Tim blinked. Dick Dunbar, college star, potential number-one draft pick, and probable future NBA great, needed his help? Had the world turned upside down when he wasn’t looking?
His expression must have revealed his amazement because Dick laughed to himself. “I’m in charge of a new mentoring program this summer,” he explained. “Maybe you read about it in the camp brochures?”
Tim thought for a moment. “Is that the thing where younger campers learn stuff from older campers?”
Dick nodded. “Two mentors from the Eagles Nest had signed up. One of them was Derek Chang.”
“Derek? I don’t think I’ve seen him yet.”
“And you won’t,” Dick said, “because he broke his leg yesterday and had to drop out of camp altogether. That leaves three seven year olds without a mentor unless …” He raised his eyebrows, waiting for Tim to connect the dots.
“Me?” Tim squeaked. “You want me to be a mentor to a bunch of seven-year-olds?” He shook his head. “I don’t know, Dick. The only experience I have with little kids is my bratty sister, Tara. I’ve never babysat anyone before.”
“It’s not babysitting,” Dick objected. “You teach the kids basic basketball skills, then lead them through a demonstration on Parent Pickup Day.”
“So I’d be a coach?”
Dick waggled his head from side to side. “Sort of, but there’s more to it. A mentor takes his mentees under his wing, really gets to know them, on and off the court. Teaching is a big part of it, though.”
Tim shifted in his seat. “Say they don’t learn anything from me? What then?”
Dick considered the question. “Have you ever been on a team with someone who didn’t like to play basketball?”
Tim immediately thought of Billy. “Yeah. Every time he was on the court, he wanted to be somewhere else.”
“Try to keep that in mind when you’re working with the kids,” Dick suggested. “Show them how much fun playing basketball can be. If they enjoy what they’re doing, they’ll want to continue doing it, and then I guarantee they’ll learn something—even if it’s just how to dribble without hitting their own feet! And don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to work on your own skills, because the commitment is just an hour or two a day.” He smiled. “And here’s the best part: You have my permission to skip arts and crafts to do the program.”
Tim had to laugh at that. Of all the camp activities, spending time in the arts and crafts center was his least favorite—as Dick apparently knew!
“Okay,” he said at last. “I’ll do it. But Dick—why me?”
Dick’s smile broadened. “Truthfully?” he said, standing up. “I hadn’t thought of asking you until this afternoon. Then I saw how you went out of your way to welcome Jordan, Sam, and Elijah. If you treat Red, Peter, and Keanu the same way, you’ll do great.”
He handed Tim some paperwork about the program, including suggestions for simple drills and ways to deal with young children. He told Tim to read through it and then headed for his room.
“Come to the outdoor courts tomorrow after breakfast,” he called just before he closed his door. “You and the other mentor will meet your kids then. And thanks again, Tim. You’re really doing me a big favor.”
Tim waved and then set off for his own room. He was halfway there when he heard footsteps and laughter outside the front door of the cabin. Tim thought about waiting for the boys, but then he heard Mike Gruber’s voice.
“Did you see his expression when I jammed him?” Mike boasted. “He was so terrified he didn’t shoot again all game!”
Tim felt his face turn red. He hurried the rest of the way to his room, closing his door with a soft click. He settled down on his bunk to read through the papers Dick had given him. It had been a long day, though; the next thing he knew, it was morning, and Billy was calling his name.
“Hey, Tim, you plan to sleep in your clothes every night?” Billy asked from the other bunk.
Tim yawned. “Nah, it’s a onetime thing.” He told him about the mentoring program as he got dressed.
“Huh, sounds pretty cool,” Billy said. “So who’s the other mentor from the Nest?”
“I forgot to ask,” Tim confessed. “Gotta be someone decent, though, right?”
“I don’t know about that,” Billy replied. “After all, you’re doing it!” He ducked out the door before the pillow Tim threw hit him in the face.
As Tim finished dressing, he went through the list of Eagles Nest campers, trying to guess who might be the other mentor. Donnie would be great with little kids, he bet. Cue Ball’s jokes would keep everyone laughing. Or maybe Bobby Last?
But of all the possibilities, the person he saw standing with Dick at the courts after breakfast that morning was the last one he would have picked!