Anne's Fears
The faceoff between Jamal and Nas from the Ballislife crew was the talk of the town. Social media buzzed with excitement as fans and followers anticipated the showdown.
"R.I.P Jamal's ankles. There ain't gonna be any bones left when Nas grinds 'em into pieces," one user posted, the comment quickly gaining traction.
Another user retorted, "Jamal ain't going down that bad."
Despite the mixed opinions, the general sentiment leaned towards Nas's victory. In the midst of this online frenzy, rumors began to spread offline, reaching even the youngest ears.
### Palmers Park Playground
Seven-year-old Anne, Jamal's younger sister, played at Palmers Park with her best friend and neighbor, Tiffany. They opted for the slide and a bit of chatter about all manner of things.
"My brother said that your brother is playing basketball with killers," said Tiffany, her voice tinged with the seriousness only a child can muster.
Anne frowned. "My brother plays basketball at the park, not in prison, Tiffany."
"But my brother said that this person is a really famous killer who usually breaks the legs of his victims before he kills them," Tiffany whispered conspiratorially.
"Really?" Anne asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes, really. He said there's footage of him and his crew doing such things."
"But the police ought to arrest him for that," replied Anne, shivering from fright.
"He always escapes. He's too quick to be caught. If he takes out your brother, he'll come for you next."
Thirty minutes later, Anne burst through the front door of their house, tears streaming down her face. She ran to Jamal's room, pounding on the door.
"What's wrong?" asked Jamal, concern etched on his face.
"Don't play with gangsters!" Anne cried. "They're bad people who break your legs and come after me next! With Dad in Europe and Mom in California, nobody's gonna save me!"
Jamal knelt down to Anne's level, wiping away her tears. "Who told you that?"
"Tiffany," she sniffled.
Jamal sighed, pulling Anne into a comforting hug. "Listen, Anne. Nas is not a gangster. He's just a really good basketball player. We're having a friendly competition, nothing more."
"But... but Tiffany said..."
"Sometimes people exaggerate things, especially when they don't know the whole story. I promise you, no one's going to hurt me or you. Okay?"
Anne nodded hesitantly, her fears slowly dissipating under Jamal's reassuring words.
The day of the showdown arrived, and the court was surrounded by eager spectators. Phones were out, cameras ready to capture every moment. The hype was real, and the energy was palpable.
Jamal and Nas stood at the center of the court, exchanging nods of respect before the game began. The air was thick with anticipation as the ball was tossed into play