Heart over Height

As I was getting prepared for the big game tonight, I heard footsteps coming towards my room. Then, they got louder and louder. I opened the door, and Then, my parents rushed me out of the house. My abdomen felt unusually light. We were going to go watch the Atlanta Hawks vs. San Antonio Spurs basketball game at the outdoor courts. Of course, I was going for the Spurs. We were always watching the game from the ground. In my opinion, it's a much better viewpoint. Most of my ancestors died watching basketball games. They saw food drop, and they ran cross court to get it and next thing you know they are on the bottom of someone’s shoe. As we were watching the game, we noticed that the players were beginning to argue. Then, one of my favorite players of all time, Boogie Ellis, stepped up to Anthony Davis on the Atlanta Hawks and said, “Let's make a bet then.”Then, Anthony Davis said, “We will have a game next week and whoever wins keeps the court.” Then, out of nowhere, Iverson Monolair who is also on the Spurs and in my opinion is way better than Boogie Ellis says. “Whoever loses can't play basketball for a year and has to move out of the country.” Then, they all agreed, shook on it, and both teams left the court. When they left, I was wondering if I should do something. [[ You think about what could happen to your home and keep on praying that the other team doesn't win]] [[ You go back into your room and forget about what happened]]

I go back into my room and forget about what happened at the game. After a long night I go into my room and fall asleep, back into the cold dirt I could feel my cousins pressing against me sleeping on the air mattress. The next morning I wake up in the afternoon and could hear people above me on the court. I get dressed, wash my face with cool water, and brush my teeth. I go outside and see the Atlanta Hawks with measuring tapes planning where everything is going to go once they win. [[Continue -> You think about what could happen to your home and keep on praying that the other team doesn't win]]

The next day, the Spurs came back out to practice running their offense. Demar Derozan had the ball, and he tripped over a crevice and broke his arm. An ambulance came to pick him up and the Spurs realize that they are now one player short. Now the team has to forfeit and there's nothing they can do. That day a magical wizard was watching, and he could see how much Miles liked basketball and wanted to help the Spurs. That night he went into Miles’ bed and put shreds of magical basketball dust on his pillow. Then, everyone went to bed, disappearing into the night. The next morning, Miles was sleeping on the court like he was homeless. Then, he woke and screamed louder than a baby getting a shot at a doctor’s office. Then, the next thing I see is my ant colony biting me which hurts and feels different than when I rough house with my older cousins. I look at my arm and notice several bites on my skin. I immediately stand up and fall back down. I look down and only have two legs. Then, my colony started biting again. I can't see very well. All of a sudden my vision starts to get blurry. Then, I find myself on the cold court ground, as teardrops drip from my eyes. [[Continue -> p4]]

Then, I wake up to the unusual super long car. In the background, I hear, “Is he awake?” Then, I wake up to Iverson Monilair and Bougie Ellis asking me if I am ok and I immediately stood to my feet. Then, Iverson Monoilair said, “we need an extra player and we picked up the first person we saw, which I still find weird”. Boogie Ellis said, “we were wondering if you want to help us keep the court.” [[Help them keep the court/ Home]] [[say no and go about your new life]]

“Yeah, I would love to, but I have never played before,” I said. Then, Iverson said, “I can help you with that”. Later on that night, Iverson took me to a place called The Hoop Warehouse. As I walked in from the cold crisp air, I could feel the warm air hit my face. There was excitement in my body, and the urge to get better as a player filled me up. It was empty in the halfcourt gym. Then, Iverson introduced me to a trainer called Joel Jones and Iverson told him that since Demar Derorzan had gotten hurt, that he was going to help us keep OUR court. I wanted to tell them how I got to this size but it was too risky. Then, I said, “What would you like me to do first coach Joel”. [[continue-<to next]]

I said no, I couldn't, and moved on with my life. I got an apartment and I got a girlfriend after I went on living my life I started to feel more like an ant again. I started to get a lot more hair on me which kept me cool. Then I started to feel weird hairy thing come out of my head almost like an antenas. That night I took a nice warm shower put my pajamas on and got into the bed, under the nice warm covers. The next morning I felt like I was being suffocated and almost squashed. Then I turned out to be an ant again! As I was heading out the door I saw a note from my girlfriend saying “I don't think this is going to work out anymore, bye!” Then, I got another note saying pack up all of your baggs, you didnt pay your rent on time so you have to get out, sorry. So then I ignored both notes and went to my real home. When I was walking back to the courts, I was in shock. My home was gone. The Atlanta Hawks must have one the bet. So then I went back to living on the streets no knowing were my family is. Alone. Thinking. I died!!!

