zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 3, 2013 17:22:36 GMT -5
In the driveway of his home, Zan dripped his basketball and shot it through the hoop. Keiko walked under it and it hit him. He was ok, but Zan ordered him back to the sidelines and told him to stay. He then went back to the court and continued his game.
He kept on playing for several minutes. He had scored 9 out of twelve shots, from several different angles, when he heard a voice behind him. He spun around to see a person standing on the sidewalk, watching him.
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Post by claire olivia garrison on Jan 6, 2013 22:50:47 GMT -5
Claire couldn't take it anymore. They had lived in their house for a total of two days now and she was already sick of it. She hated the thick awkwardness that surrounded the household. Her father and her new step-mother tried to make the awkwardness ease, but they only seemed to make it worse. So, Claire had done the best thing she could think of. She left the house, resorting to walking around their neighborhood to get the feel of it.
So far, the freshman had only made it about four houses down from her own. Lipton was so tiny compared to her beloved San Francisco. It was almost surreal to be living in a place so small. It just made her miss her old home all the more. Especially since it seemed every house on their block belonged to families with either elementary schoolers or with college kids. No one had any children her age.
Well, she thought so, anyhow. About five or six houses down from her own, Claire was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a boy outside, playing basketball. She stopped for a moment, debating as to if she should say something or keep walking. Well, she did need a friend, but...
The boy turned around and Claire gave a sheepish grin at him. Waving, she shifted on the sidewalk. "Hi there," She chirped, hoping to come off as at least half friendly. Even if she didn't want to be here, she was stuck here for the next two years and seven months so she at least needed a few friends. "I... uhm... we just moved in down the street. I'm Claire."
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zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 7, 2013 23:54:16 GMT -5
Zan didn't recognize the girl and, when she explained that she had just moved in, he realized why. He dropped the ball and stepped towered her. "Hi Claire" he greeted. "I'm Zan." He held his hand out for a shake, and hoped that she would take it. He liked the custom of hand shaking because it let people know that the person that their meeting isn't going to hurt them, or at least doesn’t plan to.
He wondered if he had a chance at becoming her friend. He might, but it probably wouldn't last long. She would either make other friends, decide he was screwed up or both. Zan wondered if she was what the normal people would call pretty. If she was, she would probably make friends quickly.
Keiko trotted over to Claire, curious about the newcomer. Zan was glad that he had a dog who was friendly towered strangers. He knew that Keiko's mother usually disliked strangers and so did most other people's dogs, but Keiko usually enjoyed meeting new people.
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Post by claire olivia garrison on Jan 9, 2013 22:07:42 GMT -5
Claire watched as the boy dropped the basketball and turned his attention to her. He came forward, extending a hand, and Claire awkwardly reached out to shake it. He seemed more polite or traditional than most of her peers. Seldom did she shake hands with anyone. Maybe it came with the small town.
The boy introduced himself as Zan. "Cool name," Claire shrugged, her eyes averting from the boy to the dog. She hadn't really been around dogs much before, and she was definitely more of a cat person. So, she hesitated for just a second as the dog came toward her. She let it sniff her, not moving as she watched it. Finally, when she sure it was okay, she knelt down and patted the dog's head lightly.
"It's nice to meet someone on the street who's around my age. It seems like everyone on this road either is in college or elementary school. Which is kind of awkward." Claire hoped that she was right in guessing that the boy was around her age. But, if not, it wouldn't be the first time she was wrong. And, she didn't overly care if she was. She was just trying to be friendly right now. Lipton wasn't her choice of town.
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zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 10, 2013 0:28:14 GMT -5
Claire looked a little confused when he held out his hand, but she did shake it. Most people his age who he met looked at him oddly when he wanted to shake hands. He wondered if it was more of an adult meeting ritual. He had learned it from his dad.
"Thanks" he said, when she commented on his name. He wasn't sure what cool met, but he knew that it was something along the lines of good. It was odd for someone to say that they liked his name because his original name had been Zanzibar, which his mother had said was after his biological father's (who he had never met) drinking problem. Zan's adoptive father didn't like the name Zanzibar so he started calling him Zan. He decided that he preferred being called Zan so, when his dad adopted him they also changed his name.
Claire seemed nervous around Keiko, which Zan found odd because Keiko was behaving very well. Maybe she was just afraid of dogs or something. Zan used to be afraid of his father's cats (one of whom bite him soon after meeting him) but they had eventually learned to tolerate each other.
Claire started going on about the ages of the other kids on the block. "Your right" Zan replied, although he had never actually found that very awkward but he assumed that normal people would. "How old are you anyway?" he asked. "I'm fifteen."
