Page 62 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

“Yeah... That’s such a bummer. I tossed the axe, and it... Well, let’s say we used a backup pillar that day...”

I snort a laugh. “Geez, who were you trying to murder? You’re supposed to hit the target, not the pillar. Not to mention the axe couldn’t be that sharp, yet you broke things.”

He spreads his hands to the side. “Look, I know that, but... Let’s say all I did was miss that inch, and...”

“You didn’t even scratch the target.”

He rolls his eyes and huffs. “Yeah, you can say that.”

Axe-throwing is like archery. There are no rules on how to throw the axe as long as it hits. The closer it hits the target, the more points one gets.

I say, “Apparently, you were not good at aiming at the right thing.”

He blinks, seemingly deep in thought. Maybe I made him think of something else again. When can I be smarter with my words?

He says, “I think I’ve gotten better at aiming at the right thing. Knowing what to aim at is half the battle. Even though I may not hit, if I don’t try, I won’t stand a chance.”

A heat surges in my stomach. I’m about to ask him something else when the bell rings.

He finishes his coffee and stands. It is time for silly assembly again. I understand it’s good for students to have time to learn about topics outside the school curriculum from guests. But I’m still not interested enough to be attending with joy.

I don’t think Telke likes that either. But it is what it is. After assembly, I’ll be off to do my work, which will be a lot better.

And... The floatball practice after the day is over. It almost feels like I’m back at school as a student myself.

Chapter 27

Winnie

I don’t think this is a good idea!

“Whoa!” Jackel squeals as he hurries to dodge me.

“I’m sorry!” I pull the controller of the ship, trying to hold myself steady.

Telke shouts from the ground. “Lift your foot off the gas!”

I do that and I’m finally slowing. Geez, this is harder than I expected, and...

“Watch out, your left!” Jackel shouts as I spin around to my left.

The floatball is flying to my face. I move the bat, but it is too long to hit the ball off its path as it is running straight on.

I lean forward to dodge the floatball and it flies an inch above my head, almost scorching my hair.

This time, Telke’s voice comes from the earbud. “Look, you’re supposed to smack the ball, not dodge.”

“I know, but it would have hit me in the face.”

“You can move the ship so it will be at the right spot for you to hit with the bat.”

I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me from the distance. He is standing on the field all the way down there, watching all of us. “Easy for you to say.”

I’ve never done something like this before. I strapped the bat onto my wrist, which is my saving grace before I dropped it.

I know how to drive a spaceship, but driving this ship while watching the float ball, and also hitting the ball where I want it to go, proves to be a lot more challenging than I expected.

Jackel and another male hurry to chase after the floatball. Their ships hit each other, but Jackel manages to snag the ball. He sends it flying closer to the goal.

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