The Wheel Deal Arthur

# Every day when you're walking down the street

# Everybody that you meet

# Has an original point of view

-# And I say hey!

-Hey!

# What a wonderful kind of day If you could learn to work and play

# And get along with each other

# You've got to listen to your heart Listen to the beat

# Listen to the rhythm Rhythm of the street

# Open up your eyes Open up your ears

# Get together and make things better by working together

# It's a simple message and it comes from the heart

-# Oh, believe in yourself

-Believe in yourself

# For that's the place to start

-# And I say hey!

-Hey!

# What a wonderful kind of day

# If you can learn to work and play And get along with each other

# Hey, what a wonderful kind of day

# Hey, what a wonderful kind of day

# Hey! #

Hey, DW.

-Hey!

-Whoa!

Buster Baxter here, reporting for Lakewood Elementary Sports News.

In ten days, Alan "Brain" Powers is going to face Mighty Mountain's

Sam "Slam Dunk" Scarborough in the Elwood City

baskets for charity competition.

Francine, what do you think of his chances?

A banana? That's the best you could do for a microphone?

Hey, times are tough. Plus, this is 100% compostable.

So, is Brain going to win?

Slam Dunk definitely has a height advantage,

but Brain's a real competitor.

Not only does he have terrific aim, but he's cool under pressure.

This player just never buckles,

even if everything depended on this one shot,

the very fate of the world, life as we know it...

Do you mind?

See. What did I tell you?

What happened to your microphone?

Erm, technical difficulties.

That's a wrap.

Hey, Brain, want to come to the Sugar Bowl with us?

No, thanks. Our library could really use that money.

I better practise some more.

OK. This shot is for a brand new computer in the reading room.

With Brain shooting baskets for us, we're almost guaranteed to win.

Yep. What could possibly go wrong?

-CRASH

-Ow!

I think we're about to find out.

-The Wheel Deal.

-Ow!

Well, the good news is nothing's broken.

The bad news is that one leg has a sprained ankle.

If it's a grade one lateral ligamentis injury,

I could be back on my feet in a few days.

I'm sorry, Alan, but it's a grade two sprain,

and you have a torn knee ligament in your other leg.

You're going to need an air cast for your ankle, a knee immobiliser,

and some physical therapy. But, for the next week,

you do get this nifty set of wheels.

HE SIGHS

I'm really, really sorry. I thought for sure the peel went in the can.

It's OK, Buster. I know it was an accident.

I'm just upset that I won't be able to play

in the basketball fundraiser.

Yeah, we don't stand a chance against Mighty Mountain now.

What are they raising money for?

Save the Elwood City squirrels. Oh, what a waste.

Well, see you later, Brain.

SQUIRREL SQUEAKS Argh!

Sorry!

So, you play basketball?

Huh? Yeah. I was actually supposed to be in a competition,

-but that's not going to happen.

-Why, cos you're not on two legs?

-Tell that to my basketball team.

-You're on a basketball team?

Yep, the Wheel Warriors.

The best wheelchair basketball team in Elwood City.

We're 11 and 0 this season. Want to shoot some hoops with me?

Maybe some other time.

Sure.

Oops.

-Ow!

-Sorry.

GIGGLING

I'm still getting used to this thing.

I'll draw you a schematic.

It's two rotational points on a single axis, so you have to push

one wheel forward while pushing the other back, and then you can turn.

Your understanding of physics is impressive.

I was born without the use of my legs, not my brain.

Um, actually, I'd love to hoot some shoops.

-I mean...

-SHE GIGGLES

-I know what you mean. I'm Lydia.

-Alan, but my friends call me Brain.

OK, Brain. Join me tomorrow for a friendly game of horse.

Every time you miss a shot, you get a letter.

-First player to spell "horse" loses.

-I should warn you, I'm pretty good.

Great! Maybe I'll be able to learn some pointers.

-H.

-My arms must be a little tired.

O

R

Would you like to play using the full Latin name for horse,

Equus ferus caballus? It would give you more chances.

I don't get it. That's the worst I've ever thrown!

Don't worry about it.

You're just not used to shooting from this height and angle,

and not being able to use your whole body.

Something tells me that we'd be here for hours before you ever got an H.

The basketball competition you were supposed to be in, was it a game?

