Ali sat on the bench with his juice box, watching Islam dribble past everyone. Swish. The crowd roared as Islam sank another three-pointer. Ali squeezed his empty juice box slowly.
The next morning a bright orange closure sign covered the community center doors. Islam packed his bag and walked toward the cracked park instead. Ali followed, step by step, clutching his own ball.
Ali stepped onto the court and shot. Clank. Clank. Clank. The ball bounced away and splashed into the storm drain. Ali groaned. Islam reached into his bag and tossed him a spare ball.
Islam showed Ali how to spin — pivot on one foot, protect the ball, drive left. He turned too fast. His foot caught. He fell hard onto the asphalt and grabbed his knee.
Ali rushed over and slid onto his knees beside Islam. Islam breathed through it, then gave a small nod. They sat together on the cracked court for a long moment.
Islam stood, wincing only a little. He pointed to the spot where Ali had missed. Again. And again. This time Ali set his feet, bent his knees, and let it go. The ball arced high and dropped through the net. Swish.
Swish. Ali missed the next one. But he picked it up and shot again. Missed. Picked it up. Shot again. Islam nodded from the bench, arms crossed.
The light turned gold. Ali's shoes scuffed the painted key. Islam stood and clapped once, soft but real. Ali grinned without thinking. His palms were already rough.
They walked home together. Islam showed Ali a new move — a behind-the-back drag step. Ali tried it on the sidewalk. Fell into a bush. Laughed until his shoulders shook.
That night, Ali lay on his bed with the scuffed basketball pressed against his chest. The gym was closed. The court was cracked. None of that mattered.
He turned his palm over. The calluses were already there — rough patches from three days of picking the ball up off the cracked asphalt. He traced one with his thumb.
Tomorrow he would show Islam the behind-the-back drag step. Tomorrow he would take the court. Ali closed his eyes and slept, the ball still warm in his arms.
