tullos.org \o/

As Justin walked toward the entrance of the Summit gym the next morning he saw Clipper asleep next to the door. "Hey... Scrawny dude! Wake up!," Justin said as he lightly kicked Clipper on the hip,"What are you doing here? Mom kicked you out of the house?"
"Oh," Clipper replied opening his eyes and stretching his back from the nap. "I must have fallen asleep"
"I'd say so. What's the deal?"
"You do know what day it is, don't you?"
"Thursday."
Clipper rolled his eyes, "Of course it's Thursday, think again."
"Oh, I forgot. It's decision day for the final spot. How long have you been here?" Justin asked.
"I got up at four."
"Four in the morning! What for? I know that Tupper's a Christian but he's not that much of a spiritual giant,' Justin said.
"I couldn't sleep at home, plus I wanted to be the first to see the notice. I didn't want to walk over to the bulletin board with everyone gawking at me while I checked out the roster. That's embarrassing. Everyone looking at you judging how you're going to look after you've just missed the team for the fourth time... I'd rather look at the roster and weep privately."
"Why look at the board if you've already cut yourself out of contention?" Justin said.
"I didn't do that this morning. I did it Monday night at the practice, remember? Four out of ten at the line! I choked, Justin."
"But they aren't looking for just a free throw shooter. You were a hoss out there."
"I felt like a hoss. A hoss in a china cabinet."
"You rebounded. You blocked Meeker's jump shot."
"They weren't even looking. They had their backs turned when I did that."
There was a lull in the conversation as Justin searched for something positive to say. "You almost took my eye out with your right elbow. That should be worth something, shouldn't it? I mean, I don't want to risk life and limb for a rebound with those lethal weapons flailing around."
Lunsford interrupted the two as he jingled his keys, "?Scuse me guys." He walked between Justin and Clipper to unlock the door. "Model students this morning. You're here before me. Swell."
Clipper and Justin looked at each other, perplexed, pondering the term: ?swell'
Lunsford eyes widened as he said, "Oh right. It's the big day. Your chance to see if you made the team, right Clipper?"
"So, did I?"
Lunsford shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know."
"Oh come on. You know," Justin said wryly.
"No, Justin. I really don't know. We are going to go pull a name out of a hat in a second," Lunsford continued.
"You're joking."
Lunsford gave no response. He just opened the door and walked on.
"Of course I'm kidding," he finally yelled back to them. "I left the choice up to Tupper. He made the call so I really don't know." The three stared at each other for a moment and finally Lunsford said "So what are you waiting for?"
They both took the long walk to the end of the hall.
"Slow down, Justin," Clipper said.
"Don't you want to see?" Justin asked.
"Of course I want to see." Clipper replied.
"You're strange. You know that? First you get here at four in the morning to see the list and now you don't want me to rush down the hall when the doors open," Justin said.
As Clipper approached the bulletin board, things seemed to go in slow motion. It was as if this was the most critical moment in his life. He had always dreamed of playing basketball for Summit High ever since his dad took him to the games when he was five. He could imagine bursting into the Summit High School gym surrounded by a thousand screaming fans. To him, that was half the thrill- to be a part of the team, to belong to a group which was striving for something important. He worked hard all last summer, knowing that if he didn't make the team this year, he would probably never have a chance to play on a legitimate team basketball again. In his mind, this was one of those defining moments in life. He tried not to think of it that way but he couldn't help it.
Justin and Clipper looked at the board, scanning the lunch room notices, cheer leading practice schedules, personal sale items...
"There it is," Justin said. Even he felt nervous.
"You read the notice. I can't look at it," Clipper said as he walked away from the board.
Justin took a deep breath, and read- "As you may know, there has been a vacancy on the varsity basketball team due to the Ralph Edmunson's knee injury... yada, yada, yada..."
"No ?Yadas' Justin. The whole banana! Read the whole thing." Clipper said as he paced back and forth.
"We offered three players on the junior varsity squad an opportunity to scrimmage with varsity to appraise how each individual's talent would fit into the chemistry of the team. This was a tough choice that was discussed by the entire varsity staff. We are pleased to announce that Clipper Hayes will be-
"What did you say?"
Justin smiled, "Clipper Hayes!"
"Let me see that. We are pleased to announce that Clipper Hayes will be moved to the varsity team!!" Clipper read, screaming.
"Congratulations..."
"I made it! I made it! I MADE IT!! Is this a dream?"
"It's not a dream." Justin said.
"Typo?
"Pretty mammoth typo if it is one."
Much to his chagrin, Justin knew that there was a big, unbridled bear hug somewhere in this litany with his name on it. He was not mistaken. Clipper threw his arms around Justin picked him up and twirled him around. Justin breathed a sign of relif that no one saw this sappy display of male bonding. Clipper didn't stop there. He burst into Lunsford's office. "Thank you! Thank you! I'm not going to let you down. I can promise you that!"
"Well you won't get very much playing time. You do realize that, don't you?" Lunsford said.
"I do. But if you need me in the clutch. I'll be there."
"I'm sure you will, Clipp-" Lunsford said.
"Just to your right-" Clipper continued.
"That's really comforting to-" Lunsford said, smiling.
"You just call out my name-"
"Seems like that's from a song or something..." Justin said to himself as he stood outside Lunsford's door.
"This is one of the greatest things that-" Clipper stopped mid sentence- "My Dad! I've gotta go tell my dad. He's gonna freak!"
"I don't think you have time homeroom is-" Lunsford warned.
"Fifteen minutes- I can do this. I can do this!" Clipper shouted.
Clipper burst out of Lunsford's office and passed Justin as he jetted out toward his car.
"You won't make it back before the bell?" Justin cried out as he felt the breeze from Clipper's after burners.
"Sure I will." Clipper shouted back.
"Why don't you just call him?" Justin asked.
"No way. This is face-to-face news!" Clipper blurted out, enthusiastically.
"Can't you wait till this afternoon? Home room's in 15 minutes!" Justin called out.
Clipper didn't even slow down. "This I can do!"
"The school zone! Don't forget the school zone! They'll lock you up and throw away the key." Justin reminded him loudly.
"Lighten up Justin. I'm a model citizen." Clipper screamed back.
"Fifteen miles an hour!!" Justin called out, giving Clipper a half wave. As he watched Clipper exit the parking lot he said to himself. "When did I become my Dad."
As he turned onto the street Justin could faintly hear Clipper over the hubub of the morning traffic, "All things, Justin! All things!"