Elvin Fernandez

October 5, 2009

ELA (Final Draft)

Couldn’t Play Basketball

One Thursday afternoon, three days before basketball tryouts, I was playing football in Nativity’s backyard during recess. When the bell rang, I ran inside and I felt a little tweak in my right knee. Later, I tried to walk down the stairs but I couldn’t. My knee was hurting so bad it felt like I was about to fall because it was so weak. David Bernard helped me to the office because I couldn’t make it down the stairs. Then they called my mom and my grandma to pick me up. I needed to go see a doctor. So the next day, I went to the doctors. The doctors told me to lay off it for a couple of days. I said, “Ok, fine.” But I lied because I was determined to make the basketball team with or without injury.

By Saturday, it was still hurting a little, but I was fine. I even tried to practice before the tryouts, but I couldn’t because it still hurt. But then came Sunday! When I awoke, it was fine but when I got out of bed and walked, I felt immense pain. It had gotten worse since the day before. I didn’t know what to do. I told my mom, “Mom it is still hurting and now it is worse.” She said to take the pills they gave me from the doctors. I took one and I made myself believe that it was working, but the pain wasn’t gone in just one pill. I had to sit home the rest of the day and I couldn’t go to the basketball tryouts.

I went to the second tryout, the next day. In my point of view, I was playing fine. But Mr. Arte, the coach of the Tyros, told me I didn’t make the cut. Maybe my knee kept me from playing at my best. My heart dropped to the floor with my confidence. This was one of the worst days of my life.