Margin Notes

Craft Studio: After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay

Oct
11

What I Was Reading

After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay introduces us, through alternating perspectives, to Bunny Thompson, a basketball star who has accepted a scholarship to a prestigious prep school, and Nasir Blake, the best friend and teammate Bunny left behind when he switched schools. As Bunny navigates feelings of guilt over the opportunity he has received and questions whether he has made the right decision, Nas is harbouring feelings of resentment about Bunny leaving without giving him any advance warning and of worry for his cousin Wallace who is being evicted from the apartment where he lives with his grandmother.

Early on, Bunny returns to the neighbourhood court where he has played ball his whole life:

“It’s not as nice as St. Sebastian’s gym, but this is my home court. This is where I started really playing ball with Nasir once we graduated from the low-hanging crate nailed to a telephone pole on our block. I know every crack and dip like the back of my hand. I know if the shot’s going to drop by the sound of the clang when it hits the steel rim. I know the lights click off at ten but you can still see enough to keep shooting if the moon is bright. (more…)

After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay

Jul
13

Told from alternating perspectives, After the Shot Drops introduces us to Bunny Thompson and Nasir Blake.  The boys have grown up together as best friends and teammates.  All that changed, however, when Bunny accepted a scholarship to play basketball at the prestigious prep school, St. Sebastian.

Bunny is driven to be the best player he can, motivated by the hopes that a successful career in basketball will help him support his family financially.  He is trying to navigate through his new existence as an outsider wherever he goes—he doesn’t feel like he fits in with the wealthy students at his new school and his old friends from his neighborhood treat him like he abandoned his team.  He questions whether he should have taken, or even deserves, the exceptional opportunity he has been given. (more…)