Part 3

Part One can be found here, while Part Two, can be found Here!


"Okay, time is up! Stop writing and hand in your scripts!" Mrs Jones walked down each row of the students seated in the classroom, glaring at whoever who did not stop writing.

"Jo! Put your pen down, or else you will get a big fat ZERO!" Mrs Jones smacked Jo on her hand, which caused her pen that she was holding, to fall onto the floor.


"BITCH!"

"Now Jo, I have never seen you so engrossed in your work, but do keep in mind that I will reward you no extra time just because you ARE doing your work", Mrs Jones said in a rather disdain manner, as she collected the scripts. She headed back to her desk and began counting them one by one.

Well, it was true that it was the first time Jo was so engrossed in her work. Jo never liked doing her work and would often chance at the opportunity to skip class or pretend to be sick. You see, Jo's name was actually Josephine. She, unlike most girls, never wore dresses. She had shiny black hair that was cropped and spiked. She wore chains as belts, baggy pants, boxer shorts, cuffs and worn-out gloves. People often mistook her for a boy, but she didn't mind, because she always liked the "tough" look.


Jo was breathing fire. She banged her fist hard on her desk before leaving the class. This was the first time that Jo did do her work, and as much as she hated to admit, she really liked how free-willed she could express her thoughts and emotions in her essay. But she hated how she did not have the time to complete it. And one reason to why she actually did try to finish her essay was because of Mr. Petes. He was the Principal and he told her that she had to pass at least English if she wanted to Graduate by the end of the year.


Jo hated feeling pissed, and so, decided to head to her usual hangout to cool down; the basketball court. She saw a couple of her friends who were having a match over there, and thought about joining them.


"Hey Jo! Come meet Jacky! He just moved in here, and he sure can play ball!" shouted Nick who made a beautiful three-pointer that swiftly went into the hoop, making the chains of the net dance as they touch the basketball.


Jacky held out his hand to shake with Jo's but all she did was to snatch the ball from Ron who was making his way to Nick and Jacky. Jo never said a word and continued in her own game.

"Must be a bad day" shrugged Nick as he tapped Jacky on the shoulder as comfort.

Ron then suggested to have a quick match and all of them agreed. Ron paired up with Jo, leaving Jacky with Nick. The game started off and Jacky quickly learned that street basketball wasn't like how he played back in his school. There was more contact and it was much more rough.


"The first to reach seven wins!" shouted Nick.

The teams were tied six to six. The ball was in Jo's hands. She dribbled. Nick was blocking all ways possible for the ball to be passed to Ron. Jack moved closer to defend Jo. Jo was pushing hard against him, pushing him in the chest. It was hard, and it hurt, but Jacky wasn't going to let them call him a sissy.

He tried his best to not let Jo anywhere near the hoop. His spread his arms wide in defence, and decided to play dirty, just like how Jo did to him. He pushed hard at Jo's chest, and could not believe. He stood still, in shock. Jo took the chance and did a beautiful shot. Jo's team won.


"Hey, you're supposed to defend her! Remember?" Nick ran up to Jacky and slapped him hard on the back.


"Nick.... Jo's... Jo's a girl!" said Jacky almost feeling embarrassed that he did that.


Nick and Ron burst out laughing and couldn't help but laugh even harder at Jacky's confused face.

"Didn't you know? Jo's a girl! But she sure can play basketball".


It was true. Jo could play basketball. Jacky had never seen a girl play so well before, she definitely was better than the girls, and even most of the boys back in his school team.


All were silent when Jo came over to them. Jacky got up and said "Hey, I didn't mean to... you know."

Jo tried to act tough, and faked a low voice, saying "It's okay. But do it again and I'll bust your brains out, you hear me?" Both of them giggled and then headed over to Jo's house where she invited them for dinner.





To be continued.