The Second Ring
Part Three: My First Jersey
Somewhere in Filindostan, 2034
Riley Jeon-Keane and Allie Dubois were both lying on their own beds, doing their own thing. They were ready to go to bed, but not without wearing
their new Team Quebec jerseys. Once again by the same ole No Nonsense Sports, they were the first ones to try them on. So far, they liked it, much more so than the existing Marijuana jerseys that they had to temporary stop using because of Filindostani anti-drug campaigns. Neither of them were smokers in first place, so having green leafs and related symbols on their jerseys were uncomfortable to them whenever they had to wear that green jersey.
"Do you remember the very first day you came to Farrer campus?" Riley, on the window side of the beds, asked. Then she, realising that she needed to give more background info, continued. "I mean, for you you probably been to Farrer campus, the McCaffrey Gym and the facilities few times beforehand, but everybody has their firsts, right?"
"Yeah," Allie nodded, as she tried to recall when was the very first day she visited the Farrer campus. She knew it was long time before she first signed to play for the Martlets, but she wasn't sure.
Martlet Jrs. tourney? Or was it high school champs? No, that was in the old Forum. "I think when I was in high school? Might've been before, but I remember going there for city championships."
"I see. Seems like everybody visits their destination beforehand," Riley said. "I remember having the entirely different memory. Heck, I don't even remember visiting before committing to Queen's, but who am I to talk to? I didn't even want to come to there in first place."
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And now, let's go 12 years back...and we'll slip through the telephone.
"Drrrrrr....Drrr........"
"Hello? Jeon-Keane house speaking."
"Hi, is Miss Riley Jeon-Keane here by any chance? I am in a very desperate position to speak to her."
"Yes! It's actually me in fact. How are you doing today, if I may ask your name? Sorry if I forgot your name...I've been busy with work the past few days."
"No worries! I am Mitchell Kayembe, the head coach of Queen's University, and I would like to speak to you about your response to the letter of offer you've received. I am aware that you're looking to pick from either us, Farrer or Saguenay, and would like to hear on what would make you to stay closer to home."
"...mmm. Pardon me, sir?"
"Yes, I would like to hear on what can get you to come to Cornwall this tuesday evening, if I may ask. I know it's very late of me to ask, but I know your family would be happy to stay home."
"Yes, but my parents are just as happy with me going to the other two schools. Unfortunately, sir. I am not convinced at going to Queen's next year."
"Well, if you come to Cornwall, you'll see why you will change your mind, because you will be the centrepiece in that. Have you ever wanted to be part of a program that wanted to win?"
"Yes. And Queen's has yet to win a national title."
"True, but we could change that. We sure as hell did have many great players come and go, but none have made the enough difference. No frontcourt Gael has made the QIS All-Quebecois. No frontcourt Gael has landed the OUA or Big 10 Player of the Year. I know you love being that most dominant big man in history, and why not do it somewhere you have won? Saguenay and Farrer won their banners when they had that number one centre. And you know you could change the course of the program."
"That is definitely in my mind, now that I look at it. People have told me that I do love playing centre and guess I can't lie about that."
"Yes. So do you wanna be the first Gael to win the QIS MVP and get that historic banner? I know we can win one, but perhaps even two, and even three. I know you got that potential in you and you can do it with the class we have upcoming."
"Alright, I will think about it."
"Thanks for consideration. But before you go, Riley, remember that Clara Kasaboski is coming here as well. Transfer so a year off in between, but she will have those 3 years."
Then Riley hung up the phone.
Kasaboski, Riley Jeon-Keane grinded her teeth. That name was familiar to her, not only because she was an excellent point guard, but also because she was her kryptonite, believe it or not. The 5-foot-3 point guard, while nowhere near the calibre of the girl getting all the attention in the Island of Montreal, caused all sorts of problem for her the two times they faced in OFSAA tri-state semifinals her sophomore and junior years. She vaguely remembered hearing about Clara Kasaboski heading west to play for the California University Bruins, but guess the homesickness must have affected her given her mediocre performance.
Was Riley Jeon-Keane excited at the possibility of facing Clara Kasaboski again? Yes. She was such a creative passer and while Riley felt Clara was bit too fast of a passer to really utilise her inside bigs, Riley knew how she owned the girl 45 centimetres taller than her, over and over again. She was exactly the
bad bish you never wanna mess around, as her teammate Ivana Begovic would say for the sake of humour.
Maybe if I have to hunt a tiger, guess I gotta enter its cave, Riley smiled as she sipped her tea. Perhaps coach Kayembe did the right research after all.
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Monday evening, 2026
"How are you doing, boss?" Riley asked as she sat on her sofa, leaving some food package on the table. Sitting right next to her was her teammate, Clara Kasaboski.
"Well, the usual," the captain sighed as she finished some
Tye Crosbys (author's comment : think of Tim Horton's) donut and lemonade her junior brought her. They were reading some books while listening to 2005 live version of
Adelina (1904 Quebecois Opera) by Jean-Emmanuel Orgeron, which made sense since that's what Clara was studying. That said, being sidelined from an ankle injury sucked- she missed the last 2 weeks of regular season and the Big 10 Conference tournament and was still up in the air. "I just want some slushies right now, but JoyJoy is closed so guess we'll have to wait?"
"Maybe. Should I text Ryan right now?"
Clara gestured her with a clear no, "Nah, I know he's....somewhere. Probably at a practice." Her boyfriend, Michael Jeon-Keane, just happened to be....well, Riley's brother. Being part of the powerhouse volleyball team, he knew Michael was just as likely to be out on tournaments as she were.
"Fair, in that instance, why don't we go for a recovery home food at Olives? (author's comment : think of Popeye's Chicken)? After getting changed of course."
"May as well. By the way, the first jersey's special, girl. Don't forget!"
"Aye, aye, cap'n!" Riley responded with a hurry as she ran towards her room. Believe it or not, Clara Kasaboski had the full attention of her centre Riley Jeon-Keane all along. The centre may not have been happy about the point guard not giving her the ball on enough plays and the point guard the same for wanting too many chances. They knew it from the very first day they signed to be part of the Queen's program long pressured to win the national championship.
On most locker rooms, this would not translate particularly well- not the least since Riley Jeon-Keane's ego is always skyrocketing. But they were smarter than that. But they at least knew they had the best chance to win when they were at the same time.
Perhaps that's what led them to practice hours working on court positioning, spend hours wearing fried chicken wearing their first jerseys from the very first day they were on same team, and of course live together. They had to dislike each other, but they also had to like each other. They both knew
for a huntress to hunt a tiger, she had to enter its cave.