Shelter Kid
By: Jon Stewart
(© 2021 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

jstewart@tickiestories.us

Chapter 13
 

Josh walked into coach's office.

"You wanted to see me, Coach Mathews."

"Yeah Josh, that was some shooting display you put on in gym, yesterday."

"Thanks Coach, just lucky I guess."

"Jesse says you used to do that all the time back in CYO. You never missed in the 4th quarter."

"Maybe I missed, and he wasn't watching."

"Well, you were up against some pretty good kids yesterday."

"It was just a little scrimmage."

"I thought the team guys were trying pretty hard"

"Like I said, just luck."

"I think you are just being modest; what was the difference from the try out to yesterday."

"Well, I guess before I was a little run down. Pops said I needed healing time for my psyche and he just keeps throwing food at me."

"I heard you were in the shelter system in New York."

"Yeah."

"I heard your Grandmother died there."

"Yeah."

"That's how you wound up out here with Pops. Who is he?"

"He's the best foster grandfather in the world. He wants to adopt me."

"What's his name."

"Jon Calahan. What's with the 3rd degree, Coach?"

"I just like to know about my players."

"Well, maybe I'm not a player."

"You don't want to play for me?"

"Oh, I didn't know you wanted me to play for you?"

"Do you want to play for me?"

"Gosh, coach this is getting silly."

"Yeah, it is. So, I want you to play. Want to?"

"Sure coach, I guess you figured, I'm not gonna beg you. I think I can help and I love to play. I don't wanna get off to bad start with you. It's just that Pops has been the best think that happened to me in the last 2 years and I guess I'm a little protective of him."

"Nice to hear you talk about him like that."

"Anything else make a difference?"

"Well, like I said I'm healthier, plus Jesse turned on my competitive switch, and then I forgot being a homeless kid and just played. I got my confidence back. You know being homeless messes with your head. You start to think you deserve to be homeless; you don't deserve any better. Guess that had got in my head. Pops just knocked it out. I am Josh Fitzgerald, I have a near genius IQ, I am a great student, I care deeply about people, and I am a great basketball player."

"So, the key is confidence."

"My old coach taught when you shoot the ball, know that it is going in; don't think it will go; for gosh sakes, don't hope that it will go in; know it or don't shoot it. What happened when I shot the ball, as soon as it was out of my hand, what did I do? "

"I don't quite recall."

"I guess you watched the ball. I didn't, I was going back on defense. What did Jesse do?  He was going back on defense too. When Jesse and I are on, we don't watch the ball go in; we use that fraction of a second to get back. The name of the game isn't scoring but scoring differential. After you score, you have to stop the other team. That's the way I was taught; that's real confidence. My old coach said very few guys can achieve it, but Jesse and I got it."

"Hey, you after my job."

"Gosh no, Coach, I mean you have a good job in a nice safe town coaching good kids for the most part.  A lot of guys would jump at it. I want to go into social work and see how many people I can help get out of those damn shelters. If I am able to coach basketball, I'd like to do the Bobby Hurley thing; getting kids from the slums into ball and a good education and off to college. Don't get me wrong you are needed here, but there is more of a need elsewhere."

"You are quite a kid, Josh. I'm sorry, I came on a little strong. I'm hoping you and Jesse can turn our season around. You got a special number? I'll see if I have it."

"Not really coach, oh hey maybe 2. When Jesse & I were in testing, we were goofing a little and I called him New Kid 1 and I was New Kid 2."

"You`re in luck, New Kid 2. Practice is at 3:30 today."

"Can I come in early after final bell?"

"Why did I know you would ask that. Yeah, sure. I think Jesse comes in early too."

Jesse was so excited that Josh was on the team. He had been shouldering a big load in their half-court offense and kept getting double and tripled teamed. The team had started the season well with 6 wins using a fast break offense and trapping defense. The other teams in the league caught on and forced them into a half-court game and they lost 4 games. When Jesse came the half-court game was better with him in the low post. They won 3 games. So, the league stated to double and triple team him. And they lost their last two games. Their record was 9 and 6 and Jesse was getting beat up in the last two games trying to score against double and triple teams.

Josh and Jesse were in the same last class.

Jesse said, "I'm going to go right over to the gym and get in some time on the weights before practice. Want to come."

