Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: End (02/13/06)
-
TITLE: Dribbling For Souls | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lynn Smith
02/19/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
"What? Come on, I just got here." Seventeen year old, Jamal, yelled; throwing the basketball to the floor with a loud whomp.
"Well, you know what time we start. Maybe tomorrow you can try to get here earlier, " Steve responded.
Steve was the new community worker hired by a local organisation in partnership with his church and his job was to play basketball with the local youth; many of whom were involved in gangs, drugs and had been kicked out of school. It was the city's hope that through programs like the one Steve was running, at-risk teens through mentorship and counselling, would come away with a new outlook on life. It was Steve's wish that they would also find healing in Christ. There had been times that Steve and "his guys," as he liked to call them, sat at a table and talked, but the most important things happened on the court, dribbling a basketball.
Jamal threw the door open against the wall, the noise echoing through the entire gym. The other teens just glanced; it was nothing new to them. Every night it was the same with Jamal. He would saunter into the gym a half hour till quitting time and if he was lucky, he might have forty-five minutes to play if Steve didn't stop them right at nine-o-clock. Steve knew that something was preventing him from getting there on time, as it was obvious that the teen loved to play, but so far hadn't wanted to probe. Maybe tonight would be the night.
"Guys, I trust that you will see yourselves out without any problems."
"Yeah, Steve." They said in unison.
He usually made sure that everyone was out of the gym and outside before leaving, but Jamal looked as if he needed to get something off his chest.
"Jamal," Steve yelled, as he ran down the hall behind him. He didn't get discouraged at the lack of response but quickened his pace. "Jamal, I want to speak with you."
"I don't need no lecture." Jamal took two stairs at a time reaching the main level of the church. Steve continued to follow.
"Jamal."
To Steve's surprise, Jamal made an abrupt stop, his tall muscular frame towering over Steve. "Leave me alone"
"What is up with you tonight?"
"I said leave me alone."
"I'm concerned about you and thought we could talk for awhile," Steve said.
"Like I said, I don't need no lecture."
Steve reached out to touch Jamal's shoulder but Jamal bent down and pulled out a switch blade from inside his Air Jordan's. "Don't touch me."
Fear ran through Steve like a bolt of electricity. He had dealt with tough situations, but never anything like this. "Jamal, put the knife away. You don't want to do anything stupid."
"And what would it matter?"
"You tell me? Are you ready to throw your life away?"
"Life sucks," he spat.
"Whatever you are facing that is making you feel this way can be worked out."
Jamal's eyebrows rose, "You think? You know nothing, man."
"Maybe I don't, but I am here if you want to tell me."
"You think I would tell you about what I do? No way."
Steve stared blankly, hoping to come up with the right words to say. For the first time in his new career, he felt helpless. Jamal looked as if he was about to come apart; eyes wide open, hand shaking, holding tightly to the knife.
"Why don't you put the knife away? It's not going to help you."
"Yeah? So you can call the cops? No way."
"I won't call the cops if you put it away."
"Why should I believe you? Why would you do that for me?"
"The answer to that would seem stupid to most."
"Seems stupid to me, too. I want to know why I should trust you?" He thrust his chin out towards Steve.
"Do you want to go for a one on one?"
Jamal looked skeptical, then his face softened as he lowered the knife. "Yeah, right." He was silent for a moment, then said, "You would do that?"
Steve slightly turned toward the stairs, "Are you coming?"
"Yeah." Jamal closed the knife putting it back in his shoe. "I still don't know why I should trust you."
"You'll find out on the court."
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Anyway, good writing, good story and I liked it.