Between the first and second period she needed to go to the restroom. As she was about to leave Jackie King came in the door. “Well, I can see I need to have a doctor put a big cast on my leg.”

“You’re crazy. What for?”

“Didn’t you see the guys following you with their tongues hanging out?”

“So there were a couple of them being helpful.”

“There were about fifteen of them standing gawking at you. Only a few of them could get close. They think a girl on crutches is sexy. Maybe it’s because she can’t run away. Remember when I had my ankle sprained? I was on crutches with my foot wrapped. I never got that kind of attention before or since. Guys even asked if I wanted them to re-wrap my foot or massage my leg. One wanted to put nail polish on my nails. And that was for a little ace bandage. I should have had the doctor put a cast on for a couple of weeks.”

“You’re nuts. You would wear a cast to get boys to pay attention to you?”

“Is there any doubt in your mind, sure.”

“I don’t understand it.”

“Guys are shallow.”

“What do you call a girl that would put on a cast to get that kind of attention?”

“Smart.”

“Jackie. I’m surprised with you.”

“I’ve considered getting out my crutches and ace bandage about a month before prom and see if I can get a date.”

“How would you do that, what would your parents say?”

“I’d just tell them I sprained my ankle again. I could fake another injury. I had forgotten the attention until you crutched in here today. Now I’m almost jealous.”

“I’ll ask my doctor if he’ll put a full cast on your leg, let you try this for a while.”

“I understand it’s a pain, but there are plusses.”

“I’m not sure having guys that are hot to trot following you and trying to paint your toenails is a plus.”

“Well, I do. But then I’m not the blond bombshell that guys follow all the time. Now how’s the leg?”

“Broke.”

“I knew that, how long are they talking about you keeping this?”

“Probably six weeks or so. The break is above my knee.”

“Are you going to be playing soccer again?”

“Not this year. The season will be over before I can play. I’m hoping to be ready to play basketball. I need to get a scholarship to help my parents with college.”

“Have you thought if you will be able to play after you get the cast off?”

“They say I will need some therapy to get going but should be back to where I was before.”

“Physically, yes. But are you going to be able to mentally?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Let me explain it this way. The ankle sprain made a difference to me. When I go up for a rebound there is always a thought in my mind, “If I land like I did that time last year, there will be pain, intense pain.” So I don’t go as high, take the same chances, and my playing stinks. And it isn’t my ankle, it is the fear of getting hurt.”

“You’re not kidding.”

“I’m not, and look at you, you have kicked that goal a hundred times and this time you break your leg. Is that going to haunt you every time you kick a goal from now on?”

Laura looked at her friend. She was serious, dead serious. Her rebounding was not nearly as good as before her injury and it was because she did not press in and jump as high. Everyone had speculated that her foot was not fully healed. Now Laura knew the reason. It was only after Jackie was hurt that Laura won the title of the top re-bounder. Jackie’s injury was to her mind. Laura wondered, “Will I have the same problem?” Instead of voicing it she looked at her friend, “Let’s see if we can help each other not let this hurt our game.”

“I’m for that.”

“I have to go. The teacher will be wondering if I got lost.” She pushed the door open and crutched out into the hall. She headed to the classroom, entered and took her seat.

Chapter 1 also contains an index.

Laura Chapter 1

Laura Chapter 3