Free Athlete vs. Mathlete: Double Dribble by W. C. Mack

under the water, then pushed the hair to the side.
    I used the comb to make a perfect part and was just about to take a good, long look at myself when the door swung open.
    â€œOops!” Mom gasped. “Sorry, O, I didn’t know you were in here.” She started to close the door again, but stopped partway. “Hey, I like what you’ve done with your hair. Very cute.”
    Cute?
    I leaned closer to the mirror. She was right, it wasn’t a bad look.
    I jerked backward.
    What was I thinking?
    I didn’t want Twinvader hair.
    I didn’t want Twinvader
anything
.
    And I definitely didn’t want to look
cute
.
    I dropped the comb back into the drawer and messed up my hair with my hands.
    If I wasn’t careful, I’d be sucked into the Matthews brothers’ trap, just like the rest of the Pioneers.
    And I didn’t want that most of all.

    At dinner, Dad congratulated us on our game.
    â€œThe streak continues, huh?” he said, passing me the carrots.
    â€œYeah,” I muttered, scooping a bunch onto my plate.
    â€œWow,” Dad said. “Now
that’s
enthusiasm.”
    â€œI thought you’d be thrilled with another win,” Mom said.
    â€œI would, if
we’d
won.”
    They both looked totally confused, and I guess I couldn’t blame them.
    â€œThe Matthews twins,” Russ explained, once he’d swallowed a mouthful of salmon. “They’re dominating the team.”
    â€œDominating, huh?” Dad asked.
    â€œYeah,
dominating
,” I said, trying not to sound ticked off but failing.
    â€œBut everyone’s getting court time, right?” Dad asked.
    â€œYeah,” I admitted. “But Russ and I have been starting on the bench lately.”
    â€œSomebody has to start on the bench,” Mom said.
    Like that helped.
    â€œYeah, but it used to be somebody
else
,” I said, passing the carrots to Russ.
    â€œYou know,” Dad said. “You guys are looking at these twins as threats instead of allies. And that’s a big mistake.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Russ asked.
    Dad swallowed a mouthful. “You already had a team who was great together, right?”
    â€œYeah, back in the good old days,” I muttered.
    â€œAnd now you’ve added two more solid players to the roster, which will make your great team even greater.”
    I nodded, even though I didn’t totally agree. “Uh-huh.”
    â€œSo, why are you worrying about how you start? You should be thinking about how you finish.”
    â€œWe
are
winning,” Russ said quietly.
    â€œNo,” I told both of them. “The Matthews twins are winning. The rest of us are just decoration.”
    â€œThen you need to step up your game, Owen,” Dad said. “Be a part of what they’re doing instead of treating them like your enemies. If they’re making most of the plays, help them make even more.”
    â€œAre you kidding me?” I choked.
    â€œHey, a good assist is as valuable as the basket itself.”
    Yeah, right
.
    â€œThey don’t need assists from us,” I told him.
    â€œThey’re like a full team on their own,” Russ agreed.
    Dad laughed. “Two players can never do more than five, you guys.”
    I gave up on trying to convince him. He just didn’t get it.

    At the next practice, I was ready to do my best, because that was all I really
could
do.
    But when Chris showed up wearing a Timberwolves T-shirt, I got distracted.
    â€œWhat’s that about?” I asked, pointing at it. “Since when do you like Minnesota?”
    â€œThey’re not bad,” he said, shrugging.
    â€œSeriously?” I couldn’t believe he’d joined the stupid fan club! “Why don’t you start combing your hair like the Matthewses’, too? Maybe you can be triplets together.”
    Coach blew his whistle before Chris could say anything.
    For the whole practice, I concentrated on