"Ok Sawyer, this is what you have to do. See this ball here, you have to throw this ball into the hoop over there… like this…" Jaime runs up to the basketball hoop and shoots the ball. Both he and Sawyer are out in the yard of Jaime's house where he has pulled out his toy basketball and hoop from years ago, when he used to play on the pool deck. Sawyer watches on intently as her cousin shows her once more how to shoot the ball into the hoop again.
"My turn! My turn!" she exclaims excitedly jumping up and down. Jaime hands her the toy basketball and takes her closer to the hoop. "Ok now ready… and throw the ball into the hoop!" Sawyer takes a big jump and heaves the ball at the hoop, only narrowly missing the shot. Excited by the new game, Sawyer jumps up and down clapping her hands, waiting for Jaime to bring her the ball to start over again.
Jaime loves spending time with his cousin. It's nice to have someone who's young to spend some time with, rather than always mixing with his parents' friends. Mind you, Sawyer can sometimes be a bit too young, but this also means that he can have fun teaching her stuff too.
"Wow – I haven't seen this hoop in years! Where did you find it?" Haley asks as she steps outside with Peyton to see what her son and niece are up to.
"Oh Dad found it last week when he was clearing out the garage and wanted to chuck it out. I told him not to because it gives me something to do with Sawyer when she comes over!" Jaime replied.
The girls, evidently impressed with Jaime's initiative to keep his favourite toy for his little cousin.
"That's real nice of you Jaime. I bet she loves it!" Peyton replies.
Sawyer, noticing the new found company that as come to watch, runs over to her mother. "Mama, Mama, come watch! I play ball!!" Jaime once again hands Sawyer the ball, and excited by her audience she heaves the ball to the hoop once more which hits the backboard before going into the hoop.
The crowd erupts with cheers and hi-fives around the audience with Sawyer in the middle of it all grinning from ear to ear.
"So where's Lucas today Peyt?" Haley asks.
"Oh he's at home working on his novel. He's been pretty distracted by it lately, writing into the wee hours of the morning and whenever he can get a chance. Sawyer and I haven't seen much of him lately! We thought we'll leave him the house to himself today before the big game tonight." Peyton explains.
"Speaking of which – will you be going? First Ravens game of the season!!" Peyton asked.
"Unfortunately we can't." Haley said evidently disappointed. "We have to head over to watch Nathan's game tonight and cheer him on."
"Oh that's too bad! It's going to be like old times. Brooke, Julian, Mouth, Millie and Skills are all coming to watch the game. I wish you and Nathan could be there."
"Yeah we wish we could be there too. Jaime loves watching the Ravens play!" Hayley commented before turning their attention back to watching the two kids interact and play with each other.
"So Sawyer are you ready to see Daddy's team beat the pants off their competition?" Lucas asks his daughter as he prepares to leave to get ready for the game later that night.
"Go Ravens!" Sawyer says grinning.
"Ah I see your mother has trained you well. Looks like you might be a cheerleader yet!" Lucas jokes.
"And what might be wrong with cheerleeders?" Peyton asked coming into the conversation. "You sure liked them!"
"Ah, but they don't make them like they used to!" Lucas replied.
Sawyer, having no idea what her parents were talking about giggled. They were so funny sometimes.
"Now go! Sawyer and I will see you at the game!" Peyton said, pushing Lucas away from their momentary kiss.
"Bye Daddy!" Sawyer cried as he walked out the door.
"Well kiddo.. it looks like it's just you and me! What do you want to do now!?" Peyton asks.
"Jaime!!!! We have to go or you'll miss your fathers game!" Haley yells up the stairs trying to encourage her son to get moving.
"If you're not down here in 30 seconds flat, I'm going to leave and you'll have to walk all the way there!" Haley cries out again.
"Ok, Ok, Ok, I'm here and ready! Keep your pants on!" Jaime replies running down the stairs with a coy grin.
"Keep your pants on?! Where on earth do you learn these phrases mister!?" Haley asks.
"Where do you think?! Skills of course!"
"Huh.. I should have known. Well c'mon then, into the car. Your dad won't be impressed if we aren't there!"
"So big coach, you ready for your first game of the season?!" Skills asks Lucas before he heads for the locker rooms to talk to his team.
"Sure am. Nothing quite like returning to your home team to coach again!"
"Yeah well, I made sure that this year you won't have any troublesome kids. Well… most aren't bad actually. You should have a good chance!"
"How do you know all this! You're now coaching the pee-wee's! High school basketball was too much for you!" Lucas replied.
"When there's a will…." Skills joked.
"Good to be back mate" Lucas laughed before entering the dressing rooms.
Lucas looked around at what was in front of him. It brought back so many memories. Young boys with so much in front of them, yet not much idea of what the big world was all about. For some of these boys, basketball was a popularity statement, for others it was their ticket into college. For some it would be the best years of their life. He had a good team this year. They should go far. The Ravens had still not won a championship since the game Lucas last played with Whitey coaching. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Lucas turned to address his players.
