Chapter Thirty-Six

The Basketball Banquet

Following such a successful basketball season, the team was looking forward to the high school basketball banquet held near the end of the school year honoring the teams and the individuals who participated. The banquet was a way to create cultivate and maintain a sense of loyalty, continuity and school spirit. It was also an opportunity to focus upon and honor the graduating seniors. Families often looked forward to the banquet even more than the athletes themselves. The sense of pride was often overwhelming and very emotional.

My mother and my sister attended. Unfortunately, my father was still recuperating and was in no condition to attend. I was not sure if my brother, German, would attend as he had just moved back to El Paso with a wife and two young children after getting a degree in architecture at Texas Tech in Lubbock. Leo, Jr. was not available either as he was at the bar managing for my father.

It was great to see the team and for them to get reacquainted with my family and as well as to see theirs. I was particularly glad to see Guillermo and Emmitt, fresh off our play at the all-star game. Emmitt appeared to be heading to a great junior college basketball program in New Mexico. Guillermo did not receive any scholarship offers and was considering joining the military. He and his girlfriend were considering marriage. I had not had any scholarship offers myself, nor did I expect any.

We shared school and basketball stories and made crude jokes at each other’s expense. We exaggerated about our alleged romantic conquests, again.

As the banquet went on, I had really wished that I had asked Reynaldo to attend. I wished that my family could have invited him. I knew that it was out of the question since I had discovered this secret and seen how my family reacted. I had not seen Reynaldo since the secret was out. He seemed to have disappeared after that. I didn’t know whether that confirmed or dismissed the notion that he was a part of the family.

As the honors and awards were being announced and given out, I happened to turn my gaze towards the entrance only to find Reynaldo standing by the wall watching the proceedings.

Without thinking or hesitating, I quickly stood up and walked to where he was. I was astounded. I touched him to make sure he was real and that this was real.

“You’re real? I didn’t imagine you. I mean, how did you get in without a ticket?” I asked.

“I have a ticket. Emmitt and Guillermo bought it for me. They didn’t want me to miss this,” Reynaldo said.

“Holy shit, they did?” I exclaimed. “Come on, come sit with us.”

“No, I can’t. I can’t sit with your family,” Reynaldo protested.

“My family, what do you mean. You aren’t family?” I asked, now more confused than ever.

Reynaldo said, “You know?”

“Yes, I know. Come sit with us,” I said reassuring him and hugged him.

I quickly brought him to the table. But, as I looked at the table, I saw pain in Silvia’s and my mother’s faces.

My mother quickly exclaimed, “What is he doing here? He has no business here. Get him out of here!”

Silvia was stunned and speechless.

I said, “He has every right to be here. He’s the only reason that I’m here. He is more responsible for me being on this team than probably anyone except, maybe, Coach Goodwin!”

I continued, surprising myself with my assertiveness, “Reynaldo, sit down please!” I motioned him toward an open seat and then put my hand on his shoulder. He smiled and sat down.

As Reynaldo sat down at the table, the tension was palpable. My mother and sister exchanged uncomfortable glances, but I refused to back down.

"Reynaldo is family," I stated firmly. "Even though I was unaware of him, he's been a part of my life since I was born. He deserves to be here just as much as anyone else."

“Oh, so, since when did he become such a saint?” my mother continued.

“I don’t know what you are talking about?” I said more confused than ever.

My mother opened her mouth to continue to protest but, surprisingly, I cut her off. "I won't hear another word about it. Reynaldo stays."

Silvia, who had been silent until now, spoke up with a soft voice filled with emotion. "I'm sorry, Reynaldo. I... I didn't know what to do." Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him with a mix of guilt and regret.

Reynaldo simply smiled at her, a gentle and understanding expression on his face. "It's okay, Silvia. I never wanted to cause any trouble. I just wanted to be here to support Luis."

As the banquet continued, I made sure to include Reynaldo in our conversations, introducing him to my teammates and their families. Despite the initial awkwardness, Reynaldo's easy smile and humble demeanor quickly won people over. It was clear that he had a genuine passion for basketball, just like the rest of us.

Throughout the evening, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Reynaldo's presence at the banquet. His sudden appearance, combined with my family's strong reaction, hinted at a deeper mystery surrounding his connection to us.

As the night drew to a close, Coach Goodwin took the stage. He was given the final speaking slot as we moved through several other speakers like the principal, Mr. Tyler, assistant principal, Mr. Marquard and the athletic coordinator, Mr. Johnson. Just as he was about to finish, I stood up and called out from our table.

"Wait!” I exclaimed. “I have an announcement to make.”

