Chapter 321: Glory

Tuesday, January 31st, Evening

Ashlyn stood amongst the team and watched the lights dim. She guided her fledglings over to the side where her teammates collected. Ashlyn knew that Coach Scott and Sinclair wanted them to watch the ceremony. Standing in the shadows, Ashlyn watched as they brought out an easel and put something on it. A moment later, Nathan Scott came out to Center Court.

Ashlyn nodded; tonight is all about past glory. She only took part in the first half of that glory. Ashlyn felt that she shouldn't partake in all of the glory since she was out injured during the playoffs.

Looking around the gym, she settled on Nathan as he is standing lit Center Court. Glory, Nathan Scott, her father-in-law, his adult life has been steeped in glory. Maybe they wanted him to give the girls a rub or elevate this team's past glory. In fact, in Nathan's retirement, his name still comes up, and it's lined with glory. But glory is a fickle and flighty mistress.

Ashlyn nodded and thought about something she learned about the Romans. This ceremony is her former teammates' triumph, and Lucas was their imperator. Ashlyn wondered who would the person holding the laurel crown over his head and whispered in his ear that glory is fleeting and that you are mortal.

She sighed and looked as Ashton and Kay's half-assed re-enacted Ashton's pass that set up Kay's winning shot. Ashlyn shook her head and laughed. That moment was Ashton's; that was her moment when things changed, that was her brush with glory.

"Whose next, you might ask? Now we have another of the Wonder Freshmen, at forward, number sixteen, Monica Burton," Nathan said.

Monica walked out of the shadows. Glory, Monica didn't have much of the glory. Ashlyn remembered Monica and how she nominally sat on the bench that season. Monica made the team and did play, mostly garbage time at the end of the games.

The crowd in the stands started to clap and greet Monica. Monica, for her part, looked up at the filled stands and waved. She took her place next to Ashton at Center Court. Nathan went to Monica, and they exchanged words; at the end of it, Nathan smiled and shook Monica's hand.

Glory, fascinating how some people are affected by it. Nathan had become so used to the glory he was crushed when the glory left. Monica never seemed to have found lasting glory for herself. That lack of glory never seemed to bother Monica.

Ashlyn noticed that out of the shadows came another cheerleader. Ashlyn knew the girl quite well; she's part of Brett's inner circle; Alexis Moura, the junior cheerleader, walked over to Monica. The two looked at each other, and Alexis smiled. Alexis handed Monica the bouquet; Monica took the flowers and seemed to thank Alexis.

Alexis retreated off the court, leaving Monica at center court with her three ex-teammates and Nathan. Monica casually lifted up the flowers and smelt them. This ceremony is getting interesting, Ashlyn thought.

Glory is fleeting; Ashlyn nodded; why do people look for glory? When we're young like Shakespeare's soldier, we are full of strange oaths, jealous in our honor, quick in our temper, and seek hollow glory even at our own peril. Ashlyn pondered as she watched the crowd, but the crowd loved it all.

This ceremony is just another version of Juvenal's Bread and Circuses. This ceremony is just another version of it; keep the masses distracted. But their love, spectacles, and bread. Put our dignity and choices up for sale for cheap food and entertainment.

Ashlyn looked over the current team standing in the shadows. She knew who was next because of how they decided to introduce the members of the team. Ashlyn looked over to the person that would head out next.

Looking down further over the older team, Ashlyn spotted the boy representing Faith, and he stood alone. It seemed that no one wanted to talk with him; maybe it's because people were in their own space. Tonight, this boy would be draped in his mom's glory.

Glory, why is it stuck in her head? Ashlyn wondered as she turned back to the court. The words of Livy filled her mind; He will have true glory who despises it. That's how this felt, something to be despised. This ceremony is a vain and hollow honor. Ashlyn looked over to the corner to the current and knew in her heart that the glory should go to those girls.

"Let's bring out the next hero," Nathan said, "The defensive wonder, at forward, number seventeen, Devyn Rich."

Devyn turned toward their teammates and nodded. She slowly stepped out onto the court. Glory, that was something that Devyn earned but wasn't given. Devyn would fight every night for the tough block and rebound. All or most of her points were second-chance points she fought to get with rebounds and put-backs.