No, just free throws. The winner of the tournament gets a big donation

-to the charity of their choice.

-So you can still be in it.

But you saw the way I was shooting. I'm awful now!

I wouldn't say awful. Inept, maybe.

-Possibly clumsy, uncoordinated, graceless...

-All right already!

-But you do have a secret weapon.

-I do?

-Yep, a great tutor.

-Here. I call it Lydia's Basket Case.

-My head is NOT that big.

We start tomorrow after school, and bring your A game.

-Argh!

-Increase your release height.

Remember, you're two feet lower than you normally are. Again!

18, 19... More arm strength means more baskets.

Come on, Brain. Think of the library. Do it for Virgil.

Do it for Proust. That's it!

Better on the velocity, but aim lower.

168 centimetres is the sweet spot. Again!

See, the ball's velocity when it leaves your hands

-is the result of...

-Three different velocity vector components!

It all makes perfect sense now.

-You sure you don't want me to write this on a piece of paper?

-No.

This way I won't lose it. Just don't press so hard next time.

-It tickles!

-In that case...

-BRAIN LAUGHS

-Stop!

Quite squirming! You're ruining the Pythagorean Theorem.

-Argh! What's wrong with me?

-Nothing. That was really good.

Your speed and angle were perfect. You just missed, that's all.

-Now...

-I know. Again.

Actually, I was going to ask if you want to get something to eat.

-I'm starving!

-I know the perfect place.

All our ice cream is made from milk from a local dairy farm,

and we handpick a lot of the ingred... Huh?

I never noticed that before. That's a pretty big drop.

Oh, yeah. The corner of Elm and Maple -

it's infamous with me and my team-mates.

Excuse me, could you... Hey, we could use a...

What's with these people? Can't they see we need help?

I know, but they might be busy.

Anyway, you've got to know who and how to ask.

She doesn't look like she's in a rush.

Excuse me, ma'am. Would you mind helping my friend and me

down the kerb? I'll show you exactly what to do.

Certainly, dear.

-Thanks a lot!

-Thank you, ma'am.

Here it is. My mum's ice cream shop.

I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Uh-oh. The doorway's too narrow for me.

Well, it looks terrific.

I'm really sorry about that.

I never knew our shop wasn't wheelchair accessible.

-Lots of places aren't.

-BELLS RING

Brain, I've been looking all over for...

Hey, you're Lydia. I saw you play with the Wheel Warriors.

You were amazing.

Thanks. I'd give you an autograph, but my hands are ketchupy.

Listen, if you're not feeling up to the competition,

I can take over.

I mean, I know I'm not as good at shooting as you, but...

Don't worry about a thing. He's going to cream Mighty Mountain.

-I'm his coach.

-Oh, great! Well, see you tomorrow.

Tomorrow?! I forgot that it's tomorrow.

I haven't looked at my calendar in days.

All I've been doing is playing basketball.

And that's all you should have been doing. Here. Trash can.

Three points.

See.

Much you have learned, oh, big-headed one.

BOOING AND HISSING

What?!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

WHISTLE

The squirrels will be so happy.

Oh, if only Brain had been able to raise that money.

Yeah, the reading room's computer became so outdated,

they just had to tear the whole library down.

Huh?

CHEERING

It's neck and neck. Brain and Slam Dunk both have 22 baskets.

Wait! Make that 23 for Brain. Francine, comments?

I think your microphone is melting.

BUZZER

You're doing great. Just stay focused and keep your rhythm up.

Oh, no! We're still four points behind.

BUZZER

Beat that! Ha!

I have to make five baskets in one minute! I can't do it.

But I can.

CHEERING

BUSTER GASPS

THEY CHEER

ALL: Lydia! Lydia! Lydia!

I like the new door. Plenty of room now.

Well, it was the least we could do for the girl who won all that money

for our library.

What are you talking about? It was all you. I just helped at the end.

Anyway, basketball actually isn't my strong suit. It's chess.

-No way!

-Seriously. I'm nationally ranked.

-Want to play?

-Well, OK, but I should want you, I'm very good.

Oh, yeah? Where have I heard that before?

# Every day when you're walking down the street

# And everybody that you meet Has an original point of view

-# And I say hey!

-Hey!

# What a wonderful kind of day

# Hey, what a wonderful kind of day Hey! #