He dribbled the ball in front of his opponent. "Playing hard today, aren't you?" Jake swayed back and forth, ready to guard, ready to jump. "I'm playing like I always play--to win." Nathan went for the basket, but Jake blocked him, almost knocking them both over as he grabbed for the ball. Nathan stooped with his hands on his thighs and took a deep breath. "Let's say you win and give it a rest." Jake shook his head. "Uh uh. I need the workout. Getting too old for this?" he needled. Nathan suddenly stole the ball from his friend and casually dribbled it between his feet. "You played with Oscar, Lorenzo and Joe before I got here." Jake came around the community center once or twice a week to mingle with the kids, to remind himself how much he had needed a role model at their age. "They're seventeen. No strategy. Now you...I have to use my brain as well as my reflexes when I go against you." Picking up his bottle of water on the sidelines, Jake took a few swallows.
