foul, mostly on Lee's team.
By the end of the first quarter, two more of his starting five were on
the verge of fouling out. Jessie knew enough about the game and Lee's
philosophy of sports to be sure that he was furious with his players. He
began making blanket substitutions, and the team's opponents took a
hefty lead in the second quarter. The crowd began to call for the
starting players again. Even Henry Young chanted names like Benson,
Hodes, Gilmore. Finally, with two minutes left in the second quarter,
Bob put the starters back in, and almost immediately a foul was called
on Gilmore. It was an obvious foul, Gilmore jabbing a boy in the ribs
as he went up for a shot. This time Gilmore turned on the ref. Jessie
was shocked to hear Henry Young booing. A principal, booing the refs?
Moments later Bob said, Gilmore has been booted out, but he's not
getting off the court. Lee's going out there.
Benson has just pushed the refIt's becoming bedlam.
The sight of the ball players losing their tempers appeared to rile up
the crowd even more. Jessie heard spectators jumping off the stands and
onto the court.
Oh no, Tracy said. What's happening? Jessie cried, and seized her arm.
A bit of a riot, Bob said casually. Some of the opponent's team members
are fighting with ours. Lee and a few others are breaking it up.
After what seemed an interminable amount of time, the court was cleared
again. The refs went into a conference with the two coaches and then an
announcement was made declaring the game a forfeit. The booing became
so loud Jessie's ears began to hum. She heard people scrambling madly
all around her.
Oh boy. What a way to lose your first game, Bob said. I'd better lend
a hand. He stepped off the bleachers.
Security had to protect the opposing players from the crowd. Where's
Lee? Jessie asked frantically.
He's going into the locker room with his players, Tracy said, and he
looks furious.
Jessie could hear Henry Young and Bob just below them, encouraging
spectators to leave the gymnasium.
Finally people began to make their way toward the exits, grumbling and
shouting as they departed.
I'll wait for Lee right here, Jessie said. He must be so upset. All
right, Tracy said. Henry Young' s going into the locker room. I'll get
him to tell Lee, she said. Don't worry. I'm sure he's okay. Almost
twenty minutes later, Lee was at her side. The gym had emptied rather
quickly once people had begun leaving. That's what I would call baptism
by fire, Bob quipped. I could have done without it. Some of these fans
were behaving like wild animals, not that I can say my team acted much
better, Lee replied. I'd say the refs here are vastly underpaid. They
should get battle-front bonuses. Bob laughed. You want to go someplace
maybe? Have a drink? he asked them. No, Lee said quickly. I just
want to go home. Sure. Hey, don't take it badly. Look at it this
way-things can only get better, Bob joked. Lee didn't respond.
Jessie felt his tension in his hand. Are you all right? she asked
softly. I will be when I get out of here, he said. What a madhouse, he
added. I told you those boys were undisciplined, he said when they got
into their car. I chewed them up and down and in and out, but they
looked at me as if I'm the one who's undisciplined. Some of them
actually think they did good. Can you imagine? But the worst part is
Henry Young didn't help. In fact, he added to it.
What do you mean? He came in there and interrupted my bawling them out
to tell them he was proud of their aggressiveness, proud of their grit,
proud they showed what they were made of.. "From now on," he said,
'you're the team to fear." Can you imagine? He and I are going to have
a big talk tomorrow. Right now I feel like resigning, he concluded.
Jessie was silent. She could feel Lee's anxiety, his insides tied into
a knot. I'm sorry, she said finally. I know how disappointed you
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