11-year-old Gosalyn Mallard walked into the house in which she lived in with her father, Drake and their roomy, Launchpad. Her clothes were torn, there were scars on her elbow and knees and she had a black eye. Her father came to meet her. "Oh, good you're..." he stopped. When he saw how beat up Gosalyn was he was shocked. "What happened?" he asked.
"My friends and I were playing basketball at the recreation center. Stphanie Jenkins, the school bully, happened to be there too and she and her friends Katie Hunter and Lauren Gordon demanded me and my friends off the court" Gosalyn explained through shivers.
"What did you do?" Drake asked her.
"I said no, and that's when Stephanie and her friends beat me up" Gosalyn answered.
"Well, where's your basketball?" Drake asked.
"They took it and wouldn't give it back" Gosalyn answered.
Drake sighed and cradled Gosalyn in his arms. Then carried her to the bathroom.
Drake had bandaged Gosalyn's scars and placed a washcloth dampened with cold water over her black eye. "Just how old is this Stephanie girl and her friends?" he asked Gosalyn.
"Stephanie and Katie are my age and Lauren is a year younger than me" Gosalyn answered.
"Well I think it's time we had a little talk" Drake said.
"Dad, if Stephanie finds out I told you, she'll kill me" Gosalyn said.
"Gos, you're tougher than that. You've got to stand up to the girl and her friends" Drake said.
"Do you know how many times I've tried that?" Gosalyn asked.
"Well do you want them to beat you up for the rest of your life?" Drake asked.
Gosalyn was quiet then. Of course she didn't want to get beaten up the rest of her life. "Do you think they'll listen?" she asked her dad.
"It's either them or their parents" Drake answered. "Which recrearion center were you and your friends playing at?"
"The one on Central" Gosalyn answered.
"Change your clothes then meet me in the car.
Gosalyn went to do what she was told.
Drake pulled up the St. Canard Recreation Center. After he parked, he told Gosalyn to spot out the girls. Gosalyn found them in a split second. Drake went around and opened her door.
"What are you doing?" Gosalyn asked.
"You're never going to overcome your fear if you keep hiding. Let's go" Drake said.
Hesitant, Gosalyn unbuckled her seatbelt and got out.
Stephanie and her friends were shooting Gosalyn's basketball around when Gosalyn and her dad came up.
"Look girls. It's Gosalyn. And she's got her daddy with her" Stephanie teased.
"Well her daddy would like to have a talk with you. What's the big idea teasing Gosalyn like you do?" Drake said.
"Listen, mister, I don't have to answer your questions. This is the court my frineds and I play on and we say Gosalyn and her dopey friends aren't allowed on it" Stephanie said.
"Well, I got news for you, honey. This is a public court, not a private court. But you are holding my daughter's basketball" Drake said.
"Oh, I'm sorry, is this hers?" Stephanie asked sarcastically. She threw the ball and striked Gosalyn across the face. Gosalyn fell to the ground, crying.
Stephanie, Katie and Lauren pointed and laughed as Gosalyn sat there crying and not doing a thing.
Drake saw a few more adults walking up and figured they might be the girls' parents. He flagged them down with his hand and got their attention. They came up to him.
"May we help you?" asked a young woman, Jennifer.
"Are these your girls?" Drake asked.
"Yes, what's going on?" asked a young man, Karl.
Drake didn't answer but pointed to his own daughter on the ground.
"What happened?" asked another young woman, Jessica.
"I think your girls can explain it to you" Drake answered.
The three adults turned to their daughters.
"Well?" Karl demanded.
Stephanie and her friends looked at each other then at Gosalyn.
"Stephanie? What did you do?" Jennifer asked with her arms crossed.
"She was bullying us" Stephanie lied.
"Oh really? That's not what she told me" Drake said.
"How did she get that bruise on her face.
Stephanie looked at the basketball she had stolen from Gosalyn earlier and quickly hid it behind her back. But her mother caught her.
"Give me that ball! What the heck is your problem?! Is this ball even yours?" Jennifer demanded as she snatched the ball out of Stephanie's hands.
"It's my daughter's" Drake said.
"Just how old is this girl?" Jennifer asked her daughter.
"Younger than us" Stephanie lied.
"I'm your age!" Gosalyn managed to belt out. Drake knelt down next to her and told her to take it easy.
"Thank you for getting us sir. And what's your name?" Karl said.
"Drake Mallard" Drake answered.
"It was a pleasure to meet you" Jennifer said, handing the basketball to him. Then they left with their daughters.
Drake watched them leave. Then looked down at his own daughter. She was still sitting on the ground, sniffling.
Gosalyn looked up at him. Drake smiled and held out his hand. Gosalyn stayed quiet but took his hand and he helped her to her feet.
"Hey, how's about you and I go get some ice cream?" Drake asked her as he handed her the basketball that she rightfully owned.
Gosalyn quietlt nodded.
Drake guided her back to the car.