First Game of the Season II

{This story is ready to read on my P-a-t-r-e-o-n. If you wish to read ahead then the link is https://www.p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/easyread. Be sure to remove the dashes. I hope to see plenty of you there and enjoying this novel.}

{This story is going on hold for a while as I write for a new one on P-a-t-r-e-o-n.}

~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~

~~~(Date: October 28th, 2025)~~~

~~~(Time: 5:03 PM)~~~

~~~(Location: Nicolas-John Highschool)~~~

Ulysses shifts back onto defense as he scores the first basket. I stand up, cheering from the beautiful shot and play. I started to study basketball shortly after Ulysses joined the team his freshmen year. I wanted to know what he did in a game.

I wanted to recognize how amazing he is. I didn't realize he was so unique and special until his first game. I learned high school players aren't supposed to be as good as Ulysses. The more he played, the more attention he got. I know he hates it, but it comes with being as great as he is.

When you're as talented and special as my son, you'll get attention fast no matter where you are or where you're from. I watch him cut to the basket and block a shot and grab the ball before it even hits the ground. The last few weeks have been hard on him.

The increased attention and the heavier schedule on games. I know that he's using this to blow off some steam. He has 2 points and a block so far. The first quarter isn't even a minute in. He blows down the court as he dribbles. He handles the ball unlike anyone ever has at his height.

He jumps before entering the restricted zone, and he throws down a slam with two hands. He was fouled as he went up too. I stand up and cheer with some of the other supports that came on this road game.

We can't be heard since many students and parents try to distract Ulysses from hitting his free throw. He gets on the line and quickly knocks the free throw down. Securing the 3 point play. He now has 5 points, 1 block, and is 1/1 from the free-throw line and 2/2 from the field. I've come to really love basketball.

The reason is partly because of Ulysses, but not that alone. It's a sport that allows players to shine on an individual level. Something that I think Ulysses deserves. Not to mention that it brings people together.

Many communities in the poor group use basketball as an outlet. It's important to a lot of players. We fall into that group. We don't quite reach the middle class. The only reason people would think we are middle class is from the house we live in. The house belonged to Ulysses's parents, and I'm currently paying off the mortgage as best I can.

The bank has really been on my back, saying I'm not making enough payments. I'm doing my best. I haven't told Ulysses. It's not his job to worry about that. It's mine. His team plays great defense, but Nicolas-John's team sets up pretty good screens to get their shooting guard free.

They hit a three-pointer making the score 5-3, and I can tell that they have a better overall team with more experienced players. I look towards Coach Rodgers, and he's doing his best to hold in his anger. Ulysses wasn't a part of the defensive rotation in that possession.

The point guard, Laden, inbounds the ball to Ulysses, and he brings it down the court. There are just over 7 minutes left in the quarter. Ulysses keeps calm as the defender starts picking him up at half court. Ulysses fakes a hesitation and performs a sham-god.

The defender falls as Ulysses passes him. "That's my boy!" I tried to stop myself, but I just couldn't stop it from happening. Another defender picks him up, and he passes the ball to the open shooting guard, Lenny, and Lenny takes the shot behind the arch. He knocks it down, giving Ulysses his first assist.

Ulysses has 5 points, 1 block, 1 assist. His shooting percentage is 100 percent being 2/2 from the field and 1/1 from the line. No one can get a good contest on him with his height and wingspan. He's going to be unstoppable on offense and devastating on defense.

Your only hope to beat him is if his team performs poorly. It's too soon to tell if that will happen tonight, but I can see that Ulysses has a fire burning in him. Nicolas-John high school is in trouble.