Prime Choice by Stephanie Perry Moore Read Free Book Online Page B

thought he was the man, and he needed to step up and clear up the mess that I was seeing before me.
    At lunch, Cole came up to me and we sat down under a tree. We nibbled on ham sandwiches and chips, and drank Gatorade. Then I caught my boy looking at me like I’d let him down.
    â€œPerry, what’s with you? We better do something. We got a game next weekend. If we keep playing the way we practicing, we’re gonna get beat like we stole something!”
    â€œWhy you over here talking to me about it? I ain’t the head coach. Go talk that mess to him,” I said as I pointed to Coach Robinson.
    â€œHe coaches offense. That’s why I’m talking to you. Shoot, the defense is tight! Y’all ain’t score nothing on us, even in the scrimmage yesterday. Coach said something to you the first day, and you still trippin’. But let me ask you this. You gon’ let him stop what’s inside of you to do?”
    â€œWhat you talking ’bout, Cole?”
    â€œI’m just saying, Perry, you’re a leader. And you’re being suppressed because of what somebody said to you. Coach Robinson ain’t nobody. Don’t let him ruin what’s yours this season. Every team needs a leader. And you the man. Be it.”
    â€œI couldn’t have said it better myself, Cole,” Coach Robinson replied from behind us.
    Cole was startled. “Oh, Coach, Coach, Coach, Coach!”
    My friend had his foot caught in his mouth, talking about our head coach and he was listening. I didn’t care, though. I was glad the man heard that other players thought he wasn’t all that.
    â€œGive me ten laps while I talk to your boy,” he told Cole.
    I questioned, “You gon’ make him run laps because you stepped in on our private conversation?”
    â€œI’m making him run ’cause he looked a little slow out there in practice today. But you and I need to talk. Go ’head, Cole,” Coach Robinson said. My friend quickly jogged away.
    â€œYou think I don’t like you, huh?” Coach asked.
    â€œI know you don’t like me.”
    â€œAnd that makes you real angry, like you don’t wanna put forth no effort, right? Like you’re trying to punish me and do bad.”
    â€œI ain’t trying to punish nobody, I’ma do mine. You give the ball to me. I’ll make something happen with it. If you don’t, then the rest of the world will know that your play calling is definitely questionable.”
    â€œSo, as I said to you earlier in the week, it is about you, isn’t it?”
    â€œIt’s really not about me, Coach, is it? You’re the leader. This is yo thang. How come you’re not able to get the team looking any better?”
    â€œI played on the highest level, Perry, and it’s not easy up there. I know you’re a smart kid, but to be great at anything in life, you gotta overcome obstacles. Even ones that are self-imposed.”
    I didn’t know what he was talking about then. But for the first time, it didn’t seem like he was talking at me but talking to me. And for that, I kept listening.
    â€œI said some tough things to you ’cause I wanted you to step up and be a leader. But you stepped back. Instead of letting what I said challenge you, you let it take the air and wind outta your sail.”
    Was he right? Did I let him make me less of who I was?
    â€œIn reality, Perry, I am the one who calls the plays and makes the decisions. But this team needs both of us to succeed. You are a senior and you are a captain. Don’t be passive. Do your job. Don’t let any situation or anybody make you abandon it. Not even me. You’re over here eating with only one player, while the rest of your team is over there trying to get a spark going. What are you going to do about it? We have a game in a week. I don’t know if you want the NFL, but I know you want the state championship. I had a talk