"I was planning on it. I'm not really in game shape. Maybe I could go hard for a quarter but not much more than that."

They quickly got changed and headed for the weight room. Jesse worked on his arms and shoulder and back. Josh worked on his legs. He knew they needed strengthening. Coach came in and said “Well. if it's not New Kid 1 and New Kid 2. Say, did you guys win a championship in CYO."

Jesse answered "Yeah coach, actually we went undefeated. Mr. Outside here was the MVP of the league."

"That so ... so Josh, you think you can do that here."

"I'm not sure, Coach. I'm not really in game shape. I don't think I could go hard for much more than a quarter. I would try but there is only so much your mind can will your body to do. I think my stamina and legs need to be built up. Do you want to know, how I would use me?"

"Well, you do have a genius IQ, so it would be wise for me to listen."

"I would wait till the end of the 3rd quarter or beginning of the 4th quarter to put me in. If you are up let me sit, the guys don't like a new kid taking their spot. If you are losing, I might be able to help, bring you back. You only have 5 games left and the guys you have, have earned their spots. But if they are losing and I help they'll accept me more."

"Well, Coach New Kid Two, I think you have a good plan. I'll consider it. It won't hurt your confidence sitting?"

"No way coach, I know what I can do and if I need any help in that department, I have Jesse. But I'm really not in game shape. If you started me as a confidence booster, I wouldn't be there at the end, when you really need me."

"OK, Josh, we'll try it your way."

The practice consisted of a lot of fast break drills and trapping defense. For the scrimmage, Josh was on the bench. Coach set up the scrimmage with Jesse and the 2nd stringers against the rest of his starters and 1 second stringer in place of Jesse. It was 2 20-minute halves; Jesse kept his team close but the starters were wearing him down and they were up by 9. At the 10-minute mark, Coach put Josh in. Jesse had a big smile on his face. He knew it was all over for the other team. Josh ran the point. He came up the floor and faked a pass to Jesse, his man fell off him and drained a 3. He was back on defense with Jesse alongside of him before the ball was through the basket. With no fast break and no half-court game, the starters didn't score. Next time up, he passed into Jesse when Josh's man fell off to cover Jesse. Jesse passed the ball back to Josh in the corner; another 3. Again, as soon as the ball left his hand, both Josh and Jesse were back on defense. No fast break for the starters, another miss, and another rebound by Jesse to Josh. This time Josh took off racing up court, Jesse trailing behind him. The starters were back. Three guys in the lane. Josh dribbled to the left side of the key. When the three converged on him he passed back to Jesse who slipped past them on the right for an easy lay-up. Both of them raced back. Again, the fast break was stopped and Josh had the ball again. Now the starters were determined not to let Josh or Jesse score. Josh said ‘weak side pass’ to Jesse. Jesse knew exactly what to do. He set up a little farther out on the left side of the key leaving space for a lay-up on the right. Josh went to the foul line 2 starters came to get him with two more defenders on Jesse. A smart hustling blond kid cut to the basket. Josh led him perfectly for an easy layup. The starters were yelling at each other. They unraveled in 5 minutes with Jesse at the point. The rest of the scrimmage had Josh and Jesse passing to the other guys on their team for easy baskets. Both Josh and Jesse were yelling, everybody scores, look for the ball. The starters were beaten and lost by 6, a 15 point turn around in 10 minutes. Coach was smiling, Josh had taken over the game just as he said he could. But he really liked the way, after he had the other team back on their heels, that he shared the ball and started the everybody scores thing. He knew, he had a winning formula with Josh at point. He had the boys gather round.

"Good scrimmage, boys, hard played. I liked that. You know, I stacked the deck as much as I could against Josh and Jesse. We are a good team when we have our fast break going with our trapping defense. But if teams play us smart and get back on defense, we can be beat. We just don't have had an outside threat to make our half-court offense work. Jesse has helped a lot in the low post but he is getting double and tripled teamed. I know you starters are mad about losing to a couple of new kids. But if new kids can help us win, you'd be real dumb to not welcome and appreciate what they can bring to the team. Josh played ball in grammar school with Jesse and went undefeated, he wouldn't say it but Jesse did. He was MVP of his league.  He told me he didn't want to take any of the starter’s jobs; that you had earned them and played and worked hard all year. It wouldn't be a fair thing. But if we are losing come the 4th quarter, he can be a real weapon coming off the bench. What do you say, boys, are you going to welcome him to the team.”?

