The Crossover

During warm-ups

I miss four lay-ups in

a row, and Coach Hawkins says,

Josh, you sure you’re able

to play? It’s more than okay if you

need to go to the hospital with your fam—

Coach, my dad is going to be fine,

I say. Plus he wants me to play.

Son, you telling me you’re okay?

Can a deaf person write

music? I ask Coach.

He raises his eyebrows,

shakes his head, and

tells me to go sit

on the bench. I excuse myself

to the locker room

to check my cell phone,

and there are texts

from Mom.