A shrill blast from the referee’s whistle froze the game in place. Number 17, Melissa Hardwicke, was quickly given a precautionary blast of bug spray, having been fouled by an inebriated homeless man on the opposing team with an exceptionally scratchy beard.
Not for the first time, the 8th grader wondered if, despite the coach’s disclaimers, “Bum Bumper” was a real game or one just made up by the city government officials to get homeless men off the street in order to attract federal dollars.