98 Pounder

We practised basketball all summer In hopes that we would make the junior high squad We ran our asses off that summer In hopes that we would wear those blue & white tanktops bouncing balls in the gym for all the ninth grade cheerleaders

We practised basketball all fall The ball would swish right through the net Me & my best friend Mokey, we stood about 5'2 & 98 pounds soaking wet

But only 15 guys could make that team & me & Rob we had our dream Of 15 guys he says.... We were hoping It'd be both of us, It'd be both of us

Mr Hamilton doubled as the art teacher & the basketball coach He was a nice enough man, 6'7 played some college ball We always hoped that if we took his art class he would like us more & he would need us, he would need us, he would need us on his team

But only 15 guys could make that squad & every night we prayed to god But 15 guys he says.... We were hoping It'd be both of us, It'd be both of us

He said he's post those names on Sunday in the afternoon He said he'd put those 15 names up by two & maybe they'd be 4 alternates added at the bottom We rode our bikes down the long hallway in the junior high Our hearts were pounding the sweat was rolling, pouring down our eyes I'll never forget how long that hallway seemed & I can still see the names in the big black pen

Mokey's name was listed on the 7th spot We jumped for joy & my name we looked for..... but it was nowhere to be found, it was nowhere to be found

I tried to ride my bike out of that hallway & the tears were fallin' Coach Renfrose stood there at the corner by the gym he was the wrestling coach he said "Hey Poltz, what's the matter with you?" He said "I need you on the wrestling team, I need a 98 pounder, I need a 98 pounder"

Hey everyone just wants to be needed Everyone just wants to be greeted with a big hello Everyone just wants to be needed Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?

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© Steve Poltz