If you miss the first part of the story, you can read it HERE.
Ronald's story continues, the offensive-defensive path of the Snowball team's main lineup towards the dream of becoming the best basketball player in the world.
Ronald was expecting his tenth birthday especially, even hiding a piece of paper in the secret compartment of his desk. One day was crossed out on a piece of paper each day to know how much was left. There were several strings with numbers, until the end of the current school year, until Christmas, until the new year, but the shorter of them belonged to the number of days until the birthday.
It was so much awaited because his parents promised that he would be able to improve his basketball skills with a local coach. During his lifetime, the coach gave the wisdom to the local youth twice a week, and Ronald's parents only allowed him to go to training when the boy was ten years old.
At first, Ronald was angry at the decision. The school basketball court, twenty-eight meters long and fifteen meters wide, was the only place he liked to be.
-How to distinguish real talent - after another sports lesson, the teacher came to the boy and praised another great show with a ball - there is always someone in the class who is better than others, his teammates admire him, but only real talent is admired by opponents and my eyes have seen thousands of young people with a bright future. Tell me, why aren't you on the city's youth team?
-Three more days and then I'll go to the coach to be part of the team - Ronald refused - after three days I will be old enough to measure the way alone from home to the arena and back, at least parents say that too me.
The birthday was great, all three brothers gifted Ronald their own basketball ball, the mother prepared a delicious meal, and the father promised to go with Ronald to hike. This day has been remembered by him, not only as one of the few birthdays that requires all the fingers of both hands to count but also in a fancy wish before blowing out all the candles on the cake.
-I want to be the best basketball player in the world- Ronald whispered to himself, not really promising himself, not really wanting to. Something in the middle, like Heracles, a half-god, a half-man, just like Paige Halliwell, a half-witch, half a keeper of the light, this desired desire had to become just as special.
The very next day, Ronald ran to the big arena on the other side of town, he hadn't run so much since the sports lesson, where he had to compete with four years older boys. At that time the opponents were bigger, faster, and stronger, only unplayable with wisdom, this time the opponent was himself.
Arriving at the entrance to the Olympic Center, Ronald pushed open the door and ran through the office to get to the basketball hall. In it, two dozen children of his age were training their skills, and the coach's loud voice could be heard over the sound of the ball dribbling. Its cavity swept through the roar of the fan as well, but it didn't scare the young guy. The trainer was a sixty-two-year-old man with a light gray sweater covering his big belly in front of him, brown pants, the soles of shoes of the same color hitting the parquet floor. The gaze was hidden by thick glasses with a dark brown frame, praising and instructing the new participants. Coal's black hair had receded slightly over time, but it was not visible from Ronald's point of view.
-Hello- Ronald bravely approached the coach and addressed him from behind.
-To address a man from behind is rude, it's like attacking his back, unworthy and cowardly- the coach turned his face first, but then smiled -I hear about you, also Ronald I hear you have more talent in your one finger than the others in both hands-
To be continued....
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