Game Day at Elm Park
1Setting: The gym at the Elm Park Recreation Center on a Saturday morning. Two youth basketball teams, the Hawks and the Comets, are warming up, and parents are finding seats on the bleachers. Ms. Adeyemi, the referee, is showing her two helpers, Jun and Bella, the scorer's table.
2MS. ADEYEMI: Thank you both for helping today. Jun, you will run the scoreboard. Bella, you will watch the game clock and tell me when time runs out.
3JUN: What happens if I push the wrong button?
4MS. ADEYEMI: Then you fix it. Everyone makes mistakes, even referees. Just take a breath and keep your eyes on the game.
5BELLA: (pointing at the floor near the door) Wait—is that a puddle?
6MS. ADEYEMI: (blowing her whistle) Stop! Nobody runs near that corner. Bella, please bring me the mop from the closet.
7COACH RAMOS: Good eyes, Bella. Someone could have slipped on that water. Thank you for speaking up so quickly.
8(Later in the game. The crowd is loud, the score is tied, and only ten seconds are left on the clock.)
9JUN: (counting under his breath) Ten... nine... eight...
10BELLA: (covering her eyes) I can't look. Did the ball go in?
11JUN: (jumping up) It's in! The Hawks win!
12MS. ADEYEMI: (in a steady voice) The final score is 24 to 22. Both teams, please line up and shake hands.
13BELLA: My hands were shaking the whole time. How do you stay so calm when a game is that close?
14MS. ADEYEMI: (smiling) A good referee keeps her voice steady... even when her heart is racing.