Let's Play

Quarter past nine, one kid with golden straight hair and a leather brown jacket made a dunk in the basketball hoop and left his team cheering for him.

The coach growled and said, “EVERYONE BE QUIET!”

The team came to silence watching the blonde hair kid make another streak in scoring. The kid jumped once more, about to dunk the ball when he tripped and fell on the ground.

The coach ran over to the kid, picked him up by his collar and said, “HOW DARE YOU FAIL ME! THIS BETTER NOT HAPPEN AGAIN…” The coach said as he picked up a strange wireless remote control.

 The kid started getting worried and gasped, “I promise sir! It won’t!!” “It BETTER NOT, GEOFFREY.” The coach said.

Then the kid started to get mad and said with a scream, “I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT! MY NAME IS KEOFF!!!” The coach pressed the remote control, electrocuting the entire team.

 “Every time you and your team of CLONES try and goof off, this is what happens.” The coach grumbled.

Keoff stood up, with the basketball under his arm and started to dribble the ball. The other 3 clones started to run, but only got further pain. The coach growled as he went to his gym locker, took out a pack of blue lighted pills, and swallowed three. His arms and chest enlarged as they grew scales looking deep blue. His eyes grew red as he had more of a fiercer mood. His black and green hoodie ripped apart, showing some of his chest.

The coach smashed his fist into the locker and roared, “I AM COACH STEAMSTRONG!!!!”

About three miles away, Hean was putting his clothes into his drawer unpacking everything since he finally found a house.

Hean’s mom walked in, slightly peeking the door open and said, “This may not be the best house, but it is home.”

“Yeah. As long as we can figure out what we’re going to do for school and activities.” Hean replied.

His mom nodded and whispered, “I just thought that I should tell you that. Carry on, Hean.” His mom said as she shut the door.

Soon after unpacking, Hean put away his suitcase and lay on his bed. He turned on the T.V remote, watching the sports channel. Two reporters were sitting down before a great old brown desk, with two coffee mugs that said: I don’t need a mentor. I go solo, so back off before I TROLLO! The reporters seemed to be talking about the fiercest, toughest team in the basketball league.

“There you have it, live and in play. The most aggressive vigorous team that America has to offer: The Highwood Clones!” The first reporter said.