The team all gathered around Josh and shook his hand and thumped him on his back. Bobby Edwards, the starting point guard said, "We're still gonna call you ‘Grammar School’, but when we do, it'll mean MVP, right guys!!  Hey, can you give me lessons, so I can run the point like you and you stay on the bench."

It was meant as a compliment and Josh took it that way. Josh said, "Only if you show me how to run the break."

Josh was quickly accepted by his teammates. His natural humility in shedding attention from himself and complimenting another player, endeared him to all. His quite confidence was something they all wanted to emulate. Coach was happy Josh's presence just seemed to bring his team together like they had never been before. Of course, Jesse whispering that he had never lost a game when he played with Josh helped make it happen. It gave them all the feeling that they couldn't lose. They were playing with renewed energy. Their defense was amazing. Their steals and fast break points mounted and they were a feared team as play offs approached.

Josh was only needed in three of the final 5 games. He came off the bench losing by 7, 9 and 12 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. Each time he rallied his team and brought them home, going away. Everyone was catching on when he put up a shot to get back on defense and he rarely missed. Coach loved having a secret weapon. When, he went into the game his teammates all said "No, not Grammar School." Bobby Edwards led the cheering ... "lucky shot, Grammar School."  The other team relaxed thinking the Hopewell coach had put in a scrub.  By the time they figured out Josh was a very dangerous player, it was too late. Their lead erased and the score climbing against them.

Hopewell roared into the state playoffs; their defense triggering their fast break. Bobby Edwards was playing great, making steal after steal and feeding breakers for lay ups. He knew he had an MVP player playing behind him and he sure didn't want to come out of any game. Coach knew the competition had taken his game to another level. They easily made it to the state championship game. Josh sat wanting to play but knowing if he did his team would be losing. Then the unthinkable happened. Bobby Edwards, the leader of the defense and the fast break, twisted his ankle two minutes into the first quarter of the championship game.

It was a bad sprain and Josh went out to help him off the court. Bobby said "It's your team and your game now, Josh, bring them home." He didn't say new kid; he didn't say grammar school. In the three weeks Josh had been on the team it was one of the few times, he was called by his name.

The trapping defense that coach employed was physically demanding. It taxed the stamina of every one of his players. Coach called time out. "Josh, you ready for this."

"I guess, I gotta be."

"Just run the break, Josh, if we have to go to half court, we'll do that next half."

Josh did as he was asked. Coach saw him laboring but had no real alternative. At the end of the half, Hopewell held a 5-point lead but Josh was tiring fast. The trapping defense was working and not working. It had them ahead but it also was exhausting their point guard who was feeding fast break after fast break. In the locker room everyone was yelling encouragement to each other except Josh. He was conserving his energy, slowly drinking Gatorade, wanting so much to re-energize his body. Coach looked at him and he knew he had a problem. Would he last one more half?

"Josh, good first half. How are you feeling?"

"I won't lie to you, kind of tried, Coach"

"Well, my genius point guard, what would you suggest?"

"Well, you could grow Bobby a new ankle coach. I don't know where he gets the energy to run the trap play after play."

"He said from you. He wanted you to stay on the bench."

"I'd love to take that seat, back but barring that we could trap and fast break only one in four defenses. Go to half court, I could maybe walk the ball up. Trapping one in four or even 1 in five or 1 in 3 to keep them off balance would help a lot. Maybe take me out the last minute of the 3rd quarter and put me back a couple minutes into the 4th. I'll do my best for you, Coach. I'll die out there, to win it, but that's my brain talking, not my legs or body."

Coach called the team together. We're gonna switch things up a little in the second half we are going to run the trap & break on my signal. I sit down the next defense you run the trap. If I stand up you run man to man half court and half-court offense.

How come, coach? "We got them on their heels."

"One, because I'm the coach. Two, because they are in their locker room right now figuring out ways to break our trap defense. Three, because we are asking our backup point guard who hasn't had the training you did; who hasn't played more than a quarter at a time to play the whole game. His heart is willing but his body needs more training to do what we are asking. Now, we are a team, we play together, we win together, we lose together. and we support each other. Got it?"

