My trusty orange ball rests in my hands

the worries of tomorrow gone.

Lunging to the left I bounce the ball off the wood

my teachers’ voices no longer ringing in my head.

I stop and prepare to shoot

my tests lose their importance.

The ball rolls off my fingers

my parents’ nagging quiets in the distance.

At the sound of that swoosh

all my problems are gone.

A round orange ball

the only way that I feel calm.