Now before you start reading this chapter, what you're going to read is half - again, "HALF" - of what I put on Basketball Upbringings of the title of this chapter. However, I did some "minor" changes of adding this in here.

Enjoy...


Chapter 3

Head Coach, Regina Ferrum

Monday, March 25, 2013 (5:30 PM)

Regina Ferrum; a 29-year-old young woman with pale Caucasian skin, forest green hair that stops to her mid-back, and yellow eyes. She is the current assistant head coach of Magitek College's girls basketball team. Originally, her main goal was to become a Science Engineer. However, that goal died after she was heavily impacted from her former and current college coach. After her playing days were over as a student-athlete FOR Magitek College (yes, the school she works for), she became a assistant coach for eight years.

As of right now, Regina is inside her two-bedroom apartment at Augusta, Georgia, where she resides in and where the college is also at, watching some local news on television around the state of Georgia. She had just got home finish working from her college as she had a Sprite soda can to have a refreshment for herself. Regina was flipping on channel 9 of the WRBW-TV ABC - a local news station in Augusta where it covers News, Weather, and Sports. As the local news have reached to the sports article, Regina hears this on TV...

Says a male news reporter. "Down at the city of Atlanta, Georgia in the westside area, a coaching position has been open for now as former head coach of girls basketball, Lisa George of Moebius High School, has taken a basketball-job at an Division I collegiate school to be an assistant coach."

"Hmm." Regina hummed, after hearing the news.

"This was the interview of the words from Moebius High's athletic director, defensive backs football coach and current boys basketball coach, Ivo Kintobor:" A clip shows Ivo Kintobor, "'Lisa and I had a long conversation to one another about her taking a coaching job as an assistant coach. She says she's very interested about taking the job, and I professionally agreed to her. I told her I wish her the best, and then we departed.'" Back to the male reporter, "Once again, Lisa George of Moebius High School's Lady Bandits basketball team has step down of being the head coach. If any of the candidates would like to be interviewed to the head coaching position of girls basketball at Moebius High School, here is the school's main phone number to contact the school's principle..."

Regina, after hearing the news continuing, gave a very hard thought to herself of probably taking the risk of becoming a head coach. "Hmm..." Regina gave thought. "Maybe... becoming a high school coach... is a good start for me."

The Next Day (Tuesday) Around 10:35 AM...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in." Said a male voice name Coach Jun Kun, who's in his office around his office desk on his laptop. Coach Jun Kun's physical appearance has light brown skin with no hair (as in he's bald) and brown eyes; while also wearing his white polo shirt, tan cargo pants, and white and grey Nike running shoes. (A/N: This character is Jun Kun, The Iron King. And is the ceremonial husband of Regina Ferrum, The Iron Queen.)

The office door opens as it is... Regina wearing her work clothes: purple lavender polo shirt, tan cargo pants, and white and grey Nike running shoes. "Hey Coach. How's it goin'?" Regina said.

"Good so far." Coach Jun Kun mentioned. "You have some news to tell me or something?"

"Yes." Regina answered as she now enters inside his office, taking a seat towards Coach Jun Kun's office desk. She speaks, "Last night when I went home, I watch TV in the news that Moebius High School, down in Atlanta, are having an open coaching job available for girls basketball. And I believe that I'm interested in taking that job."

Coach Jun Kun nods as he speaks. "Okay... I see where you're goin', and correct me if I'm wrong... You being a high school basketball coach is the first stepping stone of you to start. Am I right?"

"Yes." Regina answered.

"Well... with you as a former player of mine and at the helm as an assistant coach of mine as well, I believe you're ready." He stated.

"Really?" Regina wondered.

"Yes. Because, minus the fact of knowing basketball inside and out, you have managed to understand a player's talent and character. And with you having the privilege to become the candidate of being the high school basketball coach, I think is a good step for you to start." Coach Jun Kun stated.

"Wow... Uhhhhhhh... Thanks Coach." Regina said with a smile.

Coach Jun Kun nods and continues. "...Have you called the principle or the athletic director?"

"No, not yet because I had to tell you first." Regina answered. Heck, that was smart because that was the first thing she had to do.

