I just lay there, in the dark, thinking about our game. We’d won our fifth in a row. I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t have bet on us winning two games the whole season, but here we were five games in and we still hadn’t lost. I had to shake my head. Once again we were down by a couple of points with less than a minute to go and we’d pulled it out. Well, Kia had pulled it out. Two baskets and two free throws had turned a potential loss into a win.
I always had trouble sleeping after a game— even if it had been hours and hours before— and tonight was no different. I turned over and my computer made a sound to signal that I had received an email. My mom had told me to turn the computer off so I could get to sleep, but I liked to leave it on. I really didn’t like to be in complete darkness. I was too old to have a night-light, but not too old to have a computer that worked like a night-light.
I rolled out of bed and went over to investigate. Maybe I should just check the message. It could be from Kia. No, it was almost midnight and she’d be in bed and asleep.
That made me even more curious. Who would be emailing me at this time of night? I clicked on the screen.
Hey Nick,
It’s me, JYD! Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you, but I’m on the other side of the world right now. Far, far away from home. I’m writing to you from South Africa! Johnnie and I are here with the NBA Basketball Without Borders program. I am now an NBA Cares ambassador who travels to different countries to promote this game we both love.
I am sure that you have seen the commercials during NBA games that say NBA Cares. Well, small groups of former and current players visit different countries to support young people, meet political figures and open learn-and-play centers.We dedicate basketball courts in some communities as well as host a basketball camp for the best young players from all across that country.
Johnnie spoke today to some American and Canadian students attending the private school that is hosting our Basketball Without Borders camp about serving others, just like their parents who represent their countries as diplomats.
We also talk a lot to the kids who live here all the time. Over here the young people have so many challenges that get in the way of them reaching their dreams. But what has shocked me is that even though so many kids here have been affected by aids and lost their parents, they still smile every day and ask for very little. There’s one kid, his name is Tulani, and he’s been like a guide to us. He plays basketball in bare feet because he and the other kids can’t afford shoes.He really loves the game but has no shoes to wear to school or to play ball in. There are so many young kids here with no shoes. If my feet weren’t three times as big as his, I’d give him my shoes. I wish there was some way to help him and the others.
Hey, you were asking me for some help with getting the Raptors to your school, right? Have they responded yet?
Well, I gotta go now. Our bus is about to leave and I have to pay for my computer time before they leave me behind.
Just remember, when asking the Raptors to do something for you, try to show that you and your classmates care about others, just like the NBA cares about its fans. That will separate your request from all the others. Good luck.
I’ll email you later if I can,
JYD
Well, that explained why I hadn’t heard from him. It was so amazing that he was in Africa. Of course, that also meant that he wasn’t really able to help us out at this time.
“Nick, you should be asleep. And I hope that computer is off,” shouted my mom from the other room.
I quickly pushed the button to turn the computer off. “It’s off…good night,” I replied.