Hoops of Hope

"What does he want?" asked the cashier. The scent of fried corn dogs and greasy fries filled the air.

"He can speak for himself." Juan corrected her.

I stared through her with the blankest expression possible. Everyone assumed my head was empty, ever since I started using this chair. It infuriates me but I'm just going to roll with it..

"Lee?" asked Juan.

I rolled my head to one side like it was too heavy for my neck and stared at the wall behind her.

Juan sighed and threw a twenty on the counter.

"Let's go."

I waited for Juan to walk past me and then I straightened. I smiled at the cashier.

"Have a nice day." I pushed my joystick forward and zoomed away. I didn't see her expression after that. The shock probably straightened the curls in her hair.

"You have to stop doing that." Juan frowned at me.

"Why, should I?" I shrugged. Let them think what they want. I hate this place, anyways. It was noise and crowded. Everything was over priced. All of these people spending money they don't have on things they don't need. Everyone either stared or pretended not to see me.

A young kid that had just come out of the play area came up and asked me why I was in a wheelchair. I wanted to tell him. I don't mind when kids ask me. His mom dragged him away as fast as she could like I was a contagious disease. It seems like I make everyone uncomfortable.

"You could get some new clothes while your here." Juan suggested.

"Why?"

"We're already here."

"I don't need new clothes. My clothes are fine." I hate shopping. How did Juan talk me into coming here to begin with?

I noticed Juan looking at his watch. He's probably dying for his shift to be over so he can get away from me. That's fine. I don't need a babysitter.

"Take me home." I ordered.

He frowned at me. "But you haven't even had lunch."

"I'm not hungry." I snapped as I zoomed for the automatic doors. It was fun to watch Juan try to catch up with me on his short little legs. At least this power chair made me faster than him.

"O.K. Leeandru, I'll see you tomorrow at 8."

"Make it 10. I'm not getting up that early." Like I need his help.

"Fine." said Juan after a long pause.

Alone at last, I drove myself into the kitchen. I yanked the fridge open and grabbed one of the leftover enchiladas. At least Juan's sister made good food. They weren't supposed to give me anything, not even food but I'm no snitch. Besides, I'll never give up Maria's enchiladas. I struggled to back my chair up, shut the fridge and turn my chair around to reach the microwave in the small space. I grabbed a paper plate off of the counter and I leaned forward to open the microwave and put my dinner inside. When it was finished I balanced the plate in one hand and drove my chair with the other to get into the living room. I could transfer myself onto the couch but why bother? I grabbed the remote from the side pouch on the couch. Juan was always trying to make my life easier. I took a bite of my spicy enchilada as I flipped through the channels. Why was everything drama or love stories? I paused on a home make over show. Where do people get 2 million dollar budgets for that stuff? I changed the channel and it was a basketball game. The Warriors were playing. I didn't even check which team they were playing against before I turned off the T.V. I flung the remote to the ground. I was never going to play basketball again. "Real men" don't cry. At least that's what my father taught me. He said "real men" weren't stuck in wheelchairs either. As if the accident was my fault. I was alone so I allowed the tears to fall. Who would know anyways?

'It's a beautiful day." Juan smiled as I rolled and he walked around the park. He was always trying to get me out of the house. I'm fine with staying at home and scrolling through social media, watching everyone else live their lives.

A huge fluffy dog came barreling towards me and stopped in front of my chair. He put his paws up on my front legs and barked a few times like he was trying to tell me something. I'd always loved dogs. I wish my ex-wife hadn't taken Archer. I patted his fluffy head. He was gorgeous. He had to be a Siberian Husky. His fur was grey and white. He had on blue eye and one green eye. It was like he was staring into my soul.

"Hi, there." I smiled at him.

"Kapolei, get down!" commanded a feminine voice.

Kapolei whined and slowly put his paws on the ground.

'Sorry about that," she was out of breath. "he's a little too friendly."

"I don't mind." I shrugged.

She pushed her long black hair out of her face revealing emerald eyes. Her skin was tan like she'd just stepped off of the shores of Hawaii.

