even Coach K, who had stopped mid-bite with the caramel popcorn he had just popped into his mouth a second earlier.
Then came the voice of reason, well, at least Wade's version of it.
"What are you morons standing around for?" Wade said, "That's free kills!"
"But," Jonas started.
Manuel smirked, "Homie, I gotchu."
Manuel then proceeded to get a runner's start and fired his dodgeball with a high arc, rocket-like throw. Everything was going just as Stanlee planned (does Bro have the script?).
***
Earlier during halftime, Stanlee had said -
"After they notice that we haven't moved for the balls and were standing perfectly still like a wall, they'll feel like something's up, of course, since we talked a big game—"
"You talked a big game," Keisha cut in.
Stanlee waved his hand dismissively. "Details, details. We're one team, one wall. Anyway, our hotheaded nemesis Wade won't be fazed because he's blinded by pride. They'll follow his lead, and that's when we dodge every ball being thrown, except for Manuel and Maxie."
"Why not them?" Connor said.
"Because," Stanlee said while readjusting his glasses, "from where we'll be, their arms won't be strong enough for straight throws."
Barry snapped his fingers. "You're saying they're rainbow throwers."
"Bingo, be ready to catch those. We can bring back Marcus and Jessica," Stanlee said.
Back in the present and right on cue, Manuel's high arc shot came down like a meteor toward Connor. Connor's eyes were locked on the plummeting ball, timing it so that he didn't fumble Stanlee's plan. He snatched the ball and hugged it tightly to his sweaty blue jersey, securing the catch.
Coach K, who was stuffing his face with handfuls of caramel popcorn, just barely managed to get out the words.
"You're out, boy," he said.
"Lucky catch," Manuel sneered as he walked to the bleachers.
With Manuel out, it was a five-on-four. Our teammates on the bleachers erupted in cheers, as if they could taste the sweet revenge that was chocolate chip cookies.
However, the game was far from over. Instantly, Carlos threw his signature slider. Starting high and sliding in low as it curved inward towards us.
"Jump!" Stanlee yelled.
We all jumped as the ball came sweeping under our feet like we were playing helicopter.
While in midair, Stanlee's voice rang in my head:
"Once we get one of them out, they'll adjust and try to be as ruthless as possible, cuz they'll be hungry to even things up."
He'd been right again (should be a fortuneteller at this point).
Jonas threw a fastball targeting Barry, who unfortunately had the highest vert of the five of us. The rubber ball slammed into his lean body, sending him into the wall.
"Damn, they got me good," Barry groaned and then hobbled off to the bleachers. Just like that, we were back to an even number of players on each side, four on four.
The only two people with a ball on the red team were Wade and Maxie, the other certified rainbow thrower. After seeing Manuel get out, it was understandable that he didn't throw his ball.
We had eight balls on our side, one in Connor's hands still, the other seven just chilling on the floor.
Wade glared at Maxie, "What are you waiting around for? Throw the damn ball!"
Poor Maxie, he was one of us, but Wade picked him since Maxie was his nephew. Clearly, he hated being on the same team as his competitive, hotheaded uncle. Maxie accepted the inevitable and just threw his ball, which arced high and flew right into Keisha's hands. Four on three, scratch that, now six on three. Coach K had a strange rule: after halftime, two catches would bring back the last two people who were out in the queue before halftime. Marcus and Jessica were now both back in the game and ready to rumble.
Or so I thought.
Red team ignored us near the wall and took focus on Marcus and Jessica, who had just stepped onto the middle of the court, and were definitely in range for fast ball strikes at full power, the whole reason why we stayed back near the wall (Stanlee called it Newton's first Law). Wade, Carlos, and Jonas grinned like they were the Grinch. Might as well be early Christmas for them since they were playing by our game plan the entirety of the second half.
"Cmon, King Kong," Wade howled while pounding his chest, "show me that gorilla build ain't for show."
Marcus, clearly pissed, picked up two dodgeballs.
Wait-- Stanlee started
Too late, Marcus threw the two dodgeballs. Though his weight and power were unmatched, his slow movements leading up to the throw could easily be telegraphed, and one could see where the ball was going. Wade and Carlos easily sidestepped the two oncoming dodgeballs.
"You idiot," Keisha sighed.
