Falling Short

Marco offers his perspective on the study session: He cannot believe how much Isaac talks and how frequently he stops working to get up, eat snacks, or distract himself. He notices how much better Isaac can concentrate when the topic is basketball. When Marco finally leaves for home, he feels like he was at basketball camp. The explanations Isaac gave him when they were talking about plays using the chessboard helped him understand the game. Isaac explained that each position has a specific role to play; he is surprised that his position does not allow him to “dribble the ball, drive toward the basket, or shoot from anywhere else” besides the free throw line (232). Isaac also gave him advice about healing his fingers. He is grateful because he is nervous about the upcoming tournament.

Isaac’s mother wakes him in the morning to tell him that his father has been in a serious car accident. When they see Apá in the emergency room, he is hooked up to many tubes and machines. Isaac is initially too frightened to approach him. His mother looks hurt and sad, but she does not pressure him to come to his father’s side. Finally, Isaac approaches and lays a hand over his father’s hand. Just as he was afraid of, it confirms that what is happening is real and not just a bad dream.

Marco is excited to get up and get to school on the second day of tryouts. When he goes over to Isaac’s house, however, Isaac’s abuelita tells him about Isaac’s father. It is not until lunchtime that Isaac returns Marco’s worried texts; all he says is that his father is in bad shape. Marco cries, remembering how Isaac’s father has always taken time for them, making up fun activities and showing Marco the love that his father has not. He remembers when his father failed to show up for a promised 10th birthday outing to Disney. Isaac’s father told Marco, “You are one heck of a kid. If your dad can’t see that, well, that’s his problem” (240). He took the boys to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games to make Marco feel better. Marco is not sure how he will get through the rest of the school day, worrying about Mr. Castillo.

While Isaac’s mother talks with a nurse, Isaac struggles with his feelings. He can smell the alcohol on his father, but he does not want to blame him for drinking and driving. He worries that he should have told his mother or the school nurse the truth about his father’s drinking and driving. A police officer enters and hands his mother a piece of paper that seems to upset her. When Isaac and his mother leave Apá’s room, Isaac breaks down crying. He tells his mother about his father picking him up drunk and choosing to go home to study instead of spending more time with his father the night before. She reassures Isaac that nothing about his father’s situation is his fault and tells him that she thinks his father will recover.

Finally, Apá wakes up. Isaac asks him why he has not kept his promise to stop drinking, and Apá confesses that he has an alcohol addiction that he struggles to control. He explains that his drinking is partly a response to his self-esteem issues and he desperately wants to shield Isaac from his alcohol addiction. He apologizes to both Isaac and Amá and promises to make the most of the second chance he has been given. That night, Isaac’s grandmother explains to him that Apá had a troubled relationship with his father and that he mistakenly thought alcohol would help him deal with the pain of his father dying before they reconciled. She explains that alcohol makes pain harder to heal and warns Isaac that in some situations, there are no second chances.

After school, Marco finds that the second day of tryouts has been canceled and the team list is already posted: Both he and Isaac made the team. During a break in their first practice, he tells everyone that Isaac’s father is in the hospital, but he does not mention the drinking. He tells his teammates that basketball is about more than winning and losing; it is about effort and teamwork. He asks whether he can teach the team some of the plays that Isaac recently taught him, and Coach Chavez agrees.

The narrative moves forward two weeks to the morning of the basketball tournament Isaac’s team has been practicing for. Isaac’s father is out of the hospital and is temporarily staying at Isaac’s house while he recovers. Isaac is nervous about the tournament. He knows that the team is weaker without Byron, who has transferred to another school to stay in basketball. Desperate to help Marco shine in front of his father and earn his first athletic trophy, Isaac goes over the plays he dreamed up that will allow him to draw defenders away from Marco long enough for Marco to set up in the free throw zone and use his “granny” shot to sink a basket.

Marco is excited about the tournament. He texted his father the information about it several days previously, and his father eventually responded with some enthusiasm. Marco’s mother immediately called his father to make sure he was not making empty promises about attending. Marco is sure that this time his father will follow through and he will finally have a chance to make his father proud. When he arrives at the tournament, Coach Chavez gives him a jersey with the same number as Muggsy Bogues once wore, and Marco hugs Chavez in excitement. When he takes the court for warmups, Marco suddenly feels overwhelmed by nerves. Isaac assures him the feeling will go away as soon as the game starts. Marco asks Isaac what will happen if he makes a mistake, and Isaac shrugs the idea off: “Then you make it up on the next play,” he says (259). Marco sees his father, his father’s girlfriend, and Sean takes their seats in the bleachers.

The Mendez team takes a quick and decisive lead over their first opponent, Vista Verde. Isaac wants to stay in the game to help Marco, but eventually, Chavez puts Marco in without Isaac. Isaac can see that Marco is nervous. Isaac’s lie about Marco’s position not being allowed to dribble the ball comes back to bite him when Marco gets into a situation where he needs to dribble and ends up accidentally turning the ball over to the other team because he thinks passing is his only option. After Isaac yells to him to dribble, Marco tries it and ends up running into another player and falling.

