Jack walked into the gym for practice. Some of the other players were stretching. Jack had hoped that Ox would be in the gym, even though he knew that Ox said he was going to hang out in the library and wait for practice to get out. Jack was struggling with Ox not wanting to play basketball. He didn't think that Ox was the kind of person to give up on something, especially something he was so talented in. Every time Jack thought that Ox was really quitting he started telling himself that Ox still needed time to heal.
After he threw down his duffle bag, Jack started stretching. Cisco and Arturo were already stretching together and David and Jocelyn were warming up together. After Jack stretched out for a few minutes Keevan came into the gym. He looked a little sad, but by the time he got on the court he seemed to perk up a little.
Before too long all the players had arrived and Jack and Keevan started having the team running their regular drills. Mr. Roderick came into the gym as the team was running layup drills. He watched the drill for less than a minute and blew his whistle. The team gathered around him at half court. He looked at all of them with a very straight face and then held up several loose pieces of paper.
"Does anyone know what this is?"
Everyone looked at each other, but no one answered.
"These are your current grades in all your classes. I had a friend remind me that the most important reason we come to school is to get educated...Some of you are not living up to the standard we set at Davis Middle School. Two of you are failing at least one class and five of you have substandard grades in multiple grades...Does anyone want to admit to having poor grades?"
Mr. Roderick looked around and finally Keevan stood up.
"I'm flunking math...coach."
"Yes you are Keevan...Does anyone else want to share with the team?"
Jack wasn't aware of getting any bad grades, so he looked around. Pretty soon Arturo stood up with his head looking at the ground.
"I'm flunking coach...most of my classes."
"Thank you Arturo...So we have two starting players who are failing. Some of you are not maintaining the grades I expect from my team."
Jack looked around at the other players who seemed to be confused by what Mr. Roderick was saying. He didn't know if he should interject anything, but he decided he needed to.
"What type of grades should we be getting, coach?"
"Excellent question Jack...You all should have a "C" or higher in all of your classes. I will not tolerate anything less. We cannot succeed on the basketball court unless we succeed in the classroom."
Keevan looked heartbroken as he continued to stand.
"I will continue to hold practice for those of you who are where you need to be. The rest of you need to go get help in the library with getting caught up."
Jack didn't think it would be right if some of them were practicing and others of them were studying.
"Can't we all help each other to get caught up so we can start practicing sooner?"
"If that's what the team decides to do then I'm fine with that decision."
Jack had been looking forward to practicing all day, but the news that Mr. Roderick brought gave Jack a different thought. He stood up and looked at his teammates.
"I promise to help all of you get caught up in your classes if you promise to keep your grades up and play your hearts out."
The team looked at Jack bewildered with admiration. He smiled at them and walked to the library. Keevan caught up to him in the hallway.
"You something else Jack...you coulda been practicing with coach...probably by yourself."
"I know Keevan...but you guys are important to me. We need to stick together or we're not gonna win any more games. Besides, Ox is in the library. He's pretty good at math and science."
"Why didn't he come to practice?"
"He's not sure he wants to play hoops anymore."
"What?"
"Yup...he says he wants to focus on school."
"That's crazy...he be the best player at Davis."
"Did you just admit someone's better than you?"
"You better ain't tell no one Jack...dis between you and me."
"Why don't we see if Ox will help you with your math?"
"Cool...that'd be great."
By the time Jack escorted the whole team into the library he could see lots of other kids hanging out and studying. The team found a spot in the corner with three tables. Before the team got settled Ox had come over.
"Whatcha y'all doin' here?"
Jack was relieved to see Ox.
"Hey Ox...coach just sent us up cause some of the team is struggling in classes."
"Well I be done wit' my work...I can help."
"Really?"
"Yeah...dem is still my team."
Jack felt a huge relief lift off his shoulder. His hope for getting Ox back on the team had just been reaffirmed. Within a few minutes the team had organized themselves into study groups according to the subjects they were having difficulty with. Ox worked with Keevan, Cisco, and Jocelyn with math. Jack worked with Arturo on English and David worked with James and Luther on science.
After an hour of studying has passed the librarian announced that the library would be closing. The team started to wrap things up and planned to come straight to the library after school the next day. Ox said that it would probably take a while before they would be caught up with math. Jack knew that Arturo was struggling with English because it was his second language and David wasn't convinced that James or Luther would grasp the science material.
Both Jack and Keevan felt like they should tell Mr. Roderick what the team had done and what their plans were for the rest of the week. Ox decided to go with them since he and Jack would be catching the same bus home. Keevan thought they should check the security office first. Mr. Roderick was going over reports as Jack knocked on his door.
"Who's there?"
"It's Jack, Keevan, and Ox sir...may we come in?"
Keevan looked at Jack like he was being to formal. Jack told him to calm down under his breathe.
"Come in gentlemen...I trust you want to talk to me about practice."
"No sir...we wanted to let you know how studying went."
Mr. Roderick put down his file and looked up at the boys.
"Go on."
"We have decided that we will study in the library every day after school this week and every week after until we all are caught up."
"What time does the library close?"
"Four o'clock."
"Practice will be at 4:15 tomorrow."
Jack looked stunned. Ox and Keevan both kept a straight silent face.
"What about...?"
"You're commitment to study is more important than practice...but we still have time after studying to practice for forty five minutes...Can I ask why Ox is with you? He is not a captain has not been officially welcomed back to the team."
Ox looked at Keevan and Jack who both didn't look like they knew what to say.
"I's helpin' out my team mates wit' math...sir."
"Does that mean you want to play ball again?"
"I's just knows dem needs help in math...I's gonna help em'."
"If you help then you need to also watch practice...I don't have an assistant coach right now and I think you might give me a good extra set of eyes. Can I count on you to help me out?"