The Team Captain's Decision

Devika has been team captain of the school volleyball team for exactly two months. She still isn't sure she deserves the title.

黛薇卡当学校排球队的队长，刚好两个月。她仍然不确定自己配不配得上这个头衔。

During practice on Tuesday, she notices something that has been bothering her for weeks. The coach keeps giving Farah, the newest player, almost no playing time. That's true even though Farah has improved more than anyone else on the team this season.

星期二训练的时候，她注意到一件已经困扰了她好几个星期的事。教练总是几乎不给最新加入的队员法拉上场的机会。可是法拉明明是这个赛季全队进步最大的人。

"She's still learning the rotations," the coach says, when Devika asks about it quietly after practice. "I don't want to risk a mistake during a real match."

“她还在学习轮转站位，”训练结束后，黛薇卡悄悄问起这件事，教练这样说，“我不想在正式比赛中冒出失误的风险。”

Devika understands the logic, but it doesn't sit right with her. Farah has stayed late every single practice, asking for extra drills nobody else wants to do. If effort like that doesn't earn a chance to play, Devika isn't sure what does.

黛薇卡明白这个道理，可心里总觉得不对劲。法拉每次训练都留到最晚，主动要求加练别人都不愿意做的练习。如果这样的努力都换不来一次上场的机会，黛薇卡实在不知道还有什么能换来。

She spends that night going back and forth. Saying something could make her look like she's questioning the coach in front of the team. Saying nothing means watching a teammate work harder than anyone and still get overlooked.

那天晚上，她翻来覆去地想。开口说话，可能会让她看起来像是在当着全队的面质疑教练。什么都不说，就意味着眼睁睁看着一个比谁都努力的队友一直被忽视。

The next day, Devika catches the coach before practice starts. "Can I ask you something? About Farah."

第二天，训练开始前，黛薇卡拦住了教练。“我能问您点事吗？是关于法拉的。”

The coach sighs, clearly expecting this. "Go ahead."

教练叹了口气，显然早就料到了。“说吧。”

"I know it's your call," Devika says, "but I think she's ready for more minutes. She's the first one here and the last one to leave, every single practice. If we don't give her a real chance, I don't think that's fair to her."

“我知道这是您的决定，”黛薇卡说，“但我觉得她已经可以多上场了。她每次训练都是第一个到、最后一个走。如果我们不给她一个真正的机会，我觉得对她不公平。”

The coach is quiet for a moment. "You really believe she's ready?"

教练沉默了一会儿。“你真的相信她准备好了？”

"I do. And even if she makes a mistake, that's how she'll actually learn the rotations you're worried about."

“是的。而且就算她出了失误，她也会在这样的过程中真正学会您担心的那些轮转站位。”

He nods slowly. "Alright. She starts the next set today. We'll see how it goes."

他慢慢地点了点头。“好吧。今天下一局她首发。我们看看结果。”

During the match, Farah is nervous at first, missing an easy serve in the opening minutes. But she settles in quickly. By the third set, she's set up two of the team's best points.

比赛中，法拉一开始很紧张，开局几分钟就漏掉了一个很容易的发球。不过她很快就稳住了。到第三局，她已经组织出了全队最漂亮的两个得分。

Afterward, Farah finds Devika by the water fountain. "Did you say something to Coach?"

赛后，法拉在饮水机旁找到了黛薇卡。“你是不是跟教练说什么了？”

Devika shrugs, trying to sound casual. "I just mentioned you'd earned it."

黛薇卡耸耸肩，尽量装得若无其事。“我只是提了一句，你值得这个机会。”

Farah doesn't say anything for a second. Then she grins. "Well, don't stop mentioning things."

法拉沉默了一会儿。然后她咧嘴笑了。“嗯，那你可别停下来，接着多提几句。”