Vista Verde begins to catch up, and the crowd turns against Marco. Chavez puts the starters back in, and as Isaac plays, he sees that Marco is sitting by himself at the end of the bench with a towel draped over his head. When Mendez finally wins, Marco does not line up to congratulate the other team or go with his team to get a snack. Isaac goes over to him and apologizes for telling him that he could not dribble. Marco says, “I wish you’d told me the real truth…that I stink. At least then I could have saved myself the embarrassment” (264).

Marco moves to sit on the baseline with his team when two other teams take the court. Byron, who is at the tournament with one of the teams about to play, taunts them, saying that he hopes they make the finals so that he can “destroy” them. Byron’s team wins easily, with Byron scoring almost all their points. When Mendez takes the court again, Marco stays near the edge of the stands, not even wearing his jersey. Marco watches Isaac lead the team to another victory, admiring his talent and generosity on the court. Everyone on the team except for Isaac, Ryan, Nick, and Marco drinks some watermelon juice that a player named Alonzo brought in his backpack. A player named Deni tries a sip but spits it out, saying that it is too warm. Marco’s teammates try to convince him to sit with them during the final game, but he will only agree to put his jersey back on, not to sit on the bench. When Chavez realizes that the entire rest of the team is missing right before the tournament final game is supposed to start, Marco goes to look for them. They are all in the bathroom, sick from the watermelon juice, and will not be able to play.

Despite Marco continuing to refuse to play, Isaac, Ryan, Deni, and Nick manage to hold Byron’s team to within a single basket. Deni must take breaks to run to the bathroom. Isaac is exhausted but understands why Marco still refuses to join the game; he recalls the embarrassment of a fifth-grade awards night when he was virtually the only person to not receive an award. He recalls his father’s advice about basketball: “[I]t’s okay to mess up as long as you hustle and go get the point back” (272).

Marco notices that Isaac’s father is cheering from the stands; in contrast, his father is sitting still and looking sour. Byron’s team leads 65-64, and the Mendez team is exhausted. Marco admires their determination and is ashamed that he has quit. Isaac is hurt executing a difficult move, but he gets back up and continues playing despite an obvious limp. Marco cannot take it anymore. He thinks that, even if he is not a great player, he must try to contribute somehow.

The crowd reacts negatively to Marco entering the game, but he ignores the criticism and his father’s obvious embarrassment. Marco takes over guarding Byron. He remembers everything Isaac taught him and stays with Bryon. Byron fouls him, and when he gets up from the floor, he hears the crowd cheering for him. When Byron fouls him again, the referee awards Marco two free throws. Isaac tells Marco that he believes in him, and Marco steps up to the line to shoot. Embarrassed to try the “granny shot,” he tries a regular shot first and misses. He sees his father look away in shame, but his mother and Isaac’s family are cheering loudly for him. Suddenly, he realizes that he does not have to prove himself to anyone, including his father. He squares up for a granny shot and releases the ball, thinking, “This time, I’m shooting my way. For me” (279).

Isaac is thrilled when Marco’s shot ties the game. The crowd cheers wildly for Marco, and Isaac notices that even Marco’s father seems excited and proud. Isaac’s knee gives out when he is trying to guard Byron, and Marco steps in. Marco does not back down when the much larger Byron tries to intimidate him. Marco keeps Byron distracted so that he does not realize the eight seconds he has to pass to midcourt are about to expire, and the Mendez team regains possession. Isaac’s knee gives out again and he falls; Byron’s team leaves Isaac unguarded after this, thinking he is not a threat. Marco passes to Isaac, and Isaac shoots just as the final buzzer sounds.

The crowd erupts into cheers as Isaac’s final shot goes into the basket and Mendez wins the championship game. Marco thinks that giving up the final shot and letting Isaac take it is the right thing to do: “It’s a team effort, after all” (287). Marco helps Isaac back to the bleachers. Isaac’s grandmother and Marco’s mother cover the boys with kisses, and Isaac’s father struggles over to Isaac to tell him that he is an inspiration. Apá promises to be a better father. He congratulates Marco, as well.

Marco’s father comes over and tells him he is proud of him. He squeezes Marco’s shoulder, which Marco knows is the limit of his father’s physical affection. Marco’s father invites Marco to join him, his girlfriend Angie, and Sean for the birthday dinner they planned for Angie, but Marco declines. He remembers how awkward the last dinner he had with his father was; he realizes they are very different people and may never have a lot to talk about with one another.

Marco decides that he will join the robotics team after all, and he suggests that he and his father have dinner after the robotics team championship. Marco goes to celebrate with the rest of the team at Isaac’s mother’s restaurant. Coach Chavez offers Marco the team’s trophy from their win, but Marco gives it to Isaac instead. He tells Isaac that he deserves it more because he is satisfied with the academic trophies he already has.