More than a game, and the cost of pride. By Thekid About the Author: The Kid, enjoys writing about strong young women, defeating their weaker counterparts, and deflating their male chauvinistic egos. This is a story that takes place at a family reunion. Amanda can't take anymore of Tony's growing ego during a one on one basketball game, in which leads to a fight. More than a game, and the cost of pride. The day for the Stevens family was wrapping up for their family reunion, that was being held at City Park. The Stevens were a very athletic type of family, not to mention, as was the rest of their relatives. As the norm for them they would always end the reunion with a basketball game. The teams were decided upon between two familys, The Stevens were going to play up against Gerald Stevens, who was the Uncle of Amanda Stevens who was playing on the opposing team. Wait Uncle Gerry, this is a 5 on 5 full court game isn't it, you only have four players. Your right where did Billy get off to he knows we needed him to play in this game. Oh Billy he had to leave early, said something about an appointment he had to keep. Gerald then begin to look around for his 5th player, and remembered he invited Tony along to the reunion. Tony was a drinking buddy of Gerald, s who had some sporting pride of his own. always boasting how well he played on the varsity squad in highschool, but those days were gone for him as his days of drinking was catching up. And yet Gerald believed he still had some talent to compete in the game they were about to play. Hey Mandy dear, you don't mind if we use Tony over there do you, maybe you can show him how well you can play as a girl, I was telling him the other night how well my pretty little niece does on the girls varisty team, for some reason he just don't believe a girl your age can play so well. Amanda was only 15 yrs old and was a starting player on her highschool team, and extremly tall for her age. It was unusual for a freshman girl to be a starting member of a highschool team, but her coach knew how well she played and decided to make her a starting member of the team, and her height added to her talent being 5'10 1/2" tall. As I said she was extremly tall for her age. Amanda knew of Tony some and knew heard how he would like to boast, and also heard of his chauvinistic pride. Amanda never did care for the male chauvinism of men, and decided this was a chance for her to show him how well a girl can play the game of basketball. And didn't really care at all about what her uncle was just telling her of Tony discrediting her athletisism. Sure why not call him over, so we can get this game on the road. Gerald called over to Tony, hey old boy care to shoot some hoop with us? Sure why not he said finishing up a beer, maybe a beer he should have forgotten about along with the last few he had. Standing to his feet he slowly walled over to the court. , and joined the rest. Well let the games begin, Gerald then looked over to Tony and said sure your able to play ol boy? Yep he replied thats why I came over here for. Then lets get started Amanda said a little impatiently. So the game got off to a fairly decent start with the Steven, s team winning the tipoff. The game was to go to and even 30 pts. A game that Tony could easily make it through even in his condition, of having to much to drink. The game was exceptionally close untill it was nearing the 14 pt mark. In which Amanda had put a quick 6 pts in herself, her dad adding 4, and her brother who was13 ys old contributed two points. Then Amanda was coming up court, when Tony decided to keep her to the outside of the key. Pulling up to the top of the key dribbling slowly with Tony gaurding , she did a head fake and spun around to his left, ending up her shot with an underhook layup. Turning the ball over to Tony in a quick snap she laughed at him saying, whats the matter can't you keep up with a 15 yr old girl? Think your pretty hot he retorted, and her reply was I know I am. The score now was 14 to 10, then with a sudden burst Amanda added another 8pts with her cousin, and dad combining 6 between each other. Some how Gerald and friends pulled within 2pts , making the score 28 to 26. Ball out Amanda hollered with game point coming up , she passed the ball inbounds to other brother Jeff who then quickly passed off to his dad the game then slowed down a bit, with Amanda taking the toss from her youngest brother. The defence was growing tight with niether team willing to lose, Amanda undecided who to release the ball to saw an opening, towards the basket in which she saw Tony taking gaurd to close off her drive. No problem she thought to herself and made a rushing charge for the hoop, Tony being 5'9" took her impact hard as she drove into him to close the game out for the winning pt. The impact of her drive had sent Tony flat on his back. Game over old man Amanda said laughing as she offered Tony a helping hand up. Forget about I can get up myself he said dusting himself off. So you think your pretty good heh? girlie? Howzabout a little one on one he said with a little stammer in his voice. Forget you she said, I, d run you ragged, and from the way your breathing it looks like your already there Tony. Tony wasn't about to let his challenge go unchallenged, he looked at Gerald and said as Amanda was walking away, I told you she couldn, t play, look at her doesn, t even want to go up against me, looks like she, s the one who is afraid of getting dusted, that little move of hers to end the game doesn, t mean a damn thing. Amanda overhearing what Tony had just said turned quickly around, O. k I'm a little bit tired of your drunken insults, you want to go one on one, you, ve got it , you stinkin, drunk. Gerald said you know you don't have to prove anything to him. Your right Uncle Gerry, but I'm not going to take anymore of this egotistical bastard, s insults. Mandy her mother said watch your mouth. Sorry mom. Turning back to Tony, Amanda said lets do it! She took the ball in hand and snapped it hard to Tony, the impact of her toss was enough to set him back a few steps, even for a man of his size and weight. And I'll tell you what, the game is going to 24 pts , and I'm going to spot you half of that so you get to start out with a 12 pt lead. You do know what half of 24 is don't you old man. Yea, yea I know how to count, and I'll take your 12 pt spot, Tony answered. Tony in reality didn. t lose all of his senses he knew how good she could play, but always had a problem with insult- ing women, even if they were young girls. His ploy to lure her in the game. Half court now take the ball out, in which he did. Bringing in the ball he tried for a jumper only to have it blocked by Amanda. Who then in turn took the ball and swiftly drove to the basket for a layup not far from dunking it. Whats the score now 12 to 2 you have a pretty big lead Tony I don't know if I can come back from such a deficit so large, taunting