跳动的篮球

Dylan raced up the apartment stairs to the box waiting by the front door.

“What is it？” asked his friend Max.

“My birthday gift from Dad，” replied Dylan as he tore at the cardboard. “I dont see holes in it for air. Its not the puppy that I wanted.”

“Wow！” Max cried. “A Wilson basketball！ You lucky dog！”

Dylan wasnt as thrilled as Max. He slumped down on the concrete steps.

Max left for home， and Dylan picked up the ball and scraps of cardboard. Holding his homework under his chin， he pulled the door open and stepped into the empty apartment.

Dylan had been alone a lot since his parents got divorced. He and his mom had moved to the city， and she was working two jobs. His only contact with his dad was on the telephone.

Dylan s new school was large. Being shy， he hadnt made any friends besides Max. Why had Dad sent the basketball？ Although Dylan played basketball at this last school， he didnt plan on playing here. There were too many kids. He would never make the team.

If Dad had gotten him a dog， Dylan wouldnt be so lonely. He would always have a friend to play with.

Dylan sulked through dinner and the rest of the evening. His mother thought the ball was a great gift and reminded him to call his dad to thank him.

The next morning， Dylan waited until after Dad would have left for work to call him.

“Hi Dad，” Dylan said to his dads machine. “Thanks for the ball.” Then he hung up and went outside to meet Max.

“Hey， Dylan，” said Max. “How are you and that ball getting along？ Can you dunk it yet？” Max laughed at his own joke.

Dylan glared at Max. “I didnt want a dumb ball！” he shouted. “Dont you see？ I dont have a brother or sister like you to play with. I just wanted a dog.”

“Wow，” said Max. “You must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today. You can have my brother and sister. Id gladly take your basketball any day.”

Afraid of what he might say， Dylan stuffed his hands in his pockets and didnt speak the rest of the way to school.

Dylans mood wasnt any better after school， but he was relieved to see Max waiting for him. He was afraid he might have offended him. At home， there was a message on the telephone. Dylan pushed the button to listen to it.

“Hi Sport，” said his dad， “you didnt sound very thrilled with the basketball. You and I used to watch the Bulls on TV all the time. Theres concrete all over the city to bounce the ball on and a court in every park. Give it a try. Love you！”

Dylan felt worse than before. That night he tried to watch a ball game， but it wasnt the same without Dad. He shut off the TV and went to bed.

The next day， Dylan stopped at the park on the way home from school to watch a basketball game. Some of the players were from his school. Soon， one of the players had to go home. The three players left on the court headed for the sidelines to gather their belongings.

“I can take his place，” Dylan called out.

The other players stopped and turned to him. Dylan had no idea where his sudden confidence came from. Before anyone could reply， he dropped his books， shed his jacket， and was on the court. They played until the sun started to set.

Joey， one of Dylans teammates， tossed him the ball. “Youre new here， right？” she asked Dylan. “You play a good game. You should try out for the boys basketball team at school.”

“Thanks. Maybe I will，” replied Dylan.

They all made plans the next night， and then Dylan started home. He was going to bring his basketball to school with him from now on. First， hed have to call his father again and thank him properly.

迪伦冲上公寓的楼梯，来到早已放在门口的盒子边。

“是什么东西？”他的朋友马克斯问。

“我爸送我的生日礼物，”迪伦一边回答一边撕扯着那个硬纸盒。“我没有看到透气孔，这里面肯定不是我想要的小狗。”

“哇！”马克斯大叫，“一只威尔逊篮球！你真走运！”

迪伦却不像马克斯那么激动。他一屁股坐在了水泥台阶上。

马克斯回家了，迪伦捡起篮球和硬纸盒的碎片。他用下巴夹住家庭作业，打开门，走进了空无一人的公寓。

自从父母离婚后，迪伦就总是一个人。他和妈妈搬到了城里，妈妈现在一个人要打两份工。他和爸爸只能通过电话联系。

迪伦的新学校很大。他很腼腆，除了马克斯之外，还没交到什么朋友。为什么爸爸要送个篮球给他呢？尽管迪伦在上一个学校打过篮球，可他并没有打算在这个学校也打。这里的学生太多了，他不可能进球队的。

如果爸爸送给他一条狗，迪伦就不会这么孤单了。他就有个朋友可以经常陪他玩了。

从吃晚饭开始，整个晚上迪伦都闷闷不乐。他的妈妈觉得篮球是份很好的礼物，还提醒他打电话给爸爸道谢。

第二天早晨，迪伦等到爸爸应该已经离开家去上班后才拨通了爸爸的电话。

“嗨，爸爸，”迪伦对着答录机说，“谢谢你的篮球。”然后就挂了电话，出门去找马克斯了。

“嘿，迪伦，”马克斯说，“你和那个篮球相处得怎么样了？现在能用它灌篮了吗？”马克斯说完就被自己的玩笑逗乐了。

迪伦瞪了他一眼。“我才不想要一个不会说话的球呢！”他喊道，“你不明白吗？我不像你，我没有兄弟姐妹能和我玩。我只想要一条狗。”

“哇，”马克斯说，“看来你今天心情不好啊。我用我的兄弟姐妹换你的球好了。哪天都行，我很乐意的。”

迪伦怕自己说出什么不好听的话，就把两手插进口袋，一直到学校都没再说一句话。

放学后，迪伦的心情一点儿也没有好转，但看到马克斯在等他，他感到很宽慰，因为他原本还担心自己早上惹马克斯生气了。回家后，电话里有一条留言。迪伦按下播放键听。

“嗨，运动家，”爸爸说，“你听起来对那个篮球不太感兴趣啊。我们以前还总是一起看公牛队的比赛呢。城市里到处都是水泥地，球在上面可以弹起来，每座公园里也都有球场。试试吧。爱你！”

迪伦的心情更糟了。那天晚上他试着看了一场篮球赛，但没有爸爸陪着，感觉和以前不一样了。他关掉电视，上床睡觉了。

第二天放学后，迪伦回家途经一个公园看了一场篮球赛。一些球员都和他一个学校。很快，其中一个不得不回家了。场上剩下的三人只能走向场边，收拾行装。

“我可以顶替他的位置。”迪伦喊道。

那三人停下脚步，转身看着他。迪伦也不知道这突然的自信从何而来。不等他们回答，他就丢下课本，脱掉外套，站在了球场上。他们一直玩到夕阳西下。

迪伦的队友乔伊把球丢给他。“你是新来的，对吧？”她问迪伦，“你打得很好。你应该报名参加学校男子篮球队。”

“谢谢。也许我会去试试。”迪伦答道。

他们约好了第二天晚上继续打球，然后迪伦才回家。他准备以后天天带着篮球上学。不过，他得先给爸爸打个电话，好好谢谢他。