As a fiercely competitive girl of fourteen, Ireland Hazel had played center for the Lady Arrows, the girls basketball team at St. Sebastian's Catholic High School in Ludlow, Ohio. At some point early in the conditioning schedule, a dispute arose between her and first-year coach, Sister Claudia James. The substance of the argument had long since faded from Irene's memory, but she still retained a vivid recollection of how she had clenched one fist and raised it at the woman with lightning speed. The blow, however, never connected, and in the next moment Ireland found herself face down on the hard gymnasium floor. She imagined Sister Claudia had somehow brought her to this ignoble position, yet she felt no pain from where she might have been struck. Nevertheless, she braced her hands against the floor and, seething, made to rise, at which point she fell again as Sister Claudia's foot swept one of her limbs deftly out from under her. Still, she pressed against the wood a second time, then a third and again and again, each time falling perfunctorily as Sister Claudia's shoes circled her prone form patiently and the rest of the team watched in breathless anticipation.

Ireland felt no pain through this entire experience and would later (much later) marvel at how Sister Claudia sent her back to the floor with a firm but gentle movement that increased in its careful restraint as did the fatigue in Ireland's arms and legs. At one point, the coach even lowered one hand in assistance. However, Ireland's resolve, stoked by anger, remained steadfast, and she batted the hand away. The contest continued for quite some time, Ireland believing with each effort that this time, she would get up. So unshaking did she appear that some of the girls standing nearby (girls who had never offered her a civil word) even began to entreat the coach to "just let her up." Sister Claudia finally dismissed them, and for long minutes afterward, the cycle between her and Ireland continued. Not a word passed between them until Ireland finally raised two frantic and blood red eyes to confront the unwavering gaze of the woman who stood over her.

"Would you just STOP!?"

The echo of the request still darting among the rafters in the vast emptiness of that place, Sister Claudia turned and left the gymnasium. The echo of her grim footfalls gave way after a time to that of the flood of tears Ireland tried vainly to repress.

end

take care

---jones

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"what Marie's not gonna do"
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