Chapter 14 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

The test match at the multi-purpose home made the team realize that the familiar field hid many bad habits. An passed the ball following Mai Chi's call, but the sound echoing from the wall confused her. Vy lost her balance because the floor was more slippery. Bap managed to spin one of his throws but couldn't catch a counterattack because he was busy looking at the screen. Ms. Hanh stopped them and asked them to play one round without speaking.

There was no call, An had to look at her teammates' shoulders and feet. Nhien uses hand signals from the bench. Mai Chi lightly hit her chest to let the newspaper cut in. Vy raised two fingers when she wanted to change positions. Wordless rounds are slower but have fewer errors. Then everyone writes down three easy-to-understand signals. Bap took on the task of making the sign board, not allowed to use smiley faces because in a tense match no one would have time to guess.

Phong checked the sound system, recorded the echo and asked the organizers to place the speakers away from the basket. Mr. Vinh watched him work and asked why a student knew so much about facilities. Phong said because if the backboard shakes, the shooter will be blamed for an error that is not theirs. Mr. Vinh remained silent, then added Phong's name to the technical support list.

An practiced throwing from the left corner amid the noise. She missed six. Mai Chi told her to change her breathing rate, not change her aiming point. The seventh time, the ball went in. The team didn't cheer because they were practicing, but Nhien knocked twice on the bench. An realized it was a signal to "keep pace".

After practice, Ms. Hanh received notice that the schoolyard would be inspected for safety before the qualifying round. If the field fails, the team must play at the multi-purpose hall. Nhien asked if anger should be used to put pressure on him. An said they need to fix what they can fix, then let the results speak for themselves. Mai Chi agreed, but suggested making the inspection records public.

The team and Phong repainted the three-point line, replaced the warning signs and cleaned up tree branches around the field. A group of sixth graders came to help, bringing brooms and tape. Bap wanted to film a crowded scene, but An reminded him to ask each person individually. In the end, they just turned around with their shoes, brushes in hand, and fresh streaks of paint. The image without a face still shows a basketball field cared for by many people.

Phong divided the area with colored tape, explaining that no one could step into the wet paint. A boy asked why he didn't finish painting quickly. Phong said the paint will overflow quickly, making the border thick and easy to slide. The boy listened, then used a small stick to check the painted edge according to the instructions. An finds Phong to be more patient with children than when talking to adults.

Mai Chi makes a "before playing" board including shoes, water, warm up and asking for directions. Vy drew the illustrations, Bap wrote the words but misspelled them twice. Tran corrects every mistake without smiling. A sixth grade student discovered a picture of a shoe tied incorrectly, so he suggested redrawing it. The last panel has a slightly off but more precise drawing. An decided to keep the original instead of making the perfect design.

While painting, Mr. Vinh arrived. He did not wear a meeting shirt but wore a thin raincoat and stood outside to observe. A parent asked him if he was going to destroy the yard. He replied that the decision was not final and that he was looking at the data. Parents say the data also includes their children running confidently for the first time here. If you write that sentence, please write down the speaker's name or not. The parent did not want the name, he respected.

Ms. Hanh gave the team a list of supplies. Paint, tape, stakes and first aid box all come with receipts. Bap wanted to hide the amount of money because he was afraid it would be too small, but the less Tran said, the more transparency he needed. A friend asked how much was left in the fund. Ms. Hanh read the correct number, then explained which amount was for repairs. No one turns contributing money into a contest of who gives the most.

At the end of the day, An stood on the new line and threw a try. The ball went in, but she didn't consider it lucky. Mai Chi said the paint line just helped her foot position correctly. An asked if the course was teaching players. Phong said the yard only gives information, the players decide.

The sixth grade group left with a promise to return on open day. A friend gave An a blue string bracelet, telling her to remember that there are young people here who want to play. An wore it on her wrist, where the captain's armband used to be. The two ropes are not the same, but they both remind her to look around before throwing.

