Basketball Drills #2 (Chapter 20): Summary, Themes, and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In “Basketball Drills #2,” the narrator is alone on the court, running through shooting drills. Each shot becomes a rhythm for her thoughts about her older sister, Essa. She opens by naming Essa as “the smart one,” but immediately counters that Essa lies so often it seems like her favorite song. The narrator’s shooting mirrors her mental state: she makes a swish, then misses, then makes another.
As she shoots, she reflects on how Essa’s lies have become so constant that Essa herself can’t recognize the truth when it appears. The narrator imagines the truth sneaking up and “smacking” Essa in the mouth, a vivid image of consequence. She also notes that Essa’s lies are so elaborate they sound like a history lesson, and that Essa could convince someone that rain is a color falling from the sky. Yet even with all that deception, the narrator admits she still thinks Essa “makes rainbows” because no one forgets her name.
The narrator observes how other people respond to Essa: they laugh at her jokes, call her brilliant, and also call her a slick talker. These labels suggest a mix of admiration and wariness. While the narrator processes this, her shooting becomes erratic—she misses several shots in a row, calling them “bricks.”
Midway through the drill, she recalls a saying from Grandma Maxi: “kids laughing at grown folks’ jokes.” The narrator finds the idea hilarious and laughs openly, with all her teeth showing. But then she remembers Grandma Maxi’s rule and quickly changes her expression, grinning with her lips pressed tightly together. The chapter ends with the narrator making a final swish shot, as if she has found a small moment of control or release.
Key Events
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The narrator practices basketball drills, alternating between swishes and misses.
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She reflects on Essa’s intelligence and her compulsive lying.
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She imagines the truth eventually confronting Essa.
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She recalls how others praise Essa as brilliant and funny, but also call her a slick talker.
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The narrator remembers Grandma Maxi’s saying about children laughing at grown folks’ jokes.
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She laughs openly, then suppresses her smile to follow the rule.
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She finishes the drill with a swish.
Character Development
This chapter reveals the narrator’s inner world through her physical actions. She uses basketball as a way to process her feelings about Essa. The alternating shots—some perfect, some missed—mirror her conflicted emotions. She admires Essa’s intelligence and charm, but she’s also frustrated by the lies. The narrator’s observation that Essa “never knows when the truth sneaks up” shows a mix of concern and exasperation.
The narrator also demonstrates a growing awareness of social rules. She initially laughs freely, but when she remembers Grandma Maxi’s instruction, she immediately adjusts her behavior. This shows her respect for family authority and her ability to self-correct, even when she doesn’t fully agree. Her final swish suggests that she finds a small victory in controlling her own actions, even if she can’t control Essa’s behavior.
Essa herself is not present in the chapter, but the narrator’s memories and observations paint a vivid picture. Essa is portrayed as magnetic and clever, yet unreliable. The narrator’s line about Essa making rainbows even while lying suggests a deep, complicated love—she sees the beauty in her sister despite the flaws.
Grandma Maxi appears only through a remembered saying, but her influence is strong. The narrator’s immediate shift from an open laugh to a tight-lipped grin shows how deeply she has internalized her grandmother’s rules. This moment also hints at the theme of suppressed emotion, as the narrator learns to hide her true reactions.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Sibling comparison is central. The narrator measures herself against Essa, calling Essa “the smart one” while she herself is the one shooting hoops. This comparison fuels her need to find her own identity.
Deception and lying are explored through Essa’s behavior. The narrator uses vivid metaphors—lying as a favorite song, as a history lesson, as making rainbows—to show how pervasive and almost artistic Essa’s lies are. Yet the narrator also notes the danger: Essa can’t recognize the truth when it appears.
Basketball as an emotional outlet is a strong motif. The narrator’s shots reflect her mood. When she’s thinking about Essa’s lies, she misses; when she finds a moment of clarity or humor, she swishes. The court becomes a space where she can process her feelings without words.
Family authority is represented by Grandma Maxi’s saying. The narrator’s immediate compliance shows the power of family rules, even when they feel restrictive.
Suppressed emotion appears in the narrator’s forced grin. She wants to laugh openly, but she holds back to follow the rule. This suggests a pattern of hiding her true feelings to meet expectations.
Public versus private identity is hinted at through the contrast between how others see Essa (brilliant, funny) and how the narrator sees her (a liar who can’t recognize truth). The narrator herself also shifts between her private laugh and her public, controlled smile.
Seeking recognition is subtle but present. The narrator’s final swish might be her way of proving something to herself, even if no one else is watching.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the reader’s understanding of the narrator’s voice and her relationship with her sister. It shows that the narrator is not just a passive observer; she actively processes her feelings through physical activity. The basketball drills become a metaphor for her attempts to find stability in a family where Essa’s lies create chaos.
The chapter also introduces Grandma Maxi’s influence, which will likely shape the narrator’s choices later in the book. The moment of suppressed laughter is a small but significant act of self-discipline, revealing the narrator’s internal conflict between authenticity and obedience.
Finally, the chapter’s ending—a swish—offers a note of hope. Despite the confusion and frustration, the narrator can still make something good happen. This sets up her resilience as a central trait.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the narrator’s shooting pattern reflect her emotions about Essa?
The narrator’s shots alternate between swishes and misses. When she thinks about Essa’s lies and the way others praise her, she misses several shots in a row, calling them “bricks.” This suggests frustration and distraction. When she recalls Grandma Maxi’s saying and finds it funny, she makes a swish. Her final swish comes after she suppresses her laugh, indicating a moment of control. The pattern shows that her emotional state directly affects her performance.
2. What does the narrator’s reaction to Grandma Maxi’s rule reveal about her character?
The narrator initially laughs openly with all her teeth showing, but then remembers the rule and grins with her lips pressed tightly together. This shows that she respects family authority and is willing to adjust her behavior to follow rules, even when she doesn’t fully agree. It also reveals her ability to self-monitor and her awareness of social expectations. This moment suggests she is learning to navigate between her true feelings and the demands of others.
3. Why does the narrator say Essa “makes rainbows” even though she lies?
The narrator acknowledges that Essa’s lies are harmful—she can’t recognize the truth—but she still sees something beautiful in her sister. The phrase “makes rainbows” suggests that Essa’s charm and creativity are undeniable, even when they are wrapped in deception. This shows the narrator’s deep love for Essa and her ability to see both the good and the bad in her sister. It also highlights the complexity of their relationship.
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