The Wolves: A Play

Frigid and sweaty, seven (the full team minus #46 and #7) players jog in, complaining about the cold. This week, #8, #25, #2, and #13 have the cold. This week is the college showcase tournament, which is designed to be attended by university scouts, and they just performed spectacularly and won a game. There is only a half hour until the next game. The girls huddle up, talking about the incredible playing of #46, who executed a bicycle kick to score a goal. #7 enters on crutches and in street clothes with a tan from ski goggles that matches #14’s. The team greets her warmly, with the exception of #14, who rolls her eyes and seems uncharacteristically annoyed at whatever #7 says or does. #7 mocks #2’s headgear, which is even larger than last week and which #2’s mother insisted upon due to #2’s nosebleeds. The girls ask #7 about her injury, which she informs the team is a torn ACL that will require surgery. The doctors predicted she won’t be in playing shape until next spring. #7 tries to be optimistic about getting back to playing in college, but everyone knows it’s a letdown.