As he watched the kids play, Marcus felt a strong urge to join them. He hadn't played a pickup game in years, but the sight of the kids running around, dribbling the ball and taking shots brought back memories of his own childhood.

"Hey, can I play too?" Marcus asked the group of kids, trying to hide his excitement.

The kids looked at him skeptically, eyeing his small stature and unsure if they wanted to let Marcus play with them. Marcus was small for his age and didn't look like much of a player, but Marcus didn't let that discourage him since Marcus knew that he would eventually grow to his full height 6’5. Marcus could see the hesitation in their eyes, and he knew he had to prove himself.

"I promise I won't be too rough on you guys," Marcus said with a grin.

The kids hesitated for a moment longer, but then one of them threw Marcus the ball. Marcus caught it, feeling the familiar weight of the ball in his hands. He dribbled it a few times, testing it out, and then he took off towards the hoop.

As he ran, Marcus felt his body transform. He was no longer a 40-year-old coach, but a 12-year-old boy, full of energy and enthusiasm. He dribbled the ball between his legs, spun around, and took a shot. The ball sailed through the air, bouncing off the rim and back into his hands.

The kids were impressed. They had never seen anyone play like that before. Marcus could see the excitement in their eyes, and he knew that he had earned their respect.

"Wow, you're actually pretty good!" one of the kids exclaimed, impressed by Marcus's ability to handle the ball.

Marcus smiled, happy that he had proven himself to the kids.

"What's this, guys? Did we invite the little kid to play with us?" Ryan jeered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

he noticed one boy standing off to the side, watching with a sneer on his face. The boy's name was Ryan, Marcus remembered him as he was notorious for being an egotistical bully. Ryan was a talented player and a year older, but he let his skills go to his head, often making fun of others and belittling their abilities.

Ryan was bigger and stronger than the other boys, and he always made sure everyone knew it. He strutted onto the court, his broad shoulders and muscular frame intimidating the other players. When he saw Marcus, Ryan couldn't help but laugh. “Is tricks all you can do?”

Stolen novel; please report.

The other boys looked uncomfortable, but Ryan's words only fueled Marcus's determination. Marcus knew he was small, but he was quick and agile, and he refused to let Ryan's taunts get to him.

"I can play," Marcus said calmly, looking Ryan straight in the eye.

Ryan chuckled. "Sure, kid. If you say so. Let's see what you've got."

The game began, and Marcus quickly showed the other boys what he was made of. He was fast, nimble, and had an excellent eye for the game. He made basket after basket, leaving the other boys stunned.

He felt a sense of satisfaction as he ran up and down the court, his body moving fluidly and instinctively, as if he had been playing basketball his whole life.

The game continued, and Marcus found himself fully immersed in the moment, forgetting about his adult responsibilities and worries. For a moment, he felt like a kid again, carefree and happy, enjoying the simple pleasure of playing a game with friends.

As Marcus made a shot, Ryan walked over to him and said, "Nice shot, little man. Too bad you wouldn’t be able to keep up with us big guys.”

Marcus tried to ignore him, but Ryan continued to taunt him. "What's the matter, can't keep up with the big boys? Maybe you should go back to watching and leave the playing to us."

The other kids looked uncomfortable, but no one spoke up.

At first, Ryan didn't take him seriously, assuming that Marcus would be easy to beat. But to Ryan's surprise, Marcus was a natural. He moved with lightning-fast speed, dodging around Ryan's attempts to block him and scoring basket after basket.

Ryan's face darkened as Marcus continued to dominate the game. He didn't like being shown up, especially by someone smaller than him. "You got lucky, kid," he growled. "Let's see you try that again."

But Marcus wasn't just lucky. He was talented and smarter with decades of experience. He approached the game with focus and determination, ignoring Ryan's attempts to intimidate him. Marcus played hard, and he played to win.

As the game continued, Ryan grew increasingly frustrated. He had never faced such a formidable opponent before, and it was clear that Marcus was giving him a run for his money. Ryan was used to being the best, but now he was struggling to keep up.

Despite Ryan's insults and attempts to bully him, Marcus refused to back down. He continued to play with passion and skill, never losing sight of his goal. And in the end, it was Marcus who emerged victorious, scoring the winning basket and leaving Ryan seething with anger.

He had dealt with bullies like Ryan before, and he knew how to handle them.

"You know what, Ryan?" Marcus said, stepping closer to him. "You may be a talented player, but your attitude is holding you back. You're so obsessed with showing off and putting others down that you're not even playing to your full potential. You're a bully, and it's not a good look."

Ryan's face turned red with anger. "Who do you think you are, little man? You can't talk to me like that!"

Marcus smirked. "I've been playing basketball longer than you've been alive. I know a thing or two about the game, and I know that true talent doesn't come from bullying others. So if you want to keep playing, you need to change your attitude."

Ryan scowled, “what, are you crazy? I’m older than you!”. The recess bell rang, and Marcus made his way to his classroom. He felt a sense of disappointment that he hadn't been able to play basketball with the other kids for longer, but he was glad to have had the chance to relive a moment from his childhood.