Page 98 of Making It Count
“Nothing,” Shay replied and looked away. “We should get some sleep. I’m pretty sure if Coach saw us out of bed after two in the morning, with our room doors open, talking like this, she’d kill us.”
“I like talking to you,” Layne said. “I missed it.”
“So did I.” Shay smiled. “And to answer your question, I don’t know, but I might try to stick around here if I can. If I don’t get drafted, I mean.”
“Around Dunbar?”
“Maybe I can join the coaching staff or something.”
“Like, as an assistant?”
“I was thinking about being a grad assistant,” Shay said.
“But that would require you to go to graduate school.”
“I know,” Shay replied. “My grades are a concern right now, but I’ll be able to get them back on track when the season’s over. They’re not terrible, but they could be better.”
“What program would you even want?”
“There’s a kinesiology program in sports performance here. It’s two years.”
“You’ve looked into it?”
Shay nodded and said, “I realized a little too late that I might need a backup plan, but if I don’t get to play in the WNBA, I was thinking I could maybe help others perform better, and maybe one of them can make it one day.” She shrugged a shoulder. “They’re all just thoughts for now, but Coach is losing both grad assistants this year to other programs. Walters is going to be an assistant coach at Butler, and Scarborough is going to head coach a high school team. They’re both graduating, so I thought… Well, I don’t know. I’m still hoping for the draft, obviously. Have you given any more thought to sticking around or leaving?”
“The paperwork is with the NCAA right now. I don’t know when I’ll hear back, but if they give me another year, I can play and stay. If not, I’d have to figure out the money part and see if I could stay in the program. I just don’t want to have this massive pile of debt if I can avoid it. One year in a graduate program here is cheaper than some places, but not by much. With interest, I’d end up owing a lot of money, and I wouldn’t have a guarantee of a job, so it’s just a lot to think about.”
“Want to make a pro-con list with me?”
“What? Now?”
“Why not?” Shay asked. “I’ve got my phone. We can come up with the pros first.”
“Pros of staying?”
“Yeah.” Shay unlocked her phone. “Okay. What’s a pro?”
“Um… I’d have an MBA when it’s done.”
“Right. Obvious. What else?”
“I’d be more marketable in the job market.”
“Marketable in the job market?” Shay laughed.
Layne smiled softly at her.
“Okay. What else?” Shay asked.
“On this list, are you staying or going?” Layne checked.
Shay looked up at her and said, “Me? Does that matter?”
Layne nodded.
“Um… Let’s do both. Like, I got drafted, and I’m living in… Seattle.”
“That would be a con, then,” Layne said.