The next day,~~ Jay stopped by the middle school court after work to shoot and get ready for a weekend pick-up game. He saw Stefani shooting baskets alone and watched her make nine of ten before walking over to say hello. She wore the same Gettysburg sweatshirt as she had the last time, but jeans instead of sweats. Her gym bag, large enough to carry books and her basketball, lay against the wall by the court.
“Hi Stef, Where’s your friend?” Jay asked.
“She’s a cashier at Kirby’s Market. Drew a Friday shift this week.” Stefani replied. “She’s saving her Fridays off for the season, but she dropped me off to shoot. Got time for a rematch before my dad comes to get me?”
“It’s just you and me. Let's go one-on-one.”
Stefani shook her head sheepishly. “Nah, I’d rather play H-O-R-S-E.”
“I’m sure you’ll beat me.” Jay dribbled his ball to get her attention, shifting his dribbling hand from right to left to exploit his lower center of gravity.
Stefani made no effort to stop him as she stared at the fast bouncing ball.
“C’mon, Stef. You know you want it. Go for it.”
Stefani just stood in place. So, Jay drove to the basket, dribbling around her for an easy two points.
“Alright, one-zip, let’s run this again.” He repeated his tactics.
This time Stefani reached and got a piece of the ball. But Jay slapped it away and dropped a one-handed jump shot.
“C’mon Stef. You wouldn’t let someone take that from you in a game.”
“What kind of basketball career did you really have, 'Doctor J.'?”
“Like I told you I was good, but I wasn’t the best player in my own family. My older sister really lit it up in high school. Our grandfather taught us how to play.”
“But you’re a coach now? Look ‘coach’, Do you mind if I shoot by myself?” Stefani replied curtly and rolled her eyes.
“My sister would’ve chewed you out if you talked to her like that.”
“Humm, sounds just like Bonita. Tell your sister to come on down. I’d love to bring my game against hers.”
“I’m sure she’d come if she could, Stef. But she died a few years ago.”
Stefani relaxed her stance. “Jay, I’m so sorry…”
“It’s all right. She was really good. Not like Bonita, but still really good.”
“Oh, Bo’s one of a kind,” Stefany answered sarcastically.
“She seems to like you, really care.”
Stefani took a breath. “Yeah, she means well, but she gets on my nerves sometimes.
“How come?”
“What are you, a psychiatrist? I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Ok, ok, fine. Have a nice weekend.”
Jay was perfectly happy to leave Stefani to her dreams of basketball glory. But as he walked back to his car, a stocky man, probably five-ten, a little taller than Jay, sandy hair groomed in a military buzz cut shaved on the sides, flat on top, parked his car, a polar white Ford Explorer, too plain to be featured in the dealer’s showroom, with the Gettysburg town seal on the rear passenger doors. Dressed in blue blazer, khakis, white Oxford button down shirt and a blue and gold striped tie, he walked towards the basketball court, and stopped in front of Jay, neither angered nor threatened by the younger man’s presence on school property.
“That’s my daughter,” the man said. “Alben Baker. I’m the city manager in Gettysburg.”
Jay offered his hand; the man shook it. They exchanged business cards. Jay always had them in his basketball swag bag.
“Jay Siler, I manage the First Colonial branch downtown. Stefani has a nice shooting touch.”
“How do you know?”
“Lost to her and her friend at H-O-R-S-E last week,”
“Why’d you take the challenge?”
“Bonita, her friend, asked me after I dropped a half-court shot in that basket.” Jay pointed to the basket where Stefani was still taking shots from different angles.
“I see, and what are your basketball credentials?”
“Played in college. Right here in Gettysburg.”
“Say, why don’t you come by my office on Monday? Maybe I can help you ro get to know our town a little better.”