Chapter 27 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

Nhien completed the procedures to leave the team captain position before the school year ended. She organized a handover ceremony, inviting her juniors and those who had come to the opening day. She gave An the strategy book, but did not hand over all decision-making authority. She asked the new team to elect people in charge of each area: competition, safety, field schedule and image rights.

An asked Nhien if she was sad. Nhien said yes, but being sad doesn't mean you have to keep your seat. She chose to do rehab, relearn how to take the stairs and plans to sign up for basic athletic training classes. She doesn't know if she will compete again in the future. An said if there was, she would be the first to pass the ball. Nhien laughed and said not to pass if she was being marked.

Mai Chi received news that she had entered the provincial audition round. She will have to go away for a few days. The team created a new calendar in which no one had to choose between family, studies and basketball without negotiation. Bap made a paper ticket that said "you have the right to return". Mai Chi kept the ticket in her pencil case, saying she wouldn't use it as a promise, just as a reminder.

Phong completed the new yard design. The basketball board is lowered a bit in the children's area, the aisles are wider, and the power cord is in a protective box. Mr. Vinh signed to approve the temporary repair, but the roof needs to wait for the budget. Phong did not consider it his victory; He wrote down the names of the technician and friends who helped measure the yard. An asked him if he wanted to play again. Phong said he could, but he wanted to try out the scoring position, not just stand outside and edit.

Bap created the short film "The Yard Is Not Empty" from unidentified images. He sent a preview copy to each person who appeared, clearly stating the scope of use. Some scenes were cut, some sentences had to be re-recorded. The video does not have the full final match, only the sound of rain, brooms, scoreboard and hands passing the ball. While watching, An saw that the story no longer revolved around her throw.

The new team opened its first training session. Nhien stood outside, An was the guide, Mai Chi made a video call from the selection session, and Bap took notes. The yard still has cracks, but is no longer an empty place. Every time the ball bounces, one person chooses to step in.

Newbies don't know the team's history, so An doesn't tell it all right away. She starts by asking them what they want to learn and what worries them. One person is afraid of being photographed, one person has no shoes, one person can only come on the weekend. Tran gave the option to borrow shoes, sign up for no filming, and a suitable time frame. An found that these questions made the practice session slower, but no one was left behind.

Nhien teaches how to warm up your knees. She didn't say she ever hid her pain; She shows how to report the pain level using a numerical scale and when to stop. One person laughed because the movement looked simple. Nhien asked if you wanted to try it. You do it, then realize your legs are tired. The group understands that simple does not mean unimportant.

Phong assigned Lam to check the ball and record the status. Lam said little but discovered that number four had a valve leak. Phong thanked him and gave him the tools to repair under supervision. Bap turns the two people's hands, Lam agrees not to turn away. When reviewing it, Lam asked to delete the part where he stuttered. Delete it immediately, without asking why.

Mai Chi made a video call from the selection session, informing her that she was in the reserve group. She didn't know how tight the schedule would be, but the new team promised to keep a field for her when she returned. An said there was no need to keep it if someone else registered. Mai Chi's landing field is not a place kept for herself; Just need a clear schedule for her to choose.

Bap completed the handover book and discovered the item "responsible person when there is no one". He left it blank, then asked Ms. Hanh. Ms. Hanh said that not having anyone is a piece of information that needs to be recorded. They added a rule to close the yard when there is a shortage of people on duty. An saw that an empty box could protect more people than a hastily written name.

At the end of the session, a new student missed a shot and wanted to go home. An went to pick up the ball with her friends, without saying empty words of encouragement. She asks if you want to try again or just want to sit. You choose to throw it back, the ball hits the rim. No one claps before you laugh yourself.

A new friend named Huyen was in tenth grade. She had played basketball at her old school but quit after being laughed at for missing a shot. An asked whether she wanted to talk about it, but Huyen said no. They did not dig any further. Nhien showed her the image-rights card, and Huyen chose the yellow card. They noted the card code, not the reason. Huyen stood in Bap, watching everyone play first.