Coach Jun Kun nodded as their conversation lasted for ten minutes. Coach Jun Kun later called all of the girls, that played in the 2012-2013 basketball season, to come to his office where Regina gave the girls the news that she's deciding to take a possible new coaching job before departing by shaking each of the girls' hands.

Regina exits out of Coach Jun Kun's office before heading into her own office where she approaches to her office desk to make a phone call. Take a guess who she's calling!

"(*Ring, ring, ring*) ...Hello." Says a male voice.

Regina speaks. "Hi is this Moebius High School?"

"Yes ma'am. This is Principle Maxx Eadweald at your service. What can I help you?" He said.

"My name is Regina Ferrum. And I am looking for a head coaching job for girls basketball." She said.

"Glad you call, Miss Ferrum. Where have you heard about this opportunity?"

"By local news of the Augusta, Georgia area, which is where I currently live." Regina answered.

"Okay... What time do you think we can schedule a meeting, Miss Ferrum?" He asked.

"... ...Does 10 AM Wednesday sound good?" Regina asked.

"...10 AM tomorrow sounds great." Maxx agreed. "I'll see you then."

"Thank you." Regina thanked.

"You're welcome. Bye."

Regina and Maxx both hung up their phones as Regina went on to continue her work.

The Next Day (Wednesday) Around 7:30 AM...

7:30 AM around morning time is where Regina, inside her apartment, is getting ready for her interview at Moebius High School for being the possible candidate of becoming the head coach for girls basketball. She looked towards the mirror to check herself of the outfit she's wearing and her looks (since she's a female): navy blue suit jacket with a powder blue dress shirt, navy blue fitted dress pants, and black closed-toes flats shoes; having light makeup on with sky blue eye shadow, and pink lip gloss.

After Regina was done looking in the mirror, she grabbed her car keys before locking the door, and headed to her 2012 Chevrolet Impala where she is now driving to Atlanta.

Two hours and twenty-two minutes is what took Regina to arrive in the city of Atlanta, Georgia to find her destination, Moebius High School. Regina, after she parked her car at the school's parking-lot, gets out of her car looking at the outside view of the school.

"Hmm... It looks like a junior college for a high school like this." She said, while walking to the four metal front-doors of the where she enters inside the main building and towards the main office where she signed-in before taking a seat on the three-seated sofa.

"Principle Maxx." Says Missus Kerry Eadweald the office worker through the work phone, and who is married to Maxx Eadweald.

"Yes, honey." Said Principle Maxx.

"You have a guest named Miss Regina Ferrum, waiting for you." She messaged.

"Thank you. Send her in to my office, please."

"Will do." Mrs. Kerry Eadweald said after she hung-up the phone. "Miss Ferrum."

Regina, who was reading a magazine, heard her name called. "Yes," she said.

"Principle Maxx Eadweald is waiting for you in his office right about now."

Regina thanked Kerry before getting out of her seat and walking to the door, seeing Principle Maxx at his office desk.

"Nice to see you, Miss Ferrum." Maxx said, shaking Regina's hand.

"You too, and please call me Regina." She said.

Maxx agreed before he and Regina each took their seats where they will start their interview. Maxx speaks. "First off, have you have any experiences as an head coach?"

"Yes sir. I'm currently the assistant coach at Magitek College." She answered.

Maxx nods before questioning, "Okay... Now to the main part of asking you these questions... With the possibly of hiring you as a head coach for the girls' basketball team, how would you communicate to the students slash student-athletes as a teacher?"

"Just like how every great teacher communicates to students: explaining of how this works from when it looks like it's hard, then as it turns out it wasn't that hard at all." Regina answered.

Maxx nods after hearing her answer from the first question. "Okay... If I were to describe your persona as a communicator, how would you encourage to students and other staff members of this school?"

"It depends on how good of a listener the students and other staff members are, while also the fact that they might ignore me of what I would say that would make them think 'that' would not work even though it will depending on some situation - right or wrong as I could be at times. And I will also approach to them in a nice proper way to explain something so that they won't be flabbergasted on some topic."