"I know some of you think that the first game of the season is not important, as it won't make or break a seasons career but you are wrong. We are here today to make our stamp and to show all the other teams what we are capable of and what we are made of. It's been a while since the Ravens have won a championship flag. The last time we did, I was sitting right where you are now. I think it's time for another. I have coached many seasons of basketball since then and I have won championships with those teams. But none of those teams were as talented as the young men sitting in front of me tonight. So I need you to go out there tonight and show this town what we are made of. Make yourselves worthy of wearing the Ravens jersey. Play not for yourself, but for your team-mates. Work with each other and play for each other. With that attitude you can't lose!"
The team erupted with affirmation that they felt the same way. With pats on the backs for the coach and team mates, the boys headed towards the entrance to the main court, ready for a nights events.
Haley and Jaime rushed to their seats just as the players started running onto the court. In typical fashion, when Nathan's number was called, he looked up, scanning the crowd for his pregnant wife and son, always to be greeted with them smiling and waving back. It took him a while to find them tonight, but eventually he did, bustling around the seats with the hint that they had just arrived. He had to remember to tease them about that later. Turning his focus back to the court, he began to mentally prepare himself for the game.
Settling into his seat, Jaime pulled out his ipod from his bag, and started to unravel the earphones.
"Really Jaime! Ipod at your dad's basketball game?! I didn't know you were that bored since you are usually aching to come to all of his games!" Haley joked.
Jaime rolled his eyes. Mothers! Sometimes they can be so thick headed.
"Muuumm… it's for the game at home!" He sighs. "I'm going to listen to the broadcast to see how the Ravens are going!"
Haley smiled. "wow – two games at once, I hope you can keep up Jamie boy!"
Seeing that the game had started, they both turned their attention to watch the Bobcats perform on their centre stage.
"You played well out there tonight boys. Well enough to win. You should smile, you should celebrate. But don't think, because you have won one game that you have proven to me what you are capable of. I expect to see much more from you this season, because I know you are capable of much more! This game was good, but it isn't enough to keep you on top. Jones! You have to pass the ball faster, be more decisive with your actions. Buttler, you need to step up to the plate, play harder, push harder. Each of you have improvements to be made, and we are going to work on these until we have perfected them. Now go home, rest up and I'll see you on the courts tomorrow."
Lucas, at the end of his speech, starts to pack up and get ready to close up after the boys. They played a good game, and deserved to win, yet Lucas could see many faults still within his team. He hoped that he could help these boys develop both as players and as men as the year progressed. This is why he loved coaching so much. You really could change a person.
Closing up the locker room, Lucas head outside to meet up with his family and friends after the game. He didn't have to look for long, as he was almost immediately knocked over by his daughter as she raced over to him. "Hey pretty girl! You just about winded me!" Looking up he saw Peyton casually walking up to the both of them.
"Daddy I saw you!"
"Did you?!" Lucas said pretending to be shocked. "Did you enjoy the game?!"
"Yup! Me likes ball!" Lucas laughed.
"Good game eh?!" Peyton asked having reached Lucas.
"Yeah not bad. Still improvements to be made though."
"So… what are you doing, you know… after the game" Peyton asks in the voice of a lovesick teenager.
"Oh I dunno… not much really. Hook up with some random girl, have some hot lovin'… you know the usual! Why are you offering?" Lucas plays along, moving closer to his wife.
"Lucas!" Peyton said hitting him.
"Naw… c'mon, it could be fun. Why don't you head over to my place and see how it all pans out. I guess you can bring the pipsqueak along too if you must!"
"what do you think Sawyer? You trust this guy? Reckon we should go home with him?!" Peyton innocently asked her dauther.
"Yup!" Sawyer replied, used to her parents silly games with each other.
Lucas, taking hold of his daughters hand and wrapping his arm around his wife's waist began to lead the way. "C'mon girls, lets go home."
"So you guys thought you might show up eh?" Nathan teases as he meets up with Haley and Jaime after the game.
"What do you mean dad? We were here the whole time and saw everything!" Jaime replied innocently.
"Yeah – concentrating hard too, so I see with your headphones in your ears" Nathan chuckles.
"Naw – c'mon I was getting a play by play so I could give you the full report of the Ravens game". Jaime protested.
"oh really! Is that so! not just getting bored of your old man playing then?'
"nope, definitely not!" Jaime confirms! "You were awesome tonight dad! Clearly the best in the whole team tonight!" Jaime's admiration for his dad's game never wavered. All he's ever dreamed about is being half the player his dad is. If ever a boy had a hero, Jaime saw everything he wanted to be in his father.
Laughing at Jaime's enthusiasm about the game, he pats his son on the back. "Thanks mate!" Turning his attention to his wife, Nathan asks "So what did you think Mrs Scott?"
"Oh, I guess the game wasn't bad…. I think that number 12 though… he's kinda sexy…."
"Really?! I've got his number if you want it?!"
"You don't say?!"