Sweat poured down Marquez's face. He was preparing for a basketball game and he would win. That was a pretty sure thing. After all, he wasn't just good; he was excellent.
Basketball was a way of life in Marquez's family. His older brother Reggie was now playing at a top college. Marquez was ready to follow in his brother's footsteps and make his family proud. But he had a secret. As good as he was at basketball, Marquez's heart wasn't in it anymore. He had another sport on his mind.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead (额头), Marquez jumped on a bus heading home. Through the bus window, he could see cheerleaders dancing and performing amazingly on the field. Marquez became interested. He pulled out a sheet from his backpack. Across the top in big block letters was the phrase: Cheer-leading Competition (啦啦队比赛). That's what Marquez really wanted to do. He longed for a new challenge.
▲ , Marquez knew the meaning of cheer-leading for a game. He also knew that cheer-leading wouldn't just be a physical challenge; it would be an emotional one, too. Now, he knew it was time for him to tell his family.
As soon as he arrived home, his parents and Reggie were at the door. Marquez's face grew bright as he hugged Reggie. "You're home?" "Of course, little man. I planned to come to your game. You're going to be a better player than me!"
Everyone in the family was smiling…except Marquez. His family had such high expectations for him when it came to basketball. But Marquez was tired of trying to keep up with his brother. He was ready to carve his own path, He wanted to tell his parents, but Reggie being there put much more pressure on him.
However, Marquez knew what had to be done. "I don't think I want to play ball anymore," he said. "I want to do something else." The family stood confused (困惑的), "Like what, son?" his father said, breaking the silence. "Cheer-leading," Marquez replied. Nervous, unbelievable laughter followed that word. They thought he was joking. "That's what I really want to do," Marquez said in a voice that came out louder than expected. When they saw he was serious, they were quiet.
Over the next few weeks, his family began to understand and support him for the big event. Over weeks of training, he could see that he was improving with practice. A week later, it was time for the competition. From the sidelines, dad, mom, Reggie cheered Marquez on. As the music played, he hit every beat the best he could. The following Monday, results for the competition came out. Marquez saw his name at the top of the list. He made it—of course he did. This time, he felt proud of himself. So did the family.