"Yes sir" came the resounding response. Jesse said he could bring the ball if no one was on him. The team was rallying around the homeless kid who in three short weeks had galvanized the team.

The team went out for warm ups. Josh waited till the last second inside. An old gray-haired man peaked around the corner. "Pops, I don't think you are supposed to be in here."

"I know son, but I didn't see you come out with the team. A little tired are we."

"Yeah."

Pops went over and rubbed his shoulders and neck. Josh, for a moment, wished he was in bed and Pops was holding him like he did, when he had those bad dreams.

"Josh?"

"Yes, Pops."

"You know the course of history is filled with stories of people who did amazing things. Soldiers who ran with a buddy on their back to save a life. People who survived ship wrecks or who crossed mountains or wilderness. One thing they all had was a belief that they could do whatever the impossible task was. You, my boy, are tried, but you only have to play hard for another 30 minutes. Your mind is an amazing thing, it can will every last bit of strength out of your body. And you are way stronger than you think you are. Trust me, son, you can do this. Do it for your team and yourself. Do it, Josh. Go out on that court and believe you haven't played a minute and you are fresh and ready to get them. Go on now, son. Remember trying is an excuse for not doing. Believing is getting it done."

"I will Pops, hey, 30 minutes ain't nothing".

Josh got up and trotted out on the court. Pops’ little talk, as well as the rest, allowed him to play with renewed energy. The strategy he and coach dreamed up was working well. Jesse was a demon in the low post; Josh feeding him at exactly the right time, in exactly the right place; hooking left then right using his little fall away jumper. He had the Madville defender completely off balance. Josh hit a couple 3's to keep the defense honest, and not double-teaming Jesse. At the end of the quarter the lead was 6. The other team, Madville, had earned their right to be here. They were dogged in their goal of a championship. Their coach saw Josh tiring, noticed little things like Jesse bringing the ball up. Saw him taken out at a minute before the end of the 3rd quarter. With the quarter break and another 2 minutes of the 4th quarter, Josh had gotten a 5-minute break. By then Hopewell was clinging to a 2-point lead.  When he went back in Madville called time. He told his team "their point guard is whipped. Drive on him, make him work, a little shot in the ribs will help to".

So, they did. They went barreling into Josh at every opportunity. Knocking him down time after time. But he always bounced up. He heard Pops' words. You can do amazing things. Things others thought impossible. He heard Bobby Edwards cheering on the bench "come on, grammar school. Way to go Josh." As the game wound down, Jesse picked up his 5th foul and was out of the game. The player Jesse fouled hit the 2 foul shots. Hopewell was now down 2 with 15 seconds left. Coach called his final time out. "Who wants to take the last shot." They all looked to Josh. Coach looked too. "If I get open enough to shoot it, I know it will go in. I can't fake to Jesse though so I guess we have to use screens."

Coach devised a triple screen for Josh.

The Madville coach had seen Josh in his last two regular season games when he brought Hopewell back. Guys, the little kid they call grammar school, is going to shoot a three. Surround him, don't foul him if he is shooting otherwise beat the crap out of him.

The whistle blew. Bobby said "End this, Josh."

The ball had to be put in play in 5 seconds. The out of bounds passer slapped the ball, Josh ran past the first screen, one Madville guy elbowed him in the head, no whistle, past the second, got Josh a shot in the ribs. Now he was mad he had taken all they had to dish out earlier, as part of the game. This wasn't and the refs weren't calling anything. When he went past the 3rd screen a kid tried to put an elbow in his forehead. He saw it, ducked and punched the Madville punk as hard as he could in the stomach. Got the ball, turned, shot and ran down the court to defend. His teammates watched for a second and then did the same. He heard the crowd on the Hopewell side yell and cheer. Madville also out of timeouts had to inbound the ball and get up court. They tried to get by the trapping defense. Hopewell picked off their pass and the game was over. After the game people came by to congratulate him. Josh in typical style said, "the screeners did it. Those guys took the hits. I was so open, anybody could make that shot. Jeeze, didn't Jesse have a hell of a game. What did he get 25? 30?"

Bobby Edwards limped over as Josh was just sitting and resting. The others were still whopping and hollering "We are Number 1." Hey, great game, Josh, thanks for getting us the championship. I know you took a beating out there. Now, I know why you got MVP in grammar school. You were shot at half time. I didn't think you had the energy to come out after the half. What happened?"