Wade chuckled hysterically, "Thanks for the bullets, hoe, now here's your gift".
Wade pump-faked a throw, and Marcus totally bought it. Wade released his rising torpedo throw, the same one that took out Alicia in the first half. Marcus tripped mid-dodge, and Wade's shot hit him where no man should ever be hit. Kind-hearted Jessica ran to help, but Jonas's ball met her right hand, and a deafening snap echoed in the gym. Her hand was bending the wrong way, sideways. Jessica let out a bloodcurdling scream.
The snickers from earlier in the crowd on the bleachers were replaced with gasps. Coach K winced woefully as he blew into his whistle to pause the game. Barry and Alicia helped the two up, and Coach gave them a pass to the infirmary.
Coach K glanced at the clock, "11:05, we got ten minutes before I have to release y'all to lunch." He muttered, "Try not to break anyone else." He blew his whistle, resuming the game. However, the mood had changed after the horrific takedowns of Marcus and Jessica. This was war. We had to win this for them.
Carlos palmed a ball and spun it on his index finger. "Time to end this," he said.
Carlos fired another slider, except this time much faster and sharper. We all jumped straight up. On our way down, Carlos's ball (directly under Keisha and Connor at the moment) met another slider ball from the opposite direction. I glanced up, and clearly it was Jonas who threw the other slider, as he didn't have a ball anymore. The two balls ricocheted off each other and bounced upward at opposite angles. Carlos's ball smacked Connor's leg and then hit the floor. The other curved up at an impossible rebound and hit Keisha on the right shoulder.
They both shared shocked expressions in disbelief at what had just happened. Stanlee leapt forward, arms outstretched, eyes locked on the rubber ball that ricocheted off Keisha. He snatched the ball before it could even reach the floor. His sneakers screeched against the glossy hardwood.
"Caught it!" He grunted, stumbling back into our formation.
The crowd roared; however, Coach blew his whistle again.
"Catch counts, but they're still out! Two catch rule!"
Keisha kicked the closest dodgeball, "That's bs!"
Stanlee just exhaled, brushing back his sweaty bangs from his forehead with one hand. "It's fine," he said calmly. "Now they'll look even more pathetic when we win."
I looked across the court. Wade twirled his ball like a hunter with a blade. Jonas cracked his knuckles.
Two on each side.
Stanlee and I versus Wade and Jonas.
The final round was set. Before Coach resumed us, he told us to drop the hanging by the wall strat since we only had five minutes remaining in the period. I didn't like it one bit. Wade and Jonas' smirks were gleaming; they could practically taste the blood.
Stanlee sighed, "Alright, Kevin's time for plan two."
I raised an eyebrow. "You never told me what plan two is."
He smiled, "Remember, we have all nine balls, Wade only has one."
"Oh, that's right, " I recalled, "we can outgun those two!"
He nodded, "We get out one of them and the game's ours."
Coach's whistle shrieked, and the final round began. Stanlee and I rushed for the balls. I scooped up two dodgeballs, heart pounding like a base drum. We had the advantage nine to one. Yet the chills were running all over my body again(talk about bad timing).
Wade's grin didn't help, nor did his instigating " Cmon, Almond-eyed Veyron lemme see that 20/20 vision at work!"
My eyes scrunched up in disgust. If Wade was tryna get a rise out of me, he failed miserably. Coach K shook his head in disdain. The rest of the crowd was split between snickers and boos.
We launched the first volley, and Stanlee's throw went too wide. Mine barely grazed Jonas's sleeve. He ducked low and fired back at me in retaliation with a quick motion. Wade followed up behind him, both shots ripping through the air like bullets.
I went for my side step dodge -
My left foot slipped.
My entire world spun as my sneakers slid through a wet, heavy sweat on the hardwood floor. "Marcus," I thought immediately. Nobody else was this big, and he was laid out at this exact spot. How poetic, I'm about to face the same fate as him. I fell to one knee
"Kevin, move!" Stanlee shouted.
I couldn't move my left leg, cramped up from that quick slip movement. I froze; it was too late.
Jonas's ball zoomed to my face. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, ready to accept my fate. Then a dull thud filled the air, followed by a loud smack.