Devyn arrived at Center Court and took her place next to Monica. The crowd clapped and cheered for Devyn as she stood there in her meticulous outfit and everything in place perfectly. One thing Ashlyn noted about Devyn is she had the Joe Dimaggio Theory about always looking your best.

A cheerleader came out of the shadows; according to Ashlyn's memory the cheerleader is that little bitch Joce Allen-Travis. Ashlyn shook her head as she watched Joce hand Devyn, a bunch of flowers.

Nathan finally came over to Devyn and talked a few moments with Devyn. Once they finished speaking, they shook hands, and Nathan drifted away from the girls. Ashlyn watched as Devyn and Mackenzie gabbed a bit. It was something that they would always do. Devyn and Mackenzie were the second closest of the starters, compared to Ashlyn and Angela, and they had easy humor between them.

Yes, that year, Devyn and Mackenzie did all the hard work, which they made look easy and made it easy for Ashlyn and Angela. The glory for that year was meant for Angela and Ashlyn. Ashlyn knew that glory was a fickle mistress, and soon Kay started to come on. That was when Ashlyn's knee went, and glory left her for Kay.

Ashlyn looked around the gym and turned back to Center Court. So, who was going to hand me my flowers? It seemed like a petty thing, but petty thoughts sometimes happen. A curiosity, really, but it did distract her from everything going on.

Ashlyns aw Brett moved forward in the scrum of the current basketball team. Her redheaded daughter, the only one of her children, bore with red hair; her other three are blondes. The fact that Brett could count and knew who was next, this knowledge brought her forward. It warmed Ashlyn's heart to see her oldest daughter wanted a closer look at her mom being called out to Center Court.

Looking over to her side, Ashlyn made eye contact with Angela. Angela smiled and nodded at Ashlyn. Ashlyn nodded back and turned to the group surrounding Center Court. Her smile faded as her mind took over.

Ashlyn sighed; yes, tonight is all about glory. This glory is faded, dusty, and typically kept in the back of a drawer that's never opened. Ashlyn looked down at her left hand and looked at her championship ring. Rarely did she wear it, but she chose to wear it tonight.

"Our next player is one of your senior co-captains, at forward, number nineteen, Ashlyn Pierce-Scott," Nathan said.

Ashlyn looked to Angela, who took her hand, gave it a quick squeeze, and nodded. Next, Ashlyn looked to Brett, who also nodded. Ashlyn took one final deep breath, dropped Angela's hand, then let it out her breath, and stepped out of the shadows. As she walked towards Center Court, she could hear the current basketball team clapping.

It seemed like a long walk across the basketball court. Typically, it wasn't like this, but today was different, somehow. She looked up into the stands, and she found her three younger children sitting in the stands with Grandma Haley. Ashlyn made eye contact with each of her three younger children. Maeghan was sitting there, not interested in what was going on. Logan and Landen were completely enthralled with what was going on.

Ashlyn arrived at Center Court and stood next to Devyn. Before Ashlyn could say anything, Nathan came over and looked at Ashlyn. Nathan smiled a genuinely warm smile; he leaned forward and kissed Ashlyn on the cheek. They also shook hands.

"Are you enjoying tonight?" Nathan asked.

"It's not over yet," Ashlyn said.

"Enjoy every moment, for these moments, are fleeting," Nathan said, almost knowing her thoughts.

Ashlyn smiled a bit and nodded. Keni was Ashlyn's cheerleader, as the small girl came out and offered Ashlyn her flowers.

"Please accept on behalf of a grateful city," Keni said.

Ashlyn took the flowers, "Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," Keni said, and she left the court.

Ashlyn looked up at the stands. Among the crowd was the gray man. Ashlyn shook her head. Of course, he would be here, Ashlyn thought.

With a fake smile, Ashlyn looked at the still covered item on the easel. Next, Ashlyn looked around the gym. Finally, her eyes settled on Nathan.

Fleeting indeed, Nathan, this glory will be gone by the time the sun rises. Ashlyn nodded, sighed, smiled at her teammates, and finally looked straight ahead. As Emil Cioran said, Glory - once achieved, what is it worth? Ashlyn pondered as she stood at Center Court.