LitCharts (2024)

Article #2 in the Daily News (January 14). The paper writes that Charlie "Da Man" Bell (Dad) collapsed in a basketball game with Josh. He suffered complications and died of a massive heart attack in the hospital. He suffered from hypertension and fainted three times in the months before he collapsed. The autopsy revealed that Dad's heart was large and scarred. Dad refused to see a doctor. As a younger man, Dad chose to end his career as a pro player rather than undergo knee surgery. He was known for his crossover and was the captain of a winning team in Italy. He's survived by his wife (Mom) and his twin sons, Josh and JB. The boys recently won their first county championship. Dad was 39.

Where Do We Go from Here? Josh thinks that there are no coaches or comforting game rituals at funerals. He feels unprepared for death, since there aren't rules and there’s no referee. He listens to Dad's teammates tell funny stories and thinks that the choir's songs almost cover up Mom's sobs. Mom refuses to look in the coffin. Dad is gone "like the end of a good song." JB and Josh each grab one of Mom's hands as the service ends. They step into the limo outside.

star-less. Josh defines "starless" as a state of being without stars. Josh says that if he and JB try out for Junior Varsity next year, the Wildcats will be starless. Last night, Josh watched the "starless" Portland Trailblazers lose to Dad's favorite team, the Lakers. Now that Dad is gone, Josh feels like his world is starless.

Basketball Rule #10. Losing is inevitable, but true champions figure out how to dance through storms.

There are so many friends. Everyone crowds into the Bells' house. Josh steps outside and listens to John Coltrane and Jay-Z coming from inside. Mom smiles and asks Josh to pick up the ringing phone. It's Miss Sweet Tea, whom Josh now calls Alexis. She apologizes for not being at the funeral, which makes Josh confirm that she knows it's him, not JB. Playfully, she says that JB is loud and Josh always sounds quiet on the phone. This makes Josh laugh. Alexis offers condolences as Josh starts to try to apologize. She cuts him off but says that her sister has tickets to see Duke play North Carolina. Before she can even vocalize the entire invitation, Josh accepts. Coach hugs Josh and knocks the phone to the floor.

Josh heads back outside. On his way out, Mom kisses him and gives him a piece of sweet potato pie. She also asks where JB is. Josh says she's probably with Miss Sweet Tea, thinking that if he had a girlfriend, he'd be with her too. However, Josh is single, so he thinks he'll have to make do with the next best thing.

Free Throws. Josh finishes his dessert in four mouthfuls and then fishes the ball from where it's stuck, wedged between the rim and the backboard. He knows that this means JB has been trying and failing to dunk. Josh dribbles to the free throw line and thinks that Dad once made 50 free throws in a row. Josh's record is nineteen. Josh makes his first attempt and then looks to see if anyone is watching. Nobody's around.

Josh makes the next twelve shots and thinks of them as the years of his life. Each one represents a year that he had with Dad. By the time Josh gets to free throw number 27, he's making them with his eyes closed. When he gets to number 49, he's barely aware that he's going to get 50; he just feels closer to Dad. Josh hears Dad ask if he feels better and opens his eyes. It's JB, not Dad.

The boys each ask how the other is and then JB compliments Josh on his crossover at the game last week. Josh asks if JB saw the trophy. JB only nods and Josh understands that JB is still being cautious around him. Josh asks if JB had a chance to speak to Dad before he died. JB says that Dad told him to stay out of his closet and to give Josh his championship ring. JB slides the ring onto Josh's finger. Sobbing, Josh asks why. JB says that Josh must be “Da Man” now, but Josh thinks that for the first time, he doesn't want the distinction.

As JB starts to walk away, he says that he bets the dishes that Josh misses the next shot. Josh shouts that they're both “Da Man” and tosses JB the ball. JB dribbles back to Josh and shoots. The ball is like a bird as it flies through the sky and crosses over the boys.