I open my eyes to see Stanlee standing in front of me. He had taken the full brunt of Jonas's throw and caught it. But he got hit in his ribcage by Wade's fastball.
"Damn," Stanlee said, dropping the ball he caught and rubbing his left side of his ribcage.
The gym erupted - boos, cheers, gasps, and a few kids questioned the fairness of the play/scenario. Everyone saw it. I slipped. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Coach just blew his whistle. "Stanlee and Jonas, you're out."
Jonas shrugged then cackled, "Kevin's gonna leave here in a stretcher once Wades is done with him!"
"Coach, the two-catch rule!" Stanlee wheezed. "We caught the ball two more times again!"
Coach shook his head. "Don't tell me you forgot the two-catch rule can only be used once after halftime. After that, a catch will get a player out, but no one will be brought back in. It's usable ONCE after halftime."
The Red team's side cheered, while the Blue team was outraged. Sometimes it feels like Coach just rigs games for us to lose, and he always seems to hide behind the "we're running out of time" excuse. I could tell Keisha wanted to sock Coach K right in his jaw.
Stanlee turned, clutching his side, clearly in pain. Yet he still managed to force out a smile anyway. "I believe in you, bro," he said, "just breathe out there. Nobody wants to take Wade down more than you. Do it for us." He raised his fist towards me. I nodded, tapping my fist against his. He jogged off the court, leaving me on my own.
It was just me against Wade. Cowboy standoff. The lights are flickering on my side of the gym.
The sound of all other noises got filtered out; all I could feel were my chills racing around my body. My breathing is way too fast. I did my best to steady it.
Inhale.
Hold.
The whistle shrieked, piercing the air. My eyes zoomed in and locked in on Wade and the ball.
"Sayonara, Sweet and sour built ahh," Wade said. He wound up his arm. Twisted and released. A blazing blur as it whistled in the air towards me.
Then something changed.
I didn't move an inch; the ball no longer moved like a bullet. More so at a turtle's pace. I could read its flow as its path was so clear to me now. A gray streak trails behind it as it gets closer to me. The ball wasn't flying at me - it was flowing.
I stepped forward.
Time snapped back.
Smack.
The ball slammed into my palms and spun for two seconds before stopping dead in its tracks. My palms burned like a wildfire for that small time. But I didn't drop the ball.
Silence.
Then the chaos erupted
"He...HE CAUGHT IT!" someone screamed.
Coach K blew his whistle, "Wade's OUT! Blue team wins!"
I just stood there clutching the ball, my lungs finally exhaling. Wade's smirk vanished, then turned to anger. I've now humbled him twice, making the score between us two to zero. The Red team sat there in shock which turned into misery. the Blue team on the other hand, looked like they just won the lottery. They broke out onto the floor, led by Stanlee.
"What was that just now?" Keisha demanded.
"I don't know, I admitted, "I just put all my focus into catching the ball."
Stanlee nodded, "That's what we call being in the zone, it's a special place where players become untouchable- like the game itself flows around them instead of the other way around."
Keisha crossed her arms." Special place, huh? All I saw was you catching something moving at damn near light speed."
I shrugged, "I don't even know myself, I just... moved."
Stanlee grinned, his eyes glowing behind his round glasses, "Exactly, you didn't think - you flowed. That's how pros play. It has many names: In the Zone, feeling the flow, aka flow state, developer mode, and the eye of the tiger."
Wade kicked a stray ball so hard it ricocheted off the bleachers and stormed out of the gym, muttering curses under his breath. Jonas followed him quietly, head down.
The bell rang, and Coach K clapped his hands. "Alright, pack it up! Jerseys in the bin-lunch time!"
The crowd began to scatter, laughter and chatter filling the air again. Some of the Blue Team players were still replaying the moment, mimicking the catch like it was the highlight of a championship.
As I walked toward the locker room, Stanlee patted me on the back. "You know, Kevin... when you caught that ball, it wasn't just luck. It was like your body already knew what to do before your brain did. That's something different."
I raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
He smiled faintly. "You'll see. Keep breathing the way you did out there. You might find that 'zone' again sooner than you think."
The bell rang faintly in the distance as we walked out of the gym. My palms were still tingling. Every breath I took felt lighter.
Maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe it was something else.
All I knew was, for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel powerless.