Netball Twins

Netball Twins  by Billie Williams

My family is very active and loves to play sports. My name is Ella. I just moved to New
Zealand from America with my mum and my twin. My twin’s name is Alex, she is my best
friend. Alex and I love playing netball. We have been in the same team for most of our
years playing netball and we work together very well. 

People always tell me that they can spot me  playing on the court because of my shiny,
golden hair that bounces as I run up and down.  They also talk about my eye’s, when I dart
my cristal blue happy eyes up at the spectators, my eyes smiling happily about my goal. I
have olive skin and alot of freckles on my nose. I remember when we were little me and
my twin always connected “the dots” to see who had more freckles. I love my twin, I don't
think I would ever play netball without her.

“Girls, come here both of you. I need to ask you something,’’ Mum yells out. 

We both run from our rooms, racing through the new maze of walls we are not yet used to
in our new house, and make our way to the lounge where mum is lying on the couch like a
worn out shoe.

‘’Yeah?’’ we both repeat.” 

“I was at the supermarket earlier and there was a bright blue poster on the clipboard
advertising a netball trial for a team on Saturday.  Do you want to do it?’’ Mum explains. 

“Uhh, sure,’’ I say uncertainty . 

“What about you Alex?’’ Mum asks. 

“I don't know. We are new and they might not put us in the same team and Mum, you know
I can't play without me feeding Ella the ball into the circle,” Alex says quietly. 

We waddle back to our rooms and I tell Alex it will be fun. We will make new friends
and play a sport that we love.  She finally agrees and then we gossip for hours about the
tricks we will use.

Saturday

“Alright girls, I want to see all of you playing well and mahi tahi. These are new girls from
America. Make sure you make them feel welcomed to our club,’’ says the coach of the team we are trialing for. 

‘’RRRRR!’’ The whistle blows sharply in my ears. 

Boom! 

I shoot out from the circle and a fresh splash of New Zealand's fresh air hits my face.
I am open and could get an easy shot in if that ballhog passed me the ball. I was yelling
like a 4 year old having a tantrum. I didn't know anyone's names which made it really hard.

When half time came along I was sweating and tried. I wiped my sweety forehead with my
Adidas t-shirt and couldn't wait until Alex could be in my team.

They put Alex in at wing attack. Boom! Three quick, sharp passes flew down the court to
me. 

‘’Alex over here!’’ I yelled loudly as she threw a big pass.  

I caught it and shot it in the hoop, goalkeeper saying to me, ‘’Ka pai!’’ 

I looked at her and smiled. She’d said it in a nice tone and smiled when she said it. That's
one thing that was going to be hard for me. I had to learn all of the NZ slang and te reo
Māori words. At half time the goalkeeper who had said, “ka pai” to me introduced herself
and taught me all the girls names. 

The last quarter of the game I was put on court again. I felt a lot more confident with
names and asking for the ball. As I shouted out for the ball from the top of the circle I
did a split jump, bounced off my wrong foot and had to shoot it from the top of the circle.
I could hear tiny voices in my head as if they were the crowd making the “Uhhhhhh!”
sound. Bang! Got it in…!

“Has the team come out yet mum?” I ask excitedly. 

“Yeah hunny. Well done, you got into the Junior A team. I'm so proud,” Mum said proudly. 

'' Alex is in the B team... well done Alex!”

Alex looked at me disgustedly and walked away very loudly....