Triple Threat (11 page)

“He was feeling bad about your ball,” Ethan said.

“I meant to kick it over the fence,” Ben said. “I didn't mean to have it go under the bus. I'm sorry about that. Here, take this ball to make up for the one I destroyed.”

“I can't take your ball,” I said. I couldn't believe he was even offering it to me—that wasn't what a bully was supposed to do … especially after we'd shown them up.

“Sure you can take it. Fair is fair.”

Reluctantly I took the ball from him. It was a good ball—leather, regulation size, almost new and just signed by JYD. This was the ball I'd fantasized about kicking over the fence!

“Thanks.”

“It's the least I could do. You two are all right,” Ben said.

“Thanks.” Those words meant more to me than the ball did.

“I hear that because you lost you have to leave,” JYD said.

Ben nodded.

“I respect that,” JYD said. “You made a deal and you're sticking by it. A man … ” he turned to Kia, “a person has to keep their word, even if it's hard.”

“Yeah,” Devon said. “I'm gonna miss this court.”

“But a deal is a deal,” JYD said. “Right, Kia?”

“Yeah, right. Unless we make another deal.”

“Another deal?” JYD asked. “You boys interested in making another deal?”

“It depends,” Ethan said. “Do we have to leave the entire town if we lose a second game?”

“Maybe nobody has to leave anywhere,” JYD said. “You interested in hearing this new deal?”

“I am,” Ben said.

“We're listening,” Devon agreed.

“Nick, why don't you tell them,” JYD said.

“Me?”

“You're the man. Go ahead.”

“Well … I was thinking … how about if you hang on to your ball, and we could all use it together sometimes when we all play on this court.”

“You don't want us to leave?” Ben asked.

I shook my head. “I don't want anybody to leave.

I just want to be able to play some ball here some times, that's all. If that would be okay.”

“That would be really good,” Ethan said.

“Yeah, I could go for that too,” Devon agreed.

“Sorry,” Ben said. “I don't agree.”

“You don't?” I questioned.

“Nope. Not all of it. We can play together, but that ball … it's still yours. I owe you and I need to pay off that debt. If that's okay with you.”

“Yeah, of course it is,” I agreed.

“Kia?” JYD asked. “Is this all okay with you too?”

“Sure, fine,” she muttered, shaking her head. “We'll be good winners, show them respect, treat them like we want to be treated and all that stuff,” she mumbled. I knew she wasn't happy, but she knew this was the right thing to do.

“That's what I was hoping to hear. And I'd like to add something else to the deal,” JYD said. “I'd like the three of you,” he pointed at Ben, Ethan and Devon, “to make sure that this court is open for everybody. I'd like you to be there for the younger kids to make sure they can play … maybe share your skills, be good leaders and role models, somebody for
them to look up to. Do you think you'd be willing to do that?”

“I think we can handle that,” Ben said.

“It might even be fun,” Devon added.

“Good. I want you all to know that I'm gonna be coming back to check how things are working.”

“You are?”

“Sure. My team opens its season right here in your city. I'm thinking that maybe I could come back out here and play a little ball with you again.”

“That would be incredible!” I said.

“And then, after our game, the five of you could be my guests at my game … I was thinking courtside tickets.”

“Courtside … to an NBA game … that would be amazing!” I exclaimed along with everybody else.

“So do we have ourselves a deal?” JYD asked.

Everyone yelled out in agreement. Who could complain about a deal like that?

“Here come our parents!” Kia said.

I turned around. My father was driving them all in our van.

“I was wondering where they were,” JYD said. “I was also wondering one other thing. How much of what happened do they know?”

I looked at Kia. I was hoping she'd come up with a fancy answer. She didn't say anything. She just looked down at her feet.

“Umm … not a lot.”

“You didn't tell them about being bullied, did you?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“I remember being your age when some kids at school were giving me a hard time—picking on me. All I had to do was tell my teacher, or my brother Johnnie, and that would have stopped it. I didn't tell anybody. I felt embarrassed … like it was my fault. You have to promise me two things.”

“What things?” Kia asked.

“First, that if this ever happens again—somebody bullying you—that you'll tell your parents or your teachers or somebody who can help.”

“That's easy,” Kia said. “And if you think about it, we did that this time. We told you.”

