Basketball Disasters (13 page)

Brody was back on the court, hugging Mason, and Mason was hugging Brody. Everyone pounded Dylan on the back, Mason pounding harder than anyone.

“You did it! Dylan, you did it!” he heard himself shouting.

Nora, usually so calm, was part of the hug, and Coach Dad was, too.

In his mind, Mason hugged his mom and Coach Joe and Dog, of course—even Mrs. Taylor.

It was time for the team handshake.

Mason touched everybody’s hand this time—especially Dunk’s.

Maybe next season—he knew there would be a
next season—he’d be able to get better at losing with dignity, but for now it was great—terrific! astonishing! wonderful!—to be able to win with grace.

Mason grinned at Brody—a grin big enough to match the grin that Brody grinned back.

It is such a pleasure to be able to thank some of the wonderful, brilliant, creative people who helped bring this book into being: my longtime Boulder writing group (Marie DesJardin, Mary Peace Finley, Ann Whitehead Nagda, Leslie O’Kane, Phyllis Perry, and Elizabeth Wrenn); my unfailingly insightful and encouraging editor, Nancy Hinkel; my wise and caring agent, Stephen Fraser; consistently helpful Jeremy Medina; magnificently sharp-eyed copy editors Janet Frick and Artie Bennett; Guy Francis for his funny, tender pictures; and Sarah Hokanson for her appealing book design. And a special thank-you to Cory Aragon, who read all the basketball scenes and taught me the difference between a blocking foul and a charging foul, and so much more.