Max nods after hearing her answer from the second question. "Okay nice... Since you've answer that third upcoming-question already, here's the fourth question..."

One Hour Later...

(A/N: You thought it was gonna be a full interview, didn't you?)

"It was great having an interview for you, Regina." Maxx said, shaking Regina's hand.

"You're welcome." Vanilla said.

Maxx, after he and Regina done shaking hands, continues. "...Now before I get into the coaching part, we also have other positions open as well."

"Like what?" Regina asks.

Maxx explains. "We have: math open for freshmen, social studies for sophomores and seniors, science classes for freshmen and seniors-"

"Science you say?" Regina interrupt.

"You're interested in it?" Maxx asked.

"Yeah, because I have a degree in Science Engineering." She said.

Maxx nods after hearing Regina's statement. "Okay nice then. ...Now for the coaching part ...I can't say I'ma hire you as a coach immediately."

"Right." Regina mentioned, knowing what Maxx is talking about.

"Because, with you being the first one I've interviewed for the coaching position, I probably may have other candidates to come very soon to challenge the coaching position in girls basketball - along with other people who are looking for a teaching job." Maxx said.

Regina nods as Maxx looks at the time on his wrist-watch showing 11:23 AM. "Well then, with our interview now over, I'll give you an update to see if you're still available for accepting two jobs for our school. It was great talking to you, Regina."

"You're welcome." Regina thanked, shaking Maxx's hand.

Regina later gave Principle Maxx her cell phone number for an update very soon. The two said their goodbyes before departing as Regina walks out of the school campus heading into her car before heading back home to Augusta.

Three Weeks Later; Monday, April 15, 2013 (9:32 AM)...

With Magitek College's 2012-2013 basketball season over for both the women's and men's, Regina is back in her two-bedroom apartment in Augusta, Georgia, still waiting on the news of being selected as Moebius High's girls basketball team. While she is watching the news on television, her cell phone ranged as she answered it.

"Hello?" Regina said.

"Is this Regina Ferrum?" Says a male through the phone.

"Yes."

"Okay... Regina this is Principle Maxx of Moebius High School, I have some news for you..."

Regina starts to get nervous of what Principle Maxx will say. Well, kind of nervous to be exact.

"However, you must come back to our school to hear the news."

"...Okay. ...No problem. I'll come to the school." Regina said, who was confused for a moment.

"That's great news. I'll see you then." Maxx thanked before he and Regina hanged up their phones.

Regina gets up from her couch before grabbing her car keys and entering into her car. She turns on the ignition and drives off back to Atlanta's Moebius High School.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Two hours and thirty-six minutes have passed (12:08 PM) as Regina arrives back into the campus of Moebius High School. She exits out of her car before entering inside the school where she signed in and enters inside a meeting room with Principle Maxx and the athletic director/boys head basketball coach, Coach Ivo Kintobor.

"Good afternoon Regina. Nice to see you again." Maxx said, shaking Regina's right hand.

"You too." Regina greeted, then later shook hands to Coach Ivo.

The three each took a seat where they will start up their meeting.

One Hour Later (1:10 PM; with lunch hour done)...

"Attention students..." The school's intercom turned on with Principle Maxx's voice. "Will the remaining girls basketball team, junior varsity and varsity combine, report to the main library please. Again will the junior varsity and varsity girls basketball team report to the main library please. Thank you."

After the announcement was made, eleven varsity players and ten junior varsity [JV] players all from the girls basketball team (21 total), who all played from the past 2012-2013 season, arrives inside the library, where there is the local press and media of Atlanta there as well with the new head coach, Coach Ivo the athletic director/boys basketball coach, and Principle Maxx where they are doing a press conference.

Principle Maxx will start off the press conference. "Thank you all for coming, including both the girls JV and varsity basketball team. As we will start our event of the day, I will first like to introduce our athletic director, slash boys head basketball coach, Mister Ivo Kintobor."

The people applauded as Coach Ivo makes his speech to the podium.