"Thank you.' she smiled. Our gazes locked. Was she blushing? I had to be imagining that.

Juan cleared his throat. "I'm Juan." he shook her hand.

How dare he interrupt our moment.

"Lahani, nice to meet you." she reached her hand toward me. Was she really acknowledging me? I clasped her hand and shook it. It was soft. I held on longer than necessary. Was she blushing again? I loosened my grip and she lifted her hand to hair and tucked it behind her ear. Did I make her nervous?

"And this is Kapolei."

Kapolei barked like he was saying hi.

"He's a good boy, yes he is." she said in a baby voice as she scratched his ears.

'Beautiful....the dog. He's beautiful." I exhaled. Lahani was also beautiful but why bother saying it? There's no way she'd want to be with a cripple.

"Leeandru's wheelchair didn't seem to bother him at all." said Juan.

"That's because he's used to them." she smiled. "I've got to go. Nice to meet you."

What did she mean he was used to them? I stared after her.

"Lee! Lee!" I heard Juan shouting.

I groaned and looked at my phone. It was only 9;30. What's his problem?

Juan came bursting through the door. "You've got to see this."

'Have you ever heard of knocking?" I groaned. "how'd you get in here anyways?"

He rolled his eyes. "You gave me a key for emergencies."

"What's the emergency?' I yawned. I better get that key back from him.

"There's something I want you to see."

"Text me a picture. I'll look later." I rolled back under the covers like a caterpillar in a cocoon.

He grabbed the blanket and pulled. I fell to the floor with a loud thud.

"Hey, I can fire you for that!"

"You're the one that fell off of the bed. Besides, who else would put up with you?"

I gritted my teeth. He had a point.

Juan brought my wheelchair over and helped me get in it.

"You're charming today."

Juan shrugged. "Put a shirt on. Let's go."

"Can I least have my coffee first?"

"You're going to miss it."

"This better be good." I sighed. I wasn't even human before 10 am.

"You woke me up to bring me to the park?' I fumed.

He said nothing and kept walking.

"There better be a pot of gold over there." I had to follow him, now. My curiosity was piqued. Juan wasn't a fusser. That's what I liked about him, so this had to be good.

Then I saw it. It was amazing. A group of kids, all of them in wheelchairs were playing basketball on the court. How was this even possible? They were using unique wheelchairs. The wheels were slanted outward and their were bars in the back that looked like they were anchoring them to the ground. I watched a boy do a complete 360 in his chair. Another boy was dribbling towards the basket. I watched him take the shot and score from down in his wheelchair. My jaw dropped. I'd never been so flabbergasted in my life.

"Lee?" said a familiar voice.

I startled back to reality. Lahani? Why was she here? Kapolei leapt out from behind her. He jumped on me and started licking my face.

"Hi, Kapolei."

"It's amazing isn't it?' she smiled.

"Ruff." Kapolei answered for me. We both laughed.

Kapolei turned his attention to Juan, knocking him to the ground.

"Lahani, can you help Dusty transfer wheelchairs?' asked another man in a wheelchair. He had the buffest most muscular arms I had ever seen. He smiled at me.

"Do you want to give it a try?'

'Why not?" I shrugged.

He wheeled over and grabbed an adult size basketball wheelchair and I used my arms to transfer chairs.

He grinned at me and zoomed away dribbling the ball.

I tested the wheels on my new ride. Smooth. I used my hands to propel myself forward. A gentle breeze hit my face. I hadn't moved my body this much in two years. I felt sweat dripping down my face and I was already getting short of breathe. I couldn't let that guy beat me. Not with Lahani watching. She waved and I smiled at her. He was going down.

I huffed and puffed. Lahani brought me a sweat towel. That guy was impossible to beat. It sure felt good to play basketball again.

"Who was that guy?'

Lahani smiled liked she was trying not to laugh. "That's Trevon Scott. Paraplegic gold medalist."

I dropped the water bottle I was drinking from. "That's a thing?"

Lahani nodded.

4 years later........

Announcer: The 2030 paraplegic gold medalist for wheelchair basketball is Leeandru Adams!