After the day of painting the yard, An and Phong checked the areas where the color was smeared. Phong used a ruler, An used a damp towel, the two did not talk much. He asked why she kept the necklace. An said it was a reminder from a young person. Phong asked what the reminder was. An replied that she had to leave space for others. Phong said that he must leave a box on the calendar.

Tran set up a "view only" box in the registration form. Some people are afraid to bookmark because they are afraid of being asked why they don't play. She changed the name to “participation form” and added options to sit, support, play, and give suggestions. The billboard has too many words. Vy said users need to choose the right one, not the most beautiful board. They keep both versions, the full version at the front desk and the short version at the door.

An art teacher stopped by to look at the paint stains and suggested making a mural. The team asked if the school was interested and how involved the students could be. The teacher agreed, but Ms. Hanh asked not to cover the safety sign with paint or use human faces without permission. Bap wanted to draw a giant ball, Mai Chi suggested adding broken boundaries to represent a shared field.

During break time, Nhien practices standing up from a low chair. She needed two tries to be sure. An didn't help, just stood nearby. Nhien said don't look like someone is about to fall. An said she was looking to see if she needed to call someone. Nhien laughed and said that was an important difference.

Phong discovered that the warning tape in the crack had peeled off because of the rain. He replaced it with a hard sign, stating the inspection date. Bap asked if it had to be replaced, it would cost money. Phong said skipping it would be even more costly. An additional ocean cost into the plan, even if it's a small amount, can make the budget look less good.

At the end of the day, Ms. Hanh asked the team if the field felt more beautiful. Vy said it a little nicer, but it's important to know where the danger is. An agrees. Nhien looked at the rope on An's wrist and said that the new person had begun to leave marks. An didn't answer, just put the ball on the shelf.

The next day, a streak of paint peeled off after the rain. Phong did not blame the painter, just measured the humidity and called a technician. The whole team had to postpone practice, and some of them were upset that they came. An explained the correction schedule, then opened the theoretical exercise on position. Huyen asked why he didn't practice outside the line. Ms. Hanh said that when conditions are not safe, studying is also a way to continue playing.

Mai Chi sent the math problem to the group. Bap solved it incorrectly and was reminded by her. Vy drew the yard diagram on paper, An used it to explain the running angle. A practice session without the ball still helps them understand distance. Nhien said sometimes the team gets stronger when they can't throw, because everyone has to talk more.

Mr. Vinh came to watch sixth grade practice in the annex. One child asked the parking lot man if he really needed it. He answered yes, because parents and patients need parking. I asked if so would the yard be lost? He said he was looking for a solution. I gave him a drawing with a car and a silhouette on the same page. He accepted, please keep it, I don't want the name to appear.

Tran wrote the drawing in the comments section and did not turn it into a promise. An asked if Mr. Vinh could respond before the meeting. He agreed to submit a new plan, but said he was not sure if it would be chosen. An is grateful for the uncertainty, because it helps them not to spread the good news prematurely.

Huyen asked An why she always checked if other people wanted to film. An said she was filmed while crying after a match, then that video was sent without asking. Huyen did not ask further. I just said that I was also filmed in my old class, but I didn't want to tell. An said you don't need to tell to be respected.

In the evening, the paint line dries. The team enters the field, warms up slower, checks every corner. Phong gave everyone warning cards. One friend wanted to remove the card to make the yard more beautiful, but Nhien said it was not a decoration. An puts the card in the right place, then calls the first card.

During the test session, a sixth grader slid slightly in Bap of the yard and immediately raised his hand to stop. No one blames me for interrupting. Phong marked the location with chalk, and Ms. Hanh asked how she wanted to tell the story. You said the floor was wet, the lights reflected and you couldn't see the lines. Three small details combined into one thing that needs fixing. An put them in the report without writing my name. When they finished cleaning the yard, I turned around and tried walking slowly. This time I said to myself "okay" before running.

On the way to put away the tools, An asked Nhien how it felt when everyone listened to a child. Nhien said that was when the team no longer needed a captain standing in the middle for everyone to pay attention. An remained silent, realizing that the things she had to do less and less didn't mean she was being left behind.

No one was in a hurry to run.

They wait for the signal.