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  Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Aro, David.

  Title: Swish / David Aro.

  Description: New York : West 44, 2020. | Series: Alton heights all-stars Identifiers: ISBN 9781538382158 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781538382165 (library bound) | ISBN 9781538383087 (ebook)

  Subjects: LCSH: Basketball--Juvenile fiction. | Teamwork (Sports)--Juvenile fiction. | Friendship—Juvenile fiction.| Competition (Psychology)--Juvenile fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.A76 Sw 2020 | DDC [F]--dc23

  First Edition

  Published in 2020 by Enslow Publishing LLC 101 West 23rd Street, Suite #240 New York, NY 10011

  Copyright © 2020 Enslow Publishing LLC

  Editor: Theresa Emminizer Designer: Seth Hughes

  Photo credits: Cover (basketball) undefined undefined/iStock/Thinkstock; cover (fire) Nixxphotography/iStock/Thinkstock.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

  Printed in the United States of America

  CPSIA compliance information: Batch #CS18W44: For further information contact Enslow Publishing LLC, New York, New York at 1-800-542-2595.

  It was the Ail-Stars’ most important practice of the year.

  Tyler waited by the basketball hoop at the park. He had news to tell his team.

  He spun with his hand on the pole.

  He drew out new plays on the court with a rock. He shot around.

  He made five shots in a row from the dotted line. He backed up a step. Made five more. He moved to the free-throw line. Then looked toward the park entrance.

  The summer sun shone down on the small trees along the path. The mayor had asked the All-Stars to plant them. Not too long ago, the team had saved the park.

  Tyler missed his next two shots. He sat on the bail. And he waited some more.

  The shadows of the trees danced on the ground. And finally, the rest of the Ail-Stars’ shadows joined them.

  Tyler ran to his team. “What took you guys so long?”

  “Sorry we’re late,” said Cam.

  “Yeah,” said Brianna. “Sleeping Beauty over here slept in.” She threw grass at Markus.

  Markus shook it from his messy hair. “What do you expect? It’s the first day of summer vacation.”

  They walked toward the court. Tyler dribbled the ball.

  “I have it all planned out,” he said.

  “We have three weeks. We can meet here every morning. Spend all day practicing for...” Tyler held his breath.

  “What is it, already?” asked Markus.

  “I-signed-us-up-for-a-tournament-at-the-Rec-Center,” said Tyler. As if it was all one word.

  ‘A tournament?” asked Markus. “Do you really think we’re ready?”

  Brianna stopped laughing. She looked away from Markus. He pulled the last pieces of grass from his hair. Cam started biting his nails. Jasmine stopped walking. She fell behind the rest of the group.

  “After all we’ve been through,” said Tyler. “Of course! And now we don’t have school or anything else to get in the way of our practice time. It’s perfect!”

  Tyler passed the ball to Cam. Cam caught it before it hit him in the chest.

  “About that,” said Jasmine softly. But she was too far back to be heard over Tyler.

  “I’ve made some new plays,” said Tyler. “And I think I found someone who can make us team shirts.”

  “About that,” said Jasmine, louder. She walked up to the group.

  “I’m sorry,” said Tyler. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I couldn’t wait to tell you guys.” “I don’t know how to say this,” said Jasmine. Her voice grew quiet.

  Tyler paused. Everyone’s attention shifted to her.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Cam.

  “I’m not going to be able to practice with you guys,” said Jasmine. “I have to live with my dad for the summer.”

  “Really?” asked Tyler.

  Brianna put her arm around Jasmine. “And I thought I was the one with bad news,” she said.

  Jasmine rested her head on Brianna’s shoulder. “What’s your news?” she asked.

  “I have to go to summer school,” answered Brianna.

  “Me too,” said Cam.

  Tyler knocked the ball out of Cam’s hands. “But neither of you failed any classes!” he said.

  “No,” said Cam. “But I got a C- in math. So, my mom signed me up. Just to make sure I’m ready for next year.”

  “And with all our focus on the park,” said Brianna. “I never finished the last reading assignment for the year. Now they’re making me read extra books. With tests after each one!”

  Tyler dropped the ball.

  “Speaking of,” said Markus.

  “You, too?” asked Tyler. He grabbed the sides of his shirt with his fists.

  “I hâve to help my dad mow lawns this summer,” answered Markus. “He said I’m old enough to help out. But I’m sure I’il still hâve time to play At least a few nights a week.

  “It doesn’t matter,” said Tyler. “There’s no point. We can’t play in the tournament if we all won’t be here.”

