Prelude
Friday July 20th 2001
Richmond Virginia
Mercedes Jones sat on the sidelines she was angry. No not angry, pissed off. She twirled one of her beaded braids in her index finger and thumb of her left hand. Her right foot tapping the ground at full speed she needed to get back onto the field. Every year the Eastside challenged the Westside to a peewee football game. The rules were kids could play from ages 9 to 14. Mercy was so excited when the peewee season started because it prepared her for this day.
No matter how many trophies she had accumulated in the last four years of playing, she wanted this one bad. It was her chance to show the guys just what she could do without the help of her older cousin Puck and his best friend Sam playing. This was her year. And the coach her own Uncle sat her out for the rest of the game. All she did was yell at the ref a little. Well ok she thought, she yelled at the ref a lot.
Mercy stood up on the bench at the last play. They were back to first down with ten seconds left. The East were up by a field goal and Mercy wanted so badly to win. But she was sitting out all because the stupid. ref said her touchdown didn't count because she ran out of bounds. She didn't and she had no problem protesting it. Her uncle Joe stood over his team. He stood at 6'2 so he was by far taller than all his little 9 to 14 year old players were. His jet-black hair was cut short and neat just how he liked his boy's hair to be. He wore no facial hair and his light caramel completion was the lightest of his two other siblings. His older brother Jamal and younger sister (Mercys mom) Jessica.
Mercedes loved looking at her Aunt and Uncle standing side by side, because they were complete opposites. Momma Ruby stood 5'5 and was short and thick. She was lighter than her husband was and her sandy blonde hair reached a little pass her shoulders. What Mercedes felt was amazing was how they adopted Puck and his half brother Jake before taking in Mercedes. They always treated all of them as family, and that meant so much to her. Her Uncle Joe brought Mercedes back to reality.
"All right guys if we score here we win the game and you guys are Westside Champs."
Mercy jumped off the bench.
"Put me in Daddy Joe. Please."
"Mercy no I am sorry but you have been a hot head since the game started."
Mercy got on her knees and folded her hands together. Begging always worked with him now her momma ruby was another story.
"Daddy Joe I can do it. Please pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, please?"
He exhaled loudly and looked at his assistant coaches this year.
"Puck, Sam you guys are the youth coaches what do you think?"
Puck smiled.
"I think we should put Mercy in. Finn can't keep up with her."
Sam smiled down to her.
"I agree. Just keep your cool Mercy. We don't need another flag because you yelled at the ref."
"It's not my fault he was wrong on that play."
"MERCY!"
"Sorry I'll behave I promise."
Joe threw his hands up and looked at Jake
"Fine. Jake you get the ball to Q and Q you toss it to Mercy. Mercy you run it in."
They ran to the field and Finn a 13-year-old tall boy. Mercy would tease him sometimes about his height. He was almost 6 feet already. He laughed at Mercedes.
"I see they let you back on the field short-stack."
"My name is Mercy you butt head."
"I don't really care I just hope you're ready for me to ram that ball down your throat."
"We will see about that you giant."
"Stop calling me that!"
"Make me!"
They got into positions. Jake hiked the ball.
"Down…set…hut…hut…hut."
Jake tossed the ball to Jamal he tossed it to Mercy and blocked Charles from tackling her. Mercy ran down the field with Finn trailing. Mercy ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. Finn came up behind Mercy and tackled her to the ground.
"That is where you belong you stupid."
Before he could finish Mercy jumped up and knocked him to the ground. She jumped on top of him and began to hit him. Puck and Sam ran over to her and grabbed her off him. Finn jumped up with fist high. He went to swing on her but Puck grabbed his arm.
"You better think long and hard about that Finn."
"She jumped on me."
"Yeah after you hit her. You saw her score but you just had to tackle her didn't you."
"So! She had no right."
"You just mad cause you got beat by a girl. You loser."
Sam held Mercedes tightly. "Mercy you are not helping yourself here."
"I don't need your help let me go teach this boy some manners. You green giant"
Puck pulled her to the sidelines and Joe looked at her.
"Mercy what am I gonna do with you. You promised no more fighting."
"He started it."
"And I am finishing it. Go to the car."
"What?"
"You heard me. Your momma Ruby told you one more fight and you were off the team."
