Stick Together

Chapter NineUnbreakable

 

As Coach David was talking, his wife, Amy, arrived in the locker room. She visited with Markell in the back corner of the room, explained that his finger didn't appear to be broken but was definitely sprained and might need an X‐ray if it didn't feel better in a few days. She began to tape his injured finger to the finger beside it, telling him that the injured finger would be stronger if it was taped to another finger next to it for support. She reached behind her to grab more tape and when she turned around Markell had run across the locker room to his teammates.

“Give me your sticks!” he shouted frantically. “Everybody, give me your sticks!”The players all tentatively handed over their sticks to Markell, wondering what was going on.

“Shawn, give me your shoelaces!” said Markell.

“What? You can't have my shoelaces. I need those!”

Markell looked him in the eyes. “Do you trust me or not? Give me your shoelaces!”

Shawn reached down and pulled out his laces. Markell laid the laces down on the floor and stacked the sticks together into a bundle. He tied the laces tightly around the bundle at each end and then handed the bundle to Coach David.

“Break ...