Answer:
The Game of My Life
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I was alone on the basketball court with thousands of eyes staring at me. The only sounds I could hear were the bouncing of the basketball and my breathing. The final outcome of the game came down to this one moment. How did I, a young girl afraid of being the center of attention, come to this moment?
Before last fall, I had never tried out for anything. I sat in the back in every class trying to avoid eye contact with my teachers, never speaking to my peers. However, my friend Alexis convinced me to join the team with her.
Now I was the focus of the entire school’s attention. In the last few seconds of the game we were down by two points, and I took a wild shot at the buzzer. An audible gasp came from the crowd as the player guarding me slapped my arm and the ball bounced off the rim.
I stood on the free-throw line. Hot sweat trickled down the side of my face. The basketball in my hand grew heavier as I lined up my shot. I glanced at the crowd and could hear them shuffle in their seats. I could smell the buttery popcorn in the concession stands. Blocking all this out, I closed my eyes, trying to focus my mind on these three free-throw shots.
The ball flew through the air, hitting the back of the rim with a thud and went in.
Lucky shot, I thought. Come on, Jasmine. You’ve got this.
As the referee passed the ball back to me, I smacked my lips. My mouth felt as dry as if I had swallowed sand on the beach.
“Jasmine, it’s just you, the ball, and the basket,” yelled my coach.
I took another deep breath and let the ball fly from my hand. Swish. Straight through the net.
As the third and final shot soared through the air, the crowd rose to its feet. Their cheers seemed as loud as the sound of a jet engine. My teammates rushed the court, surrounding me in their excitement.
While I’m still not comfortable with all of the attention, I learned that my fears were holding me back from some amazing experiences.
Explanation:
edmentum
