She had arranged to be off work today, a small luxury earned through a complicated exchange of shifts. When Imani approached, her mother bent to check the repaired tongue of her left shoe. The pale turquoise thread was still intact. “Looks ready.” Denise said.

“It’s a shoe, Mom.” “I know.” “That’s why I’m talking to it. It listens better than you.” Ada held out a handmade paper sign with number 12 drawn in crooked teal paint.

She had also put number 31 beside it because Zora had rescued Imani’s missed shots more times than Ada could count. Imani touched the edge of the sign and thanked her. “You’re going to beat the poster girl?” Ada asked. “That’s the plan, but she gets a plan, too.”

Ada looked briefly disappointed that the answer wasn’t certain. Imani was glad to leave her with that much truth. In sports, the other person was always allowed to be talented. A victory mattered because it wasn’t owed. The finals introductions were loud enough to make the polished wooden floor vibrate beneath Imani’s shoes.

Mariner entered in ivory uniforms, their names announced over music. Brielle ran through a row of raised hands from her teammates and lifted her chin when the cameras found her. Her picture was still on the lobby poster. No one had taken it down simply because South Dock had reached the final. Imani noticed this and then deliberately looked away.

The picture wasn’t a defender. When South Dock was introduced, its student section gave a roar that sounded twice as loud as the number of people standing there. Zora raised her fists. Mina bounced on the balls of her feet. Imani walked to center court and exchanged a short, guarded nod with Brielle.

Harper stood beside her star teammate. She looked at Imani’s shoes and smiled, but kept her hands to herself. The officials were close, watching the start of play and the space between bodies. The opening tip went to Mariner. Brielle took the ball on the left wing, paused as though considering a pass, then crossed sharply into the lane.

Imani followed her lead hip and nearly stayed in front. Brielle used her long stride to get beyond the contest and finished with her right hand. The Mariner crowd stood. The announcer shouted Brielle’s name. It was an excellent play and pretending otherwise would have made Imani foolish.

South Dock’s first possession ended with a blocked shot. Their second ended in a travel when Mina caught a pass off balance. Mariner led 6 to 0 before Ward called timeout. Her voice was low and exact. Our spacing is too narrow.