Slam Dunk (4 page)

“Okay,” muttered Julian, “I’ll do that.”

“Because it matters to them, you know?” Grady went on, as if Julian hadn’t said anything.

Julian gave Grady a long look. “I said I would, all right?”

“Sure,” Grady said, turning away. “Sorry I bothered you.”

When the break was over, the coach worked on set plays, including the give-and-go. In this play, a tall offensive player, a center or a forward, posts himself with his back to the basket near the key and gets the ball from a teammate. He then passes off and pivots around the man guarding him toward the hoop. The player with the ball feeds the tall man, who, if the play is run correctly, should have an open layup.

Julian was the man in the middle the first time it was run, and he was guarded by Mick. He passed to Grady and moved around Mick to the basket. Grady’s pass was right on target, setting up an easy shot.

“Very nice!” called out Coach Valenti. Julian smiled and nodded to Grady, who smiled back. Julian had to admit that nothing felt better than working a play like that properly.

A few minutes later, Julian was in the pivot again, and this time Len was the guy he passed to. Julian made his move around the guy guarding him, but his first step was slow. When Len launched his pass, Julian wasn’t in position to get it. Shaking his head, Julian slowly trotted after the ball.

“Get the lead out,” the coach called. “The pass was where it should have been, Julian.”

Julian kept his face neutral, but inside he was seething. Like nobody else had messed up a play today?

Coach Valenti spent the last part of practice working on zone defense. In this type of defense, defenders don’t guard individuals but are responsible for guarding a section of the court. Julian was the center on the offensive team, and he was feeling tired and moving as little as possible. The defensive team was using a 3–2 zone, with a defender on each side of the key. Julian’s responsibility was to work himself open for a possible shot, but he stayed pretty much in one place.

Finally, there was a blast from the coach’s whistle. “Julian, you know about the three-second rule, don’t you?”

The three-second rule says that no player from the offensive team can stand with even one foot in the key for more than three seconds. If someone does, the team has to turn the ball over. Julian knew the rule very well. He nodded, feeling foolish.

Coach Valenti said, “Well, you’ve had your right foot planted in the paint for about ten seconds now. You stuck on a piece of chewing gum or something?”

“Uh...sorry.” Julian realized that the coach was absolutely right and moved away.

“Okay, let’s knock off for today,” said the coach. “We did some good work out there. Before everyone leaves, I have some news. Barry Streeter’s dad called me to say that Barry is going to need surgery on his leg. He’ll be in the hospital for a few days, and it isn’t clear yet how long it’ll take him to recover.

“Needless to say, this is bad news, and Barry could use some cheering up and a show of support. Visiting hours are until eight P.M., so please, everyone, stop by if you possibly can. Okay, that’s it. Julian, stick around a minute.”

As the rest of the players left the floor, Julian braced himself for a lecture. The coach motioned him to sit down on one of the courtside benches.

“What’s up?” asked Coach Valenti. His voice was mild. “I don’t want to poke my nose into anything that isn’t my business, but something’s bothering you, and if you want to talk about it, feel free.”

Julian was relieved that the coach wasn’t yelling. “I’m okay,” he said, feeling as if he’d repeated those words a million times recently.

The coach thought a moment before saying, “Last year, it wasn’t just your skills that set you apart. It was your attitude. You were always early for practices and games, and you gave it all you had. If I worried about anything, it was that you might push yourself too hard.

“That was then. This year, you show up late to our second practice, with no excuse at all. You don’t seem to want to have anything to do with your teammates, and you’re going at about half-speed. I know it’s early, but the difference is huge, and I’m... concerned. Not angry, not worried, but definitely concerned. But you say you’re okay, so I’ll accept that.
But
I need to see more from you than I’ve seen so far.

“It’s partly because the team needs the kind of play you’re capable of, and it’s partly because we have so many new faces. That puts more of a burden on you than there would have been if more of last year’s guys were back. Like it or not, you’re the one who sets the tone. If you slack off, I guarantee others will. And then we’re in for a long season.”

“So if the team doesn’t do well, it’s my fault?” Julian asked.

