It was February 7th, 2007, and basketball season was coming to a close. I had been practicing with the girls and boys several times a week since October and had attended many of their home and away games. The girls had just finished their practice and the boys were running a full court scrimmage. Ela, her cousin Soa, and I sat on the scorer’s table beside the court, still in our basketball clothes. We watched the boys sprint from end to end, listening to their constant trash-talking and making comments about their play. There was some lament in the air. The two young women mentioned how sad they were that basketball season was almost over. They looked dejected and I felt the same. It was a sadness I remembered from my own high-school seasons. Daily practices and weekly games, the camaraderie, having a common goal and focus with your peers, having something to look forward to all day during class. Then something happened that brought us out of our morose: Ela said something quickly to Soa in Samoan. I had heard very few exchanges between Samoan speakers over my year; this was somewhat remarkable.