Chapter 7
Sarit stared blankly at the basketball magazine in her hand. Then she sighed and tossed it onto her unmade bed. Her room was cluttered with books, magazines, and dirty clothes.
Sarit flopped down on her bed. Her mom was busy working, and Allie was at basketball practice. Sarit hadn’t felt like leaving her room since she’d gotten off the phone with her father the day before.
Sarit thought about the last time she’d played basketball with her dad before he’d moved away. It had been right before he left for the airport.
Her dad had packed his bags and come out to the driveway to watch as she’d practiced shooting jump shots. She’d been crying, but hadn’t wanted him to see that.
After a second, he’d snuck up behind her and stolen the ball, dribbling it down the driveway and back. He’d purposely fumbled it, giving her a chance to steal it, then dribbled between his legs and behind his back. Sarit had grabbed for it, laughing through her tears.
“Go in for a lay-up!” Dad had said. “Show me what you’ve got!” He’d tossed the ball into her hands and clapped as she dribbled up to the basket.
Now, alone in her room, Sarit flipped open her laptop and clicked on some old WNBA highlights. She stared dully at the figures on the screen, watching a talented player run past two guards and score an effortless three-pointer.
Just then, someone knocked at the door. Sarit opened it. Allie stood there, wearing her practice clothes and a determined expression.
“Can I come in?” Allie asked. Without waiting for an answer, she brushed past Sarit into the room.
“What are you doing here?” Sarit asked, closing the door behind her sister. “I thought you were supposed to be at basketball practice.” She sat back down on the floor and picked up her laptop to watch some more WNBA clips.
Allie reached over her and closed the laptop, pulling it off her sister’s lap. “Listen, Sarit, we have to talk,” she said.
“Hey!” Sarit protested. She grabbed at her computer, but Allie held it away from her. “What’s your problem? I was watching that.”
Allie slid off the bed and scooted closer to Sarit on the floor. She looked her sister right in the eyes. “I am sick of you,” she said.
Sarit blinked. “Gee, thanks a lot. Is that what you came here to tell me?” she said.
“Yes, it is,” Allie replied. She stuck her chin out the way she did when she was really determined. “I’m sick and tired of you just moping around the house. You need to get your butt out on the court with the rest of us.”
Sarit slumped down. “I already told you,” she said. “I can’t.”
“No, you won’t,” Allie said. “There’s a difference. Don’t you think I miss Dad too? I miss him every single minute that I’m on the court.”
“You don’t act like it,” Sarit snapped.
“Just because I’m not blaming Coach Ritz for something that isn’t his fault doesn’t mean I don’t miss Dad,” Allie replied. She slapped her hand down on the comforter. “Coach Ritz is a really good coach, and I love basketball,” she said. “I may have lost Dad, but I’m not going to lose basketball too. And you shouldn’t either.”
Sarit just stared at her sister, her mouth hanging open. She’d never heard her sister talk like this before.
Allie wasn’t finished. “Sarit, don’t you get it? Basketball is what’s helping me get over the divorce,” she said. “When I’m out on the court, I can forget about Mom and Dad and just get into the game.” Allie looked around Sarit’s dark, messy room. “Besides, it’s lonely in here,” she said. “Don’t you miss hanging out with the other girls?”
Sarit smiled a little. “Yeah,” she admitted. “I miss them a ton. And I miss you, too.” She took a deep breath. “It was really hard watching all of you guys playing without me yesterday. It was hard to watch from the stands.”
Allie waited. Sarit looked at her sister and added, “And I’ve missed going to practice. I’ve missed basically everything. And Dad too.”
“Me too,” Allie said softly. She gave Sarit a hug. “And I’m really glad to hear you say you’ve missed everyone,” she told Sarit. “Because I know they’ve missed you too.”
Allie hopped up from the floor and walked over to open Sarit’s bedroom door. The entire Cowboys basketball team was crowded together in the hallway.
Sarit’s mouth fell open in surprise. She couldn’t believe it. Everyone was smiling. She saw Anna and Hope wave at her tentatively.
“They all wanted to come over,” Allie said. The girls nodded.
“The team hasn’t been the same without you there,” Anna said. “We told Allie we were going to come kidnap you and make you come back.”
Anna stepped forward and thrust a basketball into Sarit’s hands. “Get out here,” she said with a grin. “I’m going to flatten you at three-on-three.”