Basketball Season

Puck’s first-ever basketball game kicked off in about a two below windchill in Manchester. He ran for the gym door as soon as we exited the car, insisting that he didn’t need to slip pants over his gym shorts.

“My legs are NUMB!” he called back over his shoulder to me.

Eight-thirty, a full gymnasium of spectators, and what quickly became a very intense game between the Catholics and the Presbyterians. Tied at the end of the fourth period. Overtime. Catholics won. And while Puck never had possession of the ball, he hustled up and down the court, finishing things off with a green Gatorade around 9:45.

Game two. Back in familiar territory. Eleven-thirty, seven boys in white jerseys playing their hearts out. This time, Puck got to hang onto the ball a few times before slinging it to a teammate, hot potato style. Another loss to another Catholic team. But by the tempered grin on Puck’s face, it was a successful morning.

“Good job out there today, Puck,” one of his buddies congratulated him on the way out.

Oxbear celebrated the inauguration of Puck’s first sport with Five Guys for lunch on the way home.