This is an account of my second attempt to play basketball in the city.

After the first humiliating attempt to play basketball (here), I decided I needed some practice time alone. I picked a cold, windy day, when I knew there would be nobody on the court.

Sometimes I would glance around to see if anyone was watching before taking a shot. (Think of a dog deciding to hide a bone.) Well, one time, this group of high school kids was walking by the court. I thought, “Whatever. They’re not going to care, and they’re all the way on the other side of the court anyway. They won’t even see me.” I take the shot, and it bounces off the rim. Then I hear the loudest, most sarcastic group laughter I’ve ever heard.

I thought of purposely missing a few more quick shots before they got too far away, so they could think it was the wind, but then I realized they would be able to tell if there was wind or not.

Another thing that happened often during my practice session…Sometimes I would miss, and the ball would bounce into a fenced off area. I think I looked pretty cool hopping the fence. Nobody was around to see me do it, but I knew it looked cool.

My goal for next time is to not let hopping the fence be my proudest moment.