"Okay, Mr. Nerdy.
You can keep your clothes, right where they belong; please. While I go change into mine.
See ya."
".....See ya."
"Hi, my name is Ruby.
I'm here for some good ol fashion basketball."
"Oh good. You've arrived.
BOYS, YOUR TENTHPLAYER IS HERE."
"Tenth player? No. No. There must be some sort of mistake. I just wanted to ask if….."
"No. We weren't able to get your sports glasses in, the kind you wanted; but we still have your old pair. Would you like them?"
"Ummmmmm.....no."
"You sure? It's your call, but if you think you're ready then I won't push....Unless it's your clothes. Here.
Your shorts, your shirt; and your blue and black streaked basketball shoes.
I see you've grown a bit since last I saw you, so I hope they still fit."
"Ttthhhhh…..anks. I think?"
"HEY JACKLYN. Over here.
Where were you? We sent out a group text to meet a little early for.....You're not Jacklyn.
Who are you?"
*Ding.*
*Ding*
*Ding*
" 'Hi guys, sorry I couldn't be there today. Mom says I need to stay in bed in order to catch up on Studying, but I guess I took it literally because.....I'm sick.
Don't worry, it wasn't my live frog from Biology who spat on me last time. This time it was my little furtbaby at home.
Hope you can find someone else to take my place.' Peace and love, and here's a sippy cup. I might not be there to physically pone you, but you know what I mean.' "
*Click*
"Whelp, it looks like someone not only took your place, but your shoes as well.
Welcome on board, Rookie."
*Phuuueeeeeem*
*......Catch*
"Glad to have you with us, but try to keep up."
".......I'm a fast learner."
"Okay, huddle up players.
You all know the rules, but Rookie here doesn't. We're playing Twenty One. You can design your offense and defense however you like, but..."
"We know.
You get fouled, you take it out of bounds; and no dunking until the Third. Ten minute quarters, mercy is on."
"Wait...Mercy?"
"Is there a problem, Rookie?"
"Yes. I'd like the Mercy rule to be off."
"But that would beat the others while they're down."
"Or make them try harder to keep up.
If you don't push someone to greatness and always have Mercy in place; they will never try harder for they will know we will never beat our opponent anyways, so why try?"
"...I like it.
Okay people. Mercy is off. I repeat...Mercy....is….off.
Let's divide up in teams, and go to your respective halves to warm up.
Deric and Chelsy are captains today."
"But we already know who they're going to pick."
"Never think you know your opponent, because they will always surprise you in the end."
*Berrrringggggaringaring. Berrrrrringgggarinnnggarinnng.*
"Hello?"
"Have you welcomed Ruby Eliotra to my Kingdom yet?"
"Queen Rosa?"
"Yes.
Have you?
I see you frequently drive around the hotel she is staying in so I just called around the drivers, but they all said no.
I have met a Ruby....in fact she is with me now. Why?"
"Around fourteen? Looks like a child but has the heart of Nature? Ten percent smarts, Ninety percent skills?"
"Ummm…..Yeah."
"Okay, so these are teams then?
You're going down."
"Snuff it J-dog, cause we got a secret weapon."
"I'll choke you out like I choke my Cat.
Kill you...…then jolt you awake."
"Keep your nasty plant tentacles all the way off my court."
"Oh. Your court?
If I wanted to, I could have it swallow you whole."
"Wooo….wooo…wooo. Let's beef on the Court, ya'll, and not off it."
"She's making lots of friends."
"Good, because I want her to make one more."
"Just say when and where."