Author's Note: Definitions the reading public should know include the word "snuck," a slang term meaning unexpectedly sucker-punched. To sneak in a punch and the past tense, "snuck." Example: "Elliot 'snuck' Charlie in the corner!" Another vocabulary word is "own," which means man-handle. The following chapter is a reference to Defense, or playing "D." The term "D-Up" means to play wisely and to become aware of executing the right call in a defensive mode. Suzanne Gibbs has an obligation to the "Sisterhood" to conduct herself in a positive yet effective manner. She arrives to work the next week ready to defend and vindicate. The inspiration comes from the song, "Macho Man," performed by the Village People (Credit: 1978/Casablanca Records: writers: Morali, Belolo, Willis and Whitehead).
Body, wanna feel my body,
body, baby, such a thrill, my body
Body, wanna touch my body,
body, baby, it's too much, my body
Body, check it out, my body, body,
baby, don't you doubt, my body
Body, talking about my body, body,
baby, checking out my body
Every man wants to be a macho, macho man
To have the kind of body always in demand
Joggin' in the mornings, go, man, go
Workouts in the health spa, muscles grow
You can best believe me
He's a macho man
Glad he took you down with anyone you can
A collective group aired grievances from the time she was introduced to as the replacement. Suzanne gave a "pleased to meet you," firm handshake and solid eye contact and the disclaimer: 'Whatever's said about me will eventually make it back.' Only Secret Service Supervisor David Dash heed warning and admired the nonsensical attitude of President Owens' new addition, Presidential Aide Suzanne Gibbs. As for the recreation time on White House premises, recent challenges, chatters and sneer remarks about her were not such clandestine; after all, she caught wind of all the scuttlebutt.
The move from masculine to a feminine assistant, indeed, outraged the testosterone driven males from the Secret Service detail. They despised her as Darren Hall's replacement, as he was forced to step down and assume an office position inside the Executive Office of the President. For the younger agents, the great 'international rolodex' during down time was gone. Rightly so after the 'One Night in Bangkok' episode. It was not associated with the infectious 80's about chess. The afterhour activities, all captured on cellphone, counteracted the reasons for President Owens' work on human trafficking!
With Darren's transfer meant subpar 3-on-3 games or so they thought. He played with the 'Rock chalk, Jayhawk' Kansas team. Basketball was President Owens' favorite exercise. Inside the gym, Suzanne arrived with her alma mater logoed gear, either the navy blue capital 'G' or Jack the Bulldog. The shorts, the oversized shirt were loose like the fellas as well except she tied the tanked-tee in the back. Often, the small group were privy to a preview of her sculptured legs and muscular calves. Dash and the President suggested during weight training to resume basketball, which Suzanne happily accepted.
Men snickered, until she simply demonstrated once with leg weights in the weight room. To leg press an impressive 450 lbs in three sets of 10 quieted many from the Secret Service team. Suzanne warmed up for competitive playing similar to others-jogging, backpedals, criss-cross verticals, and defensive slides. Suzanne's 'Superman' stands were longer pauses, demonstrating her superior flexibility and balance. When asked of her speed, Suzanne answered dance floor work and maneuvers since childhood as a main source for exercise regimen. She was shorter than the regular players but held her own with assists, quite a few takeaways and some accurate distance shots. A few cheered as she made a jump shot.
'Meet the Big East, Gentlemen.' Dash chuckled the aide's attitude on the court after a preliminary round.
'Girl can ball.'
'She got some skill.'
'Lucky shot.'
Richard Collins had some Jethro Gibbs beliefs when it came to women. Suzanne thanked God her husband's only concern was for her well-being. His philosophies concerning working women were antiquated as the equivalent of Carrie Nation's correlation with reproductive damage and corsets during the Temperance Movement. She noticed the wedding band and secretly wondered what woman signed the dotted line with that fool.
Collins worked Presidential Detail 20 years; before, he served in the Marines during the First Gulf War. Outspoken about the agency's broader search for liberal arts candidates with the word liberal sparking the outrage, a question regarding his physical and technological demands of the position came to question. Soon, women candidates to the protection detail slowly fueled the paranoia.
