Page 1 of Shooting his Shot

Twenty YearsAgo

Since I was used to it by now, I laughed with the kids as they teased me. They did it on a daily basis, too, so what would be the point in getting mad and wanting to fight every day? I just laughed and teased them back. Some of them took it too far, like Akari Gardner. He came for me too hard at times, but I ate it up. No need to go home and cry about it. Akari had been bullying me since the first grade. It was something I was used to from him.

"Look at the clothes she has on. They're so baggy and she looks so stupid." Akari laughed, causing his siblings and other kids to laugh right along with him. We were all at the park hanging out.

I rolled my neck, placing my hands on my small hips. "So, at least I have clothes."

He waved me off. "Ahhh, shut up, skinny minny."

That was all he could say about me. He needed to change his lines. We all grew up together. Akari and I were the same age, ten, and in the same class. Even in class, he picked at me, causing the teacher to yell at both of us when I didn't do anything wrong but defend myself.

"You shut up. That's why you can't play basketball. You suck!" I angrily spat.

His entire face turned red as he charged at me, but his brother held him back. That was what he had better do. I wasn't scared to fight. Nobody was going to put their hands on me and think I wouldn't hit them back. My mother always told me to hit back and not to let anyone bully me. I used to always go home, crying to my mother about the bullies. I stopped when she told me to fight my own battles. If someone hits me, make sure I hit them twice as hard. Since then, I've been fighting back and defending myself.

"I can play better than you, picky nappy head!" he shouted, shooting me an evil look.

I faked a yawn. His jokes were starting to get tiring. "Whatever, Kari. You are a lame."

"That's why your mom's on welfare and poor."

I was the one charging at him this time. Nobody talked about my mother. That would really have me beating everyone up. I didn't care how lousy my mother was to me. I refused to let anyone down her for trying her hardest to take care of me.

It took his sister to pull me off of him, and I slapped her.

"Don't put your hands on me!" I shouted as my chest heaved up and down. I shot all of them a glare as I clenched my jaw muscles together. My fists were balled up at my side. I had to leave, or I'd be fighting all of them. Akari hit below the belt whenhe came for my mother. I guess I did as well when I said how he sucked at basketball. He loved basketball so much. That was all he talked about in school or when we all hung out together. I didn't want to be around them anymore. It was time to head home.

I frozewhen I saw police cars in the driveway of my home.Why were they there? Did my mother forget to pay the rent again? Oh gosh, not again.My heart thumped in my chest as I pondered what was going on. My mother didn't have it all together when it came to raising me, but she tried her best. She wasn't the best mother either, but I loved her and always told her she was trying her best.

I pressed forward slowly, wondering what was going on. When I entered the house, everyone turned to me. Looking unfazed, my mother sat at the kitchen table with a cigarette between her fingers. When our eyes met, sadness was present in hers.

"Mommy, what's going on?" I tried going to her, but a police officer stopped me. I tried jerking away from him, but it was no use. "Let me go!" I seethed through clenched teeth.

My mother stood up, put the cigarette down, and walked up the stairs. I thought she was coming to get me, but she turned and walked away.

Tears filled my eyes as I watched my mother walk away from me. She didn't fight for me. "Mommy!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. My throat went raw as I yelled. "Mommy, please don't let them take me. Please!" I tried fighting them off, but I couldn't. Tears streamed down my face as my heart broke in two. "Mommy! Don't let me go! Mommy, please!"

My screams weren't doing anything. My mother wasn't coming for me. The police were quiet, not saying anything, as they dragged me away. I loudly sobbed as they drove me away from the only home I knew. Why didn't my mother fight for me? What did I do wrong?

"I'm sorry, kid," the officer stated, but I only stared out the window with tears continuing to pour down my face.

Twenty YearsLater

My chest heaved up and down as I panted heavily. Damn, I was tired, but I had to keep running. I was running around the racetrack, something I did on a daily basis. I wouldn't be defeated. I had to push myself further. It was something my father taught me. If I gave up too quickly, it would make me out to be a quitter, which was something I wasn't.

"You got this," I told myself.

Once I reached the finish line, I threw my arms in the air. I leaned forward, put my hands on my knees, and dropped my head. After getting my breathing under control, I made my way to my things on the ground. I retrieved my water bottle andsquirted some of the water in my mouth and over my face. I sighed deeply, drinking more of the water.

I had a game tonight and was looking forward to it. Whenever it was a game day, I tried to relax and not overthink anything. It helped me out a lot. I came a long way with my basketball career, making me one of the greatest there was. On the court, I was a different person and talked a lot of shit, too.

"Yo! Yo!" I heard someone call out.

I lifted my head, seeing it was one of my teammates and best friends. I threw my head in a greeting as he made his way on the track.

"Wassup, man? What are you doing out here?" We dapped up, and he dropped his stuff on the ground.

Kennis glanced around the track I'd just finished running. "About to get this running in. Plus, get my mind off my girl and my problems."

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