Page 147 - The Life of A Teenage Girl (Stories About Finding Your Way)

CHAPTER 4

A
fter lunch, we had gym. Our teacher, Coach Roberta,

assigned us to practice our basketball skills. Most of the
girls didn’t want to and just went to the end of the gym to

do TikTok dances. But not me — I was determined to practice my
skills. Mama always wanted me to be a sports player. She sees me as a

basketball or volleyball player.

Normally, because of my height. Almost all of the boys in my class
were also tall, so I felt like a boy playing basketball. Erika played some

rounds, but Tara decided to just sit on the bench and watch the game.
While I was playing, Caleb came beside me with the ball in his

hands and said, “I didn’t know you could play basketball… Hoopster.”

I tried blocking him before he could make a shot. His friends kept
yelling, “Bro, pass, pass!” He ignored them and continued, “Finished

taking off the dirty slime from your head? That smells just like you.”
I got so angry, and when the ball slipped from his hand, I took it

and dribbled. But before he or someone else could block me, I made a
quick, high bank shot. Tara got up and started applauding.

Then I shoved the ball into his hands and said, “Yeah, it actually

wasn’t so hard to clean — oh, and unlike you, I took a shower this
morning. So maybe it’s you who smells so bad.”