COMMUNITY

Basketball is a community. As the sweats trickles down my face, I reach to grab a dry towel from the pile of towels that have yet come to absorb the sweat from my fellow teammates sweat seeping pores. Gasping for air a sweat drop finds its way on my tongue. Tasting the flavor of determination, I stand by eight other females who have that same taste lurking in their buds. We are all hoping to get that last huge bite of “25-0”. Passing the ball left to right and right to left through defenders, gripping the ball as if it was a baby, protecting it so no one can take away our sense of worth. Bashing through the wall of defenders, an overcoming adrenaline rush travels from head to toe, releasing all the stress in life I once had. Anytime I was a little tense the time to release my uneven energies was against our rivalry. All of the girls became physical when it came to finals time!

Basketball is a community. As coach calls a time out we all run to the sideline like a pack of animals getting ready to feed. As we gather all of our eyes focus on the draw board, focusing on all the ideas coach throws as at so we don’t loose our sense of stability. A whistle blows, our hands meet in the center of the circle gathering as one. Each one of our hands sends a vibration of wanting and needing through our bodies one by one to win this game. Uniformity floats in the air. Dirty looks, flying elbows, and hustle from the opposing team threaten to discover our differences. Causing tension to linger in our muscles .The score reads 45-45. Words exchange from player to player with the same anxiety that will soon determine our true togetherness. As the ball rolls my finger tips high into the air, my eyes close, and my vision of my basketball community flashes in front of me. A vision of a community that accepts me, challenges me, shares values with me and finally depends on me to do my part. “SWISH” the ball falls into the hoop to complete the last shot possible for the win. Smiles, joy, and fulfillment overcome the gym as we jump up and down with not a worry in the world. This proves, we are a community.-