"Thank you, Principle Maxx," Coach Ivo said. "This is a good time here for our basketball program for this school. Over the time that me and Maxx were discussing to one another of who we were going to hire as the new basketball coach for the girls, we come across ten candidates all competing for the same job for this school. What do we want, what do we look for, you may ask? Maxx and I wanted a coach who can teach these young ladies of not knowing how to coach the players the right way or anything, we wanted a coach who can make these student-athletes become better human beings throughout their lives as well.

"To a basketball standpoint, we feel that we needed a coach who can compete no matter what level, regardless of what division or anything. The hiring of our new girls basketball coach is what we hoped that it can lead to new heights down the road for years to come. I can't tell you from a person's perspective of how this will turn out from our new coach, but I can just hoped that it turned out good for the long run. And now with out further ado, it is my honor to introduce our newest head coach for our girls basketball team, and who is the youngest ever male or female, Miss Regina Ferrum."

Coach Ivo and the people applauded as newest head coach, Coach Regina, makes her appearance to the podium.

"Thank you, Coach Ivo," Regina said. "First off, thank you guys for coming, including the remaining girls basketball team from both the JV and varsity. This, um, has been a unique day for me because I just got done talking to Coach Ivo and Principle Maxx about an hour ago, before realizing I have been hired as the newest basketball coach for the girls. I really did not have the time to talk to the remaining basketball players as well nor did I really have the time to come up a written speech or anything because I, um, didn't think this would happen so fast, but now that I'm hired as the newest head coach for this school I don't need it right now.

"About me? ...My coaching career started in Magitek College, a Division II school in Augusta, Georgia where I played college ball there for four years. Originally I wanted to do a career in science engineering, but my now-former college coach, Coach Jun Kun Magnar, had made an inspiration to me as I went into the coaching position as an assistant there. I've been at Magitek for twelve years - four as a player and eight as an assistant - and when I heard that this school is looking for a new head coach, I figured that this was an opportunity for me to start my coaching career at the high school level. What I also heard that the girls had made it to the state tournament this past season before being knocked out of the second round. And like I said, I haven't talked to the varsity girls yet because I didn't have the time to chat to them. One thing I will say is that: I can't say that we will win right away. No. Because we have work to do first. I don't know how many games we will win or loose, but I do know we all will compete against the other teams that is on our schedule to come. I also expect to have a season of hope as of how next year will be for this team. Thank you."

Regina ended her introduction as questions occurred to her with Regina answering them. After two minutes of topics were over, Regina now approaches to the junior varsity and varsity girls basketball players where she addresses some things she have planned for the summer and for when the season starts.

"Hey how y'all doing" Regina asks the girls.

The girls all answered positive.

"Okay." Regina said, "Now I'ma ask y'all this - what was y'all record last year?"

A sophomore answers, "21 and 6." As in, 21 wins and 6 losses.

Regina nods, "Okay... From what you said, the record you guys had last year was good. However, what you guys did last year, was last year. And when this summer comes, there will be some basketball activities involve where camps will be taking place including allowing newcomers to come during the summer. As of right now of what I just said, all that will be planned by me starting today. As soon as I got everything plotted, I will let you girls know."

Regina departed and went onto meet up with other staff members of Moebius High School, including the assistant coach of girls basketball. "High there. I heard that you're the assistant coach." she said.

Says a male staff member, "That's right. Colin Kintobor II is my name, better known as Snively." he expressed.

"Snively?" Regina questioned.

"Yeah. That's what my parents called me back then, and it stuck with me ever since." he addressed. "But anyway, congratulations of taking the job. Looking forward to working with you."

"You're welcome. I'll meet you soon." she thanked. Regina later gave her cellphone number to Snively, "This is my number where I will informed you some stuff I planned on during the summer, including when the school year starts."

"Okay then." he said before the two departed.

Six Months Prior...

After taking the high school job, Regina went back to Augusta to informed her coach and her players that she was accepted the job. The team congratulated her as Regina packed all of her belongings from her office and apartment combined before moving to Westbury Homes in Alpharetta, GA where she bought a $415,000 house that has 5 bedrooms and 3-and-a-half bathroom with a first-class front and backyard. But besides all that, in the month of April before school would be over in later May, Regina has informed the girls - from freshmen to juniors (since the seniors are gonna graduate) - that her basketball camp will be taking place in their high school throughout June through August; all because she wants to informed the girls, who are returning junior varsity and varsity players or newly-edition players, that she wants the team to become a hold by learning one another by strengths and weaknesses of their basketball skills.