him now, and Tony knew knew it. The game then quickly progressed with Amanda bringing the score within 2 pts , now being 12 to 10 , with Tony having a 2 pt advantage. Damn you must be taking it easy on me she said to Tony letting me pull within 2 pts, noticing her mother looking at her with a warning, she said sorry again mom. Then she looked to Tony and snapped him the ball harder this time nearly knocking him down. Your ball boy, go for the gusto! Tony brought the ball in again, and trying to drive in on Amanda for a layup only had it slapped out of his hand. Amanda then retrieved the ball and took a 22 ft jump shot. Swissssh. . . . . All tied up now. Then after allowing Tony sore a basket, she decided that , that was the only basket he was going to make, in the game. She then quickened the pace, sinking long jump shots, making the score 22 to 14, Tony brought the ball in again, thinking to himself he wasn't going to go down this easy, and decided to drive the ball in hard for a layup, only to run into a brick wall, Amanda! Tony fell flat to the blacktop court, but quickly somehow got to his feet. Amanda now tired of all the nonense of him insulting her and challenging her to this game decided she was going to end it here, she had the ball in her possesion. Amanda wasn't go- ing to end the game with some spectacular shot, that wasn't in her as a good sportsman to rub it in in such a fashion. So with Amanda going to the basket with some speed to make the winning pt went up for the layup, Tony came chargin into her with a blatant shoulder block while in mid-air sending the young girl to the ground, and yet somehow the ball rolled around the rim and slowly fell in. The fall hadn, t hurt her much, but she was shaken up a little. Her dad noticed the scene and started over towards Tony, but his wife pulled him back and said let her take care of this. She took the challenge, and wanted to play against a grown man, I want her to learn how to handle herself even in a situation like this. So her dad found himself a seat at the picnic table, but still kept an eye on his daughter. Shaking herself to clear out the cobwebs in her head Amanda looked up to Tony who was reaching down to help her up, saying looks like you win sweetie. She finally had enough of his macho man ego, now calling her sweetie, after purposely knocking her down. As he was reaching down, she lashed out her foot catching him sqaure in the face sending him back off the court onto the grass. Amanda getting up quickly now to her feet walked on over to Tony who had a hand on his mouth now bleeding and busted wide open. Get up now she shouted to him, I beat you in a game of basketball, and you can't take the loss, like a gentleman. Now I'm going to beat your drunken ass all over this park. Her mother now noticing what was going on got up from her seat, she never wanted her daughter to grow up fighting, this isn't what she had in mind on how Amanda was to handle her own situations. Mr Stevens then pulled his wife back to her seat let her go honey, you wouldn't let me do it, so whatever happens now he has coming to him. Get up Amanda shouted again! But Tony was now shakened up himself, and to come right down to it he was to afraid to get up. You heard me she said NOW GET UP! or do I have to help you up. Tony layed there still holding his bleeding mouth to afraid to even move. Well have it your way then. Amanda now reaching down grabbed Tony by the left arm, with resistance he struggled to break free, to no avail. Getting him to his feet and, still having a hold on his left arm Amanda drove her forearm hard into Tony, s already bleeding face. That sent him back to the to the ground hard. He then got to his hands and knees, crying and pleading with her to stop it. Please. . . please. . . he cried I'm sorry. Then she started towards him. Tony looking to someone now for help saw Gerald sitting next to Amanda, s dad. Please Gerald keep her off me. Sorry ol boy you got yourself into this, now you can get yourself out of it. Besides I don't think my brother here is going allow me to break this one up. Tony managed to get to his feet before Amanda reached him and took off into a sprint towards his car. Not only were the Stevens relatives were an athletic type but the men and a few of their women were the rowdy type and a roar of laughter went up as there were a few of them still re- remaining as they watched Amanda charging after Tony. He almost made it to the door of his car, only to be tackled from behind by Amanda that sent him face 1st into the side of his car door. Now on the ground she had him straddled, being on his back. Amanda was now hitting him hard in the back of the head with alternating punches. Tony was now screaming for help. Please. . . . . . . please. . . . he cried I can't take no more. . . . . please stop. . . stop. . . . . . . Amanda. . . . . . . . . please. . . . Oh. . . . you. . want me to stop eh?she said, then drilled a couple of more hard shots to his head. Amanda got off from her position, allowing Tony to get to he feet, and stood there for a moment thinking it was finally over. not saying another word to her, he turned towards the car door and made an attempt to get in. Not so fast she said, turning him around to face her, we, re not quite yet finished here. Amanda grabbed him by the shirt collar, and shoved him hard against the car. Holding him there for a split second she drove her knee up into his groin, causing him to yell in pain. Please. . . please. . . no. . more. . Amanda. . no. more. Thats right Tony no more, your not ever going to insult me no more, and drilled him hard into the stomach, causing him to double over, at this time he was barely able to stand. Amanda bringing him upright pressed his back against the car door, cause if you ever do, I'm going to really rough you up. So take this day and don't you ever forget what happened here, and that women and especially young girls my age should be respected, she warned him. And just so you won, t forget, she drove her knee into his groin one more time, in which he released another cry of severe pain. This one caused him to slump over into her arms, barely consiense. She held him there for a moment, as he was gasping and wheezing. Then with one arm she opened his car door while having her other arm hooked up under his to keep him from falling to the ground, getting the door opened she shoved his beatin body into the car. Amanda then took his car keys and stuck them in the ignition and told Tony that when he recovered enough, to take his ass on down the road. Leaving him there she went back to where her family was and a few of the rowdy relatives began to applaude her. With their sign of approvel she did a little curtsey before them, and another roar of laughter went up. And her dad was saying to her mother, Tony's game had cost him his pride, and look at my little girl the one who taught him his lesson. THE END Author:signed. . . THE KID