I walked up to the podium and said, “I am so happy tonight. Of course, for all the obvious things here tonight. But also, tonight, I am announcing that I have a half-brother that I want to introduce to you. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I did not know for sure but was able to confirm this tonight. Reynaldo, please stand up! Reynaldo is my brother. I want to thank him for coming. I also want to thank my teammates, Guillermo and Emmitt for making it possible for him to be here tonight. Even though they did not know that he was related to me. They just know how important he is to me. As always, they have my back. Thank you! That is all I want to say.”

I walked off the stage, not really knowing what was next.

As the banquet transitioned and concluded with final remarks from the principal of the school, there was an undercurrent in the room that I had never heard before or since. Though the audience was respectful and trying to focus on Mr. Tyler, it was obvious that the entire auditorium was abuzz. I didn’t know what would happen next, but I knew it would be special.

As Mr. Tyler wrapped up his speech, the whispers and murmurs growing louder as people began to discuss the bombshell announcement I had just made. All eyes were on Reynaldo and me, and I could feel the weight of everyone's scrutiny.

As Mr. Tyler finished his closing remarks and the banquet officially concluded, there was a moment of stillness before the room erupted into noise. Parents and students alike approached us, offering congratulations and sharing their surprise at the revelation. Some faces bore expressions of shock, while others showed understanding and acceptance.

My teammates surrounded Reynaldo and me, patting our backs and expressing their support. Guillermo and Emmitt both had big smiles on their faces, proud to have played a role in bringing Reynaldo to the banquet. It was a moment of unity and acceptance that I had never experienced before.

Silvia came up to us, her eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Luis. I should have trusted you with this information. I should have respected your right to know.”

Reynaldo, ever gracious and understanding, reached out to Silvia and took her hands in his. "It's okay, Silvia. Luis has shown me nothing but kindness since we met. I can see the love and bond that you all share as a family. I hold no resentment towards any of you."

Silvia's tears fell freely now, and she pulled Reynaldo into a tight hug, whispering apologies and gratitude for his forgiveness. The tension that had once filled the room seemed to dissipate with each heartfelt embrace and word of acceptance.

As the night came to a close, my family, Reynaldo, Guillermo, Emmitt, and I stood together in a circle, surrounded by the echoes of the evening's events. It felt like a new beginning for all of us, a chance to redefine our relationships and move forward with newfound understanding and unity.

Looking around at the faces of those I cared about most, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Whatever challenges we faced, I believed we could handle them.

A little later, Coach Goodwin stopped by our table. As he mingled, I hoped that he would come talk to me. After talking to my family, he came over to me and said, “I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of the team and all that you accomplished this year. But it started long ago, probably well before you ever started playing basketball. By the time I met you, it was clear that you had something that was worth watching. You didn’t make the team because you were a gifted player, you made the team because you were a leader. I could see that, and you also were an important teammate in that you had the glue that helped keep the team together. We would not have been the same team without that glue and that type of energy. I just want to say thanks.”

It took some time for me to respond, but I told Coach Goodwin about my first time in the gym all those years ago and told him that I saw something in the gym and in the practice session that I had witnessed, too. Whatever it was, I knew how much I wanted to play for this program and though there were times that I thought I wouldn’t make it or times I wanted to quit (especially during conditioning drills). I told him I was so glad that I stuck with it.

He just said, “Yes, me, too!”

Coach Goodwin's words filled me with a sense of pride and gratitude, knowing that he saw something in me long before I even realized it myself. As the night came to an end and the last of the guests began to leave, I found myself standing with Reynaldo, looking out at the emptying auditorium.

"Thank you for coming tonight, Reynaldo," I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

Reynaldo turned to me with a genuine smile. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world, Luis. I'm proud of you, carnal (Mexican/Spanish slang for brother, family, “blood,” very close friend'; literally, “of the flesh”)!

Reynaldo’s use of "carnal" felt strange yet comforting. As I looked up at Reynaldo, I felt a newfound connection between us. Despite the mystery that still surrounded his sudden appearance in our lives, I couldn't deny the bond that was forming between us.

"I don't know what the future holds for us, Reynaldo," I began cautiously, "but I hope we can continue to build on this.”

As I continued to look to the future, I said, “I don’t know what my mother or our father will feel about all this, but I hope that my mother sees that having you around is not so bad.”

Reynaldo let out a sigh and said, “I think that things could go in any direction. I don’t want to push my luck right now.”

He also said, “I just know that you and I are still good, and that is all that matters, little brother."

Just then, it became as clear as could be that I was indeed younger than Reynaldo. I had never really thought about it or acknowledged it before. But clearly, he had taken it upon himself to support, protect mentor and take me under his wing.