Chapter 22 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

The “Not Empty Yard” plan is eighteen pages long. Tran wants to write down all the details, Bap wants to add photos, Phong wants a technical diagram, Mai Chi wants to add a class schedule and Nhien wants a substitute section. An held a red pen and asked each proposal to answer three questions: who will do it, when will it be done, and if it cannot be done, who will it be reported to?

Mr. Vinh read the plan in the meeting room. He asked if the team could maintain classes for young children when members graduated. Vy said the team invited two juniors to be assistants. Mai Chi said the schedule could be transferred to the sports club. Phong provided a diagram of equipment handover. Nhien says she won't be captain forever, and the plan must survive her departure.

A board member asked why the field needed to prioritize the women's team. An replied that the yard did not prioritize one group; it erases the things that once made that group stand out. She did not mention Thu Ha's name, but pointed out general usage principles and yard opening date data. Ms. Hanh added that women's sports often lose ground because they are less recognized, not because they are less valuable.

Mr. Vinh proposed charging weekend hours to cover costs. Debate team. Mai Chi worries that the cost will prevent children from coming. Phong proposes a voluntary contribution model, while adult clubs can rent evening hours. Tran clearly stated the fees, free fees, and support funds to avoid ambiguity.

After three hours, the council did not approve the entire thing but agreed to a six-month trial. The field is not demolished during that time, in return the team must submit monthly reports. Bap asked if that could be called a win. Ms. Hanh said it was a conditional opportunity. An prefers that name; it reminds them not to oversleep.

In the evening, Nhien took off the captain's armband from her pocket and gave it to An. An refused because Nhien was still the captain. Nhien said she gave it to An in the final, not because she gave up but because the team needed someone to step up. An kept the tape, promising to pay back after the tournament. Nhien smiled: "If you still want to pay at that time, I will accept."

An brought the tape home and put it on her desk. It's nothing special other than the faded blue color and a thread that's about to come undone. Mom asked if it was a reward. An said it was a temporary responsibility. Mom said that any responsibility should be washed before wearing it, because the sweat of the previous person is not something to be afraid of, but you should not assume it is yours. An washed the bandages by hand and dried them next to the window.

The next morning, the team met to discuss who would replace An during her recruitment sessions. Mai Chi received the ball, but wants Phong to assist with the signal. Vy received the small class portion, Bap received the revenue and expenses, and Tran received the image rights. Nhien is still the tactical supervisor but does not make calls. An wrote down the list, then asked each person if they agreed or just felt like they had to agree. Bap said that question made it difficult for him to refuse, but he still wanted to accept.

A new friend named Lam came to try it out. You don't talk much, play good defense but are afraid of being recorded. Put the phone away immediately, Tran explains the data range, An asks how you want to be called. Lam said only first name is needed, no last name. The team scored correctly. Nhien let Lam play for three minutes, then asked his friend which position he thought was good. Lam said he likes to stand in Bap because he can see the whole yard. Mai Chi said the team needs someone who knows how to see.

The practice session was interrupted because a class needed to go across the yard for an evacuation drill. The team must clear all balls and chairs within five minutes. Lam runs quickly, Vy keeps the list, Phong locks the device. Ms. Hanh commented that it took them eight minutes and they needed to practice again. No one is happy because they did it faster than the day before; They record the actual time and the cause of the delay.

An tested for the captaincy in the last ten minutes. She didn't say much, but when Mai Chi asked for a signal, she answered clearly. Look at it, don't edit it. After practice, An took off the bandage and gave it back. Nhien said she could keep it until the finals. An put it in her pocket. For the first time, she didn't see it as someone else's.

An asked Nhien if he wanted to give the ribbon in front of the team or just between the two of them. Nhien chose between the two, because she didn't want the private moment to turn into a ceremony. She said the gang was not led by An; The times An asked for the signal again, waiting for someone else to speak and admit his mistake before doing it. An listened and found that this compliment was harder to keep than a medal.

Mai Chi prepares for the selection session. She folded her clothes, wrote down her calendar, set the alarm, and asked her mother to check the car. Vy gave her a small sign, Bap gave her a red pen, Phong gave her a wristband without logo. Mai Chi asked why Phong's gift was so practical. Phong said it was because the wrist was practical. The whole team laughed.

