CONNOR ??

[Chapter-XLV]

I let out a deep breath before we left to walk over to the side of the coach. 

"Does anyone know about the absence of Cameron Constance?" He asked, his eyes scanning the students and stopped over Lucas. 

I didn't know the reason for his absence but still, I tried to speak. "Uh, he has some family emergency." 

I came up with a lie to defend him. If I won't, he would get scolded harshly and the coach would make him practice harder enough tomorrow because he hasn't informed the coach before missing today's practice and he also knows about the future competition very well. 

"Yes, he has been out of the city for a day." Lucas tried to cover up a lie as a help. 

"Please remind him, the competition has to be held next week." He told me, his eyes darkened a bit. 

"The competition is taking place next week and I absolutely don't want my team getting lost against Fairmont boys. I'm trying my best to coach this team and I want each of your best in the competition." Mr. Brown explained to us, for the 7th time this week. 

The chorus of yes followed by one another. 

"Dexter, Arthur, Noah, Lucas, and Elijah." He called out the names of the guys. "You all are allowed to go while the rest of you will have to practice more."

"See you tomorrow," Lucas yelled out to me.

Soon after a while, the rest of them also left, leaving Ezra and me. 

"Listen here, both of you carefully to me. The only way to get better in dribbling is practicing but you need to know that practicing dribbling only during practice is not enough." He explained to us in his unusual soft and strict voice. "If you really want to become proficient at these basic basketball skills, you will have to practice on your own. I'm not here present for you all the time." We both silently nodded in response. 

"Connor." He turned his attention to me. 

"Yes, sir?" 

I could see him feel glad in the way I have called him sir, as most of the students call him by his name. 

"Your brother is the very spirit of his team." He stated, immediately making me realized of Thibbault. "I hope he will teach you these basic skills accurately."

"Yes," I mumbled with a nod. 

"Off you go." 

At those words, Ezra immediately collected his stuff and ran off the ground. 

"Dribble as fast as you can." I felt an annoying sigh left my lips in the name of practice. 

Effortlessly, I picked up a basketball from the ground and started practicing again. 

"No, No, No." Mr. Brown came towards me and caught the basketball that was in a bouncing position. 

"You have to bounce the ball with one hand at a time. You have to maintain possession while walking or running. It's the only legal way." I could hear him practically shouting at me to not repeat dribbling in the wrong way. 

"A dribble can end if you touch both hands and you can't run with the ball without dribbling it." I continued to keep my head down. "One more thing, you have to use your fingers, not your palm." 

"Is everything clear, now?" 

"Yes." I nodded. 

"This takes time. There's no need to be discouraged with these initial frustrations of dribbling. I know you can do this, you only need a lot of practice."