As soon as the substitute teacher dismissed the class at the end of the day, Diego, Red, and I headed straight for the Clifton United team bus in the faculty lot.
We had a sub today because Mr. Acevedo had to attend an all-day staff development. He’d told the class about it yesterday, but with everything else going on inside my head, I had forgotten.
When we got to the lot, Super-Size, Mehdi, Mimi, Hudson, and Speedy were already waiting with Ms. Yvonne. Red and Diego joined them by the bus. I sat down on the curb.
Having a sub today saved me. I was able to nod off a few times during class without getting busted. It also saved me from having to interact with Mr. Acevedo. I wasn’t looking forward to that. Make that, I was dreading it. He was going to take one look at me and know just how much the situation with my father was eating at me.
“Yo, the bus is sweet,” Diego said, spinning a basketball on his finger. “We got to put our bags on already.”
The bus had arrived at RJE while we were at recess and parked in the front circle. Principal Darling had to tell the driver to move it to the staff lot because the after-school car pickup line was in the front circle and parents would freak if a mega-bus was parked there during Thunder Dome.
That’s where Mr. Acevedo was now. Thunder Dome duty. We were leaving for the Showdown as soon as he was done.
“My first away tournament,” Speedy said, “and we’re traveling in style!”
“We’re going to the Showdown!” Mimi gave pounds all around. “Get pumped, Clifton United.”
“Get pumped, Clifton United!” Red said.
I pressed my palms to my temples. I wanted to be fired up like everyone else, but I was running on fumes, and at any moment I was going to have to face Coach Acevedo.
An SUV pulled into the lot.
“Maya Wade is here!” Red said, pointing and hopping from foot to foot. “Amy ‘A-Wu’ Wu is here. Zoe Reynolds is here.”
I half smiled. You can’t help but smile seeing how happy and excited Red gets when he spots someone he knows.
“The ladies have arrived!” Maya said as she and the other two girls got out of the car. “Let’s get this party started!”
Like everyone else, they were wearing their Clifton United hoodies. We were going to look hot walking into Hoops Haven.
“Elbows isn’t with you?” Speedy said to the kids who’d just arrived.
“No,” A-Wu answered. “Was he supposed to come with us?”
“Yo, it’s messed up that he isn’t here,” Diego said.
I kicked out my legs and grabbed my toes. Diego was right. It was messed up. How could Elbows disappear like this? Maybe he was at Thunder Dome with Coach Acevedo. Or maybe he was meeting us at the Showdown.
“He’d better show,” Maya said.
“If he doesn’t,” Diego said, pounding his basketball, “I’ll be stepping up.”
“That makes two of us,” Mimi said.
“We’ll all step up,” Super-Size said.
“Check this out,” Maya said, pulling up the front of her hoodie. “I’m representing Clifton United twice.”
Underneath her sweatshirt, she was wearing a “Bench Mob” T-shirt. During fall ball, Avery from class had made shirts for the whole team.
“I’m representing!” Red said, lifting up his sweatshirt and showing off the number twenty-four Rick Barry jersey he had on under his hoodie. “I’m representing the Golden State Warriors. I’m representing Clifton United. I’m representing—”
“Let’s circle up!” Coach Acevedo walked out the side entrance.
He wasn’t alone. A kid in a Clifton United hoodie was with him. But it wasn’t Elbows.