During practice, An tried not to call Mai Chi's name to see if the team was active. She used signals, Mai Chi still understood. Nhien saw it and nodded. Vy called a cut in, Lam made a screen, Bap scored. The team lost the ball at the end, but An did not scream. She asked who saw the gap. Lam said he saw it but didn't know how to call. They add a signal.

A new student asked if he could use the captain's armband even if he wasn't the leader. Nhien explained that the tape was only a temporary sign to let teammates know who was calling the signal, not a badge of power. You suggest changing the wearer each session. Ms. Hanh said she could try, as long as the wearer had the team's approval. An likes that idea, because it makes responsibilities move.

At the end of the day, An sent the handover schedule to Mai Chi and Phong. She also wrote down the things she often forgot: charging the walkie-talkie, checking towels, asking if the new person wanted to film. Bap read it and said the list was too long. An talks for a long time because people often only remember the parts they like. Nhien added a line: “Check to see if others need a break.”

Mai Chi tried to call out tactics in a practice match but An did not come on the field. She spoke quickly, then stopped to ask if everyone was listening. Vy asked to repeat, Lam changed positions, Bap pressed the clock. The exercise took an extra minute but no one ran wrong. Mai Chi realized that calling late does not make her a poor leader; it gives others a chance to respond.

An went to the audition and left her phone in the locker according to regulations. While she was away, Tran sent the end-of-day report to Ms. Hanh, not to An. An has already handed it over, so she doesn't need to check remotely. When she returned, she read the summary and found everything was fine. The feeling of not knowing every detail made her a little nervous, but it was a lesson in trust.

Phong discovered that Lam missed the time to return the ball. He didn't help fix it but asked Lam to review it. Lam recognized, added and signed. Phong said errors seen early mean errors are being taken care of. Bap wrote that sentence down in his notebook, but Tran said he shouldn't turn every word into a slogan. Bap paused.

Huyen asked to participate in the opening ceremony, only to be the person taking photo cards. I learned to ask “which card do you want?” without long explanation. A child chose a red card, Huyen respected it. Then I asked An if I did it right. An said she asked and waited for the answer, so that's right.

Nhien gave An a bag containing the captain's armband, with a label on the outside stating the date of use. An asked why the date had to be recorded. Nhien said so that the next people would know how many battles the ice had gone through, so no one had to guess. An added another blank label, leaving room for the next person.

The first opening session took place on a mild afternoon. A group of older people walked around the sidelines, two sixth graders practiced throwing, and the girls' team divided up the instructions. An stands next to the gate, handing out colored cards according to needs: wants to play, wants to walk, wants to just watch. One person chose a viewing-only card and sat under the awning. No one pulled me into throwing the ball. He looked for a long time, then wondered if he could borrow a light ball.

Huyen gave the ball and reminded him how to hold it. Uncle missed and laughed. Lam picked up the ball but did not throw it for him; You roll it over so I can try again. An recorded the number of users and the number of times they request to change activities. The number is not great, but it shows a place with many ways to enter.

At the end of the session, the group checked the gate and exit. A bicycle was parked in the wrong place. Phong asked the owner to move it before leading it himself. The other person apologized and thanked him for being reminded. An suddenly understood that safety is not just a prohibition sign; it is also a way of speaking that makes others want to cooperate.

Phong recorded this in the duty book, next to opening hours.

In the afternoon, a child asked why the viewing card was green. Huyen explained that color is not a rank, it's just a way to let the person on duty know she needs a quiet place to sit. I chose the green card and sat close to the fence. After a while, I changed myself to a yellow card to try throwing. Huyen didn't ask why, just changed the table. An finds the right to change decisions makes newcomers stay longer than any appeal.

Nhien came after practice, bringing some colored stickers. She suggested marking places where you can sit and rest and still see the game. Phong measured the distance, Lam tried going from the entrance. An elderly man said that marked lines were easier to understand than arrows on paper. Thank you for your feedback, no arguments. The yard is fixed with many voices, not with a perfect drawing.