The Haven High Book Series (Wattys2017)

Chapter 20

When Kyle arrived at the Boys and Girls club of San Francisco he was swarmed by the under ten kids. The younger kids loved to try and climb him like a tree. He was six two and broad shouldered and as solid as a hard wood tree, all lean and sinewy muscle. His wasn't built like Trav but through constant training he'd built up enough strength to withstand the on slot of the rug rats. So every time he came in it was the same thing. They'd pile on and keep piling on as he struggled to walk with the added weight of the little munchkins, until finally he'd crashed to the gym floor.

It was a true challenge for them all. He would see how many he could carry and test his limits by pushing until he made it to the middle of the floor or beyond and they would challenge themselves to see how many of them could attach themselves to his body and drive him to the floor before he got there.

Today they'd laughed their evil little heads off as he continued to walk to the middle of the gym. His muscles were screaming at him though, so as a result he collapsed much sooner than he normally did.

The kids whooped and cheered over their victory and he let out a pretend roar to scatter them. They ran off screaming and laughing all the way back to their team leads.

He was working with the ten to fourteen year olds today. They had basketball practice and he was their coach. The Boys and Girls club competed against the other Boys and Girls clubs of San Fran for bragging rights and they had a good chance to win the whole kit and caboodle this year.

Thanks to their star player, a thirteen year old point guard, who's already six' two". Even though it's just considered a friendly competition, they often have to bring ID to prove he's under fourteen, because by the look of him you'd never know it.

Jonah Smith would have a bright future if he kept up with basketball he could probably earn a scholarship to his pick of any college. That is if Kyle can keep him out of jail. Jonah's a foster kid like him, but unlike him he hasn't let go of his resentment. He wears it like a second skin.

He hates the world and he isn't afraid to let everyone know he's a bad ass punk that shouldn't be messed with. But Kyle sees his actions for what they truly are a defense mechanism; however, that won't keep him out of jail, if he keeps pulling the shit he's been pulling.

Truancy, vandalism, arson, assault, harassment, theft the kid had a rap sheet a mile long all before he was even twelve. He'd been court ordered into their program two years after he set a car on fire just to watch it burn. It was a cry for help and Kyle knew it, but if he can't get through to him before he turns sixteen, it won't matter. He'll be tried as an adult and disappear into the criminal justice system, like the thousands of fucked up foster kids before him.

But try as he may this kid was proving to be a tough nut to crack.

The team was already on the court warming up when he stepped into the back room. It was a secondary gymnasium that was reserved as their official court.

He took note that everyone was there as he walked by. They only had practice three days a week and they had to get as much court time in as possible, so it was great to see the kids' commitment to the team. Kyle went for the back changing room, and grabbing his whistle out of his locker, he stripped down to his shorts and jersey, before stuffing his belongings in and relocking it.

He'd needed to dress down, because he wasn't like other coaches; he ran the court back and forth with the kids. It helped him watch them more closely so that he could give them pointers on dribbling and passing.

He used to play basketball with Zach on the Haven High Saints before he was enlightened, but as soon as he'd developed his powers he was no longer allowed to play. None of the enlightened are allowed to play on the human teams -- which royally sucks if you ask him. He'd really missed it, until he started coaching here. Now he could turn his love of the game into something meaningful.