  Tyler’s apartment was spotless. It was his first week of vacation. He had already washed the dishes. Everything smelled like lemon dish soap. He picked up the family room. He took out the trash. He even made his bed. That was something he never did.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Tyler’s mom.

  She opened a drawer. She looked inside. “I’m bored,” said Tyler. “And ail my friends are too busy to practice.”

  “Found them.” Tyler’s mom tossed her car keys into her purse. “I hâve to get to work,” she said. “The house is cleaner than ever. You should get outside. You could always play basketball by yourself.”

  “Thanks,” said Tyler. He rolled his eyes.

  Tyler’s mom kissed his cheek. She shut the door behind her.

  Tyler grabbed the bail. He dribbled around the kitchen.

  He tossed the bail into the wall. He caught it like it was a pass. He faced the couch. Then shot it. The bail landed in the middle of the couch.

  He jumped on the couch after the bail. He laid on his back. He threw the bail in the air. Over and over.

  He heard Cam and Brianna’s voices as they came down the hall. They all lived in the Alton Heights housing complex, too.

  Tyler threw on his shoes. He ran after them.

  “Hey, guys,” he called out.

  “Hey, Tyler,” said Cam.

  “What’s up?” asked Brianna.

  “You guys want to go to the park?” asked Tyler.

  Brianna put her book bag over her right shoulder. “Wish we could,” she said.

  “Yeah,” said Cam. “But you’re welcome to walk with us.”

  “It’s better than sitting around here,” said Tyler.

  They reached the park. Cam and Brianna continued on to school. They disappeared between the houses. Tyler watched from the edge of the court. He was alone, again. Just him, his ball, and...

  “Heads up!” shouted T.J. He threw a football from the field towards Tyler.

  Tyler turned and caught it.

  T.J., Jason, and the rest of the Golden Roots Prep team walked onto the court. Everyone except Steve.

  Tyler threw the ball back to T.J. “What are you guys doing here?” he asked. “And where’s Steve?”

  T.J. threw the ball around his back to Jason. “Steve hurt his ankle at yesterda/s practice,” he said.

  ‘And the doctor said he has to stay off it for a few weeks,” said Jason.
<
br />   “You guys are still practicing?” asked Tyler. He rolled his shoulders forward.

  “Sure are,” answered T.J. “I saw your team name on the tournament sign-up list, too. I’m sure you guys have been practicing like crazy.”

  “Well,” Tyler said. “Not exactly. Everyone’s so busy. We won’t be playing in the tournament.”

  “Really?” asked T.J. He looked at his teammates. “Well, with Steve out, you can play with us.”

  Jason nodded in agreement. “Yeah,” he said. “We’re heading to practice now.”

  Tyler looked over his shoulder. Cam and Brianna were busy at summer school. The smell of the grass reminded him of Markus working. And Jasmine wasn’t even in town.

  Tyler picked up his basketball. He couldn’t do nothing all summer.

  “I’d love to,” he said.

  The Golden Roots Prep gym was different. Tyler remembered the last time he was there. Golden Roots fans had booed the Ail-Stars.

  This time, there was no booing. The rest of the All-Stars weren’t even there.

  Bail racks lined both sides of the court. Blocking dummies were set up for shooting drills on the side hoops.

  The Golden Roots Prep coach walked out of the locker room.

  “Tyler is going to fill in for Steve,” said T.J.

  “Welcome aboard,” said the coach. “It’ll be better playing with you than against you.”

  “Thanks,” said Tyler with a smile.

  The coach blew his whistle. “Now, are you guys ready?”

  The Golden Roots Prep team clapped.

  “Let’s do this!” said Jason.

  They ran five laps around the gym to warm up. Then the coach put them through some stretches. They stretched their arms. Touched their toes. Then did some skips up and down the court.

  The practice was very organized. Way more than Tyler was used to.

  They did three-man passing drills down the court. The players passed the bail to their teammates. Then ran behind them. The last player with the bail made a layup.

  “That took six passes,” yelled the coach. “Pick it up! You should be able to do that in under five.”

  Tyler passed the ball to T.J. Then he followed behind him. T.J. passed it to Steve next. Steve passed it back to Tyler. Then Tyler hit T.J. for the layup.

  “Four passes,” said the coach. “Better. Now, everyone get a ball.”

  The players all grabbed a ball from the rack. Then they lined up on the baseline in four pairs of two.

  In turns, each player dribbled down the court and back with their strong hand. Then they did the same with their weak hand.

  Tyler and T.J. were the first pair finished.

  “Very good, T.J. and Tyler,” said the coach.

  T.J. gave Tyler a high five.

  “Now, pass the ball between your legs as you run,” said the coach. “Without letting it hit the floor.”

