Chapter 29 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

An left for the audition a week after the tournament. She brought with her old shoes, a strategy book, and an captain's armband that had dried and smelled of rain. The message was that she did not need to return with a special result; Just come back with your own answer. Mai Chi is waiting for the provincial recruitment schedule, Phong is busy handing over equipment, Bap sent a list of things that cannot be filmed.

At the gym, An met fast and confident players. The sound of the ball bouncing is loud, the lights are bright, the spectator seats are near the field. She missed a beat in the first song, but didn't panic. She looked at her teammates' shoulders, found space and passed. The coach asked her to throw more. An threw, missed one ball, hit one. She didn't hear the old comment in her head anymore.

At the end of the session, the coach said An could join the reserve team, but had to accept a remote practice schedule and was unlikely to be able to play. An asked what if she needed to fulfill her commitment to the schoolyard. The coach replied that he would make arrangements if she made it clear, but she had to take responsibility for herself. An received the appointment letter but did not sign it immediately.

Returning, An told the team she would try it for a month and then evaluate. She did not give up the field, but also did not use the field as a reason to refuse opportunities. Nhien said that's what adults often call "schedule", but Bap calls it "two balls at the same time". Mai Chi smiled, Phong helped An make a travel timetable.

The first monthly meeting of the yard was fully represented. The report records open hours, number of users, repair costs, image withdrawal requests, and two resolved incidents. One incident was children running to the gate, another incident was a slow scoreboard. Both have new processes. Mr. Vinh said the data is not enough to make long-term conclusions, but the yard has proven that it is not a vacant area.

Ms. Hanh hung a copy of the agreement on the board. Next to it is a white sheet of paper for comments. Nhien wrote the first sentence: "Playing is not a privilege, but playing safely is a shared responsibility." An additional date. The ball bounced at the back of the field, where a small group was learning to pass.

An was preparing to go to the first selection after the tournament. She wasn't sure she would be able to play, but she learned not to view being on the bench as a failure. Nhien helps her check the bus schedule, Mai Chi sends her stretching exercises, Phong checks her shoe laces. Bap asked if she was allowed to film a segment before leaving. An agreed to turn her shoes and armband around, not her face if she changed her mind.

Thu Ha sent a postcard with no return address. On it there was only a picture of a basketball field in the rain and the sentence: "I wish you could ask questions before being told." Ms. Hanh put the postcard in the filing cabinet, read it to the team, and then asked Ha if it was okay to use that sentence. Ha replied that there was no need to use it, just keep it as a wish. An likes the privacy of those words.

The school offers free tutorial classes on weekends. Mai Chi participates during her free days, Nhien is in charge of warming up, Vy teaches children, Lam checks the ball. An hasn't recruited yet so she's still on the field, but she doesn't try to grasp everything. She lets others dictate the rhythm, only correcting it when there is danger or when asked.

Mr. Vinh came to check the monthly report. He saw that the feedback sheet had a suggestion: build more benches for people who just want to sit. He asked for the budget, Phong suggested using old wood and anti-slip paint. An asked if it was possible to place chairs outside the running area. He nodded and wrote it on the correction list.

In the evening, An wrote a letter to the team before the selection day. She doesn't know if she will be chosen, but she wants to say that if she goes far, the yard will still have people. She wrote down each person's name and what she believed they could do. No one is described as “replacing An”; Each person is a partial continuation, not a copy.

Before folding the letter, An added one sentence: "If I miss at the new course, I won't call it the end." She sent the copy to Nhien, then turned off the light.

The next morning, Nhien replied that sounded like the words she needed when she was injured. An asked if she wanted to keep it. Nhien said to let it belong to An, because everyone needs to write their own sentences. An edited the letter, removed the last sentence, and replaced it with a space. She realized that the gap was not a deficiency; it gives the recipient the right to think further.

The yard's first quarterly meeting had representatives of students, teachers, custodians, library and community users. They look at monthly reports, debate opening hours and budgets. Some people want to open earlier, the security guards are worried that there won't be anyone on duty. Phong suggested trying a session with an automatic lock and a person in charge from the club. Tran asks for a review after each session, not open indefinitely.

Thu Ha arrived on an empty morning. She sat in the far row, not wanting to talk long. An placed a bottle of water next to her and went out. Nhien did not ask her about the old match. Ha looked at the basketball board and told Ms. Hanh that the floor was brighter but the sound of the rain was still the same. Ms. Hanh asked Ha if she wanted to leave a message. Ha shook her head. They sat together, not turning their return into a ceremony of gratitude.

