The Ex-Basketball Player

This is a claymation made for an English Project in Mr. McFadden's class.

"The Ex-Basketball Player"
By John Updike

Pear Avenue runs past the High school lot,
Bends with the trolley tracks, and stops, cut off
Before it has a chance to go two blocks,
At Colonel McComsky Plaza. Berth's Garage
Is on the corner facing west, and there,
Most days, you'll find Flick Webb, who helps Berth out.

Flick stands tall among the idiot pumps -
Five on a side, the old bubble-head style,
Their rubber elbows hanging loose and low.
One's nostrils are two S's, and his eyes
An E and O. And one is squat, without
A head at all - more of a football type

Once, Flick played for the high school team, the Wizards
He was good: in face, the best. In '46
He bucketed three hundred ninety points
A county record still. The ball loved Flick
I saw him rack up thirty-eight of forty
In one home game. His hands were like wild birds.

He never learned a trade, he just sells gas,
Checks oil, and changes flats. Once in awhile,
As a gas, he dribbles and inner tube,
But most of us remember anyway.
His hands are fine and nervous on the lug wrench.
It makes no difference to the lug wrench, though.

Off work, he hangs around Mae's Luncheonette.
Grease -grey and kind of coiled he plays pinball,
smokes those thin cigars, nurses lemon phosphates.
Flick seldom speaks to Mae, just nods
Beyond her face towards bright applauding tiers
of Necco Wafers, Nibs, and Juju Beads.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• clay
• claymation
• mr. mcfadden
• english project
• poem
• ex basketball player
• john updike