  Both Tyler and T.J. made it back and forth twice without losing the ball. Jason only lost control once. But a few balls rolled around the gym from the other players.

  “Is this the kind of effort I expect?” yelled the coach. “Balls up and on the line!”

  Everyone put their balls away. Then they lined back up on the baseline.

  “When I blow the whistle,” said the coach. “Run down and back in under fifteen seconds.”

  The coach blew his whistle. The kids ran. Up and back. Up and back. Whistle after whistle.

  Most of the kids leaned over on their knees between sprints. But Tyler refused to slow down. He ran as fast and hard as he could. There and back. There and back.

  He came in first or second every time. He was happy to be practicing with a team.

  “Good work, Tyler,” said the coach. He blew the whistle twice. “Get some water.” Practice for the rest of the week went much the same. The week after, too. They did team drills. Ball-handling drills by themselves. Shooting drills. And lots of running in between. Mostly when the team’s focus wasn’t there.

  The only thing that changed from day to day was Tyler. His focus grew sharper. He shot better after the coach used the blocking dummies with him. He was in better shape from all the sprinting in practice. And also from the extra running to and from the Golden Roots Prep gym.

  “Nice job today, Tyler,” said the coach one day after practice. “I wish everyone on the team worked as hard as you do.” “Thanks, Coach,” said Tyler.

  The rest of the team left. But Tyler wasn’t ready to go. He was having too much fun practicing in a fancy gym. In a school that cared about sports.

  “Would it be okay if I stayed and shot around a little longer?” he asked.

  “No problem,” replied the coach.

  Tyler sat on the couch. He watched TV His mom wasn’t home from work yet. And he was beat from the extra work he put in after practice.

  There was a knock on the door.

  Tyler muted the TV.

  Knock knock.

  “Tyler, you home?” asked Markus through the door.

  Tyler didn’t answer.

  “I’m done mowing for the day,” said Markus. “I thought we could hang out.”

  Tyler stayed still. Until after he heard Markus’s footsteps on the stairs. And until Markus closed the door to his apartment.

  Tyler turned off the TV He went to bed. He had never ignored one of his friends before. He kept telling himself he was just too tired.

  But the next morning, Tyler paused when he put his hand on the doorknob. He could hear Cam and Brianna in the hall. They were leaving for summer school. He waited until the front door closed. Then Tyler ran to the family room window.

  He watched them cross the parking lot. They walked down the sidewalk together, laughing.

  Tyler didn’t realize how much he had missed his friends. And how guilty he felt playing on another team. Especially Golden Roots Prep.

  But he didn’t have a choice.

  It was the only way he could play basketball. It was how he could play in the Rec Center tournament.

  So, Tyler kept sneaking in and out of the Alton Heights housing complex. He left after he knew his friends were gone. And he shut the door to his apartment as quietly as he could when he returned.

  But a week and a half out from the tournament, everything changed.

  Tyler showed up to practice. He beat the rest of the team, as usual. The coach got out the balls. Tyler shot around. Then T.J., Jason, and the rest of the Golden Roots Prep team came into the gym. Even Steve.

  Steve didn’t have crutches. Or walk with a limp. He carried a gold and blue gym bag on his shoulder.

  Tyler tried his best to keep shooting. But he saw Steve walk over to the coach.

  T.J., Jason, and the rest of the guys picked up balls and started shooting around with Tyler.

  “Good morning, guys,” said Tyler.

  “‘Sup,” said T.J.

  “Do you ever take a break?” asked Jason.

  Before Tyler took another shot, the coach yelled for him. “Tyler. Would you come here a minute?”

  Tyler ran over to the side of the court. “Yeah, Coach?”

  “Have a seat, will you?” said the coach.

  The coach sat with Tyler on the bench.

  “It’s been a pleasure having you on the team,” he said. “I hate to do this to you.

  But there is a maximum of eight players per team for the tournament. Steve is healthy again. I have no choice but to let him play.”

  Tyler watched Steve lace up his sneakers. He took his place back on the court. With his team. They got ready for warm-ups.

  Tyler turned back to the coach. “I understand,” he said. He shook the coach’s hand. “Thanks for everything.”

  Tyler walked out of the gym. The wind slammed the door behind him.

  Tyler hadn’t thought about this.

  How things might come to an end. He didn’t really belong. Even if he won the tournament for Golden Roots Prep. It wouldn’t change anything.

  When s
chool started, he wouldn’t go there. So, he couldn’t really be a part of their team.

  Tyler took his time walking home. He stopped by the park. He sat on the benches. He stared into space. He did his best to block out the playground laughter.