"After all you guys went out for warm ups, My Pops came in and we had a talk. He reminded me that throughout history people have done amazing things. Like soldiers carrying a buddy on their back to save his life. All I had to do was play hard for 30 minutes, even though I was tired. He made me not feel bad for myself, and believe I could play hard to finish the game. I could have thought of you playing all those minutes in the trap defense, game after game too but I like to play, too."

"That's because I was afraid if you became the starter, I would never play."

"Bobby, you are a great player, a great defender with such great stamina. I would love to have your strength."

"Thanks, Josh."

Jesse congratulated coach. "Way to go, Coach, didn't I tell you? Game on the line, he never misses"

"Well, you certainly gave him all the help you could out there, today"

"But I wasn't there at the end for him. I should have been."

"Hey, we are champions and in no small part to you and Josh, and all the guys on the team. I was very happy to have you guys this year, and hope you'll all be back next year."

Jesse went over to Josh "Wow, state champs, we did it, buddy."

Josh was taking off his shirt to shower. Jesse saw the black and blue marks on his ribs and welts on his back. He was shocked. He knew he had taken a beating but not like this."

The Madville coach came in to congratulate the Hopewell coach and players. Everyone was being nice accepting congratulations.

 The Madville coach said "Where is that #2 kid, played a great game."

Jesse had it. "He's over there, shit head. Look at what your goons did to him. No doubt on your orders. Get the fuck out of here."

Everyone looked as Josh slowly, painfully, was walking to the showers. The room went quiet when they all saw the black and blue marks and welts all over his body, Then they all understood what it had taken for them to be champs.

Coach Mathews went over to the Madville coach. "You had better leave before these boys decide to give you what your goons gave to Josh. And you know what? I don't think I'd raise one hand to stop them."

The rest of the team was yelling "Get out of here… go back to your goons."

Jesse joined Josh in the shower. They didn't talk much.  But Josh was happy to have his good friend, there. The hot water took a little of the pain away.

After the showers, coach came up to Josh and said "I think you should have this ball as the game MVP."

I don't think so, Coach. It was a team win. We only won by 1 point. Was my basket more important than any other basket. If Jesse hadn't scored all those points, my basket would mean nothing. If anyone on the team didn't rebound or make a steal, or put a hand in a guy's face, to have him miss a shot, we don't win. Coach, I appreciate the honor. It's good to be appreciated. But you keep the ball certainly you had as much to do with the win as any of us players. You kept us together, when we switched to man to man and half court. Or maybe you could give an MVP ball to every player on the team."

Coach again was amazed by Josh's unselfishness and his team spirit.

He called the team together, "Today we had a great win. We beat a tough, mean-spirited opponent. We had one player who gave a supreme effort. Who got beat up and mugged time and again? His body shows the punishment but he kept getting back up. He might have been the smallest guy on the court, but I think he had the biggest heart and as much courage as anyone out there. Yeah, you know who I mean, he also made an impossible winning basket."

The team all started chanting "Grammar School... Grammar School." Josh just looked down at the floor.

Coach hushed them and finished "I just tried to give him the game ball as the game MVP. He won't take it. He said it was a team win. We won by 1 point. If anyone had missed a basket; if Jesse hadn't scored a ton of points; if we didn't make a steal or grab a rebound or didn't defend to force a miss, he said his basket would not have meant anything. We could have lost. I guess you all have seen, I have come to trust Josh a lot. After all, he has a genius IQ and I respect intelligence.  (They chuckled at that.) He said I should keep the ball or give every one of you a ball. I think Josh is right on this;  you all played great. So, when we get back, I'm going to order a bunch of basketballs. They'll be inscribed "State Champs -- MVP -- Entire Team."

They all sang or more so yelled. "We are champions... We are champions" even Josh joined in even though it hurt his ribs. As they finished dressing, they all stopped by Josh’s locker and thanked him and Josh thanked each player back remembering something each had done to contribute to the win. Jesse put his arm around him and walked him out. They separated, Jesse went to his mom and dad, Josh to his Pops and Billy.

Josh called after him "Great Game, New Kid One" just to be sure his parents knew how well he played.

Jesse responded "Thanks Mr. MVP."

To be continued...

Posted: 11/19/2021