It was 2nd July, Chad's sixteenth birthday. He sat up and looked around his room, at the framed pictures of famous basketball players covering the walls. His father had put most of them up while he was at school. He wondered when his parents would come in with his presents, as they did every year. All of his previous gifts from his dad were under his bed, forgotten about: a hockey stick, a football, a set of golf clubs. No matter how unenthusiastically he received the gifts, he could never convince his father that he wasn't interested in team sports. The only good thing that had come out of basketball was the money his dad gave him when he won - this had meant he could save for a car, and drive to dance competitions when his parents were away on many trophies that he had won were hidden in the back of his closet. No one could ever know about them.

The door opened, and in came his parents. His mother had brought pancakes with a candle in them, something she had done every year since that one time that he choked on a piece of cake. His mother was quite overprotective. He had tried to tell her that basketball was dangerous so he didn't have to play anymore, but unfortunately she approved of exercise.

'Happy Birthday, son!' his parents exclaimed, after they had sang the song. They were smiling widely and presented Chad with a spherical parcel, wrapped in paper with footballs on it.

Please not more sports equipment, Chad prayed. He tried to look excited as he tore off the paper. It was a basketball. Another basketball. Like he didn't already have at least five. What was his dad thinking?

'Um...thanks,' he said. 'This looks...um...really good.'

His dad seemed not to sense his reluctance and grinned. 'How about we test it out right now?' he asked.

'Wow, I wish I could but...homework. I have a lot of homework.'

'It's summer vacation,' his mother reminded him.

'Well sure, but I have to catch up. I'm behind because...because I play so much basketball,' he said, looking at his mother hopefully.

His dad frowned. 'OK,' he said. 'But this is quite some basketball, you know that?'

How the hell is it any different to all the others? thought Chad, grumpily. He forced a smile. 'Yeah, it looks great. We'll play later.' Not if I can avoid it, he thought.

Thankfully, his mother intervened.

'Michael, I don't think that's a good idea,' she said disapprovingly. 'If Chad really is falling behind then maybe he should take a break from basketball for now?'

His parents both turned to look at him. He fought the smile threatening to break out onto his face.

'Oh, no… anything but that,' he said.

Eventually, his parents left him alone to do his non-existent homework. Chad sighed. It had been a good idea at the time to complain about homework but the excuse meant that now he couldn't go out. He looked at the basketball, which was lying on the bed in front of him, a piece of wrapping paper still stuck to it. He tossed it aside and lay back down, figuring that if he couldn't go out, he might as well get some more sleep. Pretty soon he had drifted off and began to dream. He dreamt that he was on the basketball court at school, in the middle of a game. Oh great, he thought. Now it's even getting into my dreams. But then, over the yells of the crowd cheering him on, he heard a voice. He spun round, looking for whoever was speaking, but couldn't see anyone. Chad, the voice said. He looked around again. The voice was getting closer. He watched as Troy passed the ball to Zeke, who threw it to him. When he heard his name again, there was no doubt who was speaking. The voice was coming from the ball in his hands, the very same one his parents had just given him. Chad stopped, and looked down at the ball. 'What the hell?' he said. He looked around to see if anyone else had noticed, but the game seemed to have been put on pause. No-one was moving, and all he could hear now was the voice. You and I can win this, Chad, it said. That's all that matters now.

'I don't care about winning,' he said. 'I don't even want to be here.'

Imagine how happy your father will be when you win, it said.

'He doesn't care about my happiness, why should I care about his?' replied Chad, bitterly. But he found himself slightly convinced by the ball. What if I could be the one to make the team win? he thought. He imagined how it would feel to be the most important member of the team. His friends would have to take him seriously then, and his parents would be so proud. You see? said the ball. With my help you could become the most popular boy in school, everyone would want to be just like you! So what are you waiting for? Use me to score the winning basket. As the ball said this, the dream-game started up again. Chad could see opposing players running towards him to take the ball, his teammates were shouting and the crowd was cheering. Chad waited just one moment, looking back down at the ball.

'More popular than Troy Bolton?' he asked.

The ball didn't reply, but Chad already knew the answer. He positioned the ball in order to shoot. He took a deep breath, jumped, and let the ball fly. The entire gym seemed to slow down. The ball soared straight into the net. Chad saw his father smile at him from the bleachers, then suddenly, the room seemed to erupt. The crowd was screaming his name and his friends were cheering. He saw Troy hug Gabriella and then her mother in turn, before jumping on Chad and starting a group hug. Standing quietly next to his sister, Ryan Evans was watching him, a smile on his face.

'Chad, you're the best!' exclaimed Zeke. Chad couldn't remember feeling this happy before. He looked around at his friends. This is what high school was supposed to be like. And it could be, maybe, if he listened to this weird basketball's freaky advice.

When he woke up, the ball was in his hands.