Coach Regina and her Lady Bandits have already finished playing their summer-league basketball circuit where they competed against local high schools around the Fulton County area of Atlanta. August has come by as the school year is coming right around the corner as her Lady Bandits of varsity and junior varsity combined had their basketball practice inside their high-school gym. The squad finished their practice as they all circled around center-court.

Coach Regina speaks, "Now today, this is our last day for our basketball camp. And the reason I say that is because, you girls have all started to play one another, as well as knowing each others playing style."

Of what Regina said, the girls were able to learn new skills by every position: from guards and small forwards and bigs. By learning how to score, play defense (which is VERY important to Regina), as well as communicating to one another from both sides of the floor.

"And along with that," Regina continued, "this has been a good summer. Even though we only have 20 of you all here - 10 each on the JV and varsity, by the time when basketball tryouts comes by whenever I schedule it, there will be some newcomers coming in. We had a great summer working together, and right now I want all of you girls to get some rest for your bodies and be focused when the school year comes by. Bring it in."

The twenty Lady Bandits all got up and put their hands up. Regina speaks, "And the most important thing - make sure you young ladies stay out of trouble. Whether during school or wherever you live. 'Be Safe' on three. One, two, three-"

"BE SAFE!" the Lady Bandits shouted before departing.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The middle of August is where it kicked in as the 2013-2014 school year has already started. One-hundred-plus students coming in, new and returners, arrived to school with some making new friends and learning the pros and cons of relationships.

Regina arrives inside her office around 12:15 PM in the afternoon as she was getting some stuff done she was assigned. Originally she was also suppose to have a science engineering class, but that was taken from a new employee. Nonetheless, Regina was just happy that she was able to get the job of becoming a high school basketball coach for the girls basketball team. After getting her stuff done, she enters inside the varsity gymnasium where she sees students having free-time because of the rain outside where it was supposedly to be fitness. But anyway, Regina is seeing kids (though they're teenagers) playing full-court basketball while others were minding their own business.

As she watching this, Regina sees a red-haired, light brown-skinned female ...beasting on the court (take a guess who she is). Unknown of who she is, Regina was watching her play exceptional against boys. No girls, just boys. That's it. After watching her play, she walked up to physical education (P.E.) teacher Coach Sleuth (skin tone: brown with no hair, height: 6 feet [6'0"], wearing a black polo school shirt, grey fleece pants, and grey Nike running shoes), "Excuse me Sleuth, who's the girl with the red hair?"

"Fiona Darcell." Coach Sleuth answered.

Regina nods and continues to watch her scrimmage until Coach Sleuth blew his whistle signaling his students to get ready for fourth lunch. Already ate her lunch after buying something to eat, Regina walks to the main hallways to monitor the students entering and exiting out of the cafeteria. Regina later saw Fiona going to the cafeteria, 'Hope you tried-out for the basketball team.' she thought.

End of Chapter 3


And there is chapter 3 of A Help on Defense.

I did had thoughts of Regina talking to Fiona about "you-know-what," but I had to let that save for the best for last on the next upcoming chapter. And another thing, I actually plot this for chapter 3, but I had to redo my ideas by having a story of Hannah.

Leave a comment in the review section of how this chapter went. Also, if you're very interested in reading this story, hit that checkmark of following this story, as well as OR my penname SelfMadeHooper.

I'm out Y'ALL! Be easy!


PS: Rest in peace to Major League Baseball legend, Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (May 12, 1925 – September 22, 2015; 90 years). Here are Yogi's famous quotes (you don't have to read this if you want)...

"Baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical."

"Nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded."

"It ain't over till it's over."

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

"Thank you for making this day necessary."

"It's déjà vu all over again."

"You can observe a lot by watching."

"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours."

"I really didn't say everything I said."