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Post by claire olivia garrison on Jan 11, 2013 0:07:44 GMT -5
Claire was satisfied with herself as he confirmed her original thought. He was fifteen. That meant he was a freshman and would most likely be one of her peers when school went back after spring break. It would be nice to know at least one person other than her new step-sister when school started. It was going to be awkward being the new girl at a place so far from home.
"I'm fifteen, too. So is my... step-sister," She replied. Stepping back from his dog now, Claire forced a more friendly smile. At least the boy seemed nice, she mused. It could be much, much worse. "So, you're a freshman, then?" She added, just to make sure.
Her eyes skimmed past him to the basketball that he had just left. She used to play basketball, but she gave it up when she went to high school this year to focus on other things. "Do you play?" She asked after a second, nodding in the direction of the basketball. She knew he had been shooting hoops when she had arrived, but a lot of people did that. She was just curious if it meant that he played. Though, he didn't seem too confident to be an athlete.
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zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 12, 2013 0:08:09 GMT -5
"Yeah" he answered, when she asked if he was a freshmen. It seemed really coincidental that Zan, Claire and Claire’s stepsister were all fifteen, but Zan decided not to say anything about that.
Claire looked nervous and Zan noticed that she was backing away from Keiko. He called his dog in a whisper and Keiko came trotting up to him. He rubbed his head against Zan's leg, realizing that he may not be able to get attention from this stranger but he could always get attention from Zan, and Zan reached down and scratched him behind his ear.
Claire then asked if he played basketball. Zan wasn't sure how to answer that at first because he did play just, not for real. "Just in the yard, or the park, never on a real team or anything."
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Post by claire olivia garrison on Jan 12, 2013 12:04:23 GMT -5
Claire relaxed a bit as the boy's dog left, heading back to him. She smiled a more genuine smile at him, almost thanking him for moving the dog. She didn't know why dogs made her so nervous. She had just never been comfortable around them. She could deal with small dogs, but dogs the size of Zan's made her tense, even if they were harmless. It was just something that came with having never been around dogs. She'd much prefer a cat.
The girl nodded at Zan's words on basketball, slyly smiling. "Are you good?" She asked, curiously. "I played basketball up until this year. I was never the best, but it was always fun." She casually sidestepped the boy, going widely around him to avoid the dog. Picking up the basketball, she quickly shot it toward the hoop, watching it roll into it.
"We should play." Claire suggested, as the ball bounced down his driveway. She was almost hoping that they could get to know each other. Maybe not be close, but at least know about each other. Even if she wasn't intending to make friends in Lipton, it would be nice to have some acquaintances to eat lunch with or talk to during the day. Zan seemed nice enough.
[/justify][/blockquote]
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zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 12, 2013 18:41:33 GMT -5
Claire asked Zan if he was good. He shrugged. "I'm ok." He had been told that he was a good basketball play, but that was still a hard question. How good does someone need to be considered good? It varied per person, making it hard to define.
Zan watched as she picked up the ball and took a shot. The ball landed right on the edge of the hoop and almost didn't make it, but did. Then she started dribbling it. Clearly she knew how to play, so Zan wasn't surprised when she suggested that they play. "Sure" Zan agreed.
Zan looked at Keiko. "Go onto the yard" he ordered. Keiko looked at him. The dog went without a fuse because it gave him the chance to pick up with rope toy and lie down in the shade.
Zan eyed the ball and followed it with his eyes. Then he quickly stole it from Claire and shot it towered the hoop. It didn't make it but he was able to snatch it as soon as it came down and take another shot. This one made it through the hoop.
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Post by claire olivia garrison on Jan 13, 2013 2:26:00 GMT -5
Claire grinned as he agreed. Quickly dribbling the ball, she made one last practice shot. It mirrored the actions of her last shot, hitting the rim and teetering between the sides before deciding to fall through the hoop. She then picked it up, dribbling it again to get the game going. She was pleasantly surprised as Zan seemed to pick up on her competitiveness rather quickly. He moved in, and before she had really expected it, he had maneuvered the ball from her grasp and on into the hoop.
She laughed now, raising her eyebrow curiously as she rushed to grab the ball. "You're okay?" She echoed, her voice mimicking his in a playful mockery. She thought he was a little better than okay. "You're pretty good for okay. I wasn't expecting that!"
Claire shifted now, the ball back in her hands. She was far from the best, but she had always enjoyed a good game of nearly any sport. Really, it was just her semi-competitive nature. Any game and Claire was usually there. "Ready?" Without waiting for much of a response, Claire instantly began to dribble the ball. More determined this time to not lose it to Zan as she started for the hoop once more.
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zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 13, 2013 12:20:32 GMT -5
Zan was a little surprise when Claire told him that he was good, even though he had been told that before by several other people. Maybe he just found it hard to believe that he was good at anything, especially since most of the people who had had played with probably had more experience that he did.