“What's the second thing?” I asked.

“That you tell your parents what happened. No secrets.”

“We'll tell them,” I said. “Would it be okay if we talked with them later on tonight.”

“Tonight would be good,” JYD said. “Oh, and
there's still one more condition. Nothing that difficult.” He turned to me. “Nick, every day for the rest of the summer, for twenty minutes, you have to promise me you'll read.”

“I can do that too,” I agreed, happy that it wasn't something more difficult.

“I'll make sure he does it … every day!” Kia said. “We'll read together.”

“Good, because you know no matter how good you are at playing ball, you still have to read to achieve.”

E
RIC
W
ALTERS
is the author of over thirty-five books for children and Young adults, including the eight books in the best-selling basketball series featuring Nick and Kia.

When not writing and visiting schools, Eric enjoys spending time with his family and playing and coaching basketball. He has such a fertile imagination that he still thinks he could give JYD a challenge if they played another game of one-on-one. Eric lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, with his wife Anita and three children, Christina, Nick and Julia. The character Nick is based on Eric's son Nick. His team, the Mississauga Monarches, won the Ontario Championship and many of the characters in this series, including Jamie, Mark, Jordan, Paul and Tristan are his real team-mates.

Jerome Williams
was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Maryland. He attended Georgetown University on a basketball scholarship and received his BA (Honors) in sociology and theology.

In 1996, Jerome was drafted by the NBA's Detroit Pistons. While in Detroit, Jerome became a hometown hero, giving motivational speeches to both children and adults around the city. His efforts to improve his new city were recognized by the NBA as well as by numerous media outlets. Often referred to as Junk Yard Dog, Jerome developed his own personal mascot to go into Detroit schools and motivate students to just be themselves, listen to their teachers and do their best.

After five seasons with the Pistons, and arguably one of their most popular players, Jerome was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Faced with the challenges of starting over, making new friends and exploring the needs of his new community, Jerome and brother Johnnie launched the JYD Project, a community service initiative that aimed to reach
and motivate over 500,000 youth across the United States and Canada (
www.jydproject.org
).

After three seasons with the Toronto Raptors, Jerome was once again traded away from a city that embraced him and his efforts to serve its youth. Realizing that the only way to maintain his community efforts was to empower his partners to continue, Jerome insisted that his brother Johnnie and Steve “QTMC” Coleman stay behind to complete the mission.

Jerome currently plays for the New York Knicks and anticipates reaching out to the youth in the city as soon as the opportunity presents itself. He remains encouraged by his supporting cast, comprising his three daughters, his youngest brother Joshua, and his wife Nikkollett.

If you'd like to have Johnnie Williams and Steve “QTMC” Coleman visit your school, have your principal contact them at [email protected]. You can help make the Mission Possible!

Johnnie Williams
is a youth activist, columnist and visionary who speaks to thousands of students about setting goals, embracing education, investing in themselves and reaching their personal best by avoiding negative influences, underage drinking, bullying and more.

Johnnie was a standout basketball player until a dunk gone wrong left his elbow shattered. Two operations later his dream of playing professional basketball was over, but his passion to lead youth through positive influence continued to grow. Johnnie serves as founder and executive director of the JYD Project. Working with his brother, Jerome “The Junk Yard Dog” Williams. The JYD Project will bring an inspirational message to more than 500,000 American and Canadian students over a five-year period.

Johnnie resides in Michigan with his wife, where he remains active within his home community, working with the Troy Community Coalition. He believes “the majority of our society's problems are man-made, leaving the power of solution in our hands.”

Steve Coleman
, a.k.a. “QTMC” (Quest To Make a Change), is a Dogg Pound recording artist who established his career as a teenager when the song “My Buddy,” recorded with a five-member rap group, rose to number 1 on Detroit's most popular radio station.

Steve soon realized that his life's purpose was to deliver a positive message of hope to youth all over the world. His inspirational songs and passion for performing have created a demand that has resulted in over 800 shows over the past seventeen years. More than a million viewers at schools, conferences, churches and stadiums have enjoyed his dynamic performances. Through the JYD Project, QTMC continues to bring the “Mission Possible” concert to young people, encouraging them to better handle peer pressure, avoid drugs, respect themselves, rise through adversity, reach for their dreams and stop the bullying.