Going the Distance by John Goode Read Free Book Online Page A

about me, and not all of it was bad. Though I was oblivious to most of it, Cody kept me apprised of the scuttlebutt the best he could.
    What this meant was that the second Tommy was made team captain, my problems were going to just get worse.
    Though the coach would call the plays and who did what, once the ball hit the court, it was up to the team to make it happen, and Tommy would make sure as much of it happened without me as possible. It was worse than being benched, because once you’re seated you know there’s nothing you can do to help the game. On the other hand, out on the court I could do something to help us out, but I wouldn’t have the chance because no one would pass me the ball. My head hung low as I stared at a spot between my sneakers, wondering if I should have quit the first week and saved myself this kind of shit. Cody elbowed me, and I looked up quickly.
    The coach was looking at me, gesturing for me to come up. I looked over at the team, and I saw a dozen narrowed eyes glaring at me. I started to rise. “Huh?” I asked Cody.
    He pushed me forward, whispering, “You’re team captain, retard! Go!”
    I stumbled forward as the coach slapped me on the back. “Come on, people, make some noise!” he commanded. There were strained sounds of a few people slow clapping that only drove home the point I was the absolute worst choice he could have made. I stood there trying not to openly look fucked, while inside I was screaming my head off like a blond in a horror movie. This was the absolute worst-case scenario. The only thing that would have made this worse is if I realized I had forgotten to put on clothes and was standing up here naked.
    What had been smoldering as thinly veiled resentment suddenly burst into a raging hatred as they all drilled holes through me with their eyes. I had less than nothing to say. I just swallowed hard and looked at the coach with panicked eyes.
    The coach looked at me and then back to the team, taking in the scene for a moment before nodding at me to sit down. I sat next to Cody, who in no way looked happy at the announcement, since he knew it was about the worst of all possible outcomes. After pacing in silence for almost a minute, the coach began to talk. “You guys make me sick.” The words didn’t have their normal impact, since his tone was conversational instead of berating. “Show of hands, does anyone think we have a snowball’s chance in hell of placing this season?” A few hands went up at first, then a few more. Finally everyone except Cody and I raised their hands.
    The coach looked at Cody. “Why do you think that, Mr. Franks?”
    Cody refused to look at anyone else as he answered, “Because we suck.”
    There were a few snorts of laughter from the other guys, along with some grumbling that the coach shut down with a loud “ Shut it! ” Silence echoed through the locker room. “Don’t know why you’re laughing, because he’s right.” The smiles fell off everyone’s faces as the coach pressed his point. “It’s not just that we suck; it’s that you guys don’t care that we suck.” He looked at Tommy. “You haven’t done one thing to make this team better, Grazier, not one. All you’ve done is bitch about Danny over here nonstop since he joined. In fact, if you spent even half the time trying to better this team as you did whining, I’d be naming you captain. You people have had access to someone who knows more about basketball than any three of you put together, and other than Cody here, you won’t talk to him. So this is the deal. You want to play basketball because of the letterman jacket and the pussy it will get you, walk the fuck out of my locker room right now.” No one even breathed. “If you want to try to win something this year instead of wandering around the court while people laugh at you, then you’ll listen to him. Any questions?” He paused for effect and then interjected, “And by questions, I mean last words before