'Those femi-nazis...' She heard the term as she passed a corridor.
'Yeah!' Suzanne's voice deepened to match a male. The men's laughter soon stopped as she peeped in the small group. During the work week, she wore pantsuits. It was her signature look: dark-colored with a feminine touch, whether a flower on a lapel or a floral colored oxford shirt/tie combo. Suzanne wore only eyeliner and a touch of lipgloss. The appearance was comfortable, original and unmistakably her own brand. It came with the backhanded comments, of course.
"So I guess you wear the pants in the family, Gibbs?"
"Doesn't mean I wear underwear with holes in the front." She responded at Collins. "Bet you my husband can show you...better I can tell you."
"You play ball at Georgetown, Gibbs?" He asked.
"Georgetown was graduate school." Suzanne answered. "Played basketball with Daddy and my older brothers in the backyard."
As time passed, the men showed little mercy, whether innuendos for distractions or a good natured flagrant foul. Suzanne shrugged it off, just kept playing.
"See how you do with the big boys..."
The quips between Collins and Suzanne never stopped. His comments, intended to remind her of 'a woman's place' only fueled for sharper, wittier repartee. Weeks passed, and her comments were sharper. She excelled at the position. Several agents resigned to the fact Suzanne Gibbs was tougher than any male opponent, Agent Collins refused to accept the change. The verbal chatter came to head during the basketball game.
Collins charged Suzanne with all physical force, intentionally injuring Suzanne from a key block. Knocked on her behind and sliding a good distance the playing immediately stopped to check. The play wasn't over. Suzanne popped up without hesitation. It was a man's game. Her male influences guided, prepared her to think and maneuver defensively in all facets.
I'll play D. Hope you wore your cup today. She thought.
"Foul, Collins."
"Legal move, Shortie." He waved the initial call, walked back with the other agents. "No blood, no foul, Rook."
"Yo, I know street rules." Momentarily she rubbed the chin. "That was a cheap-assed shot, even for you."
"You're playing with the men now, Gibbs." Collins grinned. "Can't run with the big dogs? Stay on the porch." Some of the service staff chuckled as he muttered,
"Give the ball to the crybaby."
"Hey!" Suzanne quickly confronted. From anger, her vocals grew a decibel louder. "The f-k are you calling crybaby...?"
"Whoa, Q…" The President, surprised by his aide's cursing, nipped the questionable trash talk by tapping her shoulder. "This isn't the blacktop."
Suzanne placed her hands on her hips, eyes squared solely on 6'6 Collins at center court as the team regrouped. Suzanne checked the ball furiously to Collins.
"Ready to get hit again?" He rechecked with the same intensity.
"Like you hitting the backboard?" A few of the service agents snickered, with Suzanne, once again, outstepping the player in a crossover move. Within seconds, the team scored another shot against the team.
Owens and Dash sensed tension in the air. The game was 21. The Shirts, comprised of Suzanne, Dash and Crawley teamed were only three down from the President's Skins team. It was a 17-20 game. Suzanne and her teammates just tied the game.
"If you weren't a female..." Collins hissed.
"Then, what's good, Collins?" Suzanne answered by tapping her upper chest followed by open hands. In sports language, it was a challenge. Suzanne was not a stranger to threats and would not fall for intimidation. Her innate attitude for violence, for defending herself came from two sources. She was a product of her Master Sergeant father. Her family's Appalachian temperament, mainly her 93 year old grandmother, was more evident as time passed.
"Swing up, then! Do it, because I'll own your old ass..."
The President pushed his aide to one side while Dash calmed his agent on the other.
"I'm from Deanwood, Collins!" Suzanne continued shouting. "They don't know I've lived in Deanwood! I'd cold cock the hell out any one of these fools..."
As the group dispersed to shower and prepared for the day's activities, the President mentioned to Dash in passing.
"Remind me not to get on Suzanne's bad side."