Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
Paisley watched as various students took shots at the basket from different areas on the court.
She had her students in PE, both girls and boys, working on a basketball unit now.
They had already completed ones in volleyball and yoga and were now learning how to dribble with either hand, as well as make different kinds of shots.
Some of the teens were easily able to bank a shot, while others preferred to try for a basket which was all net.
She glanced at her watch and then blew the whistle, bringing things to a halt.
Immediately, students began collecting the basketballs they had been using and setting them on the rack, returning to their assigned spot in the gym where they gathered for roll.
She closed each PE class with five minutes of meditation.
It allowed the students’ heart rates to come down from the activity they had been participating in, as well as helped to clear their minds to be fresh for the rest of their school day.
Although several had been skeptical when she started the practice, she could tell they now eagerly looked forward to winding down this way.
“Good session today,” she told the group. “Steve, Robbie, and Jameson were the most improved in your free throws today. And special shout outs to Marcus and Nathan for your consistency with three-pointers.”
The teenagers in the gym clapped, another practice she had implemented.
When students were recognized by her, she also wanted their peers to acknowledge their progress.
Paisley had recalled what a surly teen she had been at times, but her PE students had wonderful attitudes. They were supportive of one another.
“Let’s take it down, guys. Clear your minds and breathe.”
As a group, they sat on the floor cross-legged, placing their open palms on their knees and closing their eyes.
She set her watch for five minutes. While it was five fewer minutes to work on a sport each class period, Paisley believed the benefits of those five minutes of mediation outweighed losing a brief time of physical activity.
She truly enjoyed the life she was leading now as the end of the first semester approached.
Teaching her PE classes had been more fun than she had anticipated.
The prep was easier for them than if she had been in an academic classroom and had papers to grade.
As for basketball, she had a talented team, thanks to Desi and Sheila’s return.
At first, Desi had hogged the ball. Since she was the most skilled player on the team, her teammates wanted to continually feed it to her.
Paisley quickly broke them of that habit, pulling Desi aside for a private conversation.
She let the senior know that while Desi was a great shot, she needed to work on other facets of her game.
That a point guard who exercised true leadership was going to get the ball to many of her teammates.
It was more important for Desi to learn how to run the offense than it was for her to continually shoot as the others looked on.
When Desi seemed unsure, Paisley even offered the teen the opportunity to move to shooting guard, but Desi decided she was up for the challenge of learning more about being the best point guard she could be.
While Paisley couldn’t guarantee the girl would earn a scholarship, she was sending highlight reels to several different coaches.
Consequently, Desi was receiving interest from three different colleges.
The only problem that Paisley had these days was seeing so much less of Sawyer.
She had never been in a relationship with anyone, much less during basketball season.
As a player, the season was time consuming.
As the head coach, she put in double the hours her players did.
When she did see Sawyer, they spent a lot of their time together discussing basketball.
She drew on his wealth of knowledge and experience, and they worked together in designing different offensive and defensive plays for her team.
If the Lady Hawks won district this year, Sawyer’s contributions would be no small part of that process.
Paisley missed being able to spend more time with him.
She loved him and knew he loved her, but she didn’t know what basketball season would do to their relationship each year.
Already, Sawyer was working more than usual, thanks to his role with The Packman Foundation.
Bill Packman had become a close friend to them both in the last few months, even functioning as a father figure to Paisley.
The older gentleman came to games with Ginny, who chauffeured him about Hawthorne, and they sat with Dizzy, being three of the more vocal fans cheering on the Lady Hawks.
Between Sawyer’s work with the foundation and the hours at his law practice, along with her crazy hours with weeknight games and weekend tournaments, they barely saw one another.
While she spent more of her nights at his house than she did hers, they didn’t have nearly as much time together as she would have liked.
Her watch buzzed, and she said, “That’s it for today, gentlemen. Thanks for a great class.”
The students rose and returned to the locker room to change for their next class. Paisley went into the small office off the gym. Her cell rang, and she saw it was Bill calling.
“Hey, Bill. You called at the perfect time. I think you know my schedule better than I do,” she teased.
“I know we’re playing the Trojans tonight in our first district matchup of the season, but you need to take time for lunch because I know you won’t take time for dinner.”
“Guilty as charged,” she admitted. “Are you bringing me something to eat?”
“Ginny and I just pulled up outside the gym,” he told her. “I have sandwiches from BBQ Bliss if you’re interested.”
She laughed. “Oh, I’m more than interested. I might even eat yours and mine. I’ll come open the door for you.”
Bill had gotten into the habit of bringing Paisley lunch once a week.
It only took half an hour out of her schedule to eat with him, and she truly enjoyed their time together.
Bill had told her dozens of stories of his days in the oil fields, as well as sharing about the various businesses he had begun and then sold over the years.
In turn, Paisley had opened up about her rough childhood, telling Bill more than she had told anyone else, even Sawyer.
Bill had been orphaned at a young age, and she could tell that he looked upon her as the daughter he’d never had.
Especially with his time limited, Paisley was happy to serve in that capacity.
The bell rang as she went to the gym doors, which remained locked for safety reasons. Usually, a visitor would need to sign in at the office, but she had cleared it with Blanche so that Ginny could drop Bill at the gym and keep him from having to walk such a long way.
Paisley opened the door and grinned. “Come on in, Handsome,” she said, taking his arm and guiding him to her office. He looked more tired than usual, which concerned her.
In her office, she took the paper bag and placed it on her desk as he took the seat by the desk. Opening her mini-fridge, she pulled out two bottled waters for them.
“I’m glad you had time to talk with me today,” Bill said.
“What have you got Ginny doing while we’re visiting?” she asked, removing the sandwiches and bags of chips from the brown paper sack.
“She’s going to pick up a couple of library books for me. I’ve really gotten into reading Nora Roberts. She’s got mystery and romance together. It’s a good combination.”
“Do you know that Summer is writing a romance trilogy right now.”
Bill grinned. “Chance has told me all about it. He’s very proud of his wife. I’m hoping I’ll be around long enough to read it.”
Paisley knew nothing could be done about his brain tumor.
It was why Bill had pressed so hard to get The Packman Foundation off the ground quickly.
Bill had met with his board and told them his vision, explaining the types of individuals and groups he wished to assist. Then he had stepped away, allowing the trustees to begin making decisions on their own.
Their first grant had been awarded to the City of Hawthorne to add on to the public library.
The additional space would include having several social areas with comfy furniture for people to gather.
It also included a dozen rooms which could be used for conferencing with others or students to meet in small study groups.
The addition would also expand the children’s area, where there would be a playroom, furnished with toys and books, and space for story hours for toddlers and preschoolers during the week and on Saturdays.
The best part was a large meeting room, along with a kitchen. The room would have space for up to one hundred people. Local groups, such as the Hawthorne Women’s Club or Rotary Club could assemble there to hold their meetings and hear guest speakers.
For the upcoming holidays, the board had been working with Meg Sutherland so that a book would be ordered for every student in Hawthorne ISD.
Bill had said that reading had been something which had taken him places he had never gone before and that books had been a good friend to him over the years.
He wanted the students in the school district to enjoy reading and owning books of their own.
Paisley bit into the chopped barbeque sandwich. “This definitely hits the spot. Thanks for stopping by with lunch, Bill. While the food is appreciated, I’m always happy to see you.”
“Happy to do so. You know how much I enjoy our talks.”
She hesitated a moment, and he encouraged, “Talk to me, Paisley. Seems as if you have something on your mind.”