The coach shook his head. “What I said was, you have to show the way: make this team think and play together, and give an effort. It may not be fair, but that’s what happens when someone has a gift.
You
have a gift. Basketball may take you a long way, but there will be a price to pay. Think about it. And remember, I’ll always be around if you want to talk.” He stood up to leave. “See you tomorrow,” Coach Valenti said. “On time.”

Julian headed for the locker room, thinking about what the coach had said. As he changed clothes, Grady came over. “Hey, my mom is driving Mick and me to visit Barry in the hospital, if you feel like coming. We’re leaving in a few minutes.”

Without really thinking, Julian said, “I can’t. I have to go home.”

“You don’t want to see Barry?” asked Grady. “The coach said —”

“
Sure
I want to see him!” Julian glared at the other boy. “But I can’t go this afternoon, that’s all. I have to go home.”

“Okay then.” Grady walked away without another word. Julian put on his street shoes, wondering if he had done the right thing. He was worried about Barry and did want to see him. Why had he turned Grady down?

Because he wanted to see Barry without anybody else along.

But that was
dumb.
He should have agreed and gone with the others. Why was he behaving this way? He looked around. He was the only player still there.

Suddenly, Julian jumped up, grabbed his gear, and raced outside. Maybe he could still catch Grady and Mick.

But when he got outside, they were gone.

6

F
or the rest of the day, Julian kept thinking about not going to visit Barry with Grady. When he sat down to dinner, he told his family about Barry’s condition.

“Could you guys drive me over to the hospital after dinner so I can see him?”

“Sure thing,” said Mr. Pryce. “I know Barry would appreciate it. I’ll run you over there. As long as I’m taking you, is there anyone else who might like to go along? How about your friend Grady?”

Julian said, “No, that’s okay. Just me.”

“Why don’t you give Grady a call and tell him you’re going?” Mrs. Pryce persisted. “After all, he’s one of Barry’s friends, too.”

Julian realized he would have to explain. “Grady, uh...he already went to see Barry. He went right after practice.”

“Oh,” said Julian’s mother, looking a little surprised and glancing at her husband.

“How come you didn’t go with Grady?” Megan asked. “Didn’t he ask you to go?”

“Yeah,” Julian said, wishing the conversation would end. “He asked.”

“Well?” Megan said. “If Grady went this afternoon,
and
he asked you to come along... why didn’t you?”

Julian stared straight ahead. “Because he...I didn’t ... we kind of had a fight.”

Mr. Pryce frowned. “You and Grady? What’s going on? You two always got along last season.”

Julian didn’t want to go into it. “It’s no big deal. It’s just...”

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” said his mother.

“I think it’s weird that you wouldn’t visit your buddy in the hospital together,” Megan said, looking at Julian disapprovingly. “Especially if it’s no big deal.”

Julian felt his face turning red. “He was hassling me, that’s all. Telling me how I should act with the new guys on the team, saying that I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing, like I’m goofing off, not giving a hundred percent. And I got angry.”

“The way you talked about how bad the team was,” Megan said, “maybe he’s right.”

“Mind your own business!” Julian yelled. “He was wrong, and so are you!”

Mr. Pryce held up a hand like a policeman directing traffic. “That’s enough of that, both of you. Megan, it really isn’t your business, unless Julian asks you for advice.”

“I’d like to see Grady and you patch things up,” said Julian’s mother. “It’s never fun to have problems with a friend.”

“Well, he started it,” muttered Julian.

“Doesn’t matter who started it,” said Mr. Pryce. “The main thing is that it’s bad for both of you, and it could be bad for the team as well. Anyway, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

A little later, Julian sat in the family car with his father. Mr. Pryce asked, “Were you and Grady arguing last night on the phone?”

“Uh-huh,” Julian admitted.

They pulled into the hospital parking lot. “Want me to come?” asked Mr. Pryce.

“That’s okay,” said Julian. “I’ll call you when I’m ready to leave, okay?”

He went in and was directed to Barry’s room. Feeling nervous, he approached the open door, not knowing what to expect, and peered in.

“Hello?” he said, entering the room.

“Jools! My man!” Barry looked surprised and happy to see him.

Julian was shocked by his friend’s appearance and hoped it didn’t show. Barry’s right leg was encased in a cast from his foot almost to his hip. A complicated-looking metal frame around the cast kept the leg from moving. His left forearm was heavily bandaged, and there was a large dressing wrapped around his head. Something dripped from a plastic IV bag on a pole into a needle stuck into his right arm, just below the elbow.

