Chapter 18

The Last Game

It was the last game of state finals. If Olivia and Kylie beat this one team, they would go on to nationals and maybe even the Olympics when they got older, something Olivia had always dreamed of. I couldn't even imagine how excited my parents would be if Olivia was one of the state badminton champions. Even I was a little proud of Olivia for making it this far. It was certainly something I would never be able to do.

The bleachers were crowded, unlike in sectionals. I swear every kid who was crushed in prelims decided to come to the final game to be sure they lost to the best of the best. I was squished between Dad and a kid who was wearing a baseball cap and holding a badminton racket. You could tell who lost to who by which team they cheered for. The kids who lost to Olivia and Kylie cheered for them and the kids who lost to the other team cheered for the other team. The kid next to me was screaming at the top of his lungs when Olivia came out, so I assumed he lost to Olivia and Kylie. "Should I talk to him?" I asked the Magic 8 Ball.

Very doubtful.

I stayed silent and looked over the basketball-converted-into-badminton court. The other two kids, a boy and a girl, looked a lot bigger and stronger than Olivia and Kylie. But I had learned not to underestimate Olivia. Olivia was small, but she used it to her advantage. And besides, her smashes were better than anyone else's, even Dad's.

The basketball hoops came down and birdies rained onto the court due to the last team hitting so many up there. After all of the birdies were cleaned up, they played the Star-Spangled Banner and the game began.

Olivia served first, but the other team easily hit it back. 0-1. Then the other team served, but Olivia smashed it onto the other side. 1-1. It continued like that. One minute it was 17-16, then it was 17-17, then 18-17, back and forth and back and forth. The numbers were piling up like the score on an arcade game when it's far too easy for you. But it wasn't too easy. The competitive spirit in the gym was reaching a boiling point. Everyone around me were screaming at the top of their lungs for their team. "Should I join in?" I asked the Magic 8 Ball.

Better not tell you now.

Again, I sat in silence. I couldn't even see the game; the man in front of me was too tall. All I could see was the scoreboard and its ever-changing numbers. Finally, it was 19-20. I knew enough of the rules to know that if the other team scored, it would be over.

I caught a glimpse of the court. The boy from the other team was serving. He swung his arm backwards and slammed his racket into the birdie. It flew upwards and I noticed Olivia moving her racket to backhand it. But the birdie just flew upwards towards the bleachers, arching over the first few rows of bleachers. In fact, it seemed to be heading straight towards me.

The birdie whizzed towards me. I didn't have enough time to consult my Magic 8 Ball or even think before it hit me.

I caught it.