"But I didn't do anything wrong. You said I could defend myself."
"Yeah but all he did was tackle you and I also told you to pick your battles."
"But what about my trophy?"
"Someone will grab it for you."
"And what if I don't go?"
She folded her arms and her Uncle looked at her. He gave her the look that said try me Mercy.
"Mercedes I said go. NOW!"
"This sucks."
She threw her helmet on the ground and walked to the car arms folded walking as if she had a stick up her butt. A few minutes later Sam walked to the car. He opened the door.
"Don't you think you should roll down a window?"
"No if I suffocate that will teach him a lesson."
"Ok Mercy…here you won MVP."
"Oh yippee for me."
"Mercy what's wrong? You are not usually this mean?"
"I'm just not feeling well today ok."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing just leave me alone."
"Mercy come on I've known you your whole life. That's 12 years. I know when something is wrong."
"You wouldn't understand."
"I wouldn't understand. We are friends right. I mean I know Puck is my best friend and you are his cousin but we all look at you like our little sister and we have always told each other everything."
"Have you ever kissed a girl before?"
"Why would you ask me that?"
"Well you're about to be 17."
"Well yes I have but why?"
"You think a guy would ever wanna kiss me?"
"I don't know Mercy…where is this coming from?"
"Finn keeps bothering me in school."
"What do you mean bothering you? You want us to handle him?"
"I mean just saying things about me."
"Why don't you do what you did in elementary school?"
"I doubt I can get him to jump off the jungle gym like the other boy…man I got in so much trouble for that."
"Yeah aunt Ruby grounded you for weeks."
"He didn't have to jump. He did because he wanted to kiss me but I wouldn't let him I told him if he could fly then I would let him kiss me."
"Yeah and instead of flying he landed head first on the ground."
"I was scared and I didn't know what else to do. Remember when I swore I was being punished."
"Yeah you told me you had started your period."
"I woke up that day and I was bleeding. You were like well did you cut yourself?"
"I was just in shock. I mean you were only 9 that's kinda young."
"That's what momma Ruby said but that didn't stop it from coming. She said I was becoming a woman."
"Mercy I know you think no one would understand what you are going thorough but how do you know if you just keep it to yourself. So tell me what is going on."
"I can't its personal."
"Since when has that ever stopped you before? Come on remember when I told you about my parents? That was personal. I told you before I told Puck. And if you can tell me about your period you can tell me anything."
"I think I might want to give up sports."
"What why?"
"Because I don't think guys like a girl who can beat them in sports."
"I'm sure a guy would."
"How can you be sure?"
"Cause you're a great girl."
"Then why do all the girls in my class have boyfriends and I don't."
"I don't know."
"It's because they are cheering for the guys not playing with them."
"Look I'm sorry you feel that way…it's gonna be ok. I know guys are gonna fall all over you. You have to remember you're just 12 years old you have time."
"And how do you know?"
"Because Mercy even though you try to hide it with your tomboy act, you're a very beautiful girl. That's why Finn gives you a hard time…he likes you."
"Does not."
"Yes he does. I know guys."
"I think all guys outside of the ones I know in my family and you are jerks. I don't think I'm ever gonna get kissed."
"You're still young yet. I am sure when the time comes someone will be worthy of kissing you."
"You really sure?"
"Yes."
"I don't believe you. The only way I can get a guy to kiss me is to give up sports."
"Mercy you are really talented. You are a better football player than most the guys on our team. No matter what you want to do you know you have my support but I know any guy who gets you…will be one lucky man."
Sam leaned in and caressed her face then kissed Mercy on the forehead. She smiled. Sam moved from the door.
"There now get yourself together because I know you want to come and celebrate with us."
"I do."
"Well come on."
"But Daddy Joe said I had to stay here."
"Well I am sure Puck and I can help. We always got your back."
"I know…did I tell you what I want for my birthday?"
"Your birthday is what four months away?"
"Yep! I figure if I let you know early then maybe you would get me something great."
"Ok so what do you want?"
"An autographed Vince Carter Jersey."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You think you can get Momma Ruby to buy one for me?"
"I can check and see."
"Sam you know I would be lost without you."
"You know that your family has been so wonderful to me that anything I can do to make you happy I will."
"And that is why you are my best friend."