Beckham King ‘25
The sound of an old-fashioned phone ringing loudly, echoing across my mind which was not fully conscious yet, but the only call was the one that was waking me up, my alarm. 6:00 am, I looked at my phone only to realize I was late; this was the second time this week I was going to be late to my morning basketball workout for school. I had to rush out of bed, skip breakfast, and speed to school. The workout was hard, and before I knew it my favorite part of the day was already over before the sun had even risen.
School has been moving lazy; it’s the earliest part of the year, and even Halloween is still three weeks away. Life seems dull, boring, and there isn’t much to occupy myself with other than basketball and the occasional homework assignment. I was just waiting for something to happen, waiting for a change of pace. For things to finally pick up the pace again.
One day I was enjoying my time at recess, the next I was on vacation, and before I could know it, it was the next year; grade after grade I am growing up, I don’t really realize it though because I am just having so much fun, not caring what comes next or what has happened but rather being pulled through time and instead of fighting it, savoring and enjoying it. But why must everything amazing move so fast? I am not sure what to think, everyone in the crowd cheering for me and my teammates, parents all screaming, whistles blowing, and yet I can’t hear anything, I’m not thinking, no stress, no care in the world other than winning. The biggest basketball game of my life and the only thing I can feel is euphoria, as if I have taken a drug, except it was doing the thing I love most.
I am making shots I usually don’t consistently make, playing better defense than usual, using moves I’ve never even tried, and yet doing it all with no fear but unwavering confidence despite the 1000 mph winds of pressure raining down on me. I am in a trance, an unstoppable rhythm.
Once we win I am drawn back to reality with amazing excitement for me and my teammates and all I can do is celebrate. It feels like 100 years’ worth of amazement in one moment. The first and only thought then enters my mind, “why can’t everything be done in this state of mind? Why can’t everything be at this perfect pace?”