The small, yellow, rectangular sheet said in bold, “Hoop Shoot Competition. Show your skills and win $100!” My straight face turned into a giddy grin. The competition was very anticlimactic. Only eight third graders were there, and ¼ of the bleachers in the huge gym was empty. A heavy silence fell over the gym when people were shooting. All that could be heard were basketballs hitting the shiny brown floor with a bump. The fifth graders went fist, then the fourth graders, then me. Thump! My basketball fell on the ground after it hit the rim of the basket. I’m missing more than I did at practice! I thought. I shot it again and missed. I started to get discouraged; there was no way I could make it to top three! My eyes turned and saw my family in the bleachers. My mom and dad smiled. Discouraging thoughts moved out of my head as I threw my last ball. It went through the hoop with a swish. “In second place…Langston Hankerson!” The announcer cheerfully said my name. My trophy was handed to me so I could pose for aa picture. I didn’t come in first place, but I did make to top three! The girl who came in first place shook hands with me. At the beginning of the competition, she said she would come in last place. The irony made me
The small, yellow, rectangular sheet said in bold, “Hoop Shoot Competition. Show your skills and win $100!” My straight face turned into a giddy grin. The competition was very anticlimactic. Only eight third graders were there, and ¼ of the bleachers in the huge gym was empty. A heavy silence fell over the gym when people were shooting. All that could be heard were basketballs hitting the shiny brown floor with a bump. The fifth graders went fist, then the fourth graders, then me. Thump! My basketball fell on the ground after it hit the rim of the basket. I’m missing more than I did at practice! I thought. I shot it again and missed. I started to get discouraged; there was no way I could make it to top three! My eyes turned and saw my family in the bleachers. My mom and dad smiled. Discouraging thoughts moved out of my head as I threw my last ball. It went through the hoop with a swish. “In second place…Langston Hankerson!” The announcer cheerfully said my name. My trophy was handed to me so I could pose for aa picture. I didn’t come in first place, but I did make to top three! The girl who came in first place shook hands with me. At the beginning of the competition, she said she would come in last place. The irony made me