Julian hadn’t realized that Barry’s injuries were so serious. Now he struggled to think of something to say, wanting to sound relaxed rather than worried, looking for a cheerful thought but not finding one.

Barry grinned. “Do I look that bad? You should see the expression on your face.”

Julian came to the side of the bed. “Uh...I didn’t realize...I guess you won’t be at practice tomorrow.”

Laughing, Barry said, “No, but I got a note from my doctor. You just missed my folks; they left a minute ago. Good to see you, man.”

Julian pulled over a chair and sat. “What’s up? I hear you need an operation. When?”

Barry’s smile dimmed. “Probably tomorrow, if the doctors are sure I don’t have an infection.” With his left hand, he gestured to the IV. “That’s why I’m getting the antibiotics, just in case. I won’t know until the morning.”

“Wow,” Julian said. “That’s rough. Did the doctors say when you can play again?”

Barry leaned back into his pillows and closed his eyes. “Uh-uh. They won’t know until after they operate. But I don’t think it’s going to be any time soon.”

Julian nodded, trying to take it all in. “But, I mean, you
will
be able to play at some point, right?”

Barry opened his eyes and looked at Julian for a moment, his smile completely gone. “They didn’t say. They won’t say anything much at all. So, the answer is: I don’t know when I can play again. Or
if
I can.”

Julian was stuck for something to say. The idea of never being able to play hoops again was more than he could deal with.

“Anyway,” Barry said gruffly, “let’s talk about something else. How’s practice going?”

Julian shook his head. “Okay, I guess. It’s a little weird because everybody’s gone. Just about, anyway. Max moved away.”

“Yeah, I know,” Barry replied. “By the way, what’s going on with you and Grady?”

Julian stiffened. “Why? What did he tell you? Because whatever he said, he —”

“Grady didn’t say anything about you and him,” Barry cut in. “It’s just, when he showed up and you weren’t with him, I asked about you, and he kind of took a deep breath and looked sad and said he didn’t want to talk about it. What’s the deal?”

“It’s nothing,” Julian said.

Barry raised his eyebrows in a show of disbelief. “Nothing. Right. Except you and he came to see me separately, and he wouldn’t say why and you won’t talk about it. Hey, I’m your friend, and I’m his friend, so come on. Tell me.”

Julian stood up and started to pace around the room. “He’s hassling me about how I’m supposed to be a ‘team leader,’ whatever that means. He says I have to, like, be buddies with everyone and hang out with them and be a cheerleader. And that I’m ‘setting a bad example’ by not hustling. Well, where does he come off telling me what to do? It’s none of his business. He keeps saying the Tornadoes are going to be great, which is just dumb. There’s no way that’s happening, because everybody’s gone except me, so when we look bad, it’s all going to be my fault. And I didn’t sign up to be the great leader; I just want to play basketball.”

Julian sat back down by the bed. “Anyway. That’s it.” Barry said, “Wow. That’s a lot of nothing. But, you know, even if I was on the team, and Max, too, you
would
be the leader. You were our go-to guy last year, the MVP, the big dog. And that’s what you’re going to be this year, too. You’re a star, dude. That’s how it is. You’re a star. Being a leader is part of the deal, and you can do it.”

Julian scowled. “What if I don’t
want
to do it? Don’t I have a choice?”

Barry said, “Well, you can walk away and quit the team. Which is something you’re not going to do. But I don’t think you have any other choice. You’re a great basketball player, and guys expect a lot out of you, and not just good stats, either. Tell you what, though, I think you’re wrong about people blaming you if the Tornadoes aren’t champs this year — no one who knows anything about basketball would blame you. They’ll have a problem with you if you don’t play as well as you can. But if you play hard, nobody’s going to give you grief, even if the team never wins a game. At least, that’s what I think.”

Julian didn’t agree with Barry, but he didn’t want to argue. Not with Barry looking the way he did and about to have that operation and possibly never being able to play again. Finally, he said, “Grady’s crazy if he thinks we’ll be a great team, right? No way that can happen, not with a bunch of new guys who are just okay players.”