Jack got out of his mom's car and could feel a chill in the air. Ox looked up in the sky and had a look of apprehension on his face. Jack's mom rolled down the window and called for Jack's attention.
"If this storm really rolls in tonight then I want you come home right after school...don't go to practice...it's more important that your safe...Greg said the bus drivers do better in winter driving...so come home."
"Sure thing mom..."
Jack walked into the school with Ox who brought his running shoes for the team's first early morning run of the New Year. Jack had been running everyday over the break, he felt like he was in the best shape of his life and was chomping at the bit to get back on the court. Because of the cold weather that was moving in, the team decided to run inside the school. When they all had gathered together outside the gym, Jack and Keevan led the team in a slow jog to start things off. Ox was almost a second thought to the rest of the team as he joined in the jog. It didn't take long before the jog turned into a run and Jack turned around to see that Ox was keeping pace with everyone. The team ran around the school several times and even went up and down a few flights of stairs. By the end of the run Ox had kept pace with the team and Jack looked at him with a huge smile on his face.
Jack looked at the rest of the team, it seemed liked everyone was happy to be back at school and determined to keep playing good basketball. They congratulated each other on a productive run and proceeded to get ready for the school day still ahead of them.
Jack kept an eye on the weather outside when he could. By lunch time the snow was flying and the streets were covered in snow. At the end of the school day the snow was coming down harder and the principal announced that all after school activities would be cancelled. Jack was disappointed he wouldn't be able to shoot hoops with the team and was even more disappointed that Ox wouldn't be able to participate.
Jack met Ox at the front doors of the school after the the last class of the day. Kids in the hall were talking about there being a snow day the next day and Jack started to worry that his team wasn't going to get any practice in before they closed out the season. Despite the boisterous noise in the hallway, Coach Roderick's voice suddenly came over the school intercom.
"The Davis basketball team will have a short meeting in the gym in five minutes."
Jack's heart leapt. Maybe Coach Roderick decided to hold practice anyway. He looked at Ox with a big smile.
"Don't be givin' dat smile at me country boy...yo ma said no practice."
"Coach said it was a meeting...not practice."
Ox rolled his eyes at Jack and started walking towards the gym. The boys walked against the flow of traffic attempting to exit the school. When they got to the gym most of the team had arrived and was sitting on a set of bleachers that had been pulled out. Jack and Ox joined the team. After the other players arrived Coach Roderick came into the gym. He walked directly towards his team and stood large and tall in front of them.
"As you know...the principal has cancelled practice today. The other teams we play against will still probably have practice, but we are cancelled for today. I've gone over the standings in our league and spoke with the league office over break and need to let you know what we're up against...The league found out about the incident with Josiah and Ox. Because Josiah was arrested on criminal charges we have been forced to forfeit the games Josiah played in."
Jack's heart sank to his feet. Keevan pounded his fist onto the bleacher and the rest of the team started to grumble.
"We had already locked up one of the post season tournament spots before this ruling occurred. Know we have to win our next two games and get some help to make the tournament...I know that this seems unfair, but it teaches us a lesson that it matters how we conduct ourselves both on and off the court...So here's the plan for practicing this week."
Jack was relieved that Coach had a plan, but still felt unsettled about everything going on.
"The weather is really bad today. I want all of you to go home and do your regular stretches like we do in warm up. I also want you to do jumping jacks for fifteen minutes, do 100 sit ups, do 100 pushups, and then I want you to do your homework. If school is cancelled tomorrow we will have practice at 10am at my house."
Coach Roderick started passing out a half sheet of paper with directions and a map. It also had bus route information. Jack looked at it and was surprised to recognize that his house looked like it was in the same neighborhood as Amanda's dad's house.
"This is not a mandatory practice...if you can't make it I understand...and it's only going to happen if school is cancelled. If you do come...be prepared to work hard. Now get home and I'll either see you at school or at practice."
Coach grinned and raised his eyebrows at his team. Jack and Ox walked out of the gym with their slips of paper. Jack kept looking down at the map.
"Do you think this is by Amanda's house Ox?"
"Boy...you gots to stop thinkin' bout dat girl."
"I'm not thinking about her...I'm thinking about Coach's house. If he lives by Amanda it means he's got a pretty big pad."
"Coach done play pro hoops...course he got a tight crib."
"Well I just never thought of it that way."
"You dense sometimes country boy."
Ox shoved Jack and laughed at him. Jack pushed him back. They rumbled their way to the front doors of the school and bundled up for a cold bus ride home.