The Crossover

Game Time: 6:00 p.m.

At 5:28 p.m.

a cop

pulls us over

because Dad has

a broken

taillight.

At 5:30

the officer approaches

our car

and asks Dad

for his driver’s license

and registration.

At 5:32

the team leaves

the locker room and

pregame warm-ups

begin

without me.

At 5:34

Dad explains

to the officer

that his license

is in his wallet,

which is in his jacket

at home.

At 5:37

Dad says, Look, sir,

my name is Chuck Bell,

and I’m just trying

to get my boy

to his basketball game.

At 5:47

while Coach leads

the Wildcats

in team prayer,

I pray Dad

won’t get arrested.

At 5:48

the cop smiles

after verifying

Dad’s identity

on Google, and says,

You “Da Man”!

At 5:50

Dad autographs

a Krispy Kreme napkin

for the officer

and gets a warning

for his broken taillight.

At 6:01

we arrive at the game

but on my sprint

into the gym

I slip and fall

in the mud.