Later that day, after their launch, Jackie engaged in a conversation with his uncle while they were resting at the balcony. After that, he tidied up the house and checked the fishing gear. Tomorrow he would go fishing with his uncle. Uncle Mike was older than his father with a big age disparity and moreover his father married much too young. In contrast to Uncle Mike, who married in his forties, his father married in his twenties but Jackie didn't grow up enough to know him nor his mother better, for they passed away in a car accident at his early age.
He was just four when Uncle Mike adopted him. He didn't feel his parent's demise, as Uncle Mike and his wife Beth treated him like their own son. They had no child and they have loved each other like a couple would.
He was twelve when MRS Beth passed away, her body was found lying lifeless on her bed one fateful morning, with a rosary in her grip. It was a shocking scenario to everyone present that day, as Aunt Beth had never had any sign of health deterioration nor was she diagnosed of any health defect.
Uncle Mike had not been himself starting from that very day his wife died. He was a high ranked police officer, a chief detective but he resigned in a week after MRS Beth's funeral and moved to the country side.
As young as he was, seeing how upright and dedicated Uncle Mike was to his job and the legacy he had built over the years, he was forced to emulate him, starting from where he had stopped. He so much admired Uncle Mike's personality and profession with a bloomed eagerness to be like him. His greatest dream was to make his uncle proud, to be like him, a courageous and hardworking man and he would.
....
Jackie wore his usual attire, green hoodie and a black pant and was deeply lost in what he was read. The school premises were almost free from noises and meandering of students. At the lower bleacher seat, sat Jackie reading a book as usual. On his face was a pair of rectangular shaped eyeglasses, well fitted on his oval face. At the court were few guys playing basketball.
Being so drawn to his book, he didn't notice as an object flew through the air and hit his nose, knocking him off balance. His eyeglasses detached from his face as he stumbled, leaving him with a bleeding nose.
Jackie cursed under his breath, as he got hold of his bleeding nose in absolute shock, he couldn't believe what just happened. Glancing at the object in anticipation; it was a ball. He shifted his gaze to the direction the ball emerged from. There stood the four guys that were recently playing at the court with mischievous smile plastered on their faces. They approached him leaving a little gap between him and them.
Looking at them with perplexity, he felt intimidated, as their demeanor screamed of nothing but threats. He straightened his length in anticipation to adapt to the cold atmosphere and with the expectation to hear words of apology from them.
Sensing no remorse from them, he got infuriated. Losing the rage boiling in his blood, he ranted "What does this mean?"
Chuckles echoed in the court as they all burst out laughing. What was amusing about what he had just asked?
Tom mischievous smile turned into a clenched jaw, as he recalled the boldness that was just displayed by the boy. He gestured toward the ball laying at the other side, not too far away from them, signaling Jackie to pick it up.
Jackie who had his anger under control, considered how much worst the situation would be, if he were to react in response to the anger building up in him. Paying no heed to Tom's demand, he questioned in a mellow tone "Why did you throw the ball at me?".
Hearing that, Tom chuckled once again, with that he stuck his hands into the side pockets of his black pant, his face groomed in a violent scowl. "Were you watching when I threw the ball at you?" He asked, raising his eyebrow in a mocking manner.
"Who did that?" Jackie asked, looking at the guys behind Tom.
"Hey, don't you dare look at me that way, Freak!" One of the guys ranted
He was still in expecting an answer from them, when he heard Tom's commanding tone "I won't ask you twice, teen, hand that over" he pointed at the ball. This time Jackie freed his hand from his nose; the bleeding have stopped a bit.