Chapter 1

Chapter 1

02/02/1991 - Los Angeles, California

An exhausted young woman dragged herself through the front door. Her husband trailed behind her with a baby carrier in hand and an ever-present smile on his face. "Honey, you ok?" he asked. The woman returned a soft smile at her husband's concern before responding, "I am ok, darling, just exhausted," she said.

He gave her a warm one-armed hug before he told her, "Go get some rest, hon, you have been through an ordeal, I will even take the first watch of the little one here so you can rest." A radiant smile lit up her tired face as she responded, "I love you, Ben." 

Ben looked at her with nothing but warmth in his eyes as he said, "I love you too, Laura." A quick kiss on the cheek before making her way to bed and the promised warmth of a bed as she rested her weary body.

Ben looked down at the baby carrier before he pulled the baby out and hugged him to his chest. "So this is the start of your adventure, huh, Asher? Not too bad if I do say so myself." Ben held his little bundle of joy and couldn't wait to see what his future would bring. 

5 Years Later

"Asher, get down here now, your friends are going to be here any minute," shouted Laura from downstairs. Asher looked to his bedroom door and called out, "I'll be there in a minute, Mom." Asher quickly wore his Kobe Bryant Lakers jersey before running down the stairs. 

Laura looked on with a mix of exasperation and love in her eyes as her son, Asher, came sprinting around the steps of the stairs, his messy black hair flowing wildly as he ran past in a burst of speed, his almost steel-grey eyes full of excitement as he arrived in front of his mother slightly out of breath.

However, before Laura could greet him, she looked at him with a frown, "Asher, you have worn that jersey for three days, and you are NOT wearing that for your birthday party." Asher pouted his lips at her and said, "But mom, we are playing basketball I need to wear my jersey, and it makes me shoot better." 

Laura let out a weary sigh, "Fine, but immediately after the party you are taking a bath, and that jersey is going straight into the wash. Honestly that basketball hoop was a terrible idea from your father. All you want to do these days is go outside and shoot the ball." 

Asher looked at his mom with eyes full of betrayal. "Mom, how can I be the best basketballer in the world if I don't practice? Dad always says nothing worth having comes easy, and I want to be the best player ever." Laura looked at Asher with eyes full of annoyance before she said, "How is it you remember your father saying that, but when I tell you to brush your teeth every day, you forget?" 

The doorbell rang, and Asher took that as an opportunity to escape his mother's unflinching gaze as he ran to answer the door as his friends started to arrive. Blissful chaos ensued with sugar-high five-year-olds running around. This culminated in Asher taking charge and shouting, "We are going to play basketball. Everyone, gather up so we can pick teams." 

Laura couldn't help but roll her eyes before sighing. "We should never have gotten him that hoop." Just when she was going to search for her husband to get them to calm down, the door swung open. "Are you all ready for the basketball showcase of the year? It is time for the 1996 Asher Hawkins Championship," shouted Ben as he walked out.

Laura's eyes widened as she took in her husband's appearance. He was dressed in a Shaquille O'Neil Lakers jersey. He wore a white and red headband, a whistle around his neck, and a pair of 'shorts' that Laura would swear he wore back in college when he was in much better shape. 

Laura's head dropped as she whispered to herself, "Of course, he would do this, I forget where Asher gets his love for Basketball. Those shorts, I thought I threw those out." The kids let out a raucous cheer as the parents attending the party burst into laughter. 

The scene is broken again when an older man walks to Ben's side. He was dressed in a Magic Johnson jersey with shorts that somehow seemed even shorter than Ben's. The older man took in all the eager faces smiling at the duo, and pulled a microphone out of nowhere. 

"Jack Hawkins is with you all today, providing color commentary for this thrilling championship. I hope you folks are ready for a once-in-a-lifetime event. I will now go talk to some of our players here today." Laura's jaw may as well have been on the ground at this point. "What was I thinking marrying into this family?" 

Jack walked over to one of the kids standing next to Asher, "Would you like to introduce yourself, young miss?" A brunette girl looked at the microphone before a smile burst out on her face.

"Hi, everyone my name is Emma, and you're talking to the future champion of this tournament. I go to school with Asher, and we are best friends, but I am still going to win," Emma said as she waved her fist in the air.

The parents at the party let out a massive cheer at her announcement. Laura couldn't help but smile at the excitement that seemed to hover in the air as all the kids started shouting they were going to win. 'Who am I kidding, I wouldn't change this family for the world'

Jack took the mic back before facing the crowd of parents. "There you have it, folks; we heard it here first. Emma is claiming that nobody here will stop her from winning this decorated tournament. Let's talk to a few more players before this tournament can start." 

A beautiful brunette lady walked over to Laura before wrapping an arm around her."Your family is amazing, Laura; I didn't know what I would do when Eric and I split. Moving back to California was as far as I had planned, but you welcomed us like you had known us forever. Look at that smile on my little girl's face. When she speaks about playing with Asher, it is like the world gets a little brighter." 

Laura returned the hug to the lady before saying, "Come on, Kelly, you don't need to thank us. Emma and Asher have been inseparable since they met. Asher is a simple boy, he loves three things more than anything in this world. Basketball, his family, and spending time with Emma"

Kelly turned to Laura with watery eyes before a chuckle burst out of her. "They have been inseparable, haven't they? Still, thanks for having us over; Emma has been talking about this party all week." 

Laura simply hugged her tighter before the two ladies turned their attention back to Jack, who had moved to another kid who was claiming he was the next Michael Jordan. Jack introduced him to cheers from the crowd before making his way over to Asher

"Last but certainly not least, the birthday boy he goes by Ace to his friends and Ash to his family. Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce you to the one, the only Asher Hawkins" 

Asher stood there with his chest puffed out as if to say he was him. Jack passed the mic to Asher, who turned to face the crowd. "Thank you, everyone, for coming to my party. Emma, you're going down, I am Ace, and I will be the best basketballer in the world" 

The crowd once again burst into cheers before quieting down as Ben took the mic from his son. "Alright, everyone, here is how this will work we will have four team captains - Asher, Emma, Troy, and Jason. They will take turns picking players until each team has 5 players. Team Asher will play Team Troy first. 

Then Team Emma will play Team Jason. The losing teams will play each other for third place, and then we will hold the final between the two teams that won their first match. The first-round games are to 11 points, and the final will be to 15 points" 

The crowd cheered as everyone walked over to the basketball hoop. It was standing at 8 feet high, and a free throw line and a three-point line had been painted on the tarmac. Asher got the first pick as the birthday boy and in short order, there were four teams chosen. 

The crowd settled down on the grass, watching the teams get ready as Jack took up the mic once again. "Ladies and Gentlemen, The 1996 Asher Hawkins Championship is about to begin"