Ha herself wrote a line in the comment book: "Thank you for letting me sit." Tran asked if she could keep it. Ha agreed internally, not using names. An read that line after Ha left, seeing that a short sentence could contain an entire match without needing to be recounted.

An went to selection afterwards. She didn't wear a camera, just shoes, a calendar and an armband. The test was difficult, she was marked, missed one ball, and passed exactly one ball. Her coach said she needed to improve her speed, but appreciated her ability to read people. An accepted a one-month trial, clearly stating the days she had to return to the field. No one laughed at her keeping the schedule.

On the car ride back, An texted the team: "I can try out. The field is still part of my schedule." Bap replied with a scorecard, Mai Chi sent wishes, Nhien sent a circle. An understood that she doesn't need to choose one room to prove that she loves the other room.

The audition month started with a rainy run. The city yard is half covered, the rest reflects the lights in long streaks. An slipped a step at the last line, stopping herself before someone else had to pull her back. The coach asked if she wanted to change shoes or rest. An chose to change shoes, then clearly stated how long she could run. No one considered that answer weak; it helps the whole group adjust the exercise.

In the second session, An was placed in the defense group. She did not score points, but read passes and called teammates' names at the right time. Another friend who was better at throwing asked why she didn't compete for the ball. An said because if everyone runs towards the ball, there will be no one left to keep space. The coach heard it and asked the group to try it. An did not know that she had just been evaluated, but she saw that the playing style of the old course was following her to the new place.

In the middle of the month, the coach asked An to join the weekend competition. The schedule coincides with the yard evaluation session. She asked for two days to respond and go back to school to tell the team. Bap told her to go if she wanted to. Nhien asked An if she wanted them to replace her or if she just wanted to listen. An said she needed everyone's help to see the part she was forgetting. Tran opened the calendar, Phong pointed out the person on duty, Huyen accepted to pick up the sixth grade. No one turned An's opportunity into a debt.

An sent an email asking for permission from the council, including a replacement plan and the phone number of the person on duty. Mr. Vinh replied that there was no need for her to be present if the system was clear. That sentence made An both happy and sad. She used to think she had to stand at the door to be called groundskeeper. Now she understands that holding the field is also about preparing others to stand in her place.

On the day of the test, An was allowed to enter the field in the second half. She passed a pass to open space, then sat down when her body felt tired. The team won narrowly, but she remembered Huyen's message most: "The field opened on time today." On the car ride back, An looked at the captain's armband in her pocket and saw that it was no longer a promise to be everywhere. It is a reminder that she can empower without losing herself.

That night, she called Nhien. The two didn't talk about scores or opportunities. Nhien asked An if she had eaten anything. An asked how her knee was today. After a few seconds of silence, Nhien said the yard was still wet in the east corner and needed someone to check before morning. An opened the calendar, wrote Lam's name in the on-call box and told him to ask before accepting. Lam answered yes, but asked Phong for more guidance because he was not used to checking sewers. Phong sent a diagram, not orders.

The day An returned, she saw a new row of chalk marks in the yard. Huyen and two sixth graders marked the smooth spots, while Tran posted reminders on the door. A pedestrian asked why the road was detoured today. Huyen explained slowly, then asked if he wanted to go the other way. He chose the other way and said thanks. An stood far away, realizing that everyone could answer for her without saying the wrong thing she wanted to protect.

In the afternoon, Ms. Hanh showed An the monthly report. The number of users increased, but what caught An's attention was the "timely stops" column. There were seventeen times, ranging from headaches, anger, difficulty hearing to simply not wanting to continue. Ms. Hanh asked if it was necessary to put that number on the achievement board. An shook her head; it's not a medal. But she suggests using it to decide on additional chairs and lamps. A quiet piece of data can change the way a place is cared for.

Before the end of the month match, the team meets for ten minutes. An did not lead the meeting; Huyen read the schedule, Lam reported the equipment, Nhien mentioned signs of fatigue, Bap asked for permission to shoot. When it was her turn, An just said she would play until her body allowed and would warn her in advance if she had to leave. No one asked her to promise more. They held up their colored cards, checked the boundaries, and then walked onto the field together.