Claire started to move towered the hoop to take another shot. Zan started to step towered the ball and reach for it, but then he shied away. It occurred to him that he seemed to have been winning, so he wanted Claire to make a few shots now.
Zan's dad had taught him how to play basketball when he was about nine years old. He had told Zan that he was really good, but Zan didn’t think that he was very serious. During that many times that he had played with his dad he usual won but he didn't think his father was ever trying very hard. When Zan played with other people he sometimes lost but he usually won so maybe he really was good at basketball.
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Post by claire olivia garrison on Jan 14, 2013 1:01:53 GMT -5
Claire was quick to shoot the ball toward the hoop. However, a bit too hasty, she watched the ball to bounce on the rim, slowly bouncing off to the ground. She rushed to grab it, only then taking notice to the fact that Zan seemed less competitive than herself. Nonetheless, she took advantage of his opening and shot it once more at the hoop. The ball rolled in this time even though it were only a slightly better shot than the last. Claire smiled at this, nonetheless, and raced off to reset them again.
The game continued in this fashion for a bit. Claire was getting more competitive as it went on. Hastily dodging one of Zan's attempts at getting the ball, even though he seemed to shy away at first, Claire shot the ball toward the hoop. Perhaps the worst shot of the day, it bounced from the backboard and came straight back toward them. Screaming in slight surprise at it narrowly skimmed by her, Claire laughed at herself.
"I swear I don't normally do that." Genuinely smiling, Claire continued to laugh at her shriek. It was unlike her. She was more of a tomboy than a girl, but she still had her moments. Looking pointedly at Zan now, she raised an eyebrow as she went after the ball again. "Have you been... going easy on me?" She accused, playfully. She had taken only a slight note to the way he seemed to shy away when he was ahead. She got caught up in the moment, while Zan seemed to be more of a believer in sharing the points. This was surprising and amusing to Claire. Zan was certainly a unique boy.
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zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 15, 2013 16:55:35 GMT -5
As the ball jumped towered them and Claire screamed, Zan jumped back in fear and turned away from the ball. He turned back to Claire, when she started talking.
Zan was slightly taken aback by Claire’s accession. It hadn’t occurred to him that he had been taking it easy on her, but she was right, he was. Whenever he played basketball or any other sport or game, he would get nervous if he started to go ahead and would hold back and let that person catch up. Whether he won or lost the game, he wanted it to be by only a few points. He didn’t want to make his opponent feel bad and, most of all, he didn’t want to get too far ahead. He liked to be on the same level as other people.
Zan looked at her, a little confused at first, then he sighed. “Maybe” he nervously told her. “I um.. tend to do that if I start to get ahead. Ok.” Despite that fact that she had said it in a joking tone, Zan still felt like he was being accused.
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Post by claire olivia garrison on Jan 19, 2013 1:47:13 GMT -5
Claire recovered from the ball's misguided shot, taking a moment to recover from her girly squeal. Once she was fully recovered, she grinned at the boy sheepishly. However, as Zan seemed to falter at her words, she pursed her lips lightly to study him. He seemed taken aback by her accusation, even if she had been joking. He stumbled when he spoke now, explaining himself it what seemed to be a much less certain voice than before. This surprised Claire.
"I was joking," She felt the need to confess shortly after Zan explained himself. Claire thought it was interesting that Zan cared so much for others' feelings that he tried to share the points. Actually, she thought it was dumb, but also respectable. She, like most people, was a firm believer in just winning the game, especially if you had the skills to do so. The other person could either compete or give up, but Claire always tried hard.
Claire turned, going to retrieve the ball once more. Bringing it back up the drive, she just held on to it for a moment, studying Zan. "You're a cool kid, Zan." She stated, with a slight nod. Truth was, she did think he was pretty cool. He had some habits that she would consider strange, but didn't everyone? Zan's just seemed slightly more mature than her own habits. "But, I don't get it. Don't you want to win?"
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zan allan kirks
" as a child, i was abused and neglected by my mother who hated me. " [/i]
Posts: 114
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Post by zan allan kirks on Jan 21, 2013 23:49:30 GMT -5
Zan was slightly relived to find out that she had been joking, but also confused. Why would someone make a joke like that? In what way was that even a joke? It probably was a joke in some way, he just didn't know much about jokes. He had never really been into comedy because he didn't find it fun and it tended to make him confused.
"Not really" he answered her. "I don't like doing something better than someone else and making them feel bad, and I don't like it when someone else does something better than me either. Besides, I prefer to play for fun and not to try and beat each other down. That's why it's calling playing."
Zan didn't understand why people were always trying to be better than one another. That just made people afraid of others, or caused jealousy and hate. If people weren't always trying to prove that their skills or ideas were better than other people's, they would get along much better and people would be happier. The world would be a better place to live, but that was just a fantasy. He knew that nothing like that would ever really happen.
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