“First, call me coach Jojo” he said. Second, give me two down and backs. Then, as we were training he had to teach me the fundamentals. As we started to come to an end, I thanked him and told him I will be at his session with a bunch of other kids. As we drove back I started to realize that I don't have a home to stay at. I told Iverson and he said that I could stay with him. “I have a guest room for you downstairs.” We pull up to his house which is ginormous and looks amazing. We walk in his house and I could feel the cold air hitting my face. I took my shoes off and I felt the cold tile on my feet. Iverson shows me the bathroom and my room. He gives me clothes and a pillow. Iverson says, “I'll be in my room upstairs. Call me if you need anything”. As I get out of the shower I put my pajamas on and got into bed and fall right asleep. I began to dream about basketball. The next day I end up snoozing until 1:00 pm. Then, Iverson yells rise and shine. I’m assuming he heard me as I got out of bed. He says “get ready to go to the training tonight”. I take another soothing shower and put. shorts.and a t-shirt on. [[continue->The hoop warehouse]]

Then, we left to go train at The Hoop Warehouse. When we got there the gym was packed with a bunch of other people shooting around. As we were training, coach Jojo said it's time to play one-on-one. Then, it’s my turn to guard up. As he comes down the court I got crossed up Then, fell. Everyone starts laughing at me. My eyes start to blur and a tear runs down my eye. I run out of the gym, the cold air hitting my face again, and Iverson follows me. [[Run off into the woods]] [[Get in the car and go home]]

I ran off into the woods scared. I could hear footsteps coming toward me. I kept on running faster and faster. Then I stop the footsteps getting louder and louder. I tired and it turned out to be iverson. I started walking deeper into the woods. Then Iverson said, “We need to head back!” “Well go, leave me here. I don't know why I tried to play anyway.” Then I heard footsteps. I thought it was Iverson but he was right next to me. I could hear twigs breaking and leaves crunching. My heart started to beat faster than usual. Then it pounced at Iverson, I could see blood dripping from his neck. I took off running back towards the hoop warehouse. I could start to see the light from the Hoop Ware House sign, I was almost there but then he grabbed the back of my shirt,I tried to pull away but he just pulled me into the wood with Iverson. Looks like the Lion has a buffet tonight with his family.Two dead bodies, I died.

I get in the car. My goose bumps go away from being in the warm car with the new car smell. Then, he turns the key and we drive off. The entire way home nobody says anything. We pull back into the driveway. I get into the house, thank him for taking me, and go right to bed. The next morning coach Jojo unexpectedly is at the house and he says he is going to take me for a ride. We get into his car and he immediately says, “Who cares if you get your ankles broken? You have to stay strong and push through it.” I look at him and nod my head. Then, he says, “I know people make fun of you because of your height but block those people out.Heart over Height”, he says. [[Get out of the car]] [[Listen to him]]

Then, we pull up to the hoop warehouse and he says, “You have a game to win so we gotta start training”. I forgot about the whole game thing. Its next week! We started training for the next four days. I rested on Friday for the game on Saturday. Then, Saturday came (game day). We got warmed up in layup lines as more sweat dripped down my face with the cold breeze from the morning. Then, both teams came out for the tip-off and my palms were sweating. Coach Jojo is out in the stands with Demar Derozan. You can see their hair moving back from the breeze. Then, Tim Duncan on the Spurs tips it back to me and I pass it to Iverson who pushes it up the floor. Then, the game goes back and forth. [[Cotiniue]]

Coach Jojo coaching me from the stands and tells me to fight through the contact. Then, there are 5 seconds on the clock. We’re down by two. Boogie gets the ball. He shoots and misses but Then, I come in the air get the ball and dunk on Anthony Davis. The clock goes to zero and we win. I thanked coach Jojo and Iverson for everything they did . [[Become a ant again]] [[Stay Human]]

I also toId them I’d hoped to see them all later on the court. Then, that night, I wished that I got to see my family again. Then, I lost hope. When I woke up and my mom was kissing me on my face. I'm an ant again!! My mom was confused but I’m just happy to be back. I was happy to then watch the games and my fellow teammates. But now I can play ball against my family and teach them. Who knows when they will be turned into a human to help people save a court. But at the same time I wish I could still play ball with the pros.

I chose to stay a human and I prayed that I could stay one. So later on that night the wizard heard my wish. Then I became a human forever at timesI would miss my family but it was worth it. At the end of the day, It's bigger than basketball.

I get out of the car and start walikg back home. The whole time I was thinking mbey basketball isnt my thing. Then I got back home to Iverson and we had a conversation. He said your doung all of this to help us right. We need your help to keep the court. Its like our home. Then that struck me, I have to save my home I thought. So then I asked Iveron to call Coach Jojo back and tell him to pick me bak up. He comes and I apologies about my behavior and tell him that I really look up to him. [[->Listen to him]]