//------------------------------// // The Announcement After The Accident // Story: The Final Game of the Season // by Admiral Biscuit //------------------------------// The Final Game of the Season Admiral Biscuit Most of the time, coach Big Bell waited until after the team had changed into their practice clothes and come out on the court to give a pep talk or announcements; this time she was waiting in the locker room, sitting on one of the changing benches. She was still on her cell phone when Sunset walked in, and motioned for her to wait. Not that she needed any hand gesture; all the members of the volleyball team that had arrived thus far were standing around awkwardly. Once she’d put on her uniform, High Winds grabbed Sunset in an unwanted hug. “Sorry about your partner.” Sunset didn’t reply, she didn’t know what to say. It was five minutes after practice normally would have started when Big Bell finally spoke. She sighed and shifted on her seat, then cleared her throat. “Right. So I’m sure everyone’s heard the news. If you somehow haven’t, or if you’ve been listening to someone who’s gossiping and doesn't have all the facts, here’s the deal. Kerfuffle got hit by a car on her way home from the game yesterday. I was just on the phone with her parents, and the good news is that the hospital has just upgraded her status to ‘stable’—” Chatter immediately started among the team, quickly dropping off as Big Bell crossed her arms—as effective a signal as blowing her whistle would have been. “—however, she’s got a long road of recovery ahead of her, and I don’t expect her to return to the team when she does come back to school.” Big Bell sighed. “Besides a lot of bruising and lacerations, she lost her left leg in the accident.” The coach gave them a second to process her words—some people already knew that, others had heard it whispered through the grapevine, and a few were completely blindsided by the news. “Tomorrow, I have Principal Celestia’s blessing to take a bus to the hospital during morning visiting hours—that would be during third period and into lunch—we’ll all meet here in the gym and go as a group. I encourage everyone to participate, but if you’re uncomfortable with the idea, it is not required." “Either way, when she comes back to school, I expect that all you girls will support your teammate.” Big Bell sighed again, and ran her hands through her hair. “As for practice today . . . well, I honestly don’t think we’ll get anything accomplished. We’ll just run through drills, but if you don’t feel up to it, I understand.” “Is she still going to be on the team?” “She’s on the team until she tells me she wants to quit, Cloudy. If she decides she wants to take a position on the court, I’ll figure out a way to make it happen.” Sunset grimaced. What was more tragic, Kerfuffle losing a leg, or her coming back for a game or two in a wheelchair? How would that even work?