In the second session, Huyen asked to try defense. I read my opponent's footsteps well, but I'm afraid of collision. Mai Chi teaches how to keep distance, Phong reminds to always check the yard. Huyen stole the ball once, then immediately passed it to Vy. An does not praise excessively; She asked me if I wanted to repeat the movement. Huyen nodded and ran faster this time.

Nhien established a group of assistants from the following keywords. Each person learns a part: warming up, taking off the ball, instructing the signal board and what to do when someone is hurt. An is not in everyone's name. Lam received the equipment handover, Huyen received the image card tracking. Bap gave a separate book, clearly stating who can see it and how long it will be kept.

Mai Chi called from the provincial youth team, saying the training schedule was tight but the coach gave her one day to visit the field. She does not promise to appear in every session. The team is glad that she knows how to set limits. An asked her if she missed the court. Mai Chi said she missed the people who knew how to ask first more than she missed the basket.

Phong fixed a temporary handrail on the ramp, then asked the school to invest in a permanent ramp. Mr. Vinh included roof repair in the budget. One parent said that if there is a long wait, the yard can still use temporary boards but needs to be checked every day. They clearly state who checks, when to change, and how to report if the board is slippery.

Huyen returned a third time, held the ball himself and asked for a new yellow card because the old one was wet. Bap changed the card and asked if he wanted to delete the photo from the previous session. Huyen said no need, but thanks for asking. An stood next to her, understanding that a new team was growing up with questions that once made her impatient.

Huyen started recording photo cards. I write down the code, deadline and deletion request, not a separate story. Check it but let me correct it myself when there are errors. One day I mistakenly wrote the expiration date and discovered it before posting. Huyen reported, edited and signed. An didn't praise me too much, I just asked what additional testing steps I wanted. Huyen suggests automatic reminders one day in advance.

Nhien teaches the new group a warm-up lesson without using the whistle. Everyone looks at the leader and follows. A slow friend is not left behind; The person in front decelerates. Huyen said she liked the way the exercise did not make slow people an obstacle. Nhien said a good team knows how to change rhythm without calling it sacrifice.

Mai Chi returned to the field one evening, carrying the youth team shirt. She didn't wear it to show off, just folded it in her bag. Bap asked her if she wanted to take a photo. Mai Chi said no today. Bap put away the device, then gave her the signal board. She calls the lesson, the team responds with the steps they have learned.

Phong handed over the equipment to Lam, but Lam asked if he wanted to compete, who would fix it. Phong said the school has technicians, he doesn't need to be the only one. Lam asked why he still fixed it. Phong replied because he liked it, not because he had to. An heard and saw that it was another way to grow up: doing what you love without letting it consume you all.

Mr. Vinh came to see the approved fixed ramp. The project is not yet completed, but the drawings have a start date. One parent asked what if it was late. He said he would report, but did not promise verbally. Tran recorded that statement in the minutes. Huyen said she likes adults to keep their promises like the team.

At the end of the session, Huyen threw the first ball into the basket in the practice match. I turned away, embarrassed. An asked if she wanted everyone to applaud. Huyen shook her head, then patted herself. The whole team laughed, but no one clapped for me.

Phong handed over the tool book to Lam on a windy afternoon. He told Lam not to remember everything, just to know where to look. Lam asked what if he made a mistake. Phong replied to write it down so the next person wouldn't repeat it. An heard it and suddenly remembered that she was more afraid of the error lines than she was afraid of the rain. Now she sees that a properly recorded error can make the next person less panicky.

Mr. Vinh announced that the handrail project would start construction a week earlier. Huyen wanted to help paint, but Ms. Hanh said children should not touch the construction work. I switched to making a road guide. Tran helped me choose the font size, while Phong measured the hanging distance. Huyen wrote the sentence "go slow and get there" and asked everyone if it sounded like a slogan. An said that if that sentence helps someone feel less rushed, then keep it.

In the evening, An received an email from the city coach asking if she could attend one more session. She opened the yard schedule and saw that it coincided with the sixth grade session. She replied asking to change the time and stating the reason. No one forced her to choose right away; they just needed to know what she was protecting. The coach agreed and even sent a new schedule. An finds that a clear refusal sometimes opens the door to a better way of cooperation.