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The return charge didn’t make it to the basket, aborted by a steal. The Pistols’ point guard dribbled the ball and headed back down court with the Badgers

hot on her heels.

Two minutes on the clock and the crowd was nearly crazed at this point. Watching their team come back from what should have been a thrashing and then

watching them work to get and keep the lead had the crowd constantly one their feet.

Cat watched as the shot was attempted and missed. The ball practically fell into her hands and the reverse was made. She headed back down court.

Looking up, she saw a wall of Pistols running up on her, looking huge and hungry as they approached. Staring toward the basket, she realized she had only

one option. Taking the shot, she waited as it seemed time slowed down. For her it was like a scene out of a bad sports movie. She could see, hear and feel

the breath leaving her body as she willed the ball to go in.

“YES!” She took a split second to thank God or whatever Supreme Being watched out for basketball players, off after the opposition.

She knew with ten seconds left on the clock this was going to be the Pistols’ last chance, and she was prepared for it. She did her job and made it

impossible for their point guard to get a clean shot. She managed to hold her off for four full seconds until a pass was made to one of the forwards.

The shot went up, arcing into the air as if riding on the tails of a rainbow.

It got nearly deathly quiet in the arena, as every single eye followed the ball. Watching it approach the net, Cat heard the buzzer and prayed.

Those prayers were answered when the ball hit the rim and bounced back, striking the court and rolling harmlessly out of bounds. Her shout of victory was

drowned out by the screaming of the frenzied crowd and the cheering of her teammates as they surrounded her in a happy jumble.

But the thing she noticed most was the wink and nod from the sidelines before Dylan’s attention was intercepted by the Pistols’ coach, coming to eat crow.

Sometimes, she thought, holding that small bit of praise tight to her soul, life can be good.

The celebration in the locker room turned into an impromptu party befitting the winning of a championship instead of simply triumphing in a game they had

been expected to win. Still, the coaches allowed the frivolity, knowing there was a good deal of pent up energy needing to be expended, and further

knowing that a release was better here than out in public where fights tended to get started.

It wasn’t until well after midnight when the group finally headed out of the locker room and through the now empty arena, ready for a well-earned night’s

sleep. Cat stepped into the cool darkness of the night with Shaniqua on her left and Anya on her right. Above the sounds of their laughter, she heard a

peculiar chirping noise that came up from the duffle slung over her shoulder. Unzipping the bag, she reached inside and came out with a tiny cellphone

belonging to Dylan. And it was telling her that someone had called and left a message.

“Oohhh,” Chaney ribbed, making a fake grab for the phone. “Hot date tonight, Shortchange?”

“Very funny,” Cat replied, hastily hiding the phone behind her back. “It isn’t mine.”

Chaney’s eyes widened. “Ya don’t say… .” Her grin deepened into a leer. “Been holding out on us, tiny?”

Cat was thankful the darkness hid her blush as she realized that she had just opened a can of worms best left closed. “Um…listen…I gotta go back inside.

There’s a message. You know….”

“Privacy. Gotcha, Shortchange. You sure you’re gonna be alright walkin’ out here by yourself?”

Cat had to smile. Ever since the attack, her teammates—and Shaniqua in particular—had taken it upon themselves to be her personal bodyguard cum

escort. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll be fine. The coaches are still inside, so if I need to, I’ll walk out with them.”

“Alright, then. You have a good time with your…date.” A flash of white teeth, and Shaniqua was swallowed up by the darkness.

Shaking her head and laughing a little, Cat turned on her heel and jogged back into the building. She’d made it to the stands when Coach Caulley stepped

out and grabbed her elbow. “Woah. Where’s the fire, Hodges?”

“Sorry Coach,” Cat replied, slightly winded. “I just….is Coach Lambert around?”

Caulley’s eyes immediately narrowed. “Is something wrong?”

“No, not at all. I just need to talk to her for a minute. Do you know if she’s still here?”

“I think she went up to her office, but….”

“Thanks!” With that, Cat took off running again. She ran through the locker room, out the back, and down the hall past the infirmary until she got to an old,

less than reliable freight elevator. Jamming on the ancient button set it creakily on its way, and she drummed her fingers against the peeling paint as she

waited.

“Come on! Jesus, what are the monkeys that lower the cables on strike for more bananas or something? God!”