“What are you doing here?” Oz asked, frowning.
“I came to watch you play,” Jessica said.
“Well, you can’t. Go away,” Oz said.
“Why not? I want to play with you,” Jessica said.
“You can’t play with us. You’re too small and weak. You don’t know how to play basketball. You’ll just mess up our game,” Oz said.
“That’s not true. I can play. I can dribble and shoot and pass. Just give me a chance,” Jessica said.
“No, we won’t. You’re not welcome here. This is a boys’ game. Girls can’t play basketball. They’re too slow and clumsy. They belong in the kitchen, not on the court,” Jed said, laughing.
Jessica felt angry and hurt. She couldn’t believe they were so mean and sexist. She wanted to prove them wrong. She wanted to show them that girls can play basketball too. She grabbed the ball from Oz’s hands and ran to the other side of the court. She dribbled the ball and shot it at the basket. She scored a perfect swish.
She smiled and raised her arms in triumph. She looked at Oz and his friends. They looked shocked and speechless.
“See? I told you I can play. I’m better than you. Girls can play basketball too. And they can do anything they want. You’re the ones who are slow and clumsy. And you’re mean and rude. You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Jessica said.
She threw the ball at them and walked away. She felt proud and happy. She didn’t need her brother or his friends. She could play by herself. She could do anything she wanted. She was a strong and independent girl…Jessica went home to watch football on the TV, which she loved. Her grandfather was there, and he felt sorry for her. He saw that she was sad and he cheered her up. He gave her a hug and a cookie and asked her what was wrong. Jessica told him about Oz and his basketball friends. She told him how they were mean and sexist to her, and how she proved them wrong by scoring a basket. She told him how she felt proud and happy, but also angry and hurt.er grandfather listened to her and nodded. He told her that he was very proud of her too. He told her that she was a brave and smart girl who could do anything she wanted. He told her that he loved her very much. He also told her that Oz and his friends were wrong and ignorant. He told her that girls and boys can play any sport they want, and that they should respect each other. He told her that he hoped that Oz and his friends would learn their lesson and apologize to her .Oz happily told her her that tomorrow that she could play basketball on her own in the garden with her Uncle Henry