Hean’s great hazel eyes widely opened like someone enlarging their mouth ready to eat a ''Big Mack, from McDonalds. ''“Wait- but…my basketball team is from Highwood, and we’re the only team in the town…” Hean mumbled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The second reporter pressed play on his remote, and showed videos of the team. It took place at a basketball court, with the coach Steamstrong screaming at the players. The players WERE all clones. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a white and black jersey. Every one of them. Hean put his hand to his mouth and gasped.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">‘This…is the BASKETBALL TEAM?’ Hean thought.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The coach was bright blue looking like a half fish-half human hybrid, the players were all clones, and the team was never heard of.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">‘HOW IN THE WORLD COULD THIS BE THE TOP TEAM OF THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN AMERICA?’ Hean thought.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean rushed over to his packing bag, pulled out his own team schedule and looked at it. ‘NEXT FRIDAY: HIGHWOOD VS. HIGHWOOD’ it said under the upcoming games category.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“It just doesn’t make any sense… the team doesn’t make sense, itself either. It’s like the coach is enslaving a super-powered kid with cloning powers…WAIT! THAT’S IT! IT MUST BE! THE COACH IS USING HIS OWN PLAYER TO MULTIPLY MORE PLAYERS, MAKING A STRONGER TEAM!” Hean yelled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">From the other room, Hean’s mom shouted, “Are you alright Hean? I heard coach and cloning…are you okay? Have they planned anything..”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Mom, first of all, it’s okay…I’m playing a videogame! And second, stop listening into my own conversations.”  Hean replied.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean’s mom walked away and mumbled under her breath, “It worries me already that you’re having conversations to yourself!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean turned off the T.V, sat on his bed, then grinned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“If the coach can cheat, so can I!” Hean yelled as he tugged his sleeve backward to reveal the metal alien watch he had discovered called the forevtrix.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A week later with Hean full of training all week had prepared for the big game. Cheater against cheater. Hean dribbled on his blacktop once more, and shot a perfect hoop into the basketball hoop. Hean packed his bag, said goodbye to his mom, and walked to the basketball court.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The court was bright orange, and had a sparkling clean ground inside. The hoop was probably 10 feet high, and on the far right of the court were all the flags in the entire world. Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, and America.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Sweet. This must be where all the championships are…except…I’m not at a championship match.” Hean mumbled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Coach Steamstrong came bursting out of the locker room doors. “YOU ARE NOW, WIMP!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The coach led the team of clones to the middle circle of the court, where they would do training before the game.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I WANT 20 PUSHUPS, STAT!” The coach yelled at the team of clones.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean walked over and slapped the coach’s arm. “Hey buddy, you want a team to do well? Stop treating them like slaves, for starters!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The coach slowly turned around, picked up Hean by the collar, and growled, “NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE TALKS TO ME LIKE THAT! YOU HEAR ME?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The coach threw Hean all the way across the court, making Hean slam into the hoop. The coach chuckled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hey, I think I found a better way to play basketball!” The coach said, laughing with evil.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Steamstrong picked up Hean once more, spun around the court 50 times, and slammed Hean into the basket.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“SCORE ONE FOR THE AWESOME!” The coach said proudly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Steamstrong kicked Hean’s face and said with pure evil, “If you think that was tough, just wait until the real game starts.” He laughed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean wiped the blood off his face, as Steamstrong went back to making the clones do drills. Hean had a hard time realizing what he was up against: A very tough coach on alien steroids, and a team of slave like clones.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">‘Why on Earth did I sign up for basketball…..this is suicide, and there’s proof right in front of me.’ Hean thought.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Steamstrong took out his bottle, and poured some more pills into his mouth. His arms pumped again, filling with venom. His jersey started to tear, as his chest became packed with muscle. His pants were literally torn, as his zipper popped open.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As a couple of minutes passed by, the announcer went into his private room, and started the game.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean got up, took off the towel he had on his shoulders, and pulled up his sleeve. “Game time,” Hean grinned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The other team on the right was pressured to max, as they all formed a circle. The coach roared with anger, and sent the team off to start the game.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean quickly jumped to the side, with the basketball in his hands. He dribbled left and right, twirled across two clones, and dunked the ball in the hoop.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The score board lighted up: 1 to 0.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Steamstrong stomped on the ground with anger and took another pill. His body enlarged again, as he grew another pair of smaller arms.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This time, the clones had the ball. The 1st clone passed it over to the 5th clone, making its way to the hoop. The 6th clone yelled to pass the ball over, as the 5th clone did exactly. The 6th clone zoomed its way across the court seemingly 18 or 19 times, and dunked the ball in the hoop.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The scoreboard lighted up again: 1 to 1.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean hesitated, and then yelled, “Hey ref! These guys cheated! They didn’t earn a point, they abused it!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The coach shrugged and didn’t pay attention.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Oh yeah! I can cheat too!” Hean yelled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The game resumed once more, as Hean slapped down his watch. “SCORCHER!” Hean yelled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean had become a flaming hot alien, which was almost an inferno.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hey guys, is it just me, or did it get hot in here?” Hean laughed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The team continued to run for the ball.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“What, bad pun? Sorry.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean spun around in a circle forming a flame tornado. It popped out of appearance, and then Hean popped back out, as he dunked the ball into the hoop.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Aw yeah, another point for the Hean man!” Hean yelled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The score board lighted up again: 2 to 1.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The coach jumped up and down, roaring like a dinosaur. “NO NO NO!!!! I WILL WIN! ME! ME! ME, ME, ME!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Steamstrong gulped down seemingly 16 pills, and swallowed them. His vanes grew across his body, as the venom went to his head.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean gasped, “LISTEN TO ME! IF YOU TAKE TOO MUCH PILLS….”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“AHHHH!!!!!!!”The coach screamed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Steamstrong became bigger, and bigger and bigger…until….

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” The coach yelled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Steamstrong popped like a balloon, splattering repulsive green liquid everywhere.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean slapped the green symbol on his flaming orange chest, and became human. The crowd cheered for Hean, as he defeated the coach who had enslaved them for so many years. Then the clones closed their eyes, gripped their fists, and reformed back into one.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The single clone had a brown leather jacket, white pants, and blonde hair.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The clone walked up to Hean, smiled, and said, “My life shall be ever in your debt, Hean.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“It’s what I do best,” Hean replied.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Playing basketball?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“That, and saving lives. Well, see ya!” Hean replied.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean was about to approach the front doors, when he saw the clone name Keoff all alone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Do you have a family, Keoff? To go home to?” Hean asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Keoff shook his head no.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hean grinned and walked over to Keoff, “I always wanted a brother. Be a part of our family. Help me…fight bad guys.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Keoff grinned and said